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Games Set in Ancient Rome
SOCIETY GAMES SET IN ANCIENT ROME
VII MAIUS MMVIII
note: new entries in bold text.
Games in Ancient Rome:
ASTERIX UND DIE RÖMER
+ ATTILA
+ AVE
+ AVE CAESAR
+ BACCHUS' BANQUET
+ BEIM JUPITER
+ BEN HUR
+ BRUNCH AT THE COLISEUM
+ CAESAR & CLEOPATRA
+ CAPITOL
+ CARACALLA
+ CATILINE CONSPIRACY
+ CLAVIGOLA
+ CLEOPATRAS CABOOSE
+ COLOSSEUM
+ COMISSATIO ORGY
+ CONSUL
+ CREDO
+ DER UNTERGANG VON POMPEJI
+ THE DOWNFALL OF POMPEII
+ FORUM ROMANUM
+ GLORIA MUNDI
+ GLORY TO ROME
+ HANNIBAL
+ HANNIBAL: THE WAR OF THE KINGS
+ THE HIPPODROME
+ JOURNEYS OF PAUL
+ JOURNEYS OF ST. PAUL
+ KAMPF UM ROM
+ LUDUS ROMANUS
+ MERCATOR
+ MUNICIPIUM
+ NEUE SPIELE IM ALTEN ROM
+ NEW GAMES IN OLD ROME
+ OSTIA
+ PALATINUS NON OLET
+ PALATINUS INSULA TIBERINA
+ PECUNIA NON OLET
+ POMPEII
+ POMPEJI
+ THE PRAETORIANS
+ PROCONSUL
+ QUO VADIS
+ ROMA
+ ROMA II
+ ROMAN RUINS
+ RÖMER
+ RUBICON
+ SENATOR
+ SEVEN HILLS OF ROME
+ STRUGGLE FOR ROME
+ TABULA - THE ROMAN GAME
+ TITUS
+ TRIBUNAL
+ TUCHULCHA
+ 12 CAESARS
+ WHEEL OF HISTORY
Related:
HOW TO HOST A MURDER: ROMAN RUINS
+ RES PUBLICA
+ REVENGE IN ROME
Other:
Bibliography
– Also
- ASTERIX UND DIE RÖMER
-
by Klaus Teuber for Ravensburger, 1990
(in French as Astérix et les Romains)
for 2-6 players
The players are racing to win a bet on who will collect the most Roman helmets.
Dice game for ages 8 and above.
A
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- ATTILA
-
by Karl-Heinz Schmiel for Hans-im-Glück, 2000
Despite their joint tradition of presenting systems which
adhere closely to their themes, here designer Karl-Heinz
Schmiel and publisher Hans-im-Glück have presented
one in which point of view is somewhat difficult to locate.
Instead in 370 AD one buys "shares" of different tribes such as
Huns, Vandals and Goths and then scores points if first or
second when the scoring round is triggered. Otherwise interesting
however with a significant make-strategy-as-you-go feeling and
quite a few interesting dilemmas. Reminiscent of
Web of Power
and in the tight integration of the subsystems,
Die Macher.
Review
L
- AVE
-
by Valentin Herman for Fanfor, 2000
Features a map of Rome on a square grid on which
are placed buildings, plazas and people. A map of the
Mediterranean shows where players, representing Caesars,
attempt to conquer. The Forum is where votes are taken
to influence these decisions.
Players earn victory points by placing buildings, streets, plazas
and mines in Rome. But in order to do so, the senator with the
right connections must be influenced to do so. At the same time,
Rome is expanding its empire around the Mediterranean through
conquest. This is also achieved through influencing the right
senators. Supposedly much better than its very small and
desktop-published print run would indicate.
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- AVE CAESAR
-
by Wolfgang Riedesser for Ravensburger, 1989; for Pro Ludo, 2006
Chariot racing in the Hippodrome. Plays easy and quick, but
depends on players not overindulging in blocking moves to avoid
becoming processional.
Review
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- BACCHUS' BANQUET
-
by Frederic Moyersoen for Mayfair, 2008
for 2-5 players
Deduction card game of hidden identities and variable victory
conditions, a bit like the inventor's previous work, Saboteur.
One player is the emperor Caligula, three are conspirators trying
to kill him and the rest are his relatives. Players draft and
pass cards to further their progress toward victory.
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- BEIM JUPITER
-
by Michael Feldkötter for
Kosmos,
2008
for 3-5 players
"By Jupiter" is a trick=taking card game in which
trump and point values of tricks are determined by all players
before each hand. There are 87 cards in all, including
60 cards ranked 1-14 plus 4 god cards, a Jupiter and a Juno card,
3 sacrificial lamb, 12 number of tricks cards numbered 1-12,
5 marker cards and 5 null trick cards. Played in 8 rounds, it's a
game of declaring the number of tricks you can take to earn points.
Before each hand, players each remove one card and place it face
down. These cards determine not only the trump suit, but also how
many points a trick is worth. (Possibly annoyance: if a player has
only special cards, the entire hand needs to be re-dealt.) If any
suit was chosen more than others, that suit is trump (note that this
means there are fewer of these cards in play than any other suit).
In case of ties, the suit having the high total number of ranks
revealed is trump. If this fails, single highest card decides.
If still tied, it's a no-trump hand. Then each player
uses his card to indicate how many tricks he plans to take and
another card to indicate how much a trick is worth by placing it
next to the cards ranging from 1-12. Only once per game is it
permitted to aim for zero tricks. Normal-trick taking rules apply
with the requirements to follow suit, choice of trump or not if
void, highest card (trump) wins, etc. Jupiter and Juno don't belong
to any suit except for the trump suit and beat any trump. If both
are played in the same trick, the first one down wins it. When god
cards are played, the owner declares whether they are the highest
or lowest in the trick. Even lower are the sacrificial lamb cards,
whose advantage is that they are playable even when one would
otherwise have to follow suit.
L
- BEN HUR
-
by
Historien Spielegalerie,
1987
Brettspiele
L
- BRUNCH AT THE COLISEUM
-
by Michael L. Leeke for Inner City Games, 2002
for 2-5 players
Playing the roles of slaves, gladiators or lions, players
have a limited number of actions, e.g. run, eat to recover
strength, pick up items, attack, taunt, throw a limb into
the crowd, beseech the gods or work the crowd for food or
weapons.
L
- CAESAR
-
by Jeff Siadek for The Gamesmiths, 1993
Players compete to build up legions, gold and aqueducts.
The excitement of their being five different
strategies to try out is not borne out in practice as it is too chaotic.
Rules later revised in re-issue by Prism Games.
Review
L
- CARACALLA
-
by Herbert Schützdeller for ASS, 1991
Up to 6 players players try to find their family members in the
enormous Roman baths complex. Points are given for arranging to
have only certain individuals in the same room; unwanted other
player members hamper that.
L
- CAESAR & CLEOPATRA
-
by Wolfgang Ludtke for Kosmos, 1997
for 2 players
Interesting, finely-tuned two-player card game.
Many who find two-player situations uninteresting will like this one,
as well as games like Lost Cities and Schotten-Totten,
probably because the inherent randomness of the card deck is in effect
a third player with whom one must contend.
Note for any whose memories may have been blown out by undergraduate
work: memory plays a significant role here.
Review
L
- CAPITOL
-
by Alan Moon and Aaron Weissblum for Schmidt, 2001
Building houses in Ancient Rome.
Review
L
- CLAVIGOLA
-
by Pietro Rubolino, Teodoro Mitidieri, and Francesco Sciacqua
for Hasbro, 2009
As Caligula's popularity is faltering every day, the players use
commerce, intrigue and manipulation to vault into the imperial
throne.
L
- CLEOPATRAS CABOOSE
-
by Steve Zamborsky for Z-Man Games, 2006
A humorous train game set in Ancient Egypt?!
L
- COLOSSEUM
-
by Wolfgang Kramer & Markus Lübke for Days of Wonder, 2007
Each player is a Roman impresario, producing great spectacles
in the hopes of attracting the most spectators.
L
- COMISSATIO ORGY
-
by Julie Prior for Comissatio, 1988
Roll a die to move. Buy villas, slaves and chariots and race chariots.
L
- CREDO
-
by Chris Gidlow for Chaosium, 1993
Each player represents one of the factions within the
Christian church, each one hoping that their particular
doctrine will be accepted by the religion and thus become
part of the creed.
Review:
Game Cabinet
L
- DER UNTERGANG VON POMPEJI
- THE DOWNFALL OF POMPEII
-
by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede for Amigo and Mayfair, 2004
Players try to make their fortunes and then get out before the
volcano explodes.
L
- FORUM ROMANUM
-
by Wolfgang Kramer for Kosmos, 1988
Abstract tile-placing game on a grid.
Image
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- GLORIA MUNDI
-
by James Ernest & Mike Selinker for Abacus & Rio Grande Games, 2006
Satirical game in which players are alternately bribing barbarians
not to attack or abandoning Rome as fast as their little legs
will carry them.
Review
L
- GLORY TO ROME
-
by Carl Chudyk for Cambridge Games Factory, 2005
Card game in which players compete to be best at re-building Rome
following the great fire of the Neronian era.
Review
L
- HANNIBAL
-
by Parker Brothers, 1974
Racing game for two players
in which they try to get all 12 of their pieces
to the opposite base camp by exact count. This is roll and move,
Similar to Backgammon.
L
- HANNIBAL: THE WAR OF THE KINGS
-
by Kod Kod, 1990
A surrounding game played on an 8x8 grid. There appears to be
little connection to the topic apart from the title.
L
- THE HIPPODROME
-
by E.O. Clark, 1900
Probably invented in response to the
novel Ben-Hur, first published in 1880 by General Lew Wallace.
May be the earliest game ever published on the Ancient Romans.
Said to sell for $175 or more.
L
- JOURNEYS OF PAUL
-
by Prismatech LLC,
2002
Players represent missionaries traveling through the Roman empire
and starting churches.
L
- JOURNEYS OF ST. PAUL
-
by Eugene Dougherty for Avalon Hill, 1968; re-published by
Innovative Game Technologies as Journeys of Paul
Racing game set in the Roman Empire.
L
- LUDUS ROMANUS
-
by Oxford Games, 1996
for 2 players
Place your plastic pieces into a mosaic design, then move them
to capture opponent's pieces.
L
- MUNICIPIUM
-
by Reiner Knizia for Valley Games, 2008
for 3-5 players
In the 2nd century AD players control powerful families
in a western province. Each tries to place family members as
Scholars, Merchants, Soldiers and Priests. The player with the most
influence in each of these groups exerts power and gains support.
L
- NEUE SPIELE IM ALTEN ROM
-
by Reiner Knizia for Piatnik, 1994
English translation called
NEW GAMES IN OLD ROME.
Review
L
- NEW GAMES IN OLD ROME
-
by Reiner Knizia, 1996
English Translation of rules for
NEUE SPIELE IM ALTEN ROM.
Is actually a collection of games:
- CAESAR
– for 2-5 players. Tile-laying game.
- CATILINE CONSPIRACY
– for 3-5 players.
Logical deduction game akin to Clue.
Mainly it seems to be a matter of having luck in asking the right questions
to the right players earliest. One wrinkle is that speculation is given a greater
chance, but only to a very minimal extent.
- CIRCUS MAXIMUS
– for 2-5 players. Chariot racing.
- CONSUL
– for 2-4 players. Memory game.
- HANNIBAL VERSUS ROME
– for 2 players.
Most abstract of all of the many games on the Second Punic War.
There is no real hidden information and it is mostly a matter of
opportunistic tactics, but it is surprising how interesting this game of
maneuver can be. Each player begins with slightly different forces, but
with an identical set of cards which are used to resolve combat by
simultaneous choose and compare. Engrossing for a few plays.
- IMPERIUM
– for 2-5 players.
Secret allocation game for up to five in which players try to dominate
the empire. Actually the theme doesn't fit very well. Players each have an
identical set of cards as in Raj and once again it is good strategy
to try not to be overly ambitious, but this tends to happen as the last scored
provinces are the most valuable. Interesting for a play or two, but highly
unpredictable depending on the thought processes of the players.
- MERCATOR
– for 3-7 players.
Appears to be an early version of the game Medici.
- THE PRAETORIANS
– for 2-4 players. Also a bit like Medici.
- PROCONSUL
– for 3-5 players. Negotiation game.
- SENATOR
– for 2-3 players. Similar to Labyrinth.
- SEVEN HILLS OF ROME
– for 2 players.
Card game sans map, the fight for the seven hills
is represented by seven cards à la Schotten-Totten.
Players compete for them by allocating cards from identical decks
something like in Raj. The tricky issue is that cards are secret
until both sides have allocated to the same hill in which case these cards
become visible. Lacks flavor, but interesting for a play or two.
Variants are also provided.
- SPARTACUS
– for 3-5 players. Similar to Ohio.
- TRIBUNAL
– for 4-7 players. Negotiation game.
- WHEEL OF HISTORY
– for 2-5 players.
Appears to be an early version of the game Tutanchamun.
Review
[Book]
L
- OSTIA
-
by Stefan Risthaus for Pro Ludo/Mayfair, 2005
Earn money and goods and donate some of them to the Senate.
For 3-5 players.
L
- PALATINUS
-
by Alessandro Zucchini for daVinci, 2005
In 780 BC participate in the original settlement of the seven hills
of Rome. A tile-laying game for 2-5 players in which farmers,
merchants and soldiers participate. Depending on their ratios, only
one type controls each hill and score points for the owning
players. A great deal of the information is hidden as except for
soldiers tiles are not revealed until the area is complete and
ready for scoring.
L
- PALATINUS INSULA TIBERINA
-
by Alessandro Zucchini & Andrés Voicu for daVinci/Abacus/Mayfair, 2006
2-5 players
This expansion kit was given away at Essen 2006. It is a new area,
the Tiberian Island, which replaces an area from the original set
drawn at random.
L
- PECUNIA NON OLET
-
by Knut Happel & Christian Fiore for Goldsieber, 2005
In this card game for 2-6 players, players represent owners of pay
water closets in ancient Rome, and seek to earn the most money.
Side note: ancient Romans used urine as an agent to get togas their
whitest white. To get the purple stripes, they used a dye made from
rotting snails. One can only imagine what these togas must have
smelled like. Think about that the next time you're watching
Rome.
L
- POMPEII
-
by Morgantini Simonini for Spiel exklusiv, 1989
Make money and then escape before the lava overwhelms.
For 2-8 players aged 8 and up.
Review: Game Cabinet
L
- POMPEJI
-
by Frank Brandt for Adlung-Spiele, 2001
Light pattern-matching game in which players lay cards so
that they do not match the cards next to them, but
score by matching cards in the same row, column or diagonal.
Review
L
- ROMA
-
by Stefan Feld for Queen, 2005
Abstract two-player power struggle.
Review
B
L
- ROMA II
-
by Stefan Feld for Queen, 2008
Re-make and/or expansion kit for the above Roma.
B
L
- QUO VADIS
-
by Reiner Knizia for Hans im Glück, 1992,
for Mayfair, 2000
Negotiation game about machinations within the Roman Senate.
Those familiar with the
cursus honorum (course of honor) actually followed by Roman
magistrates will readily recognize it in the board.
At first glance appears to be a no-holds-barred negotiation outing –
and therefore prone to long delays and boring interludes –
but actually
plays better than it à priori seems. In fact negotiation
is pretty much limited to the first half, after which it shifts
gears into becoming an interesting match in lookahead and outguess.
Features nice plastic pawn figures representing the acanthus.
Title is Latin for "Where are you going?" – probably deriving from the
famous
novel
and
film
of the same name.
Review
Review: Game Cabinet
Review:
Game Cabinet
Review:
Game Report
L
- ROMAN RUINS
-
by Decipher
Party game.
Review
Part of the "How to Host a Murder" series. Characters include
Licentius Caesar, Rotunda Immaculata, Maximus Testosterus,
Cleptopatra, Bogus Fortunatus, Flotilla Submergia, Harangus
Adnauseum, Mercedes Accelleratti.
L
- ROME
-
by Reiner Knizia for GMT, 2001
Three games from the
NEW GAMES IN OLD ROME
set have been selected for this new offering:
CIRCUS MAXIMUS, HANNIBAL VERSUS ROME and IMPERIUM.
L
- RÖMER
-
by Rudolf Ross for Hexagames, 1990
For 2-4 players aged 12 and up
Trick-taking card game dealing abstractly with Roman horses and wagons.
L
- RUBICON
-
by Giber I/S, 1990
Players roll a die to move towards Rome. Players can make
deals that either force or prevent movement. Players not
in a deal must move. Whenever a player crosses the
Rubicon, he picks up a card that can affect movement,
end the round premature, negate other cards or nullify deals.
L
- KAMPF UM ROM
STRUGGLE FOR ROME
-
by Klaus Teuber for Kosmos; 2006
For 3-4 players
Barbarians take over the late empire, Catan-style, featuring
armies, forts, supply wagons and a map covering the western empire.
Review
L
- TABULA - THE ROMAN GAME
-
by Past Times, 1990
Recreation of the ancient Roman version of what is
today better known as Backgammon. In ancient times
it was also sometimes known as Alea. The board and
components do not seem to be trying to be replicate the
ancient game except with respect to the rules.
Review
L
- TITUS
-
by Uwe Rosenberg for Adlung-Spiele, 2000
for 2 - 4 players aged 10 and up
Card collection game with a memory aspect.
Review
[Spieltrieb]
L
- TUCHULCHA
-
by Marco Donadoni for daVinci, 2003
Not strictly actually set in Roman times, but rather in those of their
predecessors of a sort, the Etruscans.
Players make sacrifices during the 6th century BC.
Review
L
- 12 CAESARS
-
by Carlo Bertocchini for Game Works, 1997
Card game in which players conduct a series of
blind auctions for one of the twelve Caesars named
in Suetonius' famous books of the same name.
Each Caesar has a different point value based on
his chronological order. There are also bonus points
gained for gaining a series. There is no attention
to theme whatever. Cards are rather flimsy.
With blind bidding and luck of the draw, there is
little to no stategy.
Review
L
Related:
- HOW TO HOST A MURDER: ROMAN RUINS
-
by Decipher
Party game.
Role-playing and solution of a mystery. Episode 11.
B
- RES PUBLICA
-
by Reiner Knizia for Hexagames, 1991 (re-issued by Salagames, 1992;
re-issued by Avalanche, 1999)
Rummy-like trading game which includes Romans
centers around trading and set collection.
The innovative mechanism is that the player wishes to arrange a trade,
but may only state either what he wants or what he wishes to give away,
but not both. This makes for some interesting considerations, but does
not seem to work very well at the top end of the number of players where
things become very static and slow.
Review
Review:
Game Cabinet
L
- REVENGE IN ROME
-
by Edna Hill Maples and Patricia A. Stewart for University Games,1985
Party game.
For 6 or more players
Games in the Murder Mystery Party series are a throwback
to the parlor games of medieval Europe. Guests assume their
roles and stay in character throughout the party in an
attempt to solve the murder. All guests are given information
to read privately which reveals their motives and hidden
pasts. A lively cross-examination should ensue. All players
must answer questions truthfully, but are not required to
provide more information than asked. An exception is the
murderer who may lie freely. Accusations are made at the
conclusion of the final chapter, the winner being the player
who guesses the author's solution correctly. The setting
of this particular mystery is Rome in the year 1985 where
an American citizen has been found dead in one of the
catacombs. The roles in the game are the deceased's son,
the son's wife, the wife's parents, the deceased's secretary
and the deceased's lawyer. A 33 and a third phonograph
record is included to provide a sense of atmosphere.
Review
B
Roman History and Culture:
Bibliography:
- Cornell, T.J.
The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the
Punic Wars (c.1000-264 BC)
(1995)
- Crawford, Michael Hewson,
The Roman Republic
(1993)
- Gruen, Erich S.,
The Last Generation of the Roman Republic
(1995)
- Hamilton, Edith,
The Roman Way
(1993)
- Langguth, A.J.,
A Noise of War: Caesar, Pompey, Octavian and the Struggle for Rome
(1994)
- Livy,
The War with Hannibal
(1965)
- Liddell Hart, Basil Henry,
Scipio Africanus/Greater than Napoleon
(1994)
- Polybius,
The Rise of the Roman Empire
(1980)
- Rodgers, William Ledyard,
Greek and Roman Naval Warfare; A Study of Strategy, Tactics, and
Ship Design from Salamis (480 B.C. to Actium) (1964)
- Scarre, Christopher,
Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the
Rulers of Imperial Rome
(1995)
- Scullard, H. H.,
A History of the Roman World 753-146 B.C.
(1991)
- Shotter, David,
The Fall of the Roman Republic
(1994)
- Solomon, Jon,
The Ancient World in the Cinema: Revised and Expanded Edition
(2001)
- Atlases:
-
Books on Roman Daily Life
Also ...
If you liked this Ludography, you may also enjoy traveling east to the
SILK ROAD.
This page created April 13, 1999.
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