The die is cast! This title can direct us the topic and the main mechanics of the game from Alea Publishing to bring near. We are in ancient Rome as possible and try to conquer and occupy many provinces with senators. We do not need armies or resources, but the favor of Fortune, which allows us to expand our influence by means of dice.

The game of Jeffrey D. Allers and Bernd Eisenstein contains (as its name suggests) of which die and indeed a lot. For each of the five players up to eight hexagram are included. In addition, panels are included for the building of Rome (Senatus, Templum, Castrum, Roman Forum and the latrine) and markers / plates for senators, provinces, Senate resolutions, Fortune's influence and the starting players and the so-called "Repete" chips.

At the beginning of the game all the panels built and equipped with the appropriate markers. Then each player receives his cube and the first player gets the start player marker. The rally consists of a player throwing his dice, and inserting the same to one of the buildings, it may already be lying cubes added. This is used so long until one player has all of his dice. Then players may throw the current round to start player again, and then it comes to the evaluation. A total of five such rounds are played. After the player has won, who could achieve the most points.

Each of the buildings of Rome, called for other cube (combinations) and has other advantages.

Templum
The temple is about the homage of the gods. In this case, Fortuna is in the foreground. This is with Fortuna markers represented in the temple. The markers show each one to three victory points. When inserting it's about the highest value of the cube stored away. It must be the first player one die, the other two players to use and so on. For each set cube one must take a Fortuna markers. In the player, who has retained the end, achieved the highest sum of all the markers reached and each other only one.

Senatus
In the Senate it comes to the Senate resolutions. These markers show special rules (special points, specific provinces, ...). Use here are at least three rows of cubes (eg 1-2-3). In one series is superior if it has higher values, or longer. The player, who has in the end the most significant number may pick from the top three Senate resolutions one, the second from the remaining one and must take the remaining third.

Castrum
In the barracks is about to conquer provinces. There are always four provinces openly. On each of these provinces are mapped to four game points. To get this, players must use this same cube. This is a series of higher quality if it has higher levels or longer. In the order of the rows of cubes, the players may take the provinces themselves.

Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is located under each (the custom in the number of players) columns a senator or a senator. These each have the color of a province and a score of one to three. here are used single dice or cubes pairs, which do not exceed the value of five. In the dice are placed on each of the columns. They are always starting from the left (if already available cube) is set to the field with an equivalent or higher dice.

All other cubes are pushed to the right. Is no room for a cube, the cube is in the latrine. In the evaluation, the dice are evaluated from left to right. The current player may take one of the senators themselves and to place one of its provinces. This may in one province only live a couple of the appropriate color, and only if senators manage a province, they will be evaluated at the end.

Latrine
All cubes, which are slipped out from the Roman Forum, or were not used at the end of each round are in the latrine. For each of the dice there is a "Repete! Chip. These have two functions. First, there are two worth of these chips, one victory point, and for the supply of these chips, the active players throw any number of their dice again before he to use them.

The game impresses with his catchy mechanism and its short playing time. However, also included in the game Fortuna has a say a powerful word. In the luck factor with any player is more bigger, because the dice rolls and especially the activities of the other players can be anticipated. Where it is necessary for two or strategic considerations that we take in game five of us can get what you. So true strategists are not required, but for casual gamers with a penchant for the small hexagram is Alea Est iacta a genuine recommendation.

Tags: Alea , Ravensburger