Aqua Romana
| Aqua Romana | |
|---|---|
 Game scene |
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| Game data | |
| author | Martin Schlegel |
| graphic | Michael Menzel |
| publishing company | Queen Games |
| Publishing year | 2005 |
| Art | Board game |
| Teammates | 2 to 4 |
| Duration | 45 - 60 minutes |
| Age | from 8 years
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| Awards | |
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Game of the year 2006: nominated |
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Aqua Romana is a board game by Martin Schlegel that was published by Queen Games at the end of 2005 . 2-4 players, ages 8+, build by placing tiles on water pipes. One round lasts 45–60 minutes.
The game was on the 2006 nomination list for the Game of the Year Critics' Award .
Theme and equipment
Each player builds three or four aqueducts that start at a reservoir. His workers need eye contact with the builders who show them the course.
The water pipes are assembled on a rectangular field from small square plates, which are printed with four types (straight line, curve, intersection, double connection, each at a corner). The players' figures are made of wood, as are the builders.
Course of the game
At the beginning the playing figures (workers) stand on the color-coded water outlets of the reservoirs and are pulled along with the construction of the water pipes, so that they each indicate the end of a continuous pipe and its owner.
The player on the turn chooses which of his lines he wants to continue building. To do this, the worker must stand in the visual axis (vertical or horizontal) of one of the builder figures placed on the edge. The marking on the builder's stomach indicates which of the four types of tiles the worker must use. If a worker has several builders in his line of sight, the player can choose one and the tile. There is a compulsion to move, so only one worker has visual contact with a builder and if his tile type is unsuitable, it must still be installed.
After the move, the builder used advances one space on the outer edge, so new figures come into his field of vision. If a player cannot move at all, he moves a builder of his choice one space forward.
If a line can no longer be built because it is blocked by tiles that are already in place, it is scored. The worker is removed from the game and placed on a scoring platform according to the length of his aqueduct. Because a podium (with two exceptions) can only be occupied by one worker, it can happen that if there is a tie, the later one slides down.
In the final scoring, all podium steps of a color are added up and linked with some bonus points for the absolutely longest lines. The player with the highest score wins.
Target group and gameplay
Aqua Romana is a game that is also suitable for little players. There aren't too many rules, which makes it easy to get started. Despite the small scope of the rules, there is a considerable depth of tactics in the course of the game, which gives the experienced player advantages. One of the tactics is to use the “right” builders. The ones that you can only reach yourself should be left standing and at the same time try to use the master builders, who can be used by several players, to your own advantage. It is also important to make the leap onto the podium at the right moment. If that happens too late, you have to accept considerable point deductions. Here it is necessary to correctly assess the development potential of your own water pipes.
Web links
- Aqua Romana at Queen Games
- Aqua Romana in the Luding games database
- Aqua Romana in the games database BoardGameGeek (English)
- Review at H @ ll 9000