Pyramid Review
Settlers of Catan: Histories II: Conquest of Rome
Published By Mayfair Games
Designed By Klaus Teuber
Game board; 40 plunder counters (in Five differently-colored Territories); 90 cards (12 VP, 30 Development, 48 Resource), 4 resource "strike" counters, 40 gold coins (denominations I, V), 4 turn overview charts, 2 dice, 1 legionnaire figure, rulebook, "over 100" miniature plastic figures (four players' colors, divided into 8 footman, 8 horseman, and 10 wagons each); $49.00
In Settlers of Catan Histories II: Conquest of Rome, second in the Historical series of Settlers of Catan games, the North Mediterranean provinces of Rome are open to invasion by opportunistic barbarian tribes. Players each take control of a pair of such tribes to pillage, and then eventually settle and divide up the Roman provinces.
As a self-contained game, rather than a simple scenario, some resources are familiar to Settlers of Catan veterans, such as Ore and Wheat, while others are new: Gold and "Livestock" (Horses and Cattle).
The board itself will also look somewhat familiar, as its features resemble a pre-made Settlers of Catan board with resources and production numbers already printed in place, tailored toward historical production values in mind. The four resources draws are: Ore, Grain, Livestock (face-down random draws of Cattle or Horse cards), and Gold (in plastic coins with values of I and V).
As with all Settlers of Catan releases by Mayfair games, the board is of good quality, with . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: February 1, 2008
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