How Do You Play Pandemic Fall of Rome?

By Robert Palmer

How Do You Play Pandemic Fall of Rome?

Pandemic Fall of Rome is an exciting cooperative board game where players work together to save the ancient Roman Empire from collapse. In this article, we will explore the rules and strategies of this game to help you get started on your mission.

Setting up the Game

Before diving into the gameplay, let’s first understand how to set up the game:

  1. Components: Open the game box and familiarize yourself with its components. This includes the game board, player pawns, player cards, event cards, barbarian cards, and Roman city tokens.
  2. Game Board: Unfold the game board and place it in the center of your playing area.

    The board represents the Roman Empire divided into regions.

  3. Pawn Placement: Each player chooses a color and places their pawn on Rome, which is located in the center of the board.
  4. Roman Cities: Shuffle the Roman city tokens and place one face-up on each region matching its color. These tokens represent cities that need protection.
  5. Barbarian Cards: Shuffle the barbarian cards and draw a number based on your chosen difficulty level. Place these cards face-up next to the game board.

The Gameplay

Pandemic Fall of Rome follows a turn-based system where players work together to fight off invading barbarians and protect vulnerable Roman cities. Here are some key points about gameplay:

Movement

Your pawn can move between connected regions by spending action points. Each movement costs one action point.

Actions

On your turn, you can perform up to four actions. These actions include moving, treating a city, building fortifications, drawing player cards, and more. Discuss with your teammates to plan the most effective actions.

Combatting Barbarians

Barbarian cards represent the armies invading the Roman Empire. Players must work together to defeat these barbarians by playing matching sets of cards.

TIP: Communication and coordination with your team are crucial for success.

Winning or Losing

The game can end in two ways:

  • Victory: You win the game if you complete all the objectives before running out of time or if you defeat all barbarians on the board.
  • Defeat: You lose if Rome is sacked or if you run out of time before completing all objectives.

Tips and Strategies

To improve your chances of winning Pandemic Fall of Rome, consider these strategies:

  1. Prioritize Objectives: Focus on completing objectives as they are crucial to victory. Assign specific roles to players based on their abilities to maximize efficiency.
  2. Beware of Rome: Keep an eye on Rome as its defense is vital. If too many barbarians invade Rome, it can be quickly sacked, resulting in defeat.
  3. Utilize Special Abilities: Each player has unique abilities that can be used strategically.

    Coordinate with your team to make the most of these special powers.

  4. Carefully Manage Cards: Player cards are valuable resources. Use them wisely to combat barbarians, build fortifications, and take advantage of special events.
  5. Communicate and Collaborate: Communication is key in Pandemic Fall of Rome. Regularly exchange information with your teammates to make informed decisions and plan ahead.

With these guidelines, you are now ready to embark on your journey to save the Roman Empire in Pandemic Fall of Rome. Gather your team, strategize, and work together to achieve victory!