Furmation of Rome

The Game

Furmation of Rome is a light card game for 2 to 4 players. Rome is being established, and you are one of the leaders building the city state. As you build the nation, you are also competing to be the most influential. Whoever can obtain the support of the most citizen classes will become the first emperor of Rome. 

There are six citizen classes - consul, clergy, legionary, philosopher, farmer and brigand. Each has a different token. 

Depending on the number of players, you will remove certain cards. For example monuments are used for 3 players or more. Brigands are used only for 4 players. The number of cards in each citizen class is important information, and you can look up those number on these reference cards. 

Citizens in the 6 classes

A player turn is simple - you play a card and you take a card. When playing a card, you can use it in one of two ways. You either place it before you to make it your supporter, or you discard it to use the power written on it. Players compare the number of supporters they have in all classes, and the token always goes to whoever has the most supporters (cards) in the specific citizen class. Using the power of a card means not being able to keep the card as your supporter, but sometimes the powers are very helpful and can turn the tide. 

When you take a card, you choose from three face-up cards at the centre of the table. It is not a blind draw from the deck. You get to choose. However your opponents can see what you have picked. 

The game ends after the deck runs out and all cards at the centre have been taken. You play all your hand cards as supporters, and then do scoring. Every token you have is 1 point. The player with the most points wins. 

With three or four players, the monuments come into play. If you have the monument and also fulfil the requirement of having three specific citizens, it scores 1 point for you. 

Brigands are used only when you have four players. These "supporters" are not played into your own supporters area. Instead they are "gifted" to an opponent. At game end, the player holding the brigand token loses 1 point. There is aggression in this game. Trailing players can gang up on the apparent leader by using brigands. 

This is a two-player game setup. There are three face-up cards at the centre of the table. You always pick a card here when you refill your hand. Your starting hand is three cards. There is a mistake here. With two players, brigands are not in play, so there should not be any brigand token. 

The Play

Gameplay is simple and smooth. On your turn, you are just playing a card and picking a card. Which classes to compete in somewhat depends on your initial draw of cards. How well you can compete depends on what cards become available at what time. You must also consider who else is competing with you. This is an area majority game. That means you can't fight everywhere. You have to pick your battles. If you try to be everywhere, you will lose everywhere and end up with nothing. You would be spreading your resources too thin. Whether to make a card your supporter or to use its power can be tricky. A supporter seems to be more permanent and reliable. Yet sometimes the powers can be highly impactful. Some of the powers are offensive in nature, so there is a take-that element. There will be some politicking among the players. Being able to play the look-weak game can be an advantage. 

How many citizens there are in every class is open information. The whole deck will be used, so you can count cards. If you want to secure a class, you have to control more than half of the citizens of that class. This seems pretty absolute. However, some powers will throw your calculation and planning off. 

The Thoughts

Furmation of Rome is the first published game from Malaysian game designer Poon Jon. I got to know Jon through TTGDMY (Tabletop Game Designers of Malaysia) and we have been playtesting each other's games for some time. I've always felt he is a designer with good design sense. He is sharp. I admire his work and always look forward to try something from him.

I have played Furmation of Rome when it was still in development. Now that it has made its way all through to production, I am pretty excited to hold it in my hands. This is a well crafted and well thought out game, not just a random take-that game. The game is simple enough that casual players will be able to handle it and have fun with it. For seasoned gamers, they will be able to appreciate the intricacies and the thought that has gone into the design. It is still a light game, but it's nevertheless a strategy game with meaningful player interaction. 

I've got my copy. Have you got yours?