Rome and Write 2025

Rome wasn’t built in a day. It was planned in 15-30 minutes. Welcome to Rome and Write! Grab the card files, the game sheet, a pen, and let’s go!

Players simultaneously write in the revealed building on their city sheet. The Emperor is demanding though, as he feels a colosseum might fit better in the other end of the city, or the baths might look better closer to the insulae. Also, are there enough aqueducts? Lets hope so, your future citizens will need water to drink!

In Rome and Write, there's plenty of challenge and excitement as each card potentially saves the Emperor more money. But are the savings at the expense of a flourishing ancient city? Only strategic planning and attention to detail, along with some disapproval along the way, assures the best possible outcome. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day! Rome and Write is played over two rounds

In the first round, all choices are secret. Players are constructing the first half of their cities privately in order to determine which half of their city will be counted. The Emperor has graciously agreed to pay half the cost, but only if you follow his instructions. You must stay within budget, or you'll get a disapproval. Oh, you want to know a landmark in advance or skip adding something? That's a disapproval. For each disapproval, you'll lose part of your precious budget.

In the second round, all choices are public knowledge and players will determine how to build the last half of the city to save the most money. The city needs to be efficient and awesome, but only if it doesn't cost too much. At the end of the game, the player that saves the most money will win.

In the above example, the yellow highlighted row went over budget and there are 3+ of the same landmark in the far left column highlighted in red. Both resulted in disapprovals. Disapprovals are gained throughout the game and during end game scoring so balancing your city based on ridiculous suggestions from the Emperor is very important.

The landmark card below is an example of a card you will encounter. Colosseums are very expensive but if you manage to get three touching, any one landmark is free and is crossed out, as shown in the top right square of the city above with an X.

Each card depicts a landmark and a coin value only for simplicity, while the sheet gives you the information you need to play!

—description from the publisher