Trajan

2011

Experience Trajan, an immersive strategy board game set in ancient Rome. Use political influence, trading, military dominion, and Roman culture to gain victory points and rise to power!

120
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Set in ancient Rome, Trajan is a development game in which players try to increase their influence and power in various areas of Roman life such as political influence, trading, military dominion and other important parts of Roman culture. The central mechanism of the game uses a system similar to that in Mancala or pit-and-pebbles games. In Trajan, a player has six possible actions: building, trading, taking tiles from the forum, using the military, influencing the Senate, and placing Trajan tiles on his tableau. At the start of the game, each player has two differently colored pieces in each of the six sections (bowls) of his tableau. On a turn, the player picks up all the pieces in one bowl and distributes them one-by-one in bowls in a clockwise order. Wherever the final piece is placed, the player takes the action associated with that bowl; in addition, if the colored pieces in that bowl match the colors shown on a Trajan tile next to the bowl (with tiles being placed at the start of the game and through later actions), then the player takes the additional action shown on that tile. What are you trying to do with these actions? Acquire victory points (VPs) in whatever ways are available to you – and since this is a Feld design, you try to avoid being punished, too. At the Forum you try to anticipate the demands of the public so that you can supply them what they want and not suffer a penalty. In the Senate you acquire influence which translates into votes on VP-related laws, ideally snagging a law that fits your long-term plans. With the military, you take control of regions in Europe, earning more points for those regions far from Rome. All game components are language neutral, and the playing time is 30 minutes per player.

Setup and rules summary

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

‘Trajan’ is a complex and strategic board game that requires careful planning and decision-making. During a player’s turn, several actions can be taken, each with its own impact on gameplay. The following is a detailed breakdown of each possible action:

1. Mancala Action:

At the start of their turn, each player must perform a Mancala action. In this action, players pick up all the action markers from one of the bowls in their player board and then distribute them one by one in clockwise order. The last marker dropped determines the player’s action for this turn.

2. Trajan Action:

If the last marker dropped matches the color of the tiles in the bowl, the player may perform a Trajan action. This action allows players to execute bonus actions, earn additional points, or receive extra resources.

3. Main Actions:

There are six main actions that a player can take:

Seaport Action: This action allows players to draw two commodity cards, ship commodities, or place their leader in the Senate.
Forum Action: In the Forum action, players can take a tile from the Forum. This tile can provide an immediate bonus, extra actions, or a permanent bonus.
Military Action: With this action, players can move their leader to a new location on the military map. This can allow players to take tiles or protect against potential threats.
Trajan Action: This action allows players to complete a Trajan tile, providing a variety of possible bonuses.
Construction Action: The Construction action allows players to construct a building by placing a worker from the worker camp onto a construction site.
Senate Action: The Senate action can help players move their senator forward, increasing their influence in the Senate and providing them with victory points.

4. End of Turn:

At the end of their turn, players draw tiles to refill the Forum if necessary, then check to see if a quarter-year has ended. If it has, scoring and other activities are performed before the next player’s turn begins.

Each action and strategic choice in ‘Trajan’ can greatly affect the outcome of the game. Players must carefully consider their options and plan their turns well in advance to ensure they maximize their potential for victory.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of Trajan ends after a player has completed the fourth Trajan tile. This signals the end of the quarter and the game concludes after the resolution of that quarter’s demand. It is important to note that the game could also end prematurely if one player exhausts the bonus tiles stack.

At the end of the game, all players will carry out the following actions before the final scoring:

Firstly, players must check their commodity cards. They must form sets of cards with the same commodity, and for each set, they earn points equal to the number of cards in the set squared.
Next, players should evaluate their construction tiles. They receive points equal to the highest visible number on the construction track for each type of building they have built.
Players then calculate points for their military markers. They get points equivalent to the highest visible number on the military track.
Finally, any remaining bonus tiles that the players haven’t used yet are also scored. Each tile has its own scoring conditions, which are specified on the tile itself.

The player with the most points is declared the winner of the game. In case of a tie, the player with the most bonus tiles wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most Senate points is the winner. If a tie persists, the player who triggered the end of the game wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Trajan’ is a complex strategy game where players aim to score the highest number of points through various activities such as politics, construction, military, and trade. Here’s how the scoring system works:

1. The Construction of Buildings:

Players earn points when they construct buildings. The type of building and its corresponding points are as follows:

Living quarters: 2 points
Workshops: 3 points
Storerooms: 4 points
Trading posts: 6 points

2. The Senate:

Players can earn points by placing their markers in the Senate. The player with the most markers at the end of each quarter scores 4 points, the second most scores 2 points.

3. The Forum:

Players earn points by collecting tiles from the forum. The point value is indicated on the tile.

4. Military Actions:

Players earn points by moving their leader on the military track. The number of points earned is indicated on the spaces of the track.

5. Trajan Tiles:

Players earn points by fulfilling the conditions on their Trajan tiles. The number of points is indicated on the tile.

6. Shipping:

Players earn points by shipping goods. They can score 1, 2 or 4 points per shipped commodity, depending on the number of different goods they decide to ship.

7. Bonus Tiles:

At the end of the game, players earn points for bonus tiles. The number of points depends on the specific conditions of each bonus tile.

8. Remaining Action Points:

At the end of the game, each player receives 1 point for every 3 unused action points.

In the event of a tie, the player with the most unused action points is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player with the most commodities in their hold is the winner. If a tie persists, the player who is later in the player order is the winner.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Trajan is a strategy board game with a variety of game elements that require special rules and exceptions. Here are some of the most important:

1. Trajan Tile Placement

In the beginning of the game, players are allowed to place their Trajan tiles in any order in the six bowls of their player board. However, once the game begins, the placement or movement of Trajan tiles is dictated by the actions of the player.

2. Senate Voting

When a player chooses the Senate action, they advance their marker on the Senate track. However, they do not immediately gain the advantage of the Senate space they land on. This advantage is only gained during the Quarter Year Scoring, where the player with the most influence in the Senate (i.e., the furthest along the Senate track) gains a special bonus.

3. Forum Tiles

Once a player has taken a Forum tile, they must immediately decide whether to use it or keep it. Some tiles offer immediate benefits, while others can be used later in the game. Once a decision is made, it cannot be changed.

4. Military Actions

A player can choose to move their Leader to a new province, move Legionnaires to the province where their Leader is currently located, or draw a new province tile. However, they must have enough military cards to perform these actions. If a player has no military cards, they cannot perform a military action.

5. Construction Actions

When a player chooses the Construction action, they can either take a new Construction tile from the game board or build one of their previously acquired Construction tiles. However, to build a Construction tile, a player must have a Worker in the same city.

6. End of the Game Scoring

At the end of the game, players receive points for their remaining resources, such as unused Trajan tiles, unused Forum tiles, remaining construction tiles, and unplayed extra action tokens. They also receive points for the number of citizens they have in the Senate and the number of provinces they control.

7. Extra Actions

Extra actions can be performed by players in addition to their normal action. These actions include using an extra action token, using a Forum tile, or using the effect of a bonus tile. However, these actions must be performed immediately after the normal action and cannot be saved for later.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Trajan is a complex and strategic board game, which can be overwhelming for beginners. However, with the right strategy and understanding of the game, you can become a pro in no time. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

Optimize your actions: Each turn, you can only perform one action so make sure it counts. Think ahead about what you want to achieve and plan your turns accordingly. Remember, the most efficient use of your actions often leads to victory.
Strategic Trajan tile placement: The placement of your Trajan tiles should be in line with your overall strategy. If you’re planning to gather a lot of resources, for example, place your Trajan tiles in such a way that you can achieve this.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the game mechanics: Trajan is a complex game with many nuances. The more you understand about the game mechanics, the better you can strategize. Take your time to read the rulebook and watch tutorial videos if needed.
Start with small goals: Don’t try to achieve everything at once. Focus on smaller, achievable goals such as collecting certain resources or achieving a specific Trajan tile. This will help you to understand the game better and gradually build up your strategy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring the Trajan tiles: Many beginners make the mistake of ignoring the Trajan tiles. These tiles can provide powerful bonuses and greatly enhance your strategy if used correctly.
Overlooking other players’ strategies: Trajan is not just about your own strategy but also about reacting to other players’. If you ignore what others are doing, you might find yourself missing out on opportunities to block their plans or capitalize on their mistakes.

How to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan ahead: The key to winning in Trajan is to plan your actions several turns in advance. This allows you to be strategic and make the most of each turn.
Balance your strategy: While it’s important to focus on a strategy, it’s also crucial to maintain a balance. Don’t focus so heavily on one aspect of the game that you neglect others. Diversified strategies often lead to success in Trajan.
Constantly adapt: In Trajan, the game state can change rapidly. Be ready to adapt your strategy as the game progresses to stay ahead of your opponents.