# Glory to Rome

Glory to Rome is a board game for 2–5 players. It plays in 60 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 4. It is rated 6.7 out of 10 by 43 Ludoya reviewers.

- **Players:** 2–5 (best with 4)
- **Playing time:** 60 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 2.9 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2005
- **Categories:** City Building, Economic, Card Game, Ancient
- **Mechanics:** End Game Bonuses, Variable Phase Order, Multi-Use Cards, Set Collection, Hand Management, Follow, Sudden Death Ending
- **Ludoya rating:** 6.7 out of 10, from 43 reviews
- **Owned by:** 77 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 342
- **Unique players:** 202

**Designers:** Carl Chudyk, Ed Carter (III)

**Artists:** Valerio Cioni, Heiko Günther, Klemens Franz, Ed Carter (III), Igor Wolski, Felix Girke

**Publishers:** Cambridge Games Factory, (Web published)

## Expansions

- [Glory to Rome: Republic Expansion](https://www.ludoya.com/games/glory-to-rome-republic-expansion)
- [Glory to Rome: Promo Cards](https://www.ludoya.com/games/glory-to-rome-promo-cards)

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## Rules questions

### If I lead a Role, can multiple players follow and do they all get actions?

Yes — after you lead, each other player in clockwise order may follow or Think; you (the Leader) perform one action for leading plus one extra per Client of that Role, and each follower gets one action plus extras for their Clients (players who Thought still get actions for their Clients). (p.4)

### What exactly happens when a player 'Thinks' — can they partially refill their hand or draw only a Jack?

When you Think you immediately take one Thinker option: take one Jack (if available), or draw up to your hand refill size (normally five) — you must draw to full hand and cannot partially refill — or draw one extra if you are already at/above refill size; if the Leader Thinks the turn ends and others do not follow. (p.4)

### Can I place a Foundation from my hand on any Site, including Out of Town, and may I start a Foundation with the same name as another player?

You may lay a Foundation from your hand onto a matching Site by performing an Architect or Craftsman action, but not if no matching Site remains or you already have that Foundation/Structure in play; you may, however, lay a Foundation with the same name as an opponent’s, and Out of Town Sites require two consecutive Architect/Craftsman actions on the same turn unless you have a matching Client. (p.6)

### When is a Structure completed and who gets the Influence and its Function?

A Structure is completed when it has its Foundation, Site and the required number of Material cards (per its Value); upon completion you immediately take the Site (gain the listed Influence) and gain the Structure’s Function, and you may benefit from both on that same turn. (p.7)

### How does the Merchant action and Vault work — are Vault cards public and how are Merchant Bonuses awarded?

A Merchant action moves one Material from your Stockpile face-down into your Vault (which is limited by your current Influence); the number of cards in your Vault is public and the identity of a card is revealed only on the turn you put it in (afterward it is hidden); at game end Vault card values count as Victory Points and a 3‑point Merchant Bonus is awarded for each Material to the player with the most of that Material in their Vault (ties cancel). (p.8)

### What immediately ends the game and how are final points calculated?

The game ends immediately if the draw deck runs out, non‑Out‑of‑Town Sites are exhausted, a Catacomb is completed, a Forum victory condition is met, or players surrender; score is 1 VP per Influence + the combined Value of Vault cards + 3 VP per Merchant Bonus + any Structure‑granted VPs, highest total wins (ties: most cards in hand). (Endgame & scoring p.9; Wall scoring example p.16)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/glory-to-rome)
- [Glory to Rome in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/glory-to-rome)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19857)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._