Overview

Aqua Romana is a tile-laying game set in ancient Rome where players build aqueducts. Each player, as a building principal, tries to make their aqueducts as long as possible using master builders who supply specific aqueduct components (curves, straights, bridges, double curves). Players score points based on aqueduct length when aqueducts are closed off, and bonus points are awarded at game end to the highest-scoring workmen.

Components

• 1 game board with 84 blank playing squares and 4 pre-printed aqueduct components
• 84 tiles (4 types: curves, straight sections, bridges, double curves)
• 4 starting tiles (water reservoirs) in 4 player colors (each has 3-outlet and 4-outlet sides)
• 17 wooden master builders (with stickers for component types)
• 16 wooden workmen in 4 player colors (4 per player)
• 20 podiums at the board edge (numbered for scoring)
• 1 sheet of stickers
• 1 set of instructions

Setup

1. Place the board in the center.
2. Place 1 of each kind of master builder (curve, double curve, straight, bridge, joker) in the reserve area (top right of board).
3. Starting with the first player, players take turns placing the remaining master builders onto any square of the pathway around the board (1 per square).
4. Each player takes a water reservoir in their chosen color and their matching workmen.
5. 2 players: Each player takes 2 reservoirs (first player: yellow + blue; second: the other two). Use the 3-outlet side.
6. 3 players: Use the 4-outlet side.
7. 4 players: Use the 3-outlet side.
8. Place reservoirs on the board as shown in the rules. Place 1 workman at each outlet.
9. The eldest player begins. Play proceeds clockwise.

Turn Structure

On each turn, a player performs these actions in order:

1. Extend an aqueduct (or handle special cases)
2. Close off aqueducts (if applicable)
3. Score closed-off aqueducts (if applicable)
4. Claim reserve master builders (if aqueducts were closed)

Actions

Extending an Aqueduct:

1. Choose one of your workmen on an aqueduct.
2. The workman must have a master builder in their “line of sight” (on the pathway, in a straight horizontal or vertical line from the workman’s square).
3. Choose one visible master builder, take the corresponding tile from the stockpile, and lay it to extend the aqueduct in front of the workman.
4. Move the workman to the new end of the aqueduct.
5. Move the used master builder clockwise to the next free pathway square.
6. If the master builder passes a fountain (corner), lay an additional tile of the same type on any free square NOT adjacent to an aqueduct end.

Tile Placement Rules:

• Tiles must extend the aqueduct (placed in front of the workman).
• A tile may close off another player’s aqueduct or your own.
• A tile CANNOT join 2 aqueducts together (no aqueduct may connect to 2 reservoirs).
• Free tiles not connected to a reservoir can be connected to an aqueduct.
• Only tiles connected to a reservoir count as part of an aqueduct.

Compulsory Turn: If you can legally move one of your own workmen, you must do so. If not, you may use another player’s workman (even if disadvantageous).

No Master Builder Available: If no player has a workman with a master builder in line of sight, no tile is placed. Instead, move any master builder clockwise to the next free pathway square (no extra tile if passing a fountain).

Tile Type Exhausted: If the needed tile type is out of stock, take any other available tile instead.

Closing Off Aqueducts:

• An aqueduct is closed off when it can no longer be extended (blocked by a tile that doesn’t continue it, or it reaches the board edge).
• After placing a tile, if you did NOT close any of your own aqueducts, you may voluntarily close off one of your own.

Joker Master Builder: When used, the player may lay any available tile type.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Scoring Closed Aqueducts:

• Count the number of squares the aqueduct passes over. Each square = 1 point.
• If the aqueduct passes over a square twice, that square counts for 2 points.
• The starting reservoir tile does NOT count.
• Place the workman on the podium matching the score. If occupied, use the next highest available podium.
• Podiums “3” and “7” can hold 2 workmen each; all others hold 1.
• Scores above 20: workman goes on the highest free podium; excess points are lost.
• If multiple aqueducts close in one turn, the active player’s workmen score first, then others clockwise.

Reserve Master Builders: For each aqueduct closed during a turn, the owning player takes 1 reserve master builder (if any remain) and places it on any free pathway square before their next turn.

End of Game:

• If no tiles are laid for an entire round, the game ends with the player who laid the last tile.
• Open aqueducts still score, beginning with the current player.

Final Scoring Bonuses:

• Highest podium workman: +4 bonus points
• Second highest: +3 bonus points
• Third highest: +2 bonus points
• Total score = sum of all podium scores + bonuses.
• Highest total wins. Ties share the victory.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• A workman has 4 possible lines of sight (horizontal and vertical in both directions).
• Laying one tile can close off multiple aqueducts simultaneously.
• When multiple aqueducts close, the active player places workmen first, then others clockwise.
• Podium space is limited; closing aqueducts at the right time is strategically important.
• Including bonuses, an aqueduct can score more than 20 points total.

Player Reference

Component	Count
Tile types	Curves, Straights, Bridges, Double Curves
Master builders	17 total (5 in reserve at start)
Workmen per player	4 (2 players: 6 across 2 reservoirs)
Outlets	3 (2 or 4 players) or 4 (3 players)

Podium Bonus	Points
Highest workman	+4
Second highest	+3
Third highest	+2