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Furmation of Rome

No, the title isn't a misprint. Designer Poon Jon and publishers nPips have turned formation into their invented word furmation because the game represents all the different classes of Roman citizen as cute furry anthropomorphised cats with art by Chia Pek Fann.



In this very accessible card game, the 2-4 players have a hand of three cards, replenished at the end of each turn by drafting a card from a market display. Most of the cards represent one of five classes of citizen (six in a four-player game) and on your turn you can either 'Settle' one of your citizens in your tableau or you can play a citizen card to the discard pile for the text effect written on the card. Players score for having a majority of a citizen class at the end of the game (when the draw deck is exhausted), so Settling becomes a back and forth tussle for each citizen class as the game progresses. Playing a card for its text effect means sacrificing a contribution to your 'area control' usually in favour of a 'take that' action to deprive another player of their advantage. Note tho' there are also cards with text that lets you manipulate your own Settled cards by turning them face down to switch their class. If you're playing with three or four players, players can also score by Settling monument cards. These score provided you have also Settled the requisite citizens.



With two players, Furmation of War feels primarily like a tug-of-war. Adding in the monuments gives the three- and four-player game a different dynamic because the monument cards offer many more scoring opportunities than the 'area control'-style citizen majorites. Most players will ordinarily find it quite easy to satisfy the Settled citizen scoring requirements for their monument cards, but of course other players may try to scupper your plans by attacking your citizens through 'take that' card play...


When the game ends, players automatically Settle the three cards they held in their hands. Canny card counters will have kept track of what cards others have drafted so they won't be taken by surprise by the cards that other players have in hand but if you're playing with less attentive opponents this offers scope for bluff and points-winning reveals.


Furmation of Rome may only be available in Malaysia at the moment but nPips have indicated that they are hoping to arrange wider international distribution.


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