- BGG rating
- 8.1
Hoplomachus: Army of One
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,490
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome
2013
Rules assistance for Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome is a board game released in 2013 for 1–2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Adam Carlson and Josh J. Carlson and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Cooperative Game.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Hoplomachus: Beast & Master
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2013
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Hoplomachus: Blade's Edge
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2013
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,425
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Hoplomachus: Remastered
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,567
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Hoplomachus: Origins
- 1–2 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,816
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Hoplomachus: The Lost Cities
- 1–3 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,283
- BGG rating
- 8.8
Too Many Bones: Unbreakable
- 1–4 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #167
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Too Many Bones: Undertow
- 1–2 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #323
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Cloudspire
- 1–4 players
- 90–180 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #37
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Too Many Bones
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #889
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Hoplomachus: Victorum
- 1 player
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #39
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Mage Knight Board Game
- 1–4 players
- 60–240 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #65
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,135
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Renegade
- 1–5 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #129
- BGG rating
- 8.9
The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era
- 1–4 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2025
About the game
Hoplomachus [ha-ploh-ma-kuss], or "Hoplo" for short, is a hex-based tactical board game set inside a gladiatorial arena. One to three players, each representing an ancient city/civilization thought to have been lost to the world, are now on Rome's doorstep vying for a place in the prestigious arena games. Players have a very clear objective: Eliminate the opponent's champion. Champions start the game in the arena but are inactive and defenseless. They will not fight until the crowd is behind them. Each player takes turns drawing, playing and moving gladiators from their "hand" and assisting them with tactic chips. Based on opponent's moves and play style, each person will need to adjust their strategies. Defend your champ, take over and hold the crowd favor areas, assault opponent's champion, cover deployment zones, eliminate tacticians to reduce enemy options, fight beasts to gain crowd favor, the list of tactical possibilities is endless. Hoplomachus combines combat, tactics, chip (units) management, level progression (though crowd favor system), team play, player vs board, and so much more.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Chip Theory Games
Questions and answers
Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome supports 1–2 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome belongs to these categories: Fighting and Dice. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Cooperative Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome are: Adam Carlson and Josh J. Carlson. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Hoplomachus: Rise of Rome as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.