- BGG rank
- BGG #28,069
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Take Off
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,384
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Pompeji
2001
Rules assistance for Pompeji
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.6/5
Rules assistant for Pompeji
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pompeji is a board game released in 2001 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Frank Brandt and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Push Your Luck, and Tile Placement.
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About the game
Players build the city of Pompeii in a 7x7 grid using cards that each show various building types, numbers and colors. The same building types and colors may never be placed horizontally or vertically adjacent. During placement, horizontal, vertical and diagonal "streets" emerge, and players score points when they place cards with elements that match other cards along a street. Thus, with each placement, a player has the potential to score points along 4 different streets - 2 diagonal, 1 vertical and 1 horizontal. If a card's color matches others in a street, the player scores points equal to the highest-valued card of that color. If a card's building matches others in a street, the player receives the total sum value of all the matching buildings. Players receive a 7-point bonus for placing the 7th building in a road. Players also receive one special building permit card that allows an extra or out-of-turn play and one statue card, which acts as a wild card. The game ends when the second of two volcano cards in the deck is revealed.
Editions
- PompejienAdlung-Spiele2015
- PompejideAdlung-Spiele2001
Designers
Publishers
- Adlung-Spiele
Questions and answers
Pompeji supports 2–4 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 Pompeji is 45 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 Pompeji 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.
Pompeji has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Pompeji belongs to these categories: Card Game and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Push Your Luck, and Tile Placement. 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 Pompeji are: Frank Brandt. 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 Pompeji 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.