
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,358
- BGG rating
- 7.1
City of Iron
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2013

Rules assistance for Roam: Gem Maps
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Roam: Gem Maps is an expansion for Roam released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Ryan Laukat and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Pattern Building, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
Small expansion available to backers of the Roam Kickstarter campaign. This expansion adds a gem map card that each player gets at the start of the game. Players can then collect gems during their turn that can be placed on spaces on the gem map. At the end of the game, completed gem patterns on the gem map gives the player end game points. The Gem Maps expansion will include a set of 4 gem map cards and 120 gem tokens.
Roam: Gem Maps 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 Roam: Gem Maps is 30–45 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 Roam: Gem Maps for ages 8 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.
Roam: Gem Maps has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Roam: Gem Maps belongs to these categories: Fantasy and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Pattern Building, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. 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 Roam: Gem Maps are: Ryan Laukat. 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 Roam: Gem Maps as an expansion for Roam. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Roam to use it. Check that your edition of Roam is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.