- BGG rating
- 7.4
The Downfall of Pompeii: The Dancing Flames
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #779
- BGG rating
- 7.2
The Downfall of Pompeii
2004
Rules assistance for The Downfall of Pompeii
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Downfall of Pompeii
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Downfall of Pompeii is a board game released in 2004 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Variable Set-up.
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About the game
The year is AD 79. Pompeii, sitting at the foot of Vesuvius, is at the high point in its development. People come to the city from far and wide to try to make their luck in the city. So far nobody has dreamed of the danger that will bury all of their dreams under mountains of ash just ten years later. Who will survive the eruption of Vesuvius unscathed? The simple rules make it easy to get started with The Downfall of Pompeii, a game in which a lot of tactical know-how is required – along with a little luck – in order to bring your pieces out of the city at the right time. The game falls into two halves: before and after the eruption of Vesuvius. Before the eruption, players play cards to place their pieces in buildings. After the first eruption, they can also place as many relatives as the number of pieces already in the building they placed their piece in. When Omen cards are drawn, the player can take any opponent's piece and throw it into the erupting volcano. In this manner, players try to get as many pieces onto the board as close to the exits from the city as possible. After the second eruption, the game changes. Now each player places a lava tile, which kills any pieces on that square and may block exits from the city. Then they move two pieces toward the exits, moving them a number of squares equal to the pieces on the square from which they started. The player who gets the most pieces out of the city wins. ••• The 2013 second edition of The Downfall of Pompeii includes three dual vent tiles and a new "Dual Vent" variant.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- AMIGO
- Maldito Games
- Mayfair Games
Questions and answers
The Downfall of Pompeii 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 The Downfall of Pompeii 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 The Downfall of Pompeii for ages 10 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.
The Downfall of Pompeii has a complexity rating of 1.8 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.
The Downfall of Pompeii belongs to these categories: Ancient. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Variable Set-up. 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 The Downfall of Pompeii are: Klaus-Jürgen Wrede. 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 The Downfall of Pompeii 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.