Colosseum

To set up Colosseum, first lay out the game board. Each player places their score token on the '0' space of the scoring track. Colosseums are assembled on the board according to the player count, with specific spots designated for 3, 4, or 5 players. Shuffle two stacks of starting event programs (numbered 1-5 and 6-10) and deal one from each stack to every player. Each player starts with 30 coins. Shuffle all starting asset tiles (blue and green backs) and deal a specific number to each player based on player count (8 for 3 players, 6 for 4 players, 5 for 5 players). Any remaining starting asset tiles are randomly placed into five groups of three on the board's market spaces. Star performer tokens are awarded to players who have at least three of a specific asset type and the most of that type among all players. The remaining normal asset tiles (yellow lion back) are placed into a draw bag. Finally, create general supplies for event program tiles, Colosseum expansions, season tickets, emperor's lodges, emperor medals, podium tiles, and coins. Place the turn marker on Round 1.

The primary objective in Colosseum is to host the most spectacular event, measured by the highest single attendance score achieved in any of the five rounds. Players are not accumulating points throughout the game; rather, their score token on the track always reflects their personal best attendance score. The player who has achieved the highest personal best by the end of the fifth round is declared the winner.

Each round of Colosseum consists of five distinct phases, executed in turn order starting with the current first player. Phase 1: Investing – Players can buy new event programs, expand their arena, purchase season tickets, or construct an emperor's loge. Phase 2: Acquiring Event Asset Tokens – Players bid in auctions for groups of asset tiles from the market. Phase 3: Trading Event Asset Tokens – Players can freely trade asset tokens and money with each other. Phase 4: Producing an Event – Players roll dice to move nobles into their Colosseum, announce an event program, and calculate their attendance score. Phase 5: Closing Ceremony – The leading player earns a podium, players discard one asset token used in the latest event, and the last-place player steals an asset token from the leader. The turn marker advances, and the first player token rotates clockwise.

During the 'Producing an Event' phase, players calculate their event's attendance score. This score is determined by the base value of the chosen event program (adjusted if missing required assets), plus 5 points for each previously produced event, 5 points for each season ticket owned, 4 points for each star performer award (if the corresponding asset type was used in the event), 7 points for the Emperor if present in the Colosseum, 5 points for each Consul in the Colosseum, 3 points for each Senator in the Colosseum, 3 points for each podium owned, and an additional 3 points for each Emperor Medal turned in. The total attendance score is immediately converted into coins from the bank, and the player's score token on the track is updated only if this new score surpasses their previous personal best.

The game concludes at the end of the fifth round. Unlike the preceding rounds, the 'Closing Ceremony' phase (Phase 5) is not executed in the final round. Instead, after all players have completed their 'Producing an Event' phase (Phase 4), the game immediately ends. The winner is the player whose score token is furthest along the scoring track, indicating the highest single event attendance score achieved throughout the game. In case of a tie for the highest score, the tied player with the most money wins. If still tied, the tied player with the most star performer tokens wins.