# Ostia: The Harbor of Rome

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2005
- **BGG Rating**: 5.8
- **BGG Rank**: #13277
- **Players**: 3-5 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 60 min
- **Weight**: 2.49 / 5
- **Designers**: Stefan Risthaus
- **Artists**: Harald Lieske
- **Publishers**: Pro Ludo, Mayfair Games, PS-Games
- **Categories**: Ancient, Economic
- **Mechanics**: Auction / Bidding, Commodity Speculation, Trading

## Verdict
If you enjoy trading goods and making strategic bids, Ostia offers quick fun with a Roman flair.Balance of cash and prestigeDynamic auctionsEasy‑to‑learn strategic choicesExpensive warehouses limit optionsReliance on demand forecastsRECOMMENDED

## Description
Ostia: The Harbor of Rome is an economic game for 3‑5 players, with a playing time of about an hour. Each player runs a warehouse in the port of Ostia and must decide how to handle incoming goods: sell them on the market to earn cash or donate them to the Senate for victory points. The Senate rewards the player who delivers the most scarce goods each round, but it pays nothing, so the core tension is balancing money and prestige. Every round a new ranking of the Senate's most‑wanted commodities is revealed, and you can preview this list before taking actions, allowing you to keep a card for the next phase if it will be more valuable later. Only one card per warehouse can be stored, and warehouses are expensive, forcing tough choices. Auction and commodity speculation phases give the game its rhythm: you may bid for cards entering the market, buy low and sell high as demand shifts. The city‑scale map of Ostia adds thematic flavor, evoking Rome’s ancient trade routes. With a light rule weight (2.5/5), the game is quick to learn, yet the strategic layer of forecasting Senate demand and managing resources provides real depth. Perfect for fans of negotiation games who enjoy market‑trend analysis, all wrapped in a historic charm that transports the group to the heart of Roman commerce.

## FAQ
### How many players can play?
3 to 5 players.

### What is the playing time?
About 60 minutes.

### How complex is the game?
Light, with a BGG weight of 2.5/5.

### What components are included?
City map of Ostia, commodity cards, money tokens, and warehouse pieces.

### Is it suitable for fans of trading games?
Absolutely, it centers on auctions, speculation, and resource exchange.

### Are there any expansions or variants?
No official expansions have been released yet.

### What age range is recommended?
Ages 12 and up, perfect for those who enjoy history and economics.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 20.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=151263&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
  - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/2084/ostia?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com