Nova Roma casts you as the leader of a small group of Roman citizens seeking a new home as the empire declines. The journey begins with a humble village, but the aim is to shape it into a lasting metropolis. That growth is more than a matter of placing buildings: your citizens need food, goods, safety and leisure, while the gods expect grand temples and proper attention.
The city’s infrastructure makes the surrounding landscape part of the challenge. Dams and aqueducts let you direct water and create reservoirs, but reshaping the flow affects soil fertility, and rainy seasons can bring floods. Resources may lie far beyond the settlement, so supplying the town means building routes for raw materials and finished goods across untamed territory. Expansion therefore involves balancing urban growth against environmental risks, not simply filling available space.
As the population grows, its needs diversify, from pottery and wine to bread and games. Residents can develop into artisans, gladiators and thespians, while taxation and technological advancement add further decisions for the city’s ruler. Its water and weather simulations, alongside the threat of divine intervention, give that planning a distinctive Roman setting.
