1. Ludus duodecim scriptorum is played by two players on a board consisting of three rows of twelve points, each row of twelve being divided in half.

2. Each player has to have 15 game pieces of his own colour, either black or white. At the start of the game these pieces are off the board.

3. Three dice control the movement of the pieces. Players decide who goes first by any method they prefer.

1. The gameboard of Ludus duodecim scriptorum.

2. A piece may not land on a point if 2 or more of the opponent's pieces are already on that point.

3. A piece that's alone on a point is captured if an opponent's piece lands on that same point. The captured piece is removed from the board, and its owner must on his turn re-enter it before he can move any other piece.

4. Pieces of the same colour may be stacked upon a point, to an unlimited number.

The game is finished when one of the players has borne all 15 of his pieces off the board. He is then declared the winner of the game.

1. A player begins his turn by throwing the three dice. The player can take the numbers rolled in any order he pleases, and with each number rolled, he has to do one the following:

2. 1.) A piece waiting to enter the board may be placed on the appropriate point from 1-6.

3. 2.) A piece on the board may be moved along the course by the appropriate number of points.

4. 3.) If all of the player's pieces are on the points 1-6 at the end of the course, then a piece may be borne off the board from the appropriate point 1-6 as shown on the die - that piece has completed its race.

1. The Roman table game - Duodecim scripta or Ludus duodecim scriptorum is the ancestor of jacquet, backgammon and tabula.

2. The name of the game translates to "game of twelve markings", likely referring to the three rows of 12 markings each found on most surviving boards.

3. Very little information about specific gameplay has survived, the rules and gameplay we have are from historian attempts at reconstructing the game.

4. The game board would be carved on a table for the richer ones.Wooden, clay or often a leather one, or just a drawing on the ground for poorer people. Such various boards have been excavated all over the Roman Empire, specially in the military camps, which confirms that this game has been much enjoyed by the Roman soldiers.