The central mechanism of the game uses a system similar to that in Mancala or pit-and-pebbles games. Players have six possible actions: building, trading, taking tiles from the forum, using the military, influencing the Senate, and placing Trajan tiles on their tableau.

At the start of the game, each player has two differently colored pieces in each of the six sections (bowls) of his tableau. On a turn, the player picks up all the pieces in one bowl and distributes them one-by-one in bowls in a clockwise order. Wherever the final piece is placed, the player takes the action associated with that bowl. Ifthe  colored pieces in that bowl match the colors shown on a Trajan tile next to the bowl (with tiles being placed at the start of the game and through later actions), then the player takes the additional action shown on that tile.

Actions allow players to acquire VPs in whatever ways are available to them.

Quality resorts will earn the most points, but only if players have a clear view of the sea!

BID – Players will simultaneously choose and reveal two bid cards at the start of each round. Players must balance how they prioritize the auctions and the tiles they hope to draft!

DRAFT – Based on their bids, players draft tiles from the bid board. Your tiles determine where on the cliffside you can build that turn, how many building blocks you add to your stockpile, and the quality of your new construction.

BUILD – Compete for seaside views as you build in three dimensions on a tiered cliffside!

SCORE – players score points for having quality buildings with a clear view out to sea, but also for collecting gelato and capitalizing on the public goal cards! 

We used the cliffside crowding expansion which expands the game from 16 to 25 plots and from 4 to 6 players – as we had the full complement of 6 players.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/383190/positano