Age of Steam is a highly strategic train-themed board game designed by Martin Wallace. It focuses on building rail networks, delivering goods, and managing the finances of a burgeoning railway company. The game is known for its deep economic and logistical challenges, requiring players to make crucial decisions about network expansion, goods delivery, and company management.
Game Concept: Age of Steam
Objective:
Players aim to build the most successful railway company by expanding their rail network, delivering goods efficiently, and managing their finances. Victory points are earned primarily by delivering goods, expanding track, and connecting cities. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins.
Components
Game Board:
- The board consists of a hex grid with various cities and towns marked on it. Cities are color-coded to indicate the types of goods they produce.
Goods Cubes:
- Goods cubes come in different colors, matching the cities on the board. They represent the goods that players will transport along their railway networks.
Track Tiles:
- Hexagonal tiles that represent railway tracks players build on the board. There are straight tracks, curves, and special track configurations.
Player Markers:
- Each player has markers to indicate their presence on the board, their income level, and other statuses like turn order.
Money Tokens:
- Used to manage players' finances. Money is tight in Age of Steam, and careful financial planning is crucial.
Dice:
- Used to determine the initial distribution of goods cubes on the game board.
Turn Track and Income Track:
- Tracks to keep record of the game round, player order, and income levels.
Player Boards:
- Used for tracking players' locomotive level, track ownership, and urbanization status.
Setup
Set Up the Board:
- Place the game board in the center of the table. Randomly distribute goods cubes onto the cities using the dice and goods distribution rules specified in the rulebook.
Select Player Colors:
- Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding player markers and track tiles.
Place Initial Tracks:
- In the first round, players select starting cities and place their initial track.
Determine Starting Player:
- Randomly determine the starting player for the first round.
Distribute Starting Money:
- Each player starts with a set amount of money, which they use to bid for turn order, build tracks, and perform other actions.
Gameplay Overview
Age of Steam is played over several rounds, each consisting of multiple phases. Players bid for turn order, choose special actions, build rail networks, deliver goods, and manage their income and expenses.
Turn Phases:
- 1. Determine Turn Order: Players bid to determine the turn order. Bidding is crucial as being first can provide strategic advantages.
- 2. Choose Special Actions: In turn order, players select special actions like Urbanization (building a new city) or Engineer (building more track) that provide unique advantages during the round.
- 3. Issue Shares: Players can issue shares to gain money, which provides immediate funds but reduces income due to dividends paid at the end of each round.
- 4. Build Track: Players build railway tracks on the board, paying money based on the terrain and track type.
- 5. Move Goods: Players deliver goods cubes from cities to other cities. Deliveries increase the player's income and score points based on the length of the delivery route.
- 6. Collect Income: Players receive income based on their deliveries. Income levels are adjusted on the income track.
- 7. Pay Expenses: Players must pay operating costs, including the cost of issued shares. Failure to pay can result in losing victory points.
- 8. Adjust Turn Order and Clean Up: The turn order is adjusted based on the players' choices, and the game proceeds to the next round.
Track Building:
- Players build tracks on hexes, paying costs based on the terrain and track configuration. Connecting cities efficiently is key to maximizing goods delivery.
Goods Delivery:
- Players deliver goods by moving goods cubes along their rail network. The longer the delivery route, the more points are scored, but the goods must be delivered to a city matching the color of the goods cube.
Income and Expenses:
- Players' income is tracked on the income track. Higher income means more money for future rounds, but expenses such as track maintenance and share dividends must also be paid.
Game End:
- The game ends after a predetermined number of rounds (usually 7-10). Players calculate their final score based on delivered goods, track presence, and other bonuses. The player with the most points wins.
Rules
Turn Order Bidding:
- Players bid for turn order, and the highest bidder chooses first. This can be crucial for selecting special actions and building key routes.
Special Actions:
- Special actions provide strategic benefits, such as building additional track, upgrading locomotives, or urbanizing new cities. Each action can only be chosen by one player per round.
Track Building:
- Tracks must connect existing cities or towns and follow specific building rules. Players can only build a limited number of track tiles per round unless they select a special action to build more.
Goods Movement:
- Goods can only be moved along completed rail networks. Players score points based on the length of the delivery route, and the goods must be delivered to a city matching the goods cube's color.
Income Track and Expenses:
- As players earn income from delivering goods, they move up the income track. However, they must also manage expenses, including paying dividends on issued shares.
Share Issuance:
- Players can issue shares to gain money, but each share increases their expenses due to dividend payments. Shares can provide needed capital but come with long-term costs.
Winning the Game:
- The player with the most victory points at the end of the game, after all final calculations, wins.
FAQ
How does turn order bidding work?
- Players secretly decide how much they want to bid for turn order. Starting with the player with the lowest bid, players decide if they want to raise their bid or pass. The highest bidder chooses their position in the turn order first.
Can I build tracks in any direction?
- Yes, but tracks must connect to your existing network or a city. Some terrain and building rules might restrict certain builds, so it's crucial to plan your routes carefully.
How are goods moved in Age of Steam?
- Goods are moved from one city to another along your connected rail network. The delivery route's length determines the points scored. A longer route means more points, but it must connect to a city that matches the color of the goods cube.
Can multiple players use the same track for goods delivery?
- Yes, but only the owner of the track section being used receives points for that segment of the delivery.
What happens if I can't pay my expenses?
- If you cannot pay your expenses, you must lose victory points to make up the difference. If you still cannot pay, your company is declared bankrupt, and you may face additional penalties.
How do special actions work?
- In turn order, players choose one special action per round. These actions provide unique advantages like building more track, upgrading locomotives, or urbanizing cities. Each special action can only be chosen by one player per round.
Can I connect two cities with a single track tile?
- No, each hex can typically contain only one track tile, and each track tile has specific configurations that determine how cities and towns can be connected.
How do I issue shares?
- During the "Issue Shares" phase, players can choose to issue shares to gain additional money. Each issued share provides immediate funds but increases expenses due to dividend payments at the end of each round.
How many rounds are in the game?
- The standard game lasts 7-10 rounds, depending on the chosen map and player count. The rulebook specifies the number of rounds for each map.
Can I deliver goods to a city I've already delivered to before?
- Yes, as long as there are goods available to be delivered and the delivery route is valid.
Age of Steam is a complex and challenging game that rewards strategic planning, careful resource management, and tactical decision-making. Its blend of economic strategy, network building, and competition makes it a classic among train-themed board games.
Sport:
AGE OF STEAM