Glass Road

2013

Embark on the historic Glass Road, skillfully manage your resources, outwit opponents with strategic card play, and build your glass-making empire in this immersive board game.

80
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

13+

Medium

About the game

Glass Road is a captivating board game that takes you back in time to the Bavarian forest’s historical Glass Road during the 18th century. It’s a period of enormous advancement in glass production and technology, and players get to experience this first hand.

The game is set in the heart of the lush, green Bavarian forest, where players take on the roles of medieval glassmakers. It’s your job to produce the finest glass and brick products, managing resources, and developing your own building and production chains to achieve this.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Glass Road is a strategic board game that consists of several components. Each component serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall gameplay. Here are the components included in Glass Road:

1. Game Board: The game board is the main component of Glass Road. It is used to keep track of the progress of each player and to organize the other components. The game board consists of various areas such as the forest, the pit, the grove, and the building market. Each of these areas interacts with the gameplay in different ways.

2. Resource Wheels: There are two resource wheels in Glass Road, one for glass and one for brick. These are used to keep track of the resources that each player has. The resource wheels interact with the gameplay by determining what resources a player can use during their turn.

3. Building Cards: The building cards are used to represent the different buildings that players can construct. Each building card has a specific cost and benefit associated with it. The building cards interact with the gameplay by providing players with objectives and rewards.

4. Landscape Tiles: The landscape tiles are used to represent the different types of landscapes that players can create. Each landscape tile has a specific cost and benefit associated with it. The landscape tiles interact with the gameplay by providing players with additional resources and opportunities.

5. Role Cards: The role cards are used to represent the different roles that players can assume. Each role card has a specific action associated with it. The role cards interact with the gameplay by determining what actions a player can take during their turn.

6. Player Pieces: The player pieces are used to represent each player on the game board. The player pieces interact with the gameplay by marking a player’s progress and position.

7. Glass and Brick Tokens: The glass and brick tokens are used to represent the resources that players can collect. The tokens interact with the gameplay by being used as currency for various actions.

8. Hourglass Tokens: The hourglass tokens are used to represent the time that players have. The hourglass tokens interact with the gameplay by limiting the number of actions a player can take during their turn.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Glass Road is a strategy board game designed by Uwe Rosenberg. The game is set in Europe’s Black Forest region during the 18th century, where players assume the roles of glassmakers and brickmakers. The following are steps to set up the game:

1. Player Roles:

Each player will assume the role of a medieval glassmaker or brickmaker. The players’ goal is to build their own buildings and to produce glass and bricks.

2. Board Placement:

Place the game board in the center of the table. Make sure the side matching the number of players is facing up. Each player should sit around the board, within easy reach of all components.

3. Building Tiles:

Shuffle the building tiles and randomly draw 12 of them. Place the drawn tiles on the 12 free spaces on the game board. The rest of the tiles can be returned to the box, as they will not be used in this game.

4. Initial Resources:

Each player receives a player board, which they place in front of them. The player board has a production wheel, which will be used to track the players’ resources. Each player sets their initial resources on their production wheels as follows:

3 Wood (brown)
1 Clay (red)
1 Food (yellow)
1 Sand (white)

5. Role Cards:

Each player receives a set of 15 role cards. They should keep these cards hidden from other players.

6. Random Elements:

Unlike many other board games, Glass Road doesn’t have a lot of random elements. However, the initial setup of the building tiles on the game board is random, which can affect players’ strategies.

7. Starting Player:

Determine the starting player randomly. Give the starting player marker to the chosen player.

Now the game is ready to start. The player with the starting player marker goes first.

Game flow Round and round we go

Glass Road is a fascinating board game of resource management and building. The game is played over four building periods, each consisting of three rounds. The game ends after these periods, and the player with the most victory points is the winner.

Building Period:

Each building period is composed of three phases: the Card Phase, the Production Phase, and the Building Phase.

1. Card Phase:

Card Selection: At the start of each building period, players each draw five cards from their personal deck of 15 cards.
Card Play: Players then select one card in secret and reveal it simultaneously. If two or more players have selected the same card, the card’s effect is reduced.
Card Repeat: This process is repeated until each player has selected and played five cards.

2. Production Phase:

In this phase, the resources shown on the played cards are produced. There are two types of resources: immediate and recurring. Immediate resources are produced as soon as the card is played, while recurring resources are produced in each building period until the game ends.

3. Building Phase:

During this phase, players can use their resources to build structures from the central game board. Each structure costs a certain number of resources and provides victory points and/or ongoing benefits.

Building Selection: Players take turns choosing one building from the display and paying its cost in resources.
Building Construction: The chosen building is then placed in the player’s own play area.
Building End: This phase ends when all players have passed or no more buildings can be built.

After all three phases of a building period have been completed, the next building period begins. After four building periods, the game ends, and the player with the most victory points wins the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The game of Glass Road consists of several rounds, in which each player takes turns to perform actions. The actions a player can perform during their turn are as follows:

1. Play a Role Card

Each player begins the game with a hand of 15 Role cards. During their turn, a player may play one of these cards from their hand. The card will dictate the action that the player can perform on their turn. These actions can range from gathering resources to building structures. The strategic choice here is to select a card that will best further your game plan, while also considering what cards your opponents might play.

2. Use a Building’s Action

Players can construct buildings on their player board. Once a building is constructed, a player can use its action during their turn. The actions can vary greatly, depending on the building. They can provide resources, allow for additional card plays, or even grant victory points. The strategic choice here is to build and utilize buildings that synergize well with your overall strategy.

3. Pass

If a player does not wish to or cannot perform any other action, they may choose to pass. Once a player has passed, they cannot perform any more actions until the next round. The strategic choice here is knowing when to pass. Passing early can provide certain advantages for the next round, but it also means foregoing any remaining actions in the current round.

These are the main actions a player can perform during their turn in Glass Road. However, the game also offers a number of strategic options, which can greatly affect the gameplay:

1. Resource Management

One of the main strategic elements in Glass Road is managing your resources. This involves not only gathering and spending resources to build structures and perform actions, but also managing the production wheels on your player board. The wheels not only track your resources but also dictate their production. If a wheel completes a full rotation, you produce the corresponding resources. However, if the wheel is full, you cannot gather any more of that resource. Therefore, managing your resources effectively can be crucial to your success.

2. Card Synchronization

Another strategic aspect is synchronizing your cards. Each Role card has a unique action, and some cards work well together. Therefore, planning your card plays in a way that allows you to perform a series of beneficial actions can be a powerful strategy.

3. Predicting Opponents

Finally, Glass Road is a game of prediction. When you play a Role card, if any other player has that card in their hand, they must also play it. This can either be beneficial, as it allows you to perform the card’s action without using up a turn, or detrimental, as it can disrupt your plans. Therefore, trying to predict what cards your opponents might play can be a key part of your strategy.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Glass Road is a complex strategy game where players use a unique system of resource management to build their own glass and brick production to earn victory points. The game of ‘Glass Road’ ends after 4 building periods.

The primary victory condition in ‘Glass Road’ is to have the most victory points at the end of the game. These points are mainly earned through building structures and producing goods.

When the game ends, the final scoring occurs. Here are the steps players should follow:

Building Scores: Each player adds up the victory points from all of their buildings. This includes both production buildings and special buildings.
Goods Scores: Players score points for their remaining goods. Each good is worth a certain number of points, as indicated on the game board.
Landscape Tiles Scores: Players also score points for their landscape tiles. The points vary depending on the type of landscape and the number of similar landscapes adjacent to each other.
Bonus Points: If any of the buildings provide bonus points, these are added to the players’ scores. The conditions for these bonuses are detailed on the individual buildings.

The player with the highest total score is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most leftover goods wins. If there is still a tie, the player who is earlier in the turn order wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Glass Road is a strategic board game where players take on the role of medieval glass-makers. The scoring system in Glass Road involves tallying points from various sources at the end of the game. Here is a detailed breakdown:

Building Points:

Production Buildings: These buildings award points based on the goods you have produced. The number of points varies depending on the type of goods and the specific building.
Immediate Buildings: These buildings award points immediately upon construction. The points do not change or accumulate through the game.
Bonus Buildings: These buildings award points at the end of the game based on certain conditions outlined on the building card.

Landscape Tiles:

Forest, Ponds, and Groves: These landscape tiles do not award any points.
Clay Mound, Quarry, and Pit: These landscape tiles award 1 point each at the end of the game.
Glassworks and Brickworks: These landscape tiles award 2 points each at the end of the game.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In case of a tie, the player with the most leftover resources (glass and brick) is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player with the most leftover food wins. If there is still a tie, the victory is shared.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The game Glass Road is an intriguing board game that combines strategy, resource management, and a unique card-based action selection system. While the game is generally straightforward, there are several special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that players should be aware of:

1. Production Buildings:

Production buildings can only be used once per round. However, it’s important to note that if you have multiple production buildings of the same type, each one can be used once. Also, using a production building doesn’t require an action, it is considered passive and happens automatically at the end of the round.

2. Processing Buildings:

When using Processing buildings, players can only process resources that they have available in their personal supply. Moreover, the processing must fully complete – if a player can’t provide all the necessary input resources or can’t store all the output resources, they can’t use the building.

3. Card Selection:

In the card selection phase, if a player has fewer than 5 cards left in their hand, they must draw back up to 5, even if they don’t want to. This is a mandatory rule and does not count as an action.

4. The Glassmaker’s Hut:

The Glassmaker’s Hut is a special building that allows players to produce glass without needing the usual sand resource. However, this building only works if a player has no sand in their personal supply. If they gain sand while they have a Glassmaker’s Hut, they must use the sand to produce glass in the next production phase and can’t use the Hut’s special ability until they’re out of sand again.

5. Resource Wheels:

The game’s unique resource wheels represent the players’ storage capacities. Each player has a separate wheel for building materials and food. When a player gains a resource, they move the corresponding marker clockwise around the wheel. When they use a resource, they move it counterclockwise. If a player gains a resource and the marker has already reached the highest number, the marker doesn’t move, and the extra resource is lost.

6. End of the Game:

The game ends after 4 rounds, and the players then score points based on their buildings and remaining resources. It’s important to remember that the food resources are not worth any points at the end of the game, only the building materials are.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Glass Road is a game of deep strategy and careful planning. The following are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

Mastering the Specialist Cards: Understand the abilities of all the specialists and use them to your advantage. Don’t forget that you can use a specialist’s ability even if another player has chosen the same specialist.
Resource Management: Keep a close eye on your resource wheels. Try to balance your resources so that you don’t waste any at the end of the round.
Building Selection: Be strategic about which buildings you choose to construct. Some buildings provide ongoing benefits, while others offer a one-time bonus.

Beginner Tips:

Learning the Basics: Understand the game mechanisms before you start. The interaction between the production and consumption wheels is key to mastering the game.
Start Small: Choose buildings that provide small but immediate benefits in the beginning. This strategy could help you gather resources faster.
Plan Ahead: Anticipate your opponents’ moves and plan your actions accordingly. This is especially important when choosing specialist cards.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Overlooking Resource Limits: Remember that your resource wheels can only hold a certain amount. Be careful not to overproduce and waste resources.
Ignoring Specialist Cards: Each specialist card can provide a significant advantage if used wisely. Don’t ignore them in favour of other actions.
Building Without Strategy: It’s easy to get caught up in building as much as possible, but this is not always the best strategy. Be selective and strategic about what you build.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Balancing Production and Consumption: Try to keep your production and consumption wheels balanced. This will allow you to maximize your resource efficiency.
Timing Is Key: Timing your actions correctly can make a big difference. For example, it’s often advantageous to build when other players are low on resources.
Adapt to Your Opponents: Watch your opponents closely. Adapt your strategy based on their actions and the specialist cards they choose.

Remember, the best way to improve at Glass Road is to play often and learn from your mistakes.