C.O.G.

About this board game

C.O.G. is a steampunk crossword eurogame for 2–4 players, played in about 120 minutes. Set in London in 1875, it invites players to support the Cabinet of Gadgetry as it works to construct the Great Apparatus, an automated machine designed to transport citizens safely and quickly through the crowded streets.

Each player has a personal tableau resembling a Scrabble board. By arranging letter tiles to spell resource words such as cog, pulley, rod, aether, bulb, and lens, players collect resources. These resources score points at the end of the game, giving every word placement a meaningful role in your overall plan.

The central mechanism is worker placement. During each round, players take turns placing workers to gather the components and abilities needed to develop their tableaus and pursue points.

• Letter tiles help you construct resource words.
• Action cards offer varied effects, including resource cards, letter manipulation, victory points, and other special powers.
• A chosen die moves your pawn along a track and also activates some action cards.

The die therefore serves two purposes at once: advancing your pawn through spaces that provide additional abilities, and triggering useful card effects. Managing letters, workers, cards, and movement creates a blend of spatial word construction and eurogame-style planning.

With its Victorian setting and inventive machinery theme, C.O.G. combines familiar word-building with layered resource collection and tactical worker placement. Build your tableau carefully, gather the right resources, and contribute your service to the Cabinet of Gadgetry.