Age of Innovation

2023

In Age of Innovation, control unique factions to terraform landscapes, erect buildings, and make innovations in the enthralling world of Terra Mystica.

200
minutes

1 - 5
player(s)

14+

Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the thrilling world of ‘Age of Innovation’, a strategic board game that takes players on a journey through time, exploring various eras of human ingenuity and technological advancements. This game delivers a unique blend of strategy, competition, and creativity that will challenge your strategic thinking and decision-making skills.

The game is set against a backdrop of human history, where players represent innovators working to advance society through technological breakthroughs. From the dawn of civilization to the modern era, you’re tasked with managing resources, acquiring patents, and pioneering groundbreaking inventions to propel your civilization to new heights of progress.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The ‘Age of Innovation’ board game comes with a variety of components, each of which plays a critical role in the gameplay. Below is a detailed list and description of these components.

1. Game Board:

The game board is a visual representation of the progress of the industrial age. It consists of various tracks and spaces, such as the innovation track and the market track, where players move their pieces to signify their progress. The board also includes areas to place cards and tokens.

2. Cards:

There are two types of cards in ‘Age of Innovation’: Innovation cards and Market cards. Innovation cards represent technological advancements and can be played to gain an advantage in the game. Market cards, on the other hand, represent opportunities for players to sell their innovations to the market. Players draw cards at certain stages of the game and may play them during their turn.

3. Tokens:

These are small, round pieces that represent different resources: capital, research, and production. Players acquire and spend these tokens to advance in the game. Tokens are usually gained through card play and spent to move along the tracks on the game board or to purchase other cards.

4. Dice:

The dice in ‘Age of Innovation’ are used to determine the outcome of certain actions. For example, a player may roll the dice to see if their attempt to innovate is successful or if they can successfully sell an innovation to the market.

5. Player Pieces:

Each player in ‘Age of Innovation’ has a set of pieces in their color. These pieces are used to mark a player’s progress on the various tracks of the game board. The position of these pieces can affect a player’s options during their turn and their score at the end of the game.

6. Score Track:

The score track is a part of the game board where players keep track of their points. Points are earned through successful innovations, market sales, and other game actions. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

7. Rulebook:

The rulebook contains all the rules and guidelines for playing ‘Age of Innovation’. It explains how each component interacts with the game, the sequence of play, and how to win. It’s essential for players to refer to the rulebook throughout the game to ensure they are playing correctly.

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

Age of Innovation is a strategic board game where players compete to build the most successful business empire. To set up the game, follow these steps:

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player chooses a role card at random. This card determines the player’s starting resources and special abilities. For example, the Investor starts with more money, while the Inventor gets a bonus to research.

Step 2: Board Placement

Place the game board in the center of the table. It should be within reach of all players. The board is divided into different areas representing various aspects of business, such as Research, Production, and Marketing. Each area has slots for cards representing projects and resources.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Based on their role card, each player receives a starting amount of money, represented by coins. They also receive a number of project cards and resource tokens. For example, the Investor might start with $50, two project cards, and one each of the four types of resource tokens (Labor, Materials, Ideas, and Time).

Step 4: Random Elements

Shuffle the deck of project cards and place it face down near the board. Draw the top five cards and place them face up in the Market area of the board. These represent projects that are available for any player to start.

Step 5: Turn Order

Decide on a starting player randomly. That player takes the first turn. Play then proceeds clockwise around the table.

Step 6: Game Start

With the game board set up, the initial resources distributed, and the turn order established, you’re ready to start playing Age of Innovation. Good luck, and may the most innovative player win!

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Age of Innovation’ is a strategic board game where players aim to develop the most successful business empire. The game unfolds in a series of rounds, each divided into four distinct phases: the Idea Phase, the Development Phase, the Market Phase, and the Profit Phase. Players must navigate through these phases strategically to gain an advantage over their opponents.

The Idea Phase:

During the Idea Phase, players can acquire new technologies or business ideas. These are represented by cards that are drawn from a deck and can be purchased using in-game currency.
Players are allowed to purchase as many cards as they can afford.
The purchased cards are then added to the player’s pool of resources, which can be used in later phases.

The Development Phase:

In the Development Phase, players can utilize the resources acquired during the Idea Phase to develop their business ideas.
Players can choose which of their idea cards to develop, with each development requiring a specific set of resources.
Developed ideas are placed face-up in front of the player, indicating that they are now active and can generate profits in later phases.

The Market Phase:

The Market Phase allows players to sell their developed ideas to the market.
Players can set a price for each of their developed ideas, with the potential to earn profits based on the set price.
However, players must also consider the demand for their ideas in the market, as overpriced ideas may not sell.

The Profit Phase:

During the Profit Phase, players collect profits from their sold ideas.
The amount of profit is determined by the set price and the demand in the market.
The profit earned can be used in future rounds to acquire new ideas or develop existing ones.

After the Profit Phase, a new round begins with the Idea Phase again. The game continues in this cycle until a player reaches a pre-determined victory point total, at which point that player is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Each turn in Age of Innovation is a close-knit series of tasks that a player must complete to progress in the game. The turn of a player can be broken down into the following actions:

Action Selection: The player starts the turn by choosing an action from the available six. These actions are:
- Draw: The player draws cards from the deck to increase their options for future turns.
- Play: The player uses a card from their hand to either build a new invention or improve an existing one.
- Activate: The player activates one of their inventions to use its special ability.
- Upgrade: The player discards a card to upgrade one of their existing inventions.
- Trade: The player trades cards with other players to improve their hand.
- Research: The player spends a turn researching, which allows them to draw more cards on their next draw action.
Action Execution: After selecting an action, the player then performs that action. The specifics of this step depend on the action selected in the first step.
Consequences: After the player’s action, there may be consequences that also affect the game. For instance, activating an invention might trigger a negative effect for other players.
End of Turn: Once all actions and consequences are resolved, the player’s turn ends and the next player’s turn begins.

Strategic choices during a player’s turn can greatly affect the gameplay. Choosing the right action at the right time can give a player a significant advantage. For example, playing a powerful invention early in the game can put a player in a strong position. However, the same action later in the game might not be as effective, as other players may have had time to build defenses or more powerful inventions.

Similarly, deciding when to trade or draw can be crucial. Drawing too often can leave a player with no room to play or activate inventions, while not drawing enough can limit a player’s options. Trading, on the other hand, can be risky but potentially rewarding, as it depends on the willingness of other players to trade beneficial cards.

Lastly, the choice of which invention to upgrade is also an important decision. Upgrading an invention increases its power, but also makes it a bigger target for other players. Therefore, players must carefully consider which inventions to upgrade, based on the current state of the game and their opponents’ actions.

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

The game of ‘Age of Innovation’ ends when the final round of the game is completed. The final round is triggered when any of the following conditions are met:

A player reaches the end of the Progress Track.
All cards from the Era Deck have been drawn and played.
A player has completed their fifth Innovation.

When any of these conditions are met, the current round is finished to ensure all players have an equal number of turns. After the round is completed, the game enters the Final Scoring phase.

Victory Conditions:

The players’ final scores are calculated based on the following criteria:

Innovations: Each completed Innovation is worth points equal to its Era number. For example, an Era 3 Innovation is worth 3 points.
Progress Track: Players earn points equal to their position on the Progress Track. The player at the end of the track earns the highest points.
Patents: Each Patent a player owns is worth 1 point.
Resources: Each Resource a player has collected is worth 1 point.

The player with the highest total score is declared the winner of ‘Age of Innovation’. In the event of a tie, the player who triggered the end of the game is the winner.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Before final scoring, players must take the following actions:

Return all unspent resources to the supply.
Discard all incomplete Innovations. These do not count towards scoring.
Confirm the number of Patents owned by each player.
Verify each player’s position on the Progress Track.

After these actions, players proceed to calculate their final scores based on the victory conditions.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In Age of Innovation, scoring is an essential part of the gameplay. The players collect points throughout the game in a variety of ways, and the one with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Points are awarded in the following ways:

Acquiring Resources: Players earn points each time they acquire a resource. Each resource is associated with a specific number of points.
Completing Innovations: When a player completes an innovation, they earn points. The number of points earned depends on the complexity of the innovation.
Progressing through Ages: Players earn points as they progress through the Ages. The further along they are, the more points they earn.
Developing Technologies: Points are awarded to players when they successfully develop a technology. The points vary depending on the technology developed.

Tie-breaking rules in ‘Age of Innovation’ are as follows:

If two or more players have the same number of points at the end of the game, the player with the most resources is the winner.
If there’s still a tie, the player who has progressed furthest through the Ages is the winner.
If a tie still remains, the player who has completed the most innovations is the winner.
If all the above fails to break the tie, the player who first reached their final score is the winner.

In the rare event that the tie cannot be broken by any of these methods, the victory is shared among the tied players.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Age of Innovation is a complex board game with several special rules and exceptions. Understanding these intricacies can make your gaming experience smoother and more enjoyable.

1. Special Action Cards:

Research: While this action card allows players to draw three technology cards, it can only be used once per turn. If a player has already used a Research card during their turn, they cannot use another, even if they possess one.
Invest: This card lets players buy additional assets. However, a player cannot purchase an asset that they already own in the same turn.
Patent: Players can patent a technology they own, but they cannot patent a technology that has already been patented by another player.

2. Trading Rules:

While trading is allowed, players cannot trade future actions or promises. All trades must be immediate and tangible within the game.
Players cannot trade technologies that have been patented.

3. End Game Scoring:

At the end of the game, players tally up their victory points from various sources. However, it’s important to note that unused action cards do not count towards the final score.
The player with the most patents does not automatically win the game. Instead, the victory is determined by the total number of victory points.

4. Other Clarifications:

The ‘No Action’ turn: If a player cannot or chooses not to perform any action during their turn, they must discard one of their action cards to the discard pile. They cannot simply pass their turn without discarding.
Asset Limit: There is no limit to the number of assets a player can own. However, owning more assets can make a player more likely to be targeted by others’ hostile action cards.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for ‘Age of Innovation’

Understanding the mechanics of the game is crucial for developing an effective strategy in ‘Age of Innovation’.

Focus on Patents: Concentrating on obtaining patents can provide a steady stream of points and establish a solid foundation for your strategy.
Take Advantage of Tech Cards: Tech cards can offer powerful abilities that can greatly improve your game. Don’t overlook them!
Plan Ahead: This board game requires strategic foresight. Plan your actions a few turns in advance and consider the likely moves of your opponents.

Beginner Tips for ‘Age of Innovation’

If you’re new to ‘Age of Innovation’, here are a few tips to help you get started:

Learn the Basics: Before you dive into the game, make sure you understand the rules and the basic mechanics of the game.
Start Small: In your first few games, focus on achieving smaller, more manageable objectives. As you get more comfortable, you can start aiming for higher goals.
Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different strategies and see what works best for you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in ‘Age of Innovation’

Even experienced players can make mistakes in ‘Age of Innovation’. Here are a few common ones to watch out for:

Ignoring Patents: Patents are a key part of the game. Ignoring them can put you at a serious disadvantage.
Not Adapting Your Strategy: If your initial strategy isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change it. Flexibility is key in this game.
Forgetting About Competition: Remember, you’re not playing in a vacuum. Always keep an eye on what your opponents are doing and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in ‘Age of Innovation’

To make your games of ‘Age of Innovation’ more engaging and efficient, consider these tips:

Use Tokens Wisely: Tokens are a limited resource in the game. Make sure you’re using them as effectively as possible.
Communicate: ‘Age of Innovation’ is a social game. Communicating with your opponents can add a new level of strategy and fun to the game.
Stay Organized: Keeping your cards and tokens organized can make the game flow more smoothly and help you keep track of your strategy.