Carnegie

2022

In Carnegie, step into Andrew Carnegie's shoes, building a steel empire, investing in real estate, creating transport chains, and even becoming a benefactor. Aspire to achieve the American dream!

120
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Carnegie is a captivating board game that transports players back in time to the late 19th and early 20th century, during the industrial revolution. Named after Andrew Carnegie, the famous industrialist and philanthropist, the game beautifully captures the essence of this transformative era.

The game unfolds on a meticulously detailed map of the United States, with each player leading a budding corporation. The objective is to outmaneuver competitors, build a successful business empire, and contribute to society through philanthropy, just as Andrew Carnegie did.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

1. Game Board: The game board is a large, colorful map representing different regions of the United States. Each region is distinguished by a different color. This is where players will be building their businesses and making their moves. It is divided into different sections, each representing a different type of action or resource.

Interaction with game: The players use the game board to track their progress, build their infrastructure, and plan their strategy. The choices they make on the board will determine their success in the game.

2. Player Boards: Each player gets a personal board that represents their business. It includes spaces to track resources, income, and various other things specific to each player.

Interaction with game: Players use their boards to manage their resources and make strategic decisions. They can upgrade their business on their player boards, gaining special abilities and bonuses that can help them in the game.

3. Player Tokens: These are small, wooden pieces in various shapes (cubes, discs, etc.) that represent each player’s resources and workers. The colors of the tokens correspond to the player colors.

Interaction with game: Player tokens are used to track resources, represent workers, and mark progress on the game board. They are moved around the board and player boards as actions are taken.

4. Cards: There are various types of cards in the game, including Building cards, Employee cards, and Special cards. Each card provides different benefits, abilities, or actions for the players.

Interaction with game: Players draw and play cards throughout the game to gain advantages, perform actions, and build their businesses. The cards a player has can greatly impact their strategy and success in the game.

5. Money Tokens: These are small, cardboard pieces that represent money in the game. They come in various denominations to make transactions easier.

Interaction with game: Money tokens are used to buy resources, pay for actions, and invest in infrastructure. Managing money wisely is a key aspect of the game.

6. Building Tiles: These are cardboard pieces that represent the buildings that players can construct in the game.

Interaction with game: Building tiles are placed on the game board when a player decides to construct a building. They provide various benefits and can affect a player’s strategy and success in the game.

7. Die: A single, six-sided die is included in the game.

Interaction with game: The die is used to determine the order of play at the beginning of the game and may be used in certain game actions or events.

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

Carnegie is an engaging and strategic board game that revolves around the life of Andrew Carnegie. The game involves a combination of resource management, strategy, and careful planning. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Player Roles:

Each player assumes the role of a business leader in the industrial era, competing against others to establish their economic dominance.
The roles do not have unique abilities, so all players start the game on equal footing.

Board Placement:

The game board is placed in the center of the table. It is divided into different areas: the general actions area, the common project area, the department track, and the journey track.
Each player receives a player board, representing their company, which they place in front of them.

Initial Resources:

Each player starts with one worker in each of their departments. These departments include: Construction, Human Resources, Management, and Communication.
Players also start with a certain amount of money, determined by the player order. The first player starts with $3, the second player with $4, and so on.
Each player receives 3 project cards, which they can keep hidden from other players.
Players also have a personal progress marker, which starts at the first space of the journey track on the game board.

Random Elements:

The department tiles are shuffled and placed randomly on the department track on the game board.
The project cards are shuffled and five of them are placed face-up near the game board to form the project display.
The rest of the project cards form a draw pile.

With these steps, you’re all set to begin your journey into the world of industry and commerce in Carnegie. Remember, the goal is to not only build a profitable company but to leave a lasting legacy, just like Andrew Carnegie did.

Game flow Round and round we go

Carnegie is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of team members working with Andrew Carnegie. The game is played over several rounds, each consisting of several phases. During these phases, players will plan and execute actions to expand their businesses and gain the most victory points.

The game rounds follow a specific structure:

Preparation Phase: In this phase, players prepare for the coming round. This includes placing workers on the game board, setting up the project cards, and determining the first player.
Action Phase: This phase is the core of the game. Players take turns choosing and performing one action from their active department. Actions can include hiring new workers, acquiring project cards, expanding their business, or sponsoring initiatives.
Administration Phase: After all players have taken their actions, the administration phase begins. Here, players calculate their income, pay their workers, and prepare for the next round.

Let’s delve further into the actions performed at each stage:

Preparation Phase:

Arrange workers: Each player arranges their workers on their player board in their chosen departments.
Setup project cards: Draw and place a number of project cards on the display equal to the number of players.
Determine first player: The player who last sponsored an initiative is the first player.

Action Phase:

Choose action: On their turn, a player chooses one of the available actions from their active department.
Perform action: The player performs the chosen action, which could include hiring more workers, gaining project cards, expanding their business, or sponsoring initiatives.
Pass: If a player cannot or chooses not to perform any more actions, they pass. Once all players have passed, the action phase ends.

Administration Phase:

Calculate income: Players add up all their income from their businesses and receive that amount from the bank.
Pay workers: Players must pay each of their workers. If they cannot, they lose points.
Prepare for next round: All players prepare for the next round. This includes clearing the project display, refilling it, and passing the first player token to the left.

The game continues in this manner until all rounds are complete. At the end of the game, the player with the most victory points is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the board game Carnegie, a player’s turn consists of a series of strategic choices and actions that can significantly affect the gameplay. Each turn is composed of two main parts: the Action Phase and the Administration Phase.

Action Phase:

Selection: The player selects a department from the common pool. This choice is critical as each department offers different advantages and strategic options.
Activation: Once a department is selected, it is activated. This means all of the player’s buildings linked to that department are activated, providing various benefits to the player.
Construction: If the player chooses, they can construct a new building. The player must have enough resources and an available worker. The new building will be linked to the selected department, expanding the player’s influence and options in future turns.

Administration Phase:

Income: Players collect income based on the buildings they’ve activated during their turn. This is a crucial aspect of the game as it allows players to gather the resources they need for future actions.
Project Completion: If a player has met the requirements of a project (usually involving having certain buildings or resources), they can complete it during this phase. Completed projects often provide significant rewards and can be a key part of a winning strategy.
Worker Movement: Players can move their workers from the reserve to active departments. This is a strategic decision as the placement of workers can influence future actions and benefits.

The strategic choices a player makes, from department selection to worker placement, can have far-reaching effects on their game progress.

For instance, selecting a department that the player has heavily invested in can yield significant benefits in the form of activated buildings and income. Alternatively, a player might choose a department they have not yet developed in order to construct new buildings and broaden their options for future turns. The placement of workers also plays a crucial role, as workers are needed to construct buildings, and their placement can determine which buildings a player can activate in subsequent turns.

Thus, a player’s turn in Carnegie is a complex interplay of strategic decisions and resource management, providing a rich and engaging gameplay experience.

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

The game of ‘Carnegie’ ends when the 20th round is completed, which also triggers the final scoring. Final scoring includes both Immediate Scoring and End Game Scoring.

Immediate Scoring: This occurs during the game when a player achieves certain conditions. For example, when a player completes a project, they immediately score points based on the level of the project.

End Game Scoring: This happens at the end of the game and includes several categories:

Project Cards: Players score points for each of the Project cards they have successfully completed.
Philanthropy Track: Players score points based on their position on the Philanthropy track.
Prestige Track: Players score points based on their position on the Prestige track.
Completed Objectives: Players score points for each of the objectives they have successfully met.

Before final scoring, players must complete the following actions:

Make sure all project cards have been scored.
Ensure all workers have been removed from the game board and returned to their respective player’s supply.
Confirm all used resources have been discarded.

Once all these actions have been completed, players tally their scores. The player with the highest total score is the winner of the game. In the case of a tie, the player with the most completed projects is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player with the most remaining resources wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The scoring system in ‘Carnegie’ is quite comprehensive, encompassing several distinct categories. Points are awarded throughout the game for various achievements and the winner is determined by the highest score at the end of the game. Below is a detailed description of how points are awarded in ‘Carnegie’.

1. Projects:

Each time a player completes a project, they earn points. The number of points is indicated on the project card.

2. Employees:

At the end of the game, players earn points for the number of employees they have in their company. The scoring is as follows:

1 point for each employee in the company’s headquarters.
2 points for each employee in the company’s branches.

3. Transport:

Points are also awarded for the development of the company’s transport system. The scoring is as follows:

1 point for each stage of railway development.
2 points for each stage of shipping development.

4. Partner Cities:

Partner cities are another source of points. Each partner city on the player’s company board will earn them points, as indicated on the city card.

5. Achievements:

Achievements are special tasks that players can complete throughout the game to earn extra points. The number of points for each achievement is indicated on the achievement card.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

If two or more players have the same number of points at the end of the game, the tie is broken in the following order:

The player with the most employees in their company wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most developed transport system wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most partner cities wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who completed the most achievements wins.

If there is still a tie after all these tie-breakers, the victory is shared.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘Carnegie’ is a fascinating board game that requires strategic planning and management. However, it does come with a few rare or special rules and exceptions that players need to understand to play the game effectively. Here are some of them:

1. Rule clarification on department development:

If a player decides to develop a department, they must pay the cost indicated on the development track, which is determined by the number of departments already developed. In case the player can’t pay the cost, they can’t develop the department.

2. Exception to the movement rule:

In Carnegie, players cannot move their workers from one department to another. However, there’s an exception. If the player has developed the ‘Transport’ department, they can move one or more of their workers from any department to any other department during the transport phase.

3. Rule clarification about the donation:

During the game, players can make donations to increase their reputation. However, it’s crucial to remember that you cannot make a donation if you don’t have enough money. You must pay the full amount of the donation. Partial donations are not allowed.

4. Special rule about the end of the game:

At the end of the game, players score points for their donations, departments, and buildings. However, a player who has not made any donations during the game does not score any points, regardless of the points collected from departments and buildings. This rule emphasizes the importance of making donations throughout the game.

5. Rule clarification on worker placement:

When placing workers in departments, the player must place them in the lowest available space. Workers cannot be placed in higher spaces if lower spaces are available.

These special rules and exceptions add complexity and depth to the game, making it more challenging and exciting for players.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

The board game ‘Carnegie’ is a strategic game of industrial growth, philanthropy, and innovation. Here, we will delve into some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Balance your investments: Spread your investments across various departments to maximize the benefits from actions and synergies.
Timing is Key: Being able to anticipate the actions of others and time your own actions accordingly is a crucial part of advanced strategy in ‘Carnegie’.
Building your Network: Expanding your network of buildings early can provide a steady income, helping you to fund future investments.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Actions: Each department has its own unique action. Understanding these actions and their impacts is essential for beginners.
Focus on Philanthropy: Don’t forget about the philanthropic aspect of the game. It can prove to be a significant source of victory points.
Plan ahead: Try to plan your moves a couple of turns in advance to keep up with other players.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring Philanthropy: While it might seem less important than investing in departments or expanding your network, philanthropy can provide a significant number of victory points.
Misjudging the Importance of Networking: Networking plays a major role in ‘Carnegie’. Neglecting it can lead to a lack of resources and limit your potential actions.
Overlooking University Actions: The University department can provide highly beneficial bonuses and should not be overlooked.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Efficient Use of Actions: Try to use your actions in the most effective way possible to get the maximum benefit.
Pay attention to your opponents: Keep an eye on what your opponents are doing, anticipate their moves and strategize accordingly.
Focus on the End Game: Always keep the end game in sight. Focus on acquiring victory points rather than just accumulating resources.