Fantastic Factories

2019

Join the manufacturing arms race in Fantastic Factories! With dice rolling, worker placement, and strategic resource management, every game promises unique challenges and endless replay value.

60
minutes

1 - 5
player(s)

14+

Medium

About the game

Fantastic Factories is a captivating board game that combines the thrill of building your own manufacturing empire with the strategic depth of resource management and worker placement. Designed for 1 to 5 players, each person takes on the role of a start-up founder, aiming to build the most efficient set of factories in the shortest time.

The game is set in a whimsical, modern-industrial world where the competition for resources and factory designs is fierce but fair. The game’s vibrant artwork, combined with its layered strategic depth, creates an immersive and visually appealing experience for all players.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Fantastic Factories is a board game that requires strategy, planning, and resource management to build the most productive set of factories. The game includes a variety of components, each with a unique role and interaction within the game.

Components:

1 Rulebook: This guide provides comprehensive rules and instructions to play the game. It also has a detailed explanation of each component and their use.
4 Player Boards: These boards are used to track and manage the resources of each player. They also provide a space for each player to construct their factories.
42 Factory Cards: These cards represent different types of factories that players can construct on their player boards. Each factory has unique abilities and effects that can benefit the player.
28 Blueprint Cards: Blueprint cards are used to plan and construct new factories. They specify the cost and type of factory that can be built.
30 Metal Resources: Metal is one of the two resources in the game, needed to build factories. Players collect metal resources throughout the game to use in building new factories.
30 Energy Resources: Energy is the other resource in the game, also used to build factories. It is also used to power certain factories and their abilities.
12 Dice: Dice are used to generate resources and to activate factories. The number rolled on the dice can determine the quantity of resources generated or the power of a factory’s ability.
4 Player Tokens: Each player has a token to represent them in the game. These tokens can track player progress and achievements during the game.

Each component in Fantastic Factories is necessary to play the game and contributes to its strategic and resource management aspects. The interaction between these components creates a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.

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

Fantastic Factories is an engaging board game where players take on the role of architects and try to build the most efficient set of factories. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game.

Step 1: Setting Up The Game Board

Start by laying out the game board in the center of the table. The board consists of a market place where players will be able to purchase cards, and a dice pool where they will be able to collect dice.

Step 2: Preparing The Cards

Shuffle the blueprint cards and the contractor cards separately. Place them face down near the game board. Reveal four blueprint cards and four contractor cards and place them in the marketplace on the game board.

Step 3: Player Setup

Each player is given a set of player tokens of their chosen color. They also receive a player board which represents their factory floor. Player boards start empty but will be filled with blueprint cards over the course of the game.

Step 4: Initial Resources

Each player receives four energy tokens, four metal tokens, four blueprint cards and four contractor cards as their starting resources. They also receive four dice of their chosen color.

Step 5: Random Elements

In Fantastic Factories, the random elements are the blueprint cards and the contractor cards that are available in the marketplace. These are randomly drawn from the deck and can greatly affect the strategies that players choose to employ.

With these steps, you should be ready to start your game of Fantastic Factories. Remember to always plan ahead and keep an eye on what other players are doing. Happy gaming!

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Fantastic Factories is a fast-paced, dice-placement, engine-building game. During each player’s turn, the following actions can be taken:

1. Roll Dice: At the beginning of each turn, the player rolls all of their available dice. The results will determine the resources that the player can generate and the actions that they can take during their turn.

2. Work Phase: During this phase, players can perform any of the following actions:

Place a Die: Players can place one of their rolled dice on a factory card in their tableau, matching the die’s number to the factory’s input requirement. This will generate resources or allow special actions.
Blueprints: Players can use a die with a value of 6 to draw two blueprint cards, keeping one and placing the other at the bottom of the deck. Blueprints are the foundation of a player’s factory.
Construct: Players can use a die with a value of 1 to 5 to construct a blueprint from their hand. The die value must at least match the blueprint’s cost. Constructed blueprints are added to a player’s tableau and can be used in future turns.

3. Market Phase: After all players have completed their actions for the Work Phase, the Market Phase begins. During this phase, players can:

Hire Contractors: Players can hire contractors by discarding cards with matching symbols from their hand. Contractors provide one-time effects such as additional resources or free constructions.
Research: Players can discard three cards of any type to draw five new cards, keeping any three and discarding the rest. This can help players get new blueprints or contractors.

4. Cleanup Phase: At the end of each turn, players draw one card, discard down to a hand limit of ten cards, and prepare for the next turn.

Strategic choices revolve around optimizing your dice rolls, managing your resources, and building an efficient tableau of factories. Different blueprint cards offer different benefits, so players need to balance their strategy between gaining resources and constructing a variety of factories. The goal of the game is to earn the most victory points by constructing as many factories as possible and generating goods.

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

The game of Fantastic Factories ends immediately when a player has built their 12th building during the Work phase. The round does not continue to the end, and no further actions are taken by any of the players. This triggers the end of the game and initiates the scoring phase.

Victory Conditions

The victory in Fantastic Factories is determined by the total points a player has accumulated by the end of the game. Players earn points from completed buildings, from goods produced, and from certain card effects.

The player with the highest total points is the winner. In case of a tie, the player with the most leftover resources (goods and energy) wins. If there’s still a tie, the player with the most leftover cards in their hand wins.

Actions Players Must Take Before Final Scoring

Calculate Building Points: Players add up the point values of all the buildings they have constructed. The point value is indicated in the top right corner of each building card.
Calculate Goods Points: Players gain additional points for the goods they have produced. Each set of five goods is worth one point.
Apply Card Effects: Some card effects may award additional points or modify the score in some way. Players should apply these effects at this time as detailed on the specific cards.

After these actions have been completed, players can compare their total points to determine the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In ‘Fantastic Factories’, players accumulate Victory Points (VPs) throughout the game with the ultimate goal of having the highest score at the end of the game. The scoring system is as follows:

1. Production Buildings:

Each player scores points equal to the number of stars (⭐) on their Production buildings. The number of stars on each building varies.

2. Contractors:

Each Contractor card in a player’s tableau is worth points as indicated by the stars (⭐) on the card. Similar to Production Buildings, the number of stars on each Contractor card varies.

3. Resources:

For every set of four resources (Energy, Metal, or any combination of the two) a player has left over, they score one Victory Point (VP).

4. Blueprints:

For every set of three unused Blueprints a player has, they score one Victory Point (VP).

5. Workers:

Each player scores one Victory Point (VP) for every four unused workers they have at the end of the game.

After all points have been tallied, the player with the most Victory Points (VPs) is the winner. If there is a tie, the game has specific tie-breaking rules:

The player with the most total resources (Energy and Metal combined) wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most unused Blueprints wins.
If a tie persists, the player with the most unused workers wins.
If there is still a tie after all these tie-breakers, the players share the victory.

Understanding the scoring system is crucial to formulating a strategic approach to gameplay in ‘Fantastic Factories’.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Fantastic Factories is a game of dice placement and resource management, where players compete to manufacture the most goods. It’s a fairly straightforward game, but there are some rules that are easily overlooked or need clarification.

Blueprints and Building:

Blueprints: If a player draws a blueprint card but decides not to build it, they must place it face down at the bottom of the blueprint deck.
Building: A player can build as many buildings as they can afford in a single turn, but they cannot build more than one of the same building in a turn.

Contract Cards:

Contract Completion: Contract cards are completed by discarding the necessary goods from your factories. However, these goods must be discarded all at once; you cannot partially complete a contract.
Contract Limit: A player can only have up to three uncompleted contract cards in their hand at any time. If they draw a contract card while they already have three, they must immediately discard one.

Resource Management:

Resource Limit: There is no maximum limit to the number of resources a player can have. However, there is a minimum limit. If a player ever has less than zero resources, they must immediately discard cards or goods to make up the difference.
Trading: Players are not allowed to trade resources or goods with each other.

End Game:

Game End: The game ends immediately when any player builds their 10th building. There is no “final round” where other players get one last turn.
Scoring: At the end of the game, players add up the points from their buildings, contracts, and leftover resources. However, any uncompleted contracts count as negative points.

Additional Clarifications:

Players can use multiple factories to create goods, even if those factories are the same type.
If a player’s building allows them to reroll dice, they can choose to reroll any number of dice, not just the ones that were just rolled.
Some cards have abilities that are triggered by specific conditions. These abilities must be used immediately when the condition is met; they cannot be saved for later.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Fantastic Factories is a board game that combines elements of strategy, planning, and luck. Understanding the game’s mechanics can significantly enhance your gaming experience. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

1. Advanced Strategies

Optimizing Production: Focus on buildings that provide production bonuses. Combining several production buildings can create potent synergies and generate a steady stream of resources.
Flexible Planning: While it’s essential to have a strategy, be ready to adapt based on the cards you draw. Adjust your plan to the buildings and resources available.
Card Management: Remember, it’s not always about having the most cards but the right cards. Be selective and ensure the cards in your hand align with your overall strategy.

2. Beginner Tips

Start by focusing on resource-producing buildings. These will give you a steady income of resources that you can use to build more powerful structures later on.
Don’t ignore the importance of training workers. Workers can provide significant advantages in the game, so make sure to invest in them early on.
Balance your focus between production and points. While producing resources is critical, remember that points are what ultimately win the game.

3. Common Mistakes To Avoid

Ignoring Blueprints: Some players ignore blueprint cards early in the game. These cards can provide significant advantages and should not be overlooked.
Over-concentration on One Strategy: While it’s important to have a plan, being too rigid can be a downfall. Be flexible and willing to change your strategy based on the game’s progression.
Underestimating Opponents: Each player’s strategy can significantly impact the game. Pay attention to what others are doing and adapt your strategy accordingly.

4. Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Study the game’s mechanics. Understanding how each card and action works will allow you to make the most of your turns.
Practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you’ll understand the game’s nuances and strategies.
Experiment with different strategies. Each game will be different, so don’t be afraid to try new tactics and strategies.