Indonesia

2005

In 'Indonesia', players engage in a thrilling race to amass wealth by developing an economy, controlling production and shipping companies, and strategically buying out competitors. A perfect blend of strategy and surprise!

240
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Indonesia is a board game with a rich theme and setting. It simulates fascinating aspects of the economic system in Indonesia, a country known for its vibrant commerce, spanning from the 17th century through the modern era. This game is designed to provide an immersive experience where the players become entrepreneurs, steering the fate of the companies they control.

The game’s core mechanics revolve around a unique mix of economy, mergers and acquisitions, and logistics. Players start by owning a small company which they will grow by investing in production, technology, and shipping. The goal is to make your businesses more profitable and valuable than those of your competitors.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Indonesia is a complex and engaging board game that requires strategic planning and economic management. It includes a range of components, each of which has a unique role in the gameplay. Here is a detailed list of every component of the game:

1. Game Board:
The game board depicts a map of Indonesia, divided into several regions. Players place their pieces on this board to claim territory, establish cities, and create shipping routes. The board also features a round tracker and a score track.

2. Player Markers:
Each player receives a set of markers in their chosen colors. These markers are used to indicate the player’s presence in different regions on the board and to track their progress on the scoring track.

3. Goods Tokens:
These tokens represent the various goods that players can produce and trade during the game. The available goods include rice, spices, and rubber. Players earn income by selling these goods to cities.

4. Money:
This component is used to keep track of each player’s wealth. Players use money to bid on companies, pay for operation costs, and make other strategic transactions.

5. Era Cards:
Three era cards are included in the game. They are used to divide the game into three distinct eras, each with its own set of available companies and events.

6. Company Cards:
These cards represent the various companies that players can own and operate in the game. Each company card displays information about the company’s production capabilities, operation costs, and special abilities.

7. Ship and City Tiles:
These tiles are used to establish shipping routes and build cities on the game board. Ships are used to transport goods to cities, while cities provide a market for the goods.

8. Merger Tiles:
These tiles are used during the merger phase of the game. They allow players to merge their companies with those of other players, potentially gaining control of more productive assets.

9. Siap Faji Tiles:
These tiles are used to track the Siap Faji, a special event that occurs at the end of each era. The event can bring additional income to players who have prepared for it.

Each of these components interacts with others in different ways, creating a complex web of strategic decisions for the players. Understanding these interactions is key to mastering the game.

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

Indonesia is a complex strategy game where players act as corporate moguls in 20th-century Indonesia. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Setting up the Game Board

Place the game board in the center of the table. The board represents the islands of Indonesia with various cities and resources.

Step 2: Setting Up Player Pieces

Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding set of player pieces. These pieces include 60 Rupiah tokens, 5 player markers, and 1 player board. Each player’s board should be placed in front of them, and the markers should be placed in their respective areas on the game board.

Step 3: Setting Up Initial Resources

Each player starts with a certain amount of money according to the number of players:

For a 3-player game, each player starts with 150 Rupiah
For a 4-player game, each player starts with 140 Rupiah
For a 5-player game, each player starts with 130 Rupiah

Step 4: Setting Up Companies

There are three types of companies in the game: Shipping, Production, and Siap Faji. The tiles for these companies should be separated into their respective stacks and each stack should be shuffled. Then, draw a number of each type of company according to the number of players:

For a 3-player game, draw 3 Shipping, 4 Production, and 1 Siap Faji
For a 4-player game, draw 4 Shipping, 6 Production, and 2 Siap Faji
For a 5-player game, draw 5 Shipping, 8 Production, and 3 Siap Faji

Step 5: Setting Up Era 1

At the start of the game, you are in Era 1. Draw and place the Era 1 city tiles on their matching spots on the board. City tiles indicate the locations of cities and their resources. Also, place the Era 1 goods on the board.

Step 6: Setting Up the Sea Routes

Place the Sea Route tiles in a bag. Players will draw these randomly during the game to establish new sea routes.

Step 7: Determine the Start Player

Finally, randomly determine the start player. This player takes the start player marker and will be the first to act in the game.

Now, you are ready to start playing Indonesia!

Game flow Round and round we go

The game of Indonesia is a complex strategy game that involves developing and expanding businesses in the Indonesian archipelago. The game is played in three eras, each with its own unique set of actions and opportunities for players.

Era 1: The game starts in the first era, also known as the Colonial Era. In this era, players can take the following actions:

Found a Company: Players can establish a new company in one of the available city spaces.
Expand a Company: Players can expand an existing company into new city spaces.
Merge Companies: Players can propose a merger between two or more companies. All players then bid on the new, larger company, and the highest bidder takes control.
Produce and Deliver Goods: Companies produce goods, which can then be delivered to cities to earn income.

Era 2: This era introduces shipping companies and spices. Players can now take the following actions:

Found a Shipping Company: Players can establish a new shipping company, which can transport goods for other companies.
Start a Spice Plantation: Players can start a spice plantation, which produces valuable spice goods that can be delivered for income.
Continue Previous Actions: Players can also continue to perform all actions from Era 1.

Era 3: This final era introduces automobile factories. Actions available to players in this era include:

Start an Automobile Factory: Players can start an automobile factory, which produces highly valuable automobiles.
Continue Previous Actions: Players can continue to perform all actions from Eras 1 and 2.

At the end of each era, players gain points based on their companies’ income, as well as bonus points for controlling the most companies in each category. The player with the most points at the end of Era 3 is the winner.

Throughout the game, players must carefully manage their finances, as they need money to found and expand companies, bid on merged companies, and pay for shipping costs. Strategic planning and careful decision-making are key to succeeding in Indonesia.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Indonesia, a strategic board game, a player’s turn is divided into phases. The player’s actions during these phases can significantly impact the game’s progression and outcome. Here is a breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

1. Era Determination Phase
This is the initial phase of a player’s turn. Here, the player determines the era in which the game operates.

If it’s the first era, the player sets up the game board with cities, resources, and companies.
If it’s the second era, the player introduces new cities, resources, and companies to the game board.
The era determines the type of goods available, the potential for expansion, and the complexity of trading.

2. Operational Phase
During the operational phase, the player has the opportunity to manage their companies.

The player can expand their companies by purchasing and placing new city or sea tiles.
The player can produce goods in cities where they have a presence.
The player can deliver goods to cities, earning revenue based on the distance and the type of good delivered.
A player’s strategic choices in this phase can greatly influence their ability to generate income and expand their influence on the board.

3. Bookkeeping Phase
In this phase, the player performs bookkeeping tasks.

The player pays upkeep costs for their companies, which can impact their financial stability in the game.
The player collects revenue from the goods they’ve delivered.
The player calculates their income and updates their money track accordingly. This phase is crucial for managing finances and ensuring the sustainability of the player’s companies.

4. Auction Phase
During the auction phase, the player can bid on new companies and technologies.

The player can choose to start an auction for a company or technology.
The highest bidder wins and pays their bid to the bank, gaining the company or technology.
Strategic bidding in this phase can allow a player to gain advantageous technologies or influential companies.

5. Merging Phase
In the merging phase, the player has the option to merge their companies with others.

The player can propose a merger with another player’s company.
If the proposal is accepted, the companies merge and the player who initiated the merger gains control.
Merging can be a powerful strategy to gain control over more resources and expand your influence on the board.

Remember, strategic choices made in each phase can significantly affect the player’s standing in the game, their ability to generate income, and their capacity to expand and control resources.

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

Indonesia is a complex, economic board game that is all about maximizing efficiency and making savvy business decisions. The game ends after the third era, when all the companies have been placed on the board and all sea routes have been established.

Before the game ends, players must ensure that they have managed their resources well and have made strategic decisions to position themselves for victory. It is vital that they have merged companies wisely, expanded their shipping capabilities, and taken advantage of opportunities to control the flow of goods.

Victory Conditions:

The player with the most money wins. This includes all cash in hand and the value of any companies the player owns.
Company valuation plays a significant role. At the end of the game, all companies are valued based on their size, the products they produce, and the routes they control. The value of each player’s companies is added to their cash on hand to determine their final score.
Control over sea routes is also important. Players earn additional money for each sea route they control at the end of the game.

Final Actions:

Before final scoring, players must perform a few actions:

Final Production: All companies on the board produce goods one last time.
Final Sales: Players sell all goods produced in the final round, receiving money based on current prices.
Company Valuation: Each player calculates the value of their companies, adding this total to their cash on hand.
Sea Route Scoring: Players earn additional money for each sea route they control. This money is added to their final score.

It is essential to note that all decisions made during the game, from company mergers to shipping expansions, can significantly impact the final scoring. Therefore, strategic planning and efficient resource management are key to winning a game of Indonesia.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The board game ‘Indonesia’ has a unique and complex scoring system that revolves around the accumulation of rupiahs (the game’s currency). The player with the most rupiahs at the end of the game is declared the winner. Here’s a detailed look at how points are awarded and the tie-breaking rules:

1. Earning Rupiahs:

Mergers: When two companies merge, the owners receive rupiahs based on the size and type of the companies involved.
Production and Delivery: Players earn rupiahs by producing goods with their companies and delivering them to cities.
Company Expansion: Expanding a company by adding new cities can also earn the player rupiahs.
Selling Companies: Players can earn rupiahs by selling their companies in auctions.

2. Calculating Final Scores:

At the end of the game, players must convert all of their assets (goods, ships, and companies) into rupiahs. The total value of these assets is then added to the player’s existing rupiahs to create their final score.

Goods: Each good is worth a certain number of rupiahs, as specified on the game board.
Ships: Each ship is worth a fixed amount of rupiahs, depending on its size.
Companies: The value of a company is calculated based on its size and the number of cities it serves.

3. Tie-breaking Rules:

If two or more players have the same score at the end of the game, the tie is broken using the following rules:

The player who has the most leftover goods (that have not been converted into rupiahs) wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who owns the most companies wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who owns the largest company (in terms of the number of cities it serves) wins.

This scoring system ensures that every decision you make during the game, whether it’s to merge companies, produce goods, or expand your business, has a significant impact on your final score.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘Indonesia’ is a complex economic board game that involves strategy and planning. Here are some rare or special rules, exceptions, and any rule clarifications that might be important in the game:

Mergers: This is a critical aspect of the game. One unique rule here is that a merger can only occur between two companies that are adjacent to each other. The merger ends in an auction which determines the new owner of the merged company.

Shipping: Unlike other games, in ‘Indonesia’, players must use their own ships to deliver goods. They cannot use other players’ ships. This rule is important for planning delivery routes and managing resources.

R&D: In ‘Indonesia’, the R&D phase is not optional. If a player owns a company that can upgrade, they must do so. This can drastically change a player’s strategy as the game progresses.

Exceptions to these rules include:

The game end can be triggered earlier if the bank runs out of money. In this case, the game ends immediately after the current round.
In the event of a tie in the final scoring, the player with the most cash on hand wins.

Clarifications in the rules include:

If a merger causes a player to exceed the limit of company operations, they must immediately sell off operations until they are within the limit.
Players may not deliberately withhold goods to create a shortage. The rulebook states that players must always attempt to fulfill demand to the best of their ability.