Underwater Cities

2018

Underwater Cities, a thrilling board game where players use strategic card placement to establish livable underwater areas. Build, upgrade, and strategize to win!

150
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the intriguing world of Underwater Cities, a strategic board game that will plunge you into an underwater world where you are tasked with developing the cities of the future. This compelling game is set in the not-so-distant future, where land resources are nearing depletion and the key to humanity’s survival lies beneath the ocean waves.

In Underwater Cities, each player represents a corporation with a mandate to build the best and most efficient underwater metropolis. Over the course of the game, you will be utilizing your cards and actions to construct city domes, tunnels, laboratories, desalination plants, and more. The core mechanics of the game are a unique blend of card play and worker placement, creating an engaging and challenging experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Underwater Cities is a strategic game with several components. Each component has a specific function and contributes to the gameplay in its unique way. Here’s an in-depth look at each component and its role in the game:

1. Player Boards:

Each player receives a player board that represents their underwater city. The board has spaces for action cards, city domes, tunnels, and special structures. It is the main workspace for players to develop their city throughout the game.

2. Action Cards:

These are used by players to perform various actions during gameplay. They are color-coded (yellow, red, and green) and each has a specific function such as building, upgrading, or expanding the city. Action cards are chosen and played on players’ turns and can trigger various effects based on their descriptions.

3. City Domes:

These are small plastic pieces that represent the actual cities in the game. Players place them on their player board as they build their underwater city. City domes are essential for generating resources and points.

4. Tunnels:

Tunnel tiles are used to connect the city domes on the player board. They are vital for city expansion and can generate resources when certain action cards are played.

5. Special Structures:

These tiles represent unique buildings, such as farms, desalination plants, and laboratories. They provide additional benefits and resources when built and can significantly boost a player’s strategy.

6. Resource Tokens:

There are several types of resources in the game, including kelp, steelplast, biomatter, and science. These are represented by tokens, and players collect and spend them to construct city domes, tunnels, and special structures.

7. Era Cards:

These cards indicate the current era or stage of the game. The game is played over three eras, and each one triggers different events, scoring opportunities, and introduces new action cards into the game.

8. Player Tokens:

Each player has a set of tokens in their color. These are mainly used on the main game board to claim action spots, indicating the actions a player plans to take on their turn.

9. Score Track:

This is a numerical track that goes around the edge of the main game board. Players move their score marker along this track to keep track of their points throughout the game.

10. Main Game Board:

The main game board is where players select their actions by placing their player tokens. It also displays available action cards and special structures, and houses the score track.

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

Underwater Cities is a strategic board game where players take on the role of leaders of underwater nations. This guide will take you through a step-by-step process of setting up the game.

1. Player Roles:

Each player represents a government, with the objective to build the best underwater nation. There are no distinct roles, but players must strategize to manage resources, build cities, and advance technologies.

2. Board Placement:

Place the main game board in the middle of the table where all players can reach it.
Each player takes a player board and places it in front of them.
Set the era board beside the main game board, with the era marker on the first space.

3. Initial Resources:

Each player receives two kelp, one steelplast, one science, and three credits. Place these resources on the designated areas of your player board.
Each player also receives three starting cards, which should be kept secret from other players.

4. Random Elements:

Shuffle the deck of special cards and deal three to each player. Each player chooses one to keep and discards the rest to a common discard pile.
Shuffle the decks for eras I, II, and III separately. Place them on the designated spaces on the era board.
Place the metropolis tiles on the designated spaces on the main game board. These should be placed randomly with the A/B side up.

5. Start of the Game:

Once the setup is complete, the player who last saw a submarine goes first. The game continues in clockwise order. The first player takes one action marker and places it on the first available space of the federation track on the main game board.

Game flow Round and round we go

The game of Underwater Cities is one of strategy and resource management that is played over 10 rounds, divided into three eras. Each round is composed of four phases, and each player has the opportunity to take specific actions during these phases.

Phase One: Action Selection

During the first phase, players select an action card from their hand and place it on one of the available action slots on the game board. The color of the card must match the color of the slot for the action to be valid. The actions that a player can perform during this phase include building, upgrading, constructing or activating buildings, or producing resources.

Phase Two: Resolution

In the resolution phase, players resolve the effects of their chosen action card and the action slot. Actions are resolved in the order in which they were played. Each action may have various outcomes, such as gaining resources, building structures, or advancing on the Federation Track.

Phase Three: Production

This phase takes place only in rounds 4, 7, and 10. In the production phase, players gain resources according to the buildings they have built in their underwater city. The type and amount of resources produced depend on the type and level of each building.

Phase Four: Cleanup

During the final phase of each round, players prepare for the next round. They draw cards until they have three in hand, remove any remaining action cards from the game board, and check if any end-of-round effects apply.

Action Selection Phase: Players select an action card and place it on a matching action slot on the game board.
Resolution Phase: Players resolve the effects of their chosen action card and action slot.
Production Phase: Players gain resources according to the buildings they have built. This phase occurs only in rounds 4, 7, and 10.
Cleanup Phase: Players prepare for the next round by drawing cards, removing action cards, and checking for end-of-round effects.

After 10 rounds of play, the game ends and players add up their points from various sources such as buildings, connected cities, metropolises, and the Federation Track. The player with the most points wins the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Underwater Cities, each player’s turn is an opportunity to grow their metropolis, research new technologies, or expand their network of domes and tunnels. There are several actions a player can take on their turn, each impacting the gameplay and strategic choices in unique ways.

1. Playing a Card:

At the start of their turn, the player selects a card from their hand and places it on one of the three action spots on the game board. The color of the card should match the color of the action spot. If the colors match, the player can perform both the action on the card and the action on the spot. If they don’t match, the player can only perform the action on the spot.

2. Building Structures:

One of the primary actions a player can take involves building structures. These include:

City Domes: These house your city’s population and generate biomatter.
Tunnels: These connect your city domes and allow for easier expansion and transportation.
Desalination Plants: These generate water, a crucial resource in the game.
Greenhouses: These produce kelp, another important resource.
Laboratories: These allow you to conduct research and gain special abilities.
Farms: These produce biomatter, a resource needed for various actions.

3. Upgrading Structures:

Another action option is to upgrade structures. Upgrading a structure improves its efficiency, allowing it to produce more resources or provide better benefits. However, upgrading a structure requires the expenditure of certain resources, so strategic planning is necessary.

4. Production:

Every third round in the game is a production round, where players gain resources based on the structures they have built. This includes food from farms, water from desalination plants, and science from labs. This is a crucial aspect of the game as it allows players to plan their strategy around their production capabilities.

5. Research:

Players can use their labs to research new technologies, providing them with unique abilities or advantages. The availability of technologies is limited, so players must decide when and what to research based on their strategy and the actions of their opponents.

6. Expansion:

Players can also choose to expand their cities by building more domes and tunnels. Expansion allows for more structures to be built and therefore more resources to be produced. However, expansion requires careful planning as it costs resources and can potentially leave a player vulnerable to resource shortages.

Each action a player takes in Underwater Cities not only affects their own strategy but also influences the gameplay for their opponents. This creates a dynamic, competitive environment where every decision matters.

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

The game of ‘Underwater Cities’ ends after the 10th round of play, on which all players have completed their actions. The game consists of 10 rounds divided into three eras, each with three rounds and a production phase at the end. The 10th round is followed by a final production phase, and then scores are calculated.

Victory Conditions:

The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins. Scores are calculated based on the following criteria:

City scoring: Each city scores points according to its size and the buildings within it. The bigger the city and the more buildings it has, the more points it scores.
Card scoring: Many cards have end-game bonus points. These can be from special cards, end-game cards, or cards with a victory point symbol.
Resource scoring: Each player scores points equal to the number of resources they have left over at the end of the game. This includes all types of resources like kelp, steelplast, and biomatter.
Federation scoring: If a player’s cities are connected by tunnels to a federation token, the player scores points according to the number of cities connected.

Final Actions:

Before final scoring, players must take the following actions:

Players must perform a final production phase. During this phase, each player produces resources and cards according to their cities and production buildings.
Players must pay any necessary upkeep for their cities and buildings. If a player cannot pay the necessary upkeep, they must dismantle their buildings until they can.
Players must return all their workers to their personal supply.
Players must calculate their scores according to the victory conditions mentioned above.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Underwater Cities is an intriguing board game where players build their own underwater city. Points are awarded based on several factors, and the player with the highest total score at the end of the game wins. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the scoring system:

The primary scoring categories are as follows:

City Domes: Each city dome gives you a certain number of points. The value of each city dome is indicated on the game board.
Connected Cities: If your cities are connected to the main center, you can earn additional points. The more cities you connect, the more points you get.
Upgraded Buildings: Upgraded buildings provide points based on their level of upgrade. Yellow buildings are worth 1 point, orange buildings are worth 2 points, and red buildings are worth 3 points.
Special Cards: Some special cards grant points for achieving specific objectives. The number of points varies depending on the card.

At the end of the game, players calculate their scores based on the above categories. The player with the highest total score wins the game.

If there is a tie, the following tie-breaking rules are applied:

The player with the most remaining resources wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who last took a turn wins.

These scoring and tie-breaker rules ensure a fair and exciting game of Underwater Cities, rewarding strategic planning and efficient resource management.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

In the board game ‘Underwater Cities’, there are a few special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that players should be aware of:

1. Action Spaces:

Each player can only occupy one action space in a round. If an action space is occupied by another player’s disc, it cannot be used in the same round. However, if the disc is of the same player, it can be used again only if the player uses a special card that allows such a move.

2. Metropolis Tiles:

Metropolis tiles are unique as they are the only way to connect different underwater cities. However, each player can only have a maximum of two metropolis tiles. In addition, these tiles cannot be replaced once placed.

3. Special Cards:

Special cards are powerful and offer unique abilities that can greatly influence the game. However, their usage is limited by the amount of science symbols a player has. It is important to note that these cards cannot be used for their special ability once they are used for their basic action.

4. End Game Scoring:

The game ends after 10 rounds. However, the final scoring includes not only the points accumulated throughout the game but also additional points for achieving certain goals, such as building the most tunnels or having the most connected cities. This means that the game can still be won in the final round, despite the current score.

5. Player Turn:

While the game is played in clockwise order, the first player token changes hands at the end of each round. This means that turn order can change and strategy must be adjusted accordingly.

6. Building Limitations:

There are certain rules and limitations when it comes to building underwater cities and other structures. For example, a city cannot be built unless it is connected to a tunnel, and a tunnel cannot be built unless it is connected to a city. Furthermore, certain structures can only be built on specific types of terrain.

7. Resource Limitations:

Each player has a limited storage capacity for resources. Any excess resources gained must be discarded immediately, so players must plan their actions carefully to avoid waste.

8. Card Draw:

Players draw up to three cards at the end of their turn, but only keep one. This rule is important to remember as it can greatly influence strategy and planning.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Underwater Cities:

Focus on building cities early in the game. This will give you a steady income of resources and make it easier to expand later on.
Try to match the color of your cards to the color of the action spots. This will allow you to play more cards and gain more benefits.
Invest in technologies that provide recurring benefits. This will give you an advantage as the game progresses.
Keep an eye on your opponents’ strategies and adapt as necessary. You may need to change your plans to prevent an opponent from getting too far ahead.

Beginner Tips for Underwater Cities:

Start by focusing on building up your resource production. This will give you the flexibility to take a variety of actions later in the game.
Try to play a card every turn. Even if the card’s effect isn’t immediately useful, it’s better to play a card than to lose it.
Don’t neglect your action cards. These can provide powerful effects and can tip the balance in your favor.
Take the time to understand the different technologies. Some of them can be quite complex, but they can also provide significant advantages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Underwater Cities:

Don’t ignore the end-game scoring conditions. These can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game, so plan your strategy accordingly.
Avoid spending all your resources at once. It’s important to always have a reserve in case your plans change.
Don’t forget about your special abilities. These can give you an edge in the game, so make sure to use them whenever possible.
Try not to focus too much on one strategy. The game is about balance and flexibility, so it’s important to adapt to the changing circumstances.

Optimizing Gameplay in Underwater Cities:

Try to build a balanced economy. Having a good mix of resources will allow you to take a variety of actions and respond to different situations.
Take advantage of synergy between cards. Many cards work well together, so try to find and exploit these combinations.
Plan your turns in advance. This will allow you to make the most of your actions and avoid wasting valuable resources.
Keep an eye on the game’s turn tracker. Knowing how many turns are left can help you plan your strategy and make the most of your remaining actions.