Furnace*

Furnace is a strategic engine-building Eurogame set in the 19th century. Players act as capitalists aiming to develop their industrial corporations and maximize profits through effective resource management and company acquisitions.

Key Features

• Role: Players are industrial capitalists.
• Theme: 19th-century industrial corporations.
• Mechanics: Engine-building, auction, and resource management.

Gameplay

• Start: Players begin with a random start-up card, initial resources, and four bidding discs.
• Rounds: The game spans four rounds, each consisting of Auction and Production phases.
• Auction Phase: Players bid on company cards using their discs, adhering to specific placement rules. Lower bids on a card provide compensations like resources or processing abilities.
• Production Phase: Players use their cards to generate resources, process them for profits, or upgrade cards.
• Card Types: Each company card offers production or processing actions, with basic and upgraded sides.

Strategy

• Resource Management: Efficiently managing and converting resources is crucial.
• Auction Tactics: Strategic bidding is key to acquiring valuable company cards while also gaining beneficial compensations.
• Upgrade Decisions: Upgrading cards effectively to enhance production chains.

Additional Elements

• Capitalist Cards: Unique effect cards add variety to each player's strategy.
• Production Chain Challenge: An optional rule where newly acquired cards are locked in a player's production chain for added complexity.

Player Experience

• Competitive Strategy: Players must outmaneuver each other in auctions and resource management.
• Replayability: Different start-up and capitalist cards, along with dynamic auctions, ensure varied gameplay.
• Engagement: Continuous interaction and decision-making keep players engaged.

Conclusion

Furnace offers a rich blend of strategic bidding, resource management, and engine building, set against the backdrop of industrial capitalism. It challenges players to think tactically about acquisitions and resource conversions, making it an engaging game for those who enjoy strategic depth and economic themes.