Contents
- 1 Barrage Game Rules
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Objective
- 1.3 Starting the Game
- 1.4 Gameplay
- 1.5 Resource Management
- 1.6 Building Defenses
- 1.7 Launching Attacks
- 1.8 Conclusion
- 1.9 Let’s Play Barrage
- 1.10 Getting Started
- 1.11 Game Play
- 1.12 How Money Flows: A Guide to Playing the Game
- 1.13 I. Income and Headstreams
- 1.14 II. Actions
- 1.15 III. Water Flow
- 1.16 End of Round
Barrage Game Rules
Introduction
Hey there! Welcome to the fantastic world of Barrage, the most exciting game you’ll ever play. Get ready to immerse yourself in this action-packed adventure where you’ll strategize, build, and unleash your barrage to win the ultimate battle. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
Objective
The goal of Barrage is simple: defeat your opponents and be the last one standing. You’ll achieve this by skillfully managing your resources, constructing powerful defenses, and launching devastating attacks. The battlefield is waiting for you, so gather your wits and prepare for an epic showdown.
Starting the Game
To begin, assemble your arsenal of troops, weapons, and defenses. You’ll use these to defend your territory and unleash a barrage of deadly attacks on your enemies. Make sure to choose your units wisely, as each one brings its own unique strengths and weaknesses to the battlefield.
Gameplay
Once the game starts, it’s time for action! As the battle unfolds, you’ll need to make strategic decisions to outmaneuver your opponents. Position your units strategically, deploy your defenses wisely, and launch devastating attacks at the perfect moment. Remember, timing is everything!
Resource Management
In Barrage, resources are your lifeline. Manage them wisely to ensure your survival. Collect resources from the battlefield, trade with other players, and invest in upgrades to strengthen your arsenal. But be careful, as resources are limited and you must use them wisely to secure victory.
Building Defenses
Protecting your territory is crucial in Barrage. Construct powerful defenses to shield yourself from enemy attacks. Choose from a variety of defensive structures, such as walls, bunkers, and towers, and strategically place them to create an impenetrable fortress. The safety of your troops depends on it!
Launching Attacks
Now comes the exciting part – launching your barrage! Use your arsenal of weapons, including missiles, bombs, and tanks, to unleash devastating attacks on your opponents. Target their weak spots, exploit their defenses, and watch as your enemies crumble before you. Victory is within reach!
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’re now equipped with the knowledge and skills to dominate the world of Barrage. Remember, it’s all about strategy, resource management, and timing. So go out there, unleash your barrage, and claim victory in this thrilling game that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Good luck, commander!
- 1 Patent Office Board
- 1 Double Sided Map
- 1 Management Board
- 1 Energy Track
- 4 Company Boards
- 4 Construction Wheels
- 12 Cardboard Punch Boards
- 202 Wooden Components
- 148 Tiles
- 35 Plastic Components
- 2 Rulebooks
Let’s Play Barrage
Welcome! In Barrage, you and some friends will become CEOs of different companies. Your goal is to be the most successful in the competition to generate energy.
How can you achieve this? By building dams, hydro-electric powerhouses, and connecting them with conduits. You’ll also need to buy and use advanced technologies. All of these actions will allow you to harness stored water and convert it into energy, which you can then use to fulfill contracts.
The player with the most Victory Points when the game ends is the winner. Are you ready to take on the challenge and become the ultimate energy mogul?
You can earn Victory Points (VP) in a variety of ways:
1. At the end of each round:
– By producing the most Energy Units during the round.
– By generating enough energy (6 or more Energy Units) and activating the Bonus tile for that round. Each round has its own Bonus tile, which provides Victory Points based on the type of structure you’ve built or the element you own.
2. During each round:
– By earning Income on your Company Board. This is done by constructing a certain number of Structures.
– By completing Contracts that reward you with VPs. For example, you can earn 4 VPs (along with 2 Credits) by fulfilling a Contract that requires a production of 3 Energy Units.
Remember, scoring Victory Points is crucial for your success in the game. By strategically focusing on these different methods of obtaining VPs, you’ll have a better chance of coming out on top. So get ready to build, generate energy, and fulfill Contracts to maximize your Victory Point total. Good luck!
When you play Barrage, there are certain ways you can earn Victory Points (VPs) that can help you secure a win. One way to earn VPs is by using Advanced Technology tiles. These tiles have special effects and when you use them, you will receive 3 VPs for each Powerhouse you have built. It’s a great way to rack up points and stay ahead in the game.
Another way to earn VPs is by achieving the goal of the Objective tile. Each Objective has a specific goal, and the top 3 players who meet that goal will be rewarded. If you’re the first player to meet the goal, you will earn 15 VPs. If you’re the second player, you’ll earn 10 VPs. And if you’re the third player, you’ll earn 5 VPs. It’s a competitive element that adds an extra layer of strategy to the game.
So, whether you’re using Advanced Technology tiles or striving to meet the goals of the Objective tiles, earning VPs is crucial in Barrage. It’s the key to success and can make all the difference in securing a victory. Keep these strategies in mind as you play and aim to earn as many VPs as you can. Good luck!
Hey there! Let’s talk about scoring in the game Barrage. It’s pretty straightforward, but it’s always good to have a clear understanding of the rules.
So, when it comes to scoring, you need to look at a few things. You’ll earn Victory Points (VP) based on the remaining Machineries and Credits you have, as well as the Water Drops in your Dams.
First off, you’ll score 1 VP for every set of 5 items you have between Excavators, Concrete Mixers, and Credits. So, for example, if you have 15 total items between these three categories, you’ll earn 3 VP.
Next, you’ll also score 1 VP for each Water Drop held in your Dams. So, the more Water Drops you have, the more points you’ll earn.
That’s pretty much it! Keep in mind that scoring is an important part of the game and can really make a difference in the end. So, make sure you strategize and aim to collect as many Machineries, Credits, and Water Drops as you can to maximize your points.
Good luck and have fun playing Barrage!
When I score VPs, I move my VP marker on the VP track around the Map to reflect my points. If I reach more than 100 VPs, I flip my VP marker on the other side to show the related symbol.
Getting Started
As a guide to setting up the game, here’s what you need to do:
1. First, put the Map in the middle of the table. It’s best to use the side without icons once you’re familiar with the game.
2. Next, place the Energy Track and the Management board next to the Map, just like in the picture.
3. Take the Machineries (Excavators and Concrete Mixers) and put them next to the Map. This will be your general supply.
4. Divide the Credits into their different values and add them to the general supply.
5. The Water Drops should also go into the general supply.
6. Shuffle the Headstream tiles and randomly choose 4. Put them face up in the designated spaces on the Map. The remaining tiles can be put back in the box.
7. Find the Bonus tile shown in the Setup image and set it aside. Shuffle the rest of the Bonus tiles and randomly place 5 face-up in the designated spaces on the Energy Track.
There you have it! With these steps, you’ll be ready to start playing the game. Enjoy!
Let’s start by shuffling all the Bonus tiles. I’ll grab five of them and place them randomly on the Energy track. The remaining tile goes back in the box.
Next, I’ll shuffle the Objective tiles. Then, I’ll randomly select one and place it in the designated space at the end of the Energy Track. The rest of the tiles go back in the box.
We’re almost ready! Time to shuffle the National Contract tiles. I’ll pick a number of Contracts equal to the number of players, minus one. These chosen Contracts will be placed face-up in the designated spaces on the Management board. The rest of the tiles go back in the box.
Lastly, I’ll divide the Private Contract tiles based on their back. Each pile will be shuffled separately. After that, I’ll place the three piles face down in the designated space on the Management board. From each pile, I’ll pick the first two tiles and place them face-up next to their respective piles.
So, here’s what you need to do. First, gather the Neutral Dams Setup tiles and sort them by their backs. Next, grab a random tile from each pile. These tiles will determine where you place the Neutral Dams.
Each type of terrain has a specific level of dam. In the Mountains, you’ll find a level 1 Dam. In the Hills, there’s a level 2 Dam. And in the Plains, you’ll discover a level 3 Dam. Once you’ve chosen your tiles, place the corresponding Neutral Dams in the designated building spaces on each tile. Don’t forget to put a Water Drop behind each Dam. And finally, return all the starting setup tiles to the box.
Now, get rid of the Patent Office board and all the Advanced Technology tiles. They won’t be necessary for the introductory game.
Take the Patent Office board and position it next to the Map. Then, grab the Advanced Technology tiles, divide them by their backs, and shuffle each pile separately. You’re almost ready to dive into the game!
First, I’ll place the three piles face down in their respective spaces on the left side of the Patent Office board. Then, I’ll take the first three tiles from pile I and put them face-up in the spaces on the right side of the board.
Getting Started as a Player
Here’s what you need to do to set up the game:
- For the first game, we’ll assign each player a Company board and an Executive Officer tile. Look at the table below to know which ones you should get. Put the Executive Officer tile on the left side of your Company board.
- You’ll also receive everything in the color that matches your Company board. And don’t forget to grab a Construction Wheel, which should be placed next to your Company board.
When we start playing the game, each of us will be given 6 Credits, 6 Excavators, and 4 Concrete Mixers. It’s exciting to think about what we can do with these tools!
And that’s not all! We also get a Starting Contract tile that matches our Company. It’s like a special assignment just for us.
To determine the order of play, we’ll place the Turn Order markers on the designated spaces at the beginning of the Energy Track. We can refer to the table on the previous page to see the specific order.
Oh, and remember, if we’re playing with just 3 people, we won’t use the 4th space in the turn order. And in a 2-player game, we won’t use the 3rd and 4th spaces.
Finally, we’ll put the Energy markers on the starting space of the Energy Track. Make sure the “30” icon is face-down. This will give us a starting point for our energy levels.
Hey there! Let’s dive right into the game setup. I’m going to walk you through the steps to get started with this exciting board game adventure.
First things first, we need to place the Victory Point markers on the scoring track. Find space number “10” on the track and put the markers there. Make sure the “100” icon is facing down to keep it a surprise.
Next, each player gets to make some choices. We all need our own Company boards, Executive Officers, and Starting Contracts. To decide which Company boards to use, take a number of boards equal to the number of players and put them in the middle of the table. If you’re playing with just two or three people, any extra boards can go back in the box for now.
To mix things up even more, grab Executive Officer tiles. You’ll need one for each player. Shuffle them and combine them randomly with each Company board. If you have any Executive Officer tiles left over, put them back in the box.
Lastly, we’ll need Starting Contract tiles. These tiles will determine the initial contracts that players will have. Take a number of tiles equal to the number of players and place them face-up in the middle of the table. If you have any extra tiles, save them for later.
And that’s it! We’re all set up and ready to start playing. I hope you’re as excited as I am. Let the adventure begin!
Hey there! Let’s dive right into the game. First, we need to randomly select the first player. That lucky person gets to choose one of the available Company Boards, along with its Executive Officer tile and a Starting Contract. After that, we’ll go clockwise, and each player will take their turn selecting their combination of Company board, Executive Officer tile, and Starting Contract tile.
Now, here’s something interesting. The Turn Order markers are placed in the opposite order of how players selected. So, the first player to choose will place their Turn Order marker in the last position, while the last player to choose will place their marker in the first position.
Before we start with the gameplay, we’ll remove the basic wild Technology tiles from the box – these are the ones with the “?” symbol. We won’t be using them in the full game.
Game Play
The game is split into five rounds, and each round has five phases that we’ll play in this order:
- Income and Headstreams
- Actions
- Water Flow
- Scoring
- End of Round
How Money Flows: A Guide to Playing the Game
Let’s talk about how money works in this game and how you can make the most of it!
Income is a crucial part of this game, and it’s something we all need to understand. Each player will receive income based on the structures they build. You’ll see a symbol, an exclamation mark (!), representing income on your Company board. This income is divided into different types, called “headstreams”.
But here’s the catch – to activate your income, you need to build structures. Once you build a structure, you can activate its income. For example, by building the second base, elevation, or conduit, you’ll start receiving income related to that structure. The more pieces you build, the more income you’ll earn.
Now that we understand income, let’s talk about actions. In this game, you will take actions to help your Company grow and earn more money. Each round, you can choose from a variety of actions. Think carefully and make the best choice to maximize your income and outperform your opponents!
Water is a precious resource in this game, and it flows through different channels. Your goal is to manipulate the flow of water by strategically building structures. By doing so, you can control the water flow and earn more income. Keep an eye on the water flow and plan your moves accordingly!
Scoring is an important part of the game. You earn points based on your company’s performance, income, and the structures you’ve built. Aim for high scores to secure your victory!
At the end of each round, it’s time to evaluate your progress. Take a step back, analyze your income and structures, and see how you’re doing compared to the other players. Adjust your strategy if needed and get ready for the next round!
I. Income and Headstreams
Now, let’s dive deeper into income and headstreams. This phase of the game can be played simultaneously by all players.
Remember, income is vital for success, and in this game, it’s all about building structures. The more structures you build, the more income you’ll receive. Keep an eye on those exclamation marks – they represent potential earnings!
Start by building your base structures, then work your way up to more advanced ones. With each new structure, your income will increase. It’s like unlocking new levels of profit!
When you construct the fifth piece, you’ll earn the third income. The first two types of income vary depending on the Company board. However, the third income remains the same for all companies, providing you with 7 VPs.
| #image.jpg Once Paul (red) builds several structure pieces, he can activate the income shown on his Company board. |
Powerhouses don’t generate income themselves, but they do enhance energy production.
When you play Headstream, you need to put water drops on the tiles that have numbers on them. These numbers tell you how many water drops to put on each tile for the first four rounds. It’s important to remember that you won’t put any water drops on the Headstream tiles during the fifth round.
Each Headstream tile has a symbol that shows how many water drops to put on it. These water drops will start flowing on the map during the Water Flow Phase.
Hey there! Let’s dive into the first round of the game. You’ll start by putting 2 Water Drops on the Headstream tile.
II. Actions
Now, it’s time to take some actions! We’ll go in order, following the Turn Order markers on the Energy Track.
When it’s your turn, you gotta place your Engineers on one of the free action spaces. This will allow you to do the corresponding action.
Each action space needs from one to three Engineers. Just look at the Engineer icons on the action space to see how many you need.
Now, the action spaces with a red outline are a bit special. You gotta pay 3 Credits to put your Engineers there. It’s like a small fee for the extra boost!
To get things done, you need Engineers. Put 2 Engineers on the left, or 3 on the right. If you choose the right, you also pay 3 Credits.
Take the Engineers you need from your personal supply. If you don’t have enough Engineers (or the extra Credits) in your supply, you can’t do the action. And remember, you can’t put Engineers on an action space without doing the action.
Your turn ends after you do an action. If it’s your turn and you don’t have any Engineers left, you have to pass.
Once all players have passed, the Actions Phase is done.
There are different types of actions on the Company and Management boards.
Now, let’s talk about the Construction Action.
Hey there! Let’s talk about the action spaces on each Company board. They’re pretty cool, and they’re all connected to a construction action. This action is how you build structures in the game.
Now, here’s the cool thing: every player has their very own action spaces. Yes, that’s right! No sharing allowed. Each player gets to use their own spaces, while the others just have to watch.
So, these spaces have different levels of difficulty. They start easy on the left and get progressively harder as you move to the right. You see, the more structures you build during a round, the more Engineers you’ll need. It’s like a challenge that keeps getting bigger!
To construct the first piece of the structure, you’ll need one Engineer. For the second piece, you’ll need two Engineers. And for the third and fourth pieces, you’ll need three Engineers each.
Finally, if you want to build the fourth piece in the same round, you’ll also have to pay three Credits.
Here’s what you need to do to perform a construction action:
- Alright, here’s what you need to do: When you’re ready, take the engineers you need and put them in the first open spot on your board, starting from the left. Keep in mind that if you choose the space with the red outline, you’ll have to pay an extra 3 Credits.
When building a structure, start by placing the appropriate technology tile in the open section of your construction wheel.
To build a structure, you need to have a Technology tile that matches the symbol of the desired structure. If you don’t have the specific Technology tile or a wild tile, you won’t be able to build that structure.
When building a structure, make sure to place the necessary machineries in the open space of your construction wheel, right beneath the tile you just set. Each structure has its own specific cost (for a complete breakdown of construction costs, refer to the following page). Without all the required machineries, you won’t be able to carry out the construction process.
Spin the Construction Wheel one segment and rotate it in a clockwise direction, moving the Technology tile and Machineries from the current segment to the next segment.
Hey there! Let’s talk about placing structure pieces on the Map. It’s pretty simple, really.
First, grab a structure piece from the left side of your Company Board. Look for one that matches the building space you want to work with on the Map. If you’re building an Elevation, just place it right over one of your existing Dams.
Now, pay attention! If you decide to build a Powerhouse or a Base in a space that has a red outlined icon, you’ll have to cough up an extra 3 Credits. Ouch, I know. But hey, the good news is that if you stumble upon an income space after building, you’ll get an immediate bonus. And guess what? You’ll get that bonus again during the Income Phase. Sweet deal, right?
Alright, moving on. There are 4 different types of structures you can build. Each one has its own unique function and cost. So make sure you choose wisely!
#image.jpgThe Base
- When you want to produce water, you can build a Dam, which will collect and store the water.
- The Dam can be constructed in any available building space by clicking on the Base icon.
- If you build the Dam in the Plains area, it will cost you 3 Excavators. In the Hills area, it will cost 4 Excavators. And in the Mountains area, it will cost 5 Excavators.
- If you choose to build the Dam in a space with a red outlined icon, it will require an additional cost of 3 Credits.
- Keep in mind that you can’t build two Dams of the same color in the same basin.
#image.jpgThe Elevation
- One way to increase the capacity of a Dam is by using Conduits.
- Conduits are always constructed on top of a Base or another Elevation of your color. You won’t find any building spaces with the Elevation icon.
- The cost of building a Conduit depends on the terrain: 2 Concrete Mixers for Plains, 3 Concrete Mixers for Hills, and 4 Concrete Mixers for Mountains.
- If you build a Conduit on a building space with a red outlined icon, you don’t need to pay an additional 3 Credits.
- A Dam can only have a maximum of three Elevations, so you can’t have more than two Elevations on the same Base.
#image.jpgThe Conduit
- I use the Conduit to transport Water Drops from a Dam to a Powerhouse while generating energy.
- I can construct the Conduit in any available building space using the Conduit icon.
- The cost of building a Conduit is 2 Excavators multiplied by the production value of the Conduit being built. For example, if the Conduit has a production value of 4, it will require 8 Excavators.
#image.jpgThe Powerhouse
#image.jpg
- I use the Powerhouse to activate energy production.
- I can construct the Powerhouse in any available building space using the Powerhouse icon.
- The cost of building a Powerhouse is 2 Concrete Mixers plus an additional Concrete Mixer for each previously built Powerhouse.
If you construct a Powerhouse in a location marked with a red outline, it will require an additional 3 Credits. It’s not allowed to build two Powerhouses of the same color in the same basin.
#image.jpg
About the Machineries, Credits, and Technology tiles
- I want to tell you about a couple of unique things called Excavators and Concrete Mixers. These resources are different because when you use them to build something, they don’t disappear forever. Instead, they go on a Construction Wheel for a while, and then they become available again after a complete rotation. So, when you get one of these resources, you take it from a big pile and put it in your own pile. You don’t put it on the Construction Wheel. And guess what? Once you get a Machinery, you can use it right away.
- Credits are a bit different. They never go on the Construction Wheel. When you spend Credits, you just put them back in the big pile for other people to use.
- There are five types of Technology tiles: one for each structure piece, and one wild tile that can be used for any structure. All Technology tiles work the same way: they stay on the Construction Wheel until they return to the entry space and become available again.
Action Plan
Choose an open action space on the Management board and place the required Engineers there. Immediately take the action associated with that space.
The Management board is shared by all players, so you’re competing to use the action spaces. Once a player places Engineers in a space, it’s off-limits to other players for the whole round (except for the Bank).
When I’m managing my team, I have two options for placing my Engineers: one on the left and one on the right of the action symbol. The space on the right costs more, but it gives me a second chance if the first space is taken. And guess what? Both spaces can be used by me in the same round!
Now, some actions have a cost shown on the action symbol. I have to pay that cost when I place my Engineer, along with any additional fee for spaces outlined in red. Oh, and here’s an important rule: I need to have enough Credits to be able to place my Engineer in a specific space.
But here’s the thing, if I can’t actually perform the action, I can’t place my Engineer in that space. It’s as simple as that!
The actions on the Management board are categorically divided into sections, organizing them by type and impact for easy navigation.
Turbine Station
| #image.jpg This area lets you activate energy production. |
#image.jpg
Hey there! Whenever you come across this symbol, go ahead and activate a production. That means you can apply the bonus or malus indicated by the number in purple. Pretty cool, huh?
Now, to perform a production action, you need a few things:
- First, you gotta have at least one Water Drop on a Dam. It can be your own colored Dam or a neutral one.
- You also need a Powerhouse of your color already built on the Map.
- And finally, there should be a Conduit directly connecting the Dam to your Powerhouse. The Conduit can be any color.
So, you take as many Water Drops as you want from the Dam, and move them through the Conduit until they reach your Powerhouse.
As soon as the Water Drops get to your Powerhouse, you instantly produce Energy Units. The amount of Energy Units you produce is determined by multiplying the Conduit’s production value by the number of Water Drops you moved.
By the way, you can choose to move any number of Water Drops from the Dam you’re using. It’s totally up to you!
If you use another player’s Conduit, they will earn 1 Credit for each Water Drop you move. Additionally, they will receive 1 Victory Point for each Water Drop you move.
Okay, let me break it down for you. Different production action spaces give you various energy bonuses. So, after you figure out how much energy you’ve produced overall, you gotta apply the bonus or malus for the action space you used.
Just keep in mind that you can’t do a production action if you didn’t produce at least 1 energy unit. Gotta have something to work with, right?
Boosting Production
Check out what happens when you produce Energy! Move yourself up the Energy Track by the same number of spaces as the Energy Units you produce.
The Energy Track keeps track of how much energy each player makes in the current round.
If you make more than 30 Energy Units, flip your Energy marker to the “30” symbol, go back to the start of the track, and keep earning points (your marker counts as being on the “30” space for earning Credits and activating Bonus tiles).
I’m Paul, and today I’ve generated 7 Energy Units. In the past, I’ve already produced 5 Energy Units, so my marker now shows a total of 12 Energy Units for this round.
If you have the Energy Units required, you can complete a Contract from your supply. Remember, a Contract can only be fulfilled if the amount of energy you produce in a single action is equal to or higher than what is indicated on the Contract.
When calculating the Energy Units produced, consider only the amount generated in a single action, not the overall amount produced in the round. If you fulfill a Contract, you can immediately claim the reward listed on it and flip it face-down. Keep in mind, though, that you won’t be able to fulfill that specific Contract again in this game.
Furthermore, you can only complete one Contract per action. So choose wisely!
So here’s the deal. You can’t just stack up production actions to meet a Contract. And you can’t use one production action to meet two Contracts, even if you have enough energy to cover both of them. It’s a simple rule, but an important one.
So here’s the situation: I have a total production value of 7, and I have two Contracts that I could fulfill. The thing is, I can only choose one of them. After giving it some thought, I decide to go with the Contract that has a value of 3. By doing so, I’ll be able to move my marker on the Energy Track two more steps and also rotate my Construction Wheel by two segments. Pretty cool, right? ��
National Contracts
Now, let’s talk about National Contracts. They’re pretty special. If, with a single action, I produce energy that’s equal to or more than what’s needed for one of these Contracts, I can fulfill it instead of a regular Contract that I already have. It’s like a bonus opportunity! The National Contract tiles don’t go into my supply, though. Instead, the first player who produces the required Energy Units gets to take the National Contract tile and put it face down in their personal supply. Pretty neat, huh?
When I play the game, I have a goal in mind: to produce at least 14 Energy Units in a single production action. If I can achieve this, I have the power to choose one of the National Contracts shown to me. It’s an exciting moment, knowing that I have the ability to fulfill a contract and gain an advantage in the game.
Have you ever wondered where the water goes in this game?
Well, let me explain. The Water Drops in the game have a purpose. When I use a production action, the Water Drops move to a Powerhouse. From there, they naturally flow through basins, rivers, and Dams. It’s like a journey for them. When they reach a Dam, they stop and wait for other Drops to join them. If the Dam is already full, the water simply overflows and continues on its way to the lower basins.
Water Management
| #image.jpg This is an important section of the game. It allows me to add Water Drops to the headstreams. By doing this, I can control the flow of water and make strategic decisions to benefit my gameplay. |
Take a look at this:
Hey, let me tell you something cool. You can add 2 droplets of water to one or two tiles at the start of the river. You get to choose where to put them. You can even put both drops on one tile or divide them between two tiles. And get this, the drops only start flowing down during the Water Flow Phase. It’s pretty neat, right?
So, you want to know what happens when you put two water drops on separate headstream tiles, huh? Well, let me break it down for you.
When you decide to place those drops on different tiles, something interesting happens. You see, each drop is like a little messenger, carrying information in the form of a color. When two drops meet, they share their colors, creating a mesmerizing blend where the two colors mix together in a beautiful dance.
It’s fascinating to think about how these drops, each with their unique hue, can come together and create something totally new. It’s almost like a collaboration, where the drops work together to produce a vibrant and harmonious combination.
Now, here’s the thing. When you mix two colors, the result can be quite unpredictable. Sometimes, the colors complement each other perfectly, creating a striking blend that catches your eye. Other times, the colors clash, creating a jarring contrast that makes you do a double-take.
But that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it? The unknown. The anticipation of what might happen when these drops meet. It keeps us on our toes and adds an element of surprise and excitement to the whole experience.
So, the next time you have two water drops and two headstream tiles, go ahead and place them on different tiles. Embrace the uncertainty and let the colors mingle. You never know what kind of magic they might create.
Okay, listen up! Here’s what you gotta do: Place 1 Water Drop on a Headstream tile. Easy, right?
Now, pay attention, ’cause this part is important: the drop you just put down will flow down right away, following the water flow rules.
But hold on, you’re not done yet! It’s up to you to choose which Headstream tile to place that drop on.
And guess what? There’s no limit to how many Water Drops you can have on a Headstream tile. So go ahead and make it rain!
Oh, by the way – you can also add water to headstreams in a couple of other ways. Some Contracts and Income can do it for you. Plus, did you know that headstreams produce water all on their own during the Headstreams Phase? Pretty cool, huh?
Bank
| #image.jpg In this section, you can collect Credits. |
When you take action in the Bank, you earn credits equal to the number of engineers you assigned to this space.
The Bank is a unique action space. Unlike other spaces, you can place as many Engineers as you want here with just one action. It’s the only space that is not exclusive to a single player. You can always place Engineers in the Bank, even if other players have already placed their own Engineers there.
You can also collect Credits by completing certain Contracts, earning Income, and during the Scoring Phase.
Workshop
When you play Barrage, you have the opportunity to manipulate the Construction Wheel, which can hasten the return of Technology tiles and Machineries. To do this, simply rotate the wheel by the number of segments shown in the action symbol. If there is a cost indicated in the symbol, you must pay that cost. Each time you rotate the wheel (or move to a new segment), you can immediately take back any Machineries or Technology tiles that are now in the open segment.
There is also a section called the Machinery Shop, where you can purchase Machineries. To do this, just pay the amount of credits shown on the left side of the action symbol, and in return, you will receive the specified machineries shown on the right side of the symbol.
When it’s time to gather Machineries, I take them from the general supply and put them in my personal supply on my Executive Officer tile.
I can also get Machineries through certain Contracts or as part of my Income.
Contract Office
| #image.jpg Here, I can get the Contract tiles that are available. |
Hey there! Grab a free Private Contract tile!
Pay 1 Credit and get TWO available Private Contract tiles.
You get to choose which Contracts you want, but only from the ones that are face-up. Unfortunately, you can’t choose any National Contract tiles. Once you’ve made your selection, place the chosen Contract tiles face-up next to your board in your personal supply.
After you’ve taken your Contracts, the ones you picked will be replaced by the tile on the top of the corresponding pile. This means that there will always be 2 available Contracts for each level, but the replacement only happens at the end of your turn.
Remember, you can’t have more than 3 face-up Contracts in your personal supply at any time.
If you end up with more than three Contracts in front of you after taking this action, you’ll need to immediately get rid of some. The choice of which ones to discard is up to you.
Any Contracts that you’ve already fulfilled (face down) don’t count towards this limit.
Patent Office
| #image.jpg In this section, you can get Advanced Technology tiles. |
If you pay 5 credits, you can take the corresponding advanced technology tile.
There are three action spaces, and each space is associated with a tile. When you take the tile, you add it to your personal supply. You can immediately use the tile during this round.
Advanced Technology tiles allow you to build structures just like the basic technology tiles. However, advanced tiles have an extra special effect that only activates when you use them.
The tiles you take will only be replaced at the end of the round.
III. Water Flow
When all players have placed all their Engineers during the Actions Phase, the Water Flow Phase begins.
Hey there! Let me break it down for you. Imagine a bunch of water drops landing on the top tiles of a river. These drops flow down following the natural path of rivers and basins. As they move along, they fill up dams along the way. But here’s the catch: once a dam is filled to its highest level, the extra water drops flow past it. This continues until all the water drops have either been placed in a dam or have reached the lowest point in the basin. And that’s how the water flow phase works!
As I observe the flowing drops, it’s clear that Drops 1 and 2 are heading downstream. They make their way to the Mountains level 1 Dam, which is already at full capacity. Unfortunately, both drops overflow, continuing their unstoppable journey.
Next, they reach the Plains level 3 Dam, with space for one more drop. Drop 1 is successfully caught by the Dam, but Drop 2 overflows. This overflow causes the dam to reach its maximum capacity, and Drop 2 ultimately reaches the end of the map, where it disappears into the void.
Continuing on, Drops 3, 4, and 5 join the flow. Drop 3 immediately finds its new home in the Mountains level 2 Dam, filling it up completely. Drops 4 and 5 continue their journey further. Eventually, Drop 4 is successfully captured by the upper Hills Dam, filling it as well. However, Drop 5 exceeds the dam’s capacity, leading it to overflow and end up in the lower level 2 Neutral Dam.
Finally, let’s talk about scoring. The player who reaches the highest point on the energy track receives a well-deserved 6 victory points. As for the second player on that track, they still earn a respectable 2 victory points for their efforts.
This bonus is reserved for players who have generated at least 1 Energy Unit. If multiple players are tied for first place, the bonuses (6 and 2 VPs) will be combined and equally distributed among the tied players, rounding up.
If there is a tie for second place, only the tied players will receive 1 VP. No other player will be eligible for the second place bonus.
Hey there! I want to tell you all about this cool game called “Energy Track.” It’s a really fun and strategic game that I think you’ll enjoy!
So, in this game, there are different players represented by different colors. We have Paul (red), Joanna (black), and Sophia (white). Each player is trying to score points and be the best!
One way to score points in the game is through the Energy Track. Paul is currently in the lead on the Energy Track, so he gets 6 points for being in that position. Impressive, right?
Now, Joanna and Sophia are both in the same spot on the Energy Track. Since they share the spot, they each get 1 Victory Point. It’s great when you can share the rewards!
Another cool thing about the Energy Track is that it lets you gain credits. Your marker on the Energy Track determines how many credits you get. For example, if your marker has reached or passed the “0” space, you will gain 3 credits. But there’s a catch – you will also lose 3 Victory Points. It’s a bit of a risk, but sometimes it’s worth it!
So, in summary, the Energy Track is a really important part of the game. It allows you to score points, gain credits, and make strategic decisions. Keep an eye on your position on the track and make the best choices to become the ultimate champion of Energy Track!
In this game, I gain 4 Credits, while Joanna and Sophia gain 3 Credits each. Viktor also gains 3 Credits, but he loses 3 victory points. It’s a win-lose situation for him.
To score victory points, you need to pay attention to the bonus tile of the current round.
The Energy Track is split into five numbered sections, representing each round of the game. The leftmost visible tile is the bonus tile for the current round.
Full Reward: If your Energy Marker is in the section corresponding to the current round or further, you will activate the bonus tile scoring.
Reduced Reward: If your Energy Marker is in a section from a previous round, you can still activate the bonus tile scoring, but you must decrease the reward by 4 victory points for each section you are behind.
When playing the game, you don’t have to worry about losing any VPs from the Bonus tile scoring. Even if you’re falling behind in the game, the negative impact won’t outweigh the potential reward from the Bonus tile.
Here’s the thing: If the reduction you face by being behind is more significant than the VP reward offered by the Bonus tile, you won’t receive any VPs. It’s a simple trade-off.
Let’s break it down further. If your Energy Marker is positioned before the number “6” space on the Energy Track, you won’t activate the scoring of the Bonus tile. In other words, you won’t get any additional rewards if you’re lacking energy. It’s as simple as that.
It’s the end of round three. I got a great reward because I built two Powerhouses, so I scored 10 VPs in total (5 VPs for each Powerhouse). Viktor didn’t do as well, he only built three Powerhouses and ended up with 11 VPs (5 VPs for each Powerhouse minus 4 VPs for being one section behind). Joanna also got a reduced reward since she only built one Powerhouse, so she didn’t score any VPs (5 VPs for each Powerhouse minus 8 VPs for being two sections behind). Unfortunately, Paul didn’t get any reward, even though he built three Powerhouses. He produced less than 6 Energy Units during the last round. We need to discard the bonus tile for this round. And don’t forget to remove the leftmost Bonus tile from the game. Underneath, you’ll see a -4 VPs symbol to remind us about the VP reduction for being behind on the Energy Track when calculating the Bonus tile reward.
When you take away the final Bonus tile, the game comes to a close. The game is designed to be an exciting challenge, filled with twists and turns that will keep you engaged from start to finish. The objective is to carefully strategize your moves and capture as many tiles as possible, while avoiding obstacles and outmaneuvering your opponents.
Each tile you capture adds to your score and brings you closer to victory. But beware, for the game is not as simple as it may seem. Unforeseen challenges and cunning opponents will test your skills and push you to your limits.
As you progress through the game, you’ll discover new strategies and develop tactics to overcome the ever-increasing difficulty. Each level presents a unique set of obstacles and opportunities, providing a fresh and exciting experience every time you play.
With each successful move, you’ll feel a rush of satisfaction and accomplishment. It’s a game that rewards intelligence, perseverance, and adaptability. Are you ready to embark on this exhilarating journey and prove your mastery?
The game offers a rich and immersive experience, with stunning visuals and captivating sound design. The intricately crafted levels are designed to challenge your mind and engage your senses. Whether you’re a casual player looking for a quick challenge or a seasoned gamer seeking a deep and rewarding experience, this game has something for everyone.
So, don’t waste any more time. Grab your device, start the game, and prepare yourself for a thrilling adventure. Can you rise to the challenge and become the ultimate champion? There’s only one way to find out. Let the game begin!
End of Round
Now, let’s talk about what happens at the end of a round. It’s time to update the turn order and move around those Turn Order markers.
So, here’s how it goes: the player who made the least amount of energy in this round goes first in the next round. Makes sense, right? We want to give everyone a chance to catch up. But what if two players made the same amount of energy? Well, in that case, we have a little rule to settle it – we just flip the order from the previous round. Fair and square!
In the game, Viktor (the green player) didn’t generate much energy, so he gets to go first in the next round. Meanwhile, Paul (the red player) produced the most energy, so he jumps to the last position. As for the other players, they generated the same amount of energy, resulting in a switch in their positions on the turn order track.
Now, let’s reset the Energy Track by moving all the Energy markers back to the “0” space.
Next, all players should return their Engineers from the action spaces to their personal supply.
If there are any Advanced Technology tiles remaining on the Patent Office board, we need to discard them by placing them back in the box.
To refresh the game, let’s take three new Advanced Technology tiles and arrange them face-up in the designated spaces. Start by selecting tiles from pile “I”. Once that pile is empty, move on to pile “II”. Finally, if necessary, choose tiles from pile “III”.
During the last round, we won’t play the End of Round Phase.
Now, let’s move on to the end of the game.
Hey there! I just wanted to tell you about how the game ends. It’s pretty cool, so listen up!
Once we finish the Scoring Phase of the fifth round, that’s it, game over.
Now, here’s the exciting part – you get to gain Victory Points based on the Objective tile. Each tile has a special condition, and depending on how you meet that condition, you’ll be classified as the first, second, or third player. First place gets 15 Victory Points, second place gets 10 VPs, and third place gets 5 VPs.
If there’s a tie, don’t worry! We’ll evenly divide the Victory Points among the players who tied. And hey, if there’s a fraction left over, we’ll round it up.
Now, let’s talk about scoring Victory Points for the resources you still have in your personal supply. It’s simple – just add up your Excavators, Concrete Mixers, and Credits. For every 5 items of any type, you’ll earn 1 Victory Point. But remember, any resources still on the Construction Wheel don’t count.
Oh, and one more thing – you also get 1 Victory Point for each Water Drop in your Personal Dams. Pretty neat, right?
So, here’s the deal: the person who has the most Victory Points is gonna be the winner. Simple as that.
But, what happens if there’s a tie? Well, in that case, the player who made the most Energy Units during the last round takes the cake. And just so you know, the last round finishes before the End of Round phase, so the position of each player on the Energy Track is super important.