Mechanica Game Rules

Introduction

Hey there! Ready to dive into the exciting world of Mechanica? In this article, I’ll walk you through the game rules and show you how to play. So, let’s get started!

Components

Now, let’s take a look at what you’ll find in the box. Mechanica comes with:

– A game board: This is where all the action happens. It’s divided into different zones and contains spaces for cards and tokens.

– Resource tokens: These represent the various resources you’ll need to build your machines. Keep them handy!

– Machine cards: These cards represent the machines you can build. Each card has different abilities and requirements.

– Blueprint cards: These cards provide you with the blueprints necessary to build machines. Study them carefully!

– Objective cards: These cards will set the goals for the game. Try your best to complete them!

– Workshop cards: These cards provide special actions and abilities. Use them wisely!

– Crate tokens: These tokens represent the crates you’ll collect as you play. They contain valuable resources and blueprints.

Setup

Alright, let’s set up the game and get ready to play!

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.

2. Shuffle the machine cards and blueprint cards separately, then place them face-down within reach.

3. Shuffle the objective cards and place them face-up next to the game board.

4. Give each player a starting machine card and place it on the starting area of the game board.

5. Give each player a set of resource tokens and place them near the game board.

6. Give each player two workshop cards and place them in their personal play area.

7. Place the crate tokens nearby.

8. Determine the first player and give them the first player token.

Gameplay

Now, let’s learn how to play Mechanica!

1. The game is played over a series of rounds. Each round consists of two phases: the Program phase and the Activate phase.

2. During the Program phase, players take turns playing machine cards and workshop cards from their hand, face-down, onto the corresponding spaces on the game board.

3. Once all players have placed their cards, the Activate phase begins. Starting with the first player and going clockwise, players reveal and resolve one card at a time.

4. Machines are activated by spending the required resources. Once activated, they perform their abilities as stated on the card.

5. Workshops provide ongoing effects and can be used multiple times throughout the game.

6. Players can also collect crates by moving their machines onto crate spaces. Crates provide additional resources and blueprints.

7. The game continues with players programming and activating their cards until it ends.

8. The game ends when a predetermined number of objective cards have been completed or when a specific condition is met.

9. The player with the most victory points, earned by completing objectives and collecting crates, is the winner!

Conclusion

And there you have it – the game rules for Mechanica! It’s an exciting, strategic game where you’ll use cards and resources to build and activate machines. Now that you know the basics, gather your friends, set up the game, and have a blast in the world of Mechanica. Happy gaming!

4 Factory Boards
The Shop
15 Blueprints
15 Big Truckers
7 Huge Trucks
Money
Armand Card
4 Vaults
9 Different Improvements
Single Player Chips
10 Forks
4 Reminder Cards
72 Tidybot Models
Instructions

What’s the Game About?

The game will end once all the available improvements have been sold. At that point, the player who has accumulated the most money will emerge as the winner and will be able to enjoy their wealth for the rest of their lives, while the robots continue to advance their agenda.

When you sell bots, you’ll have money in your Wallet
If you have blueprints, you’ll have money in your Vault
The value of your improvements will also contribute to your overall wealth (the value will vary depending on the improvement)

Setting Up the Game

Here’s what you need to do to get started:

Each player should receive the following items:
A Factory Board
A Vault
A Reminder Card
A wallet card for keeping money (money not stored in the Vault is kept in the wallet)
A bot card, placed in the hole on the player’s Basic Fabricator
If it hasn’t been done already at the end of the last game, shuffle the improvement cards and place 6 of them in the Extras pile. The remaining 21 cards should be placed in the Improvements Stack.
Take the top 2 cards from the Improvements Stack and place them in the 7-cost and 5-cost spots in the Shop.
Flip the top card from each Blueprint Stack face up.
Choose a player to go first and give her the card.

1. Determine the number of improvement stacks:

For a game with 1-3 players, use the Improvement Stack. Don’t use the Extras.
For a game with 4 players, use the Improvement Stack until it runs out. Then, continue with the Extras (which contains 6 improvements).

2. If you removed the Shop board, blueprints, and improvements from the box during setup, make sure to put them back in their designated spots. The box itself is a part of the game, so keep it nearby.

By following these instructions, you’ll have a clear understanding of how many improvement stacks to use and where to place the game components. Let’s get ready to play Mechanica!

Your Factory: A Place of Creativity and Innovation

Welcome to your factory! Step inside and let your imagination soar as you embark on a journey of creativity and innovation. Here, you will discover the thrilling world of production and design, where ideas transform into reality.

As I walk through the factory doors, I am greeted by the hum of machinery and the smell of possibility. The atmosphere is charged with excitement, as minds buzz with ideas and hands diligently bring them to life.

Your factory is a hub of invention and ingenuity, where dreams materialize and imaginations run wild. It’s a place where anything is possible, where the only limit is the extent of your imagination.

Step onto the factory floor and witness the dance of hard work and innovation. From the clatter of tools to the whirr of machines, the symphony of creation fills the air. The factory workers, like skilled conductors, orchestrate this harmonious production, each bringing their unique expertise to the mix.

In this bustling environment, the creative process takes flight. Ideas are refined and polished, tested and improved. The factory is a crucible of innovation, where raw materials are transformed by the alchemy of human creativity.

Your factory is a powerhouse of productivity, but it is so much more than that. It is a place that invites you to explore your own potential, to push the boundaries of what you thought possible. It’s a canvas awaiting your brushstrokes, a blank page yearning for your written words.

Here, you are the creator, the visionary, the architect of ideas. Your factory empowers you to take your dreams and turn them into reality, to shape the world around you and leave your mark on it.

So, step into your factory and let your imagination take flight. Embrace the exhilarating journey of creation and innovation. Your factory is a sanctuary of ideas, a playground of possibility.

Remember, the factory is not just a physical space; it is a state of mind. Whether you find yourself in a bustling workshop or a quiet corner of your imagination, your factory is wherever your creativity finds its home.

Running a factory is all about making bots, which is the key to making money!

In this game, you’ll be moving bots from the Fabricators in your Start Zone to the Trucks in your Loading Dock.

As you go along, you can enhance your factory by investing in upgrades that will allow you to produce more and better bots.

Game Play – Starting the Workday

A new workday begins right now, at the start of the game, and again after all players have taken their turns. Each workday, every player operates their factory.

Get Your Factories Running

Running factories is an integral part of many businesses. But how can you ensure your factories are running smoothly and efficiently? In this guide, I will provide you with some essential tips and strategies to maximize the productivity of your factories.

1. Upgrade Your Equipment

To run your factories at their full potential, it’s crucial to have modern and upgraded equipment. Outdated machinery can slow down production and lead to inefficiencies. By investing in advanced technology and equipment, you can streamline your operations and boost productivity.

2. Maintain Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance is key to keeping your factories up and running smoothly. Neglecting maintenance can result in unexpected breakdowns and costly downtime. By implementing a routine maintenance schedule and addressing issues promptly, you can prevent major disruptions and keep your factories running smoothly.

3. Optimize Workflows

Efficient workflows are essential for maximizing productivity. Take a close look at your current processes and identify any bottlenecks or areas of improvement. By streamlining workflows, eliminating unnecessary steps, and optimizing resource allocation, you can enhance productivity and reduce wasted time and resources.

4. Invest in Your Workforce

Your workforce plays a vital role in factory productivity. Invest in training and education programs to enhance their skills and knowledge. Encourage teamwork, communication, and collaboration among your employees. By empowering your workforce, you can create a motivated and productive team.

5. Implement Quality Control Measures

Maintaining high product quality is essential for customer satisfaction and reputation. Implement stringent quality control measures to detect and correct any product defects or issues. By ensuring consistent quality, you can reduce rework, minimize waste, and enhance customer trust.

6. Utilize Data and Analytics

Leverage data and analytics tools to gain valuable insights into your factory operations. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production output, downtime, and efficiency. Use this data to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize your processes.

7. Embrace Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is the key to staying ahead in a competitive industry. Encourage a culture of innovation and continuous learning within your factories. Seek feedback from your employees and actively look for ways to enhance processes, equipment, and technologies. By constantly striving for improvement, you can ensure your factories remain efficient and adaptable.

By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your factory operations and achieve higher levels of productivity. Take a proactive approach towards improving your factories, and you will reap the benefits in terms of increased output, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction. Let’s get those factories running at full speed!

When you play this game, everyone gets a turn to press the button on their card. Then, at the same time, all of us start running our factories. It happens in two steps:

So, here’s what you need to do: I’m going to guide you on how to move each bot in your factory along the arrows on your conveyor belts until it reaches a hole. Once it does, that bot is officially done moving for the workday. To start off, just move your bot along the conveyor belt, making sure it ends up at your middle Small Truck.
Now, let’s talk about activating any improvements in your factory that have bots in them. Don’t worry if you don’t have any improvements yet. At the beginning of the game, this step is completely optional, so you can skip it for now. But in the future, as you explore the game further, you’ll have the chance to discover and utilize these improvements.

Now, I want to take a moment to provide some information about the improvements in your factory. Basically, each improvement has a specific function. And how does it work? Well, most improvements function by destroying the bots in their input holes, which are the holes near the entrance surrounded by a dotted red line. After eliminating those bots, the improvements fill their output holes, which are all the other holes, with more or better bots. It’s like a little upgrade for your factory!

Every workday, it’s your turn to play the game. You start first, and then it goes clockwise, with each player taking a full turn. On your turn, you do 4 things in order:

Sell bots from your trucks and get money
Buy improvements for your factory from the Shop
Make new bots for your next turn
Rotate the Shop and put a new improvement in it

Once you finish your turn, the player to your left takes their turn. This continues until it’s the first player’s turn again, and then the workday ends, starting a new one.

1. Sell Bots

You have the option to sell any bots in your Trucks and earn money. Simply choose the bots you want to sell and return them to the supply. Based on the models of TIDYBOT you sold, take money from the supply and put it into your Wallet:

If you want to finish blueprints, you can use bots that you decide not to sell.

But don’t worry about blueprints until later in the game.

2. Get Better

You can make your factory better by buying improvements from the Shop! Use the money in your Wallet to buy as many as you can afford.

Each improvement does something special to the bots that pass through it. The cost of each improvement is the number next to it in the Shop. When you buy an improvement, you can choose to install it in your factory or recycle it to make more bots.

Putting in an Upgrade

When you’re figuring out which things to add or fix in your life, it can get overwhelming. There are so many possibilities and choices out there. How do you know what’s worth your time and effort? Well, I’m here to help you navigate that uncertainty.

Let’s talk about installing an improvement. It sounds fancy, but it’s simply about making something better. And why wouldn’t you want to make things better? We all want to improve our lives in some way, don’t we?

So, the first step is to identify what needs improving. Take a moment to think about what’s not working quite right or what could be better in your life. It could be something as small as a leaky faucet or as big as a high-stress job. Whatever it is, acknowledge it and let yourself want something better. You deserve it.

Once you know what you want to improve, it’s time to do some research. Look into different options and gather information. Talk to people who have been in a similar situation or read about the experiences of others. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you’ll be to make a decision.

Now comes the fun part: making a choice. This can be exciting but also a little nerve-wracking. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What works for someone else may not work for you. Trust yourself and your instincts. Consider the pros and cons of each option and how they align with your goals and values. And remember, it’s okay to take a chance and try something new.

Once you’ve made your choice, it’s time to take action. Start implementing the improvement into your life. It may not be easy at first, but stay committed and give it a real chance. Embrace the process and be patient with yourself. Change takes time, but it’s worth it.

And finally, don’t forget to evaluate. Assess the results of your improvement. Is it making a positive difference? Are you happier? If so, great! Keep going and let the improvement continue to elevate your life. If not, don’t be discouraged. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned, and that’s okay. Learn from the experience and use it to inform your next improvement.

So, remember, when it comes to installing an improvement in your life, it’s all about identifying what needs changing, doing your research, making a choice, taking action, and evaluating the results. You have the power to make things better, so go out there and start upgrading!

Fabricators go in your factory’s Start Zone (left), Trucks in the Loading Dock (right). All other improvements go in any square in the Factory Floor (center).

You don’t have to connect improvements to anything.

Once you’ve placed an improvement, you can’t move it, but you can throw it away to make room for new ones.

Recycling An Improvement

Instead of using it in your factory, you can choose to put the improvement in the Recycler (the hole in the Shop). Put the bots shown in the improvement’s recycling value (bottom right corner) in any of the holes in your Start Zone.

Once you’re happy and don’t want to make any more changes, it’s time to create some Bots.

3. Creating Bots

Place one Bot from the available options into the central slot of each of your Fabricators. Each Fabricator has a symbol in the top-right corner indicating the type of Bot it produces.

Did you know: Ankles are super easy to get to, but the jugular vein, not so much!

4. Mix it Up

Let’s rotate the Shop one spot clockwise, so that each of the price squares once again has a number in it. This will make the improvements in the Shop more affordable!
Now, draw a new improvement from the top of the Stack and put it in the spot in the Shop that costs 7.
If an improvement happens to fall into the Recycler, don’t worry! You can immediately recycle it. This means that you can take the bots shown in its recycling value and place them in any of the holes in your Start Zone.

Double Rotate

Hey, let me tell you about a cool move you can make in the game! It’s called the Double Rotate. Now, this move can only be made when there are 2 or 3 players in the game. Here’s how it works:

When you rotate the Shop for the first time, if the only improvement that shows up in the 7-cost spot is from the Extras, then you get to rotate a second time! And this time, you can put out the next improvement from the Extras in the 7-cost spot.

It’s important to note that this is the only time you get to use the Extra improvements in a game with 2 or 3 players. It’s a special move just for those group sizes.

Any Time During your Turn

Now, I want to tell you about something you can do during your turn. You see, you have the power to complete blueprints and buy Trucks and Forks at any point during your turn. Pretty awesome, right?

But here’s the thing, don’t worry about them too much during the first workday. Instead, focus on the Shop and what improvements you can make there. Let the blueprints and the Trucks and Forks wait until at least the second workday. Take it step by step!

Oh, and here’s a little observation for you: did you know that humans enter a dormant state during the night cycle? It’s true! So, make sure you add a sunset calendar to your OPERATION CLEAN file collection. It’ll come in handy!

Forks

Now, let’s talk about Forks. They’re an important part of the game. With Forks, you can accomplish so much!

When it’s your turn, you have the option to complete Blueprints and purchase Trucks and Forks. However, don’t stress about them right away – give it until the second workday. The Shop has many other things to occupy your mind.

With Forks, you can guide bots that pass through them to the exit arrow of your choosing.

A Fork will cost you 1 coin. They are always available for purchase, and the price never changes.

Trucks

Hey there! I’ve got some exciting news for you. Your starting factory is about to get an upgrade. Say goodbye to those small trucks and say hello to big and huge trucks. Trust me, you’ll love them!

So, what’s so great about these big trucks? Well, let me break it down for you. First of all, they’re bigger, and that means they can hold more stuff. These big trucks can hold two bots, which is super convenient. No more making multiple trips to transport everything.

Now, I know you must be wondering about the cost. Don’t worry, it’s totally worth it. These big trucks may cost 3, but the benefits they bring make it a good investment. With their larger capacity, they’ll help you get things done faster and more efficiently.

So, what are you waiting for? Upgrade your small trucks to big trucks today and experience the difference for yourself. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Happy trucking!

Hey there! Let’s talk about these gigantic Trucks, shall we? They’re pretty impressive, to say the least. So, here’s the deal – these Huge Trucks cost 5 and have the capacity to hold three bots. Talk about storage space, right?

Now, here’s something interesting. If you happen to have a Big Truck, you can easily swap it out for a Huge Truck, and it’ll only cost you 3. Not bad at all, huh?

What’s really cool about Trucks is that they’re always available for purchase. You can count on finding them whenever you need them, and the best part is, they never change in price. Talk about consistency!

Blueprints

If your Trucks have the bot models listed on either blueprint, you can send the bots back to the Supply like you sold them. Instead of getting money for that, put the money shown on the blueprint card into your Vault.

You can’t take money out of your Vault during the game. You’ll score it at the end.

After that, turn both blueprints to the side to show that they’ll be replaced at the end of the workday. Other players can still finish those blueprints this workday, even if they’re sideways.

You can finish both blueprints in one turn, but you can’t finish any blueprint more than once.

Wrapping Up the Day

At the end of a long day, I find myself reflecting on the hours that have passed. How did I spend my time? Have I accomplished what I set out to do? These questions weigh on my mind as I prepare to close the chapter on another day.

As I sit at my desk, surrounded by the remnants of unfinished tasks, I can’t help but feel a sense of both contentment and frustration. Contentment for the moments of productivity and progress, and frustration for the tasks left undone.

But instead of dwelling on what could have been, I choose to focus on what I have achieved. Even the smallest victories count. Did I finish that important email? Check. Did I make progress on that challenging project? Check. Did I take a break and recharge my mind? Double check.

You see, the end of the workday isn’t just about crossing items off a to-do list. It’s about reflecting on everything you’ve accomplished and acknowledging the effort you put in, big or small. It’s about shifting your mindset from what’s left undone to what you’ve successfully completed.

And as I wrap up the day, I’m reminded of the importance of balance. It’s easy to get caught up in the never-ending cycle of work, always striving for more, never feeling satisfied. But taking the time to pause and reflect allows us to appreciate our hard work and recharge for the challenges that lie ahead.

So, as you reach the end of your own workday, take a moment to acknowledge your accomplishments. Celebrate the progress you’ve made and the goals you’ve achieved. And remember, it’s not just about the things you’ve checked off your list, but the growth and development you’ve experienced along the way.

Tomorrow is a new day, filled with opportunities for growth and success. But for now, take a deep breath and let the satisfaction of a job well done wash over you. You’ve earned it.

When you return to the player who holds the card, which is the first player, it signifies the completion of the current workday and the start of a new one:

Determine if the game has concluded

If you run out of improvements in the Shop and the Improvements Stack, the game is finished. In this case, you should end the workday and start scoring.

In a game with four players, the extra improvements must also be depleted in order to end the game.

Refresh Blueprints

If the blueprints are sideways, which means someone completed one this workday, take both blueprints and place them face down at the bottom of their respective stacks. Then, flip new blueprints to replace them.

Begin a New Workday

Now, it’s time to start a new workday and run everyone’s factories.

Finish of the Game

When the game is over, it’s time to tally up the scores. Each player should add up their money, and the player with the most money wins!

Money in your Wallet
Money in your Vault
The value of your improvements

Cleaning Up

Here’s what you need to do to get ready to play right out of the box when you start your next game:

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Put everything back in the box, including the bots and money.
Now let’s break down the factories:
Return all the trucks and forks to their stacks in the box.
Gather all the improvements, even the ones that were recycled. Shuffle them up and put 6 of them into the extras pile. The remaining 21 go into the improvements stack.
Take all the blueprints and shuffle them. Divide them into two stacks, one with 7 blueprints and the other with 8. Place each stack face down in its designated spot in the box.
Now it’s time to set up the vaults, reminder cards, and the card that goes underneath the shop.

That’s it! Now you’re all set up and ready to go. Enjoy the game!

How to play Mechanica Official Rules