# Age of Steam ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2002 - **BGG Rating**: 7.9 - **BGG Rank**: #137 - **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 120 min - **Weight**: 3.86 / 5 - **Designers**: John Bohrer, Martin Wallace - **Artists**: Ian O'Toole, Paul Niemeyer, Peter Dennis, Sean Brown - **Publishers**: Warfrog Games, Arclight Games, CZ Cloud Soft Co. Ltd, Delta Vision Publishing, Eagle-Gryphon Games, Enjoy Game - **Categories**: Economic, Post-Napoleonic, Trains, Transportation - **Mechanics**: Auction / Bidding, Catch the Leader, Connections, Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, Loans ## Verdict If you're a fan of heavy economic train games, Age of Steam is a classic that can't be missing from your collection. Get ready to burn some brain cells!Deep economic strategyIntense player interactionVery high replayabilityChallenging resource managementVaried maps and unique scenariosSteep learning curveCan be punishing for mistakesConsiderable playtimeHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready for a journey back in time with Age of Steam, a classic train game that puts you in charge of a railway company in 19th-century United States. The era of steam locomotives is in full swing, and your mission is to build a rail network that will transform the American economy, connecting growing cities like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Chicago. But don't think it will be easy! Competition is fierce, and every decision matters. You'll need a sharp mind to manage your finances, decide on the most profitable routes, and outmaneuver your rivals in delivering goods. Can you build the most extensive network and still have the most powerful locomotives, all while paying your demanding creditors? The game is a true masterclass in strategic planning and player interaction. Each round is divided into distinct phases that keep everyone engaged in crucial choices, from auctions for turn order to track building and cargo delivery. And the best part: the ability to develop towns into cities ensures that every game is unique, with new strategies and challenges each time you play. It's a robust title, known for its complexity and depth, perfect for those seeking an economic and logistical challenge. ## How to Play The Ultimate Guide: How to Play Age of Steam: Deluxe Edition Prepare to embark on an epic journey of railway construction, goods transportation, and economic dominance! In Age of Steam: Deluxe Edition, you are not just an engineer, but a visionary magnate, competing to build the most lucrative railway empire. Buckle up, because the locomotive is about to depart! Game Objective In Age of Steam: Deluxe Edition, your objective is simple yet challenging: be the player with the most Victory Points at the end of the game. To do this, you'll need to build an efficient railway network, deliver valuable goods, and master your finances. The game is a race against time and your opponents to become the supreme Railroad Baron! Preparation (Setup) Let's set up the table and prepare your railways for takeoff! Main Board: Choose one of the 3 Double-Sided Game Boards and place it in the center of the table. For this guide, we will use the Rust Belt map. Common Components: Place the 3 Display Boards, the Money ($1, $5, and $25 tokens), the Track Tiles (136 in total), the City Discs (white), and the New City Tiles (8 in total) near the main board. The 6 Dice should also be within reach. Position the Turn Marker on the "Start" circle on the Turn Counter. Take all the Goods Cubes (red, blue, purple, yellow, and black) and place them in the Cloth Bag. The white cubes are for specific expansions. Now, draw one cube at a time from the bag and fill the Goods Display on the Display Boards, starting from the top left corner and filling the rows, until you have a total of 52 cubes. Map Preparation (Rust Belt): Randomly draw three Goods Cubes from the bag and place them in Pittsburgh. Randomly draw three Goods Cubes from the bag and place them in Wheeling. For the remaining cities on the board, randomly draw and place two Goods Cubes from the bag in each. Player Preparation: Each player chooses a color and takes 25 Round Wooden Discs of that color. Set aside 5 discs, as they are for expansions. You will use 20 Track Ownership Discs. Each player places a disc on the Engine Counter, on the "link 1" square. Each player places a disc on the Income Counter, on the "0" square. To determine the initial Player Order, each player rolls 3 dice. The player with the highest result places a disc in the "1st" spot on the Player Order Counter, the second highest in the "2nd", and so on. Each player places a disc in the first box (2 shares) on the Shares Issued Counter and receives $10. Each player places a fifth disc near the Selected Actions Marker to use later when choosing an Action. The remaining 20 discs are your Track Ownership Discs. The game begins with the Issue Shares phase! The Game Turn A turn in Age of Steam is divided into ten distinct phases. Let's detail them: I. Issue Shares: In this phase, players can choose to issue shares of their railway to obtain money. For each share issued, you receive $5 and advance your disc on the Shares Issued Counter by 1 space. You cannot issue more shares than the counter allows. Issuing occurs in Player Order, starting with the first player. Remember, you already start with 2 shares issued. II. Determine Player Order: This is the auction phase for turn order! The discs on the Player Order Counter are slid up from the printed circles. The current 1st player starts the auction, being able to bid $1 or more to stay in the dispute, or drop out and go to the last position. Other players can bid a higher amount or drop out. The auction continues until only one player remains. The last two players who remained in the bid pay the full amount bid. The others pay their bids rounded up. Those who drop out pay nothing. The "Turn Order" action allows you to "pass" once without bidding. III. Select Actions: Seven Special Actions are available on the Action Counter. In the new Player Order, each player chooses an action by placing one of their discs on it. Each action can only be selected by one player. First Move: Allows you to move goods first in both movement turns, regardless of Player Order. First Build: Allows you to build tracks first, regardless of Player Order. Engineering: Allows you to build up to 4 track tiles, instead of the conventional 3. Locomotive: Allows you to advance your disc on the Engine Counter by up to one link (maximum limit of 6 links). Urbanization: Allows you to place one of the New City Tiles in a city before building your track. Production: At the start of the Goods Growth phase, allows you to draw 2 random goods cubes from the bag and place them in any 2 empty boxes on the Goods Counter (one cube per box). (Useless in the first turn, as there are no empty boxes). Turn Order (Pass): Allows you to say "pass" once in the bids of the next Determine Player Order phase without having to make a bid. IV. Build Track: In Player Order, each player can place (or replace) up to 3 Track Tiles (4 if they have the Engineering action). The player with the "First Build" action builds first. A player's first track tile must be adjacent to a city and connect to it. All subsequent tracks must connect to the player's existing network or to a city via their tracks. Track Types and Costs: Simple Track Tiles: Cost $2. If the hex is a river, $3. If it's a mountain, $4. Complex Coexistence Track Tiles: Cost $3. If the hex is a river, $4. If it's a mountain, $5. Complex Crossing Track Tiles: Cost $4. If the hex is a river, $5. If it's a mountain, $6. Dedicated City Tiles: Can only be placed on hexes with a city. The cheapest (one exit) costs $2. The most expensive (complex track with city disc) costs $5. Replacing Tracks: Replacing a simple track with a complex crossing track costs $3. Replacing a track in a city costs $3. All other replacements cost $2. Redirecting Tracks: Cost $2. When building, place a Track Ownership Disc on each Complete Railway Link (connects two cities/towns) or Incomplete Track Section. If an Incomplete Track Section is not extended in a turn, the disc is removed, and it becomes unowned. V. Move Goods: In Player Order, each player can move one Goods Cube. Then, there is a second turn of goods movement, again in Player Order. The player with the "First Move" action acts first. Goods must be moved through Complete Railway Links and end in a city of the same color as the goods. They cannot visit the same city/town more than once and must stop upon entering a city of their color. Movement is limited by the number of links on your Engine Counter. After movement, the cube is returned to the bag. Each Complete Railway Link used increases the owner's income by 1 on the Income Counter. You can use other players' railways, and they also gain income. In one of the two movement opportunities, you can choose to advance your disc on the Engine Counter by one link, instead of moving goods. VI. Collect Income: Players receive the amount of money indicated by their discs on the Income Counter. VII. Pay Expenses: Players pay their expenses, which are $1 for each link their locomotives can cross (indicated on the Engine Counter). If you don't have enough money, you must reduce your income by $1 for each dollar owed. If your income falls below $0, you enter insolvency and are eliminated from the game. All your Track Ownership Discs on Incomplete Sections are removed. VIII. Income Reduction: Railway income is reduced based on its current value: More than 49: Reduces by 10. Between 41-49: Reduces by 8. Between 31-40: Reduces by 6. Between 21-30: Reduces by 4. Between 11-20: Reduces by 2. IX. Goods Growth: If a player chose the "Production" action, they draw 2 random goods cubes from the bag and place them in empty boxes on the Goods Counter. Then, roll a number of dice equal to the number of players at the start of the game. For each column of goods on the Goods Counter, take a number of cubes equal to the die roll in the equivalent column and place them in the cities that correspond to the column number. Goods are placed on New City Tiles on the map, but not on those off the board. X. Advance Turn Marker: Advance the Turn Marker on the Turn Counter. If it's not the last turn, the game returns to the Issue Shares phase. If it's the last turn, the game ends, and scoring is calculated. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when the last turn is completed, as indicated on the Turn Counter (e.g., 7th turn for 5 players). Computing Victory Points: Players receive Victory Points as follows: 3 Victory Points for each dollar of income shown on the Income Counter. 1 Victory Point for each track section comprised in a Complete Railway Link. (Sections are the separations between track tiles and cities/towns). Lose 3 Victory Points for each share issued, according to the Shares Issued Counter. Money has no value at the end of the game; it is merely a tool during the game. The player with the most Victory Points WINS the game! Ties are possible. Tips for Winning To excel in Age of Steam, a solid strategy is crucial. Here are some tips to get you started: Income Management is King: Your income is the lifeblood of your railway empire. Prioritize building Complete Railway Links that allow you to move high-value goods or that are frequently used by other players. Remember that each link used increases your income. Keep an eye on the Income Reduction phase and try to maintain your income at levels that minimize losses. Strategic Actions: The Special Actions are powerful and can define your turn. Evaluate the state of the game and the immediate needs of your railway. Do you need more tracks to complete a crucial route? The "Engineering" action can be vital. Do you want to ensure the first move to block an opponent or deliver important goods? "First Build" or "First Move" are your allies. Don't underestimate "Urbanization" to create new delivery opportunities. Beware of Debt: Issuing shares gives you quick money, but each share issued costs 3 Victory Points at the end of the game. Additionally, you have fixed expenses based on your Engine Counter. Finding the balance between having enough money to build and not getting too indebted is fundamental to avoiding insolvency and maximizing your final score. Think carefully before issuing that extra share! ## FAQ ### What is the complexity of Age of Steam? Age of Steam is considered a highly complex game (BGG weight of 3.86/5). It demands deep strategic planning, careful financial management, and the ability to adapt to other players' actions. It's not for beginners! ### How many players can participate in a game? The base game supports 1 to 6 players. However, the experience can vary significantly depending on the number of participants and the chosen map, as some Deluxe editions offer specific scenarios for 1 or 2 players. ### What is the average playtime for a game? A game of Age of Steam typically lasts between 120 and 180 minutes. Be prepared to dedicate a few hours to your gaming session, especially with more players or on more complex maps. ### What makes Age of Steam different from other train games? Age of Steam stands out for its tight economy and brutal interactivity. The auction mechanic for turn order, the need to manage loans, and the constant struggle for lucrative cargo and routes make it a unique and very strategic challenge. ### Do I need any expansions to enjoy the game? Not necessarily. The base game already offers a complete and challenging experience. However, there are numerous maps and expansions that add variety and new scenarios, which is great for those seeking replayability and new challenges. ### Is it a game with a lot of luck? While there is dice rolling to determine the production of some goods, Age of Steam is predominantly a strategy game. Luck is a minor factor compared to your ability to plan, optimize, and adapt to opponents' decisions. ### Who will enjoy Age of Steam? This game is ideal for experienced players who love heavy economic games, transportation simulations, and who are not afraid of fierce competition and tough financial decisions. If you enjoy deep thinking and direct interaction with other players, this one's for you! ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 106.52 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4777006&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/575/age-of-steam?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com