# Barrage ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2019 - **BGG Rating**: 8.1 - **BGG Rank**: #40 - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 90-180 min - **Weight**: 4.11 / 5 - **Designers**: Simone Luciani, Tommaso Battista - **Artists**: Antonio De Luca, Mauro Alocci, Roman Roland Kuteynikov - **Publishers**: Cranio Creations, CrowD Games, Delta Vision Publishing, Feuerland Spiele, Galápagos Jogos, Game Harbor - **Categories**: Economic, Environmental, Industry / Manufacturing - **Mechanics**: Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Income, Network and Route Building, Ownership, Solo / Solitaire Game ## Verdict If you're a fan of heavy euros with intense indirect interaction and a breathtaking planning challenge, Barrage is right up your alley! Get ready to manage resources impeccably and master the flow of water.Innovative wheel mechanicIntense indirect interactionDeep strategic planningImmersive and unique themeHigh-quality componentsSteep learning curveCan be punishingLong playtimeHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description In a dystopian 1930s future, humanity has depleted fossil fuels, and now hydroelectric power is the sole source capable of fueling relentless industrial progress. In Barrage, you step into the shoes of one of four major international companies, vying for control over river flows in a contested Alpine region. Your goal? To construct imposing dams, raise them to increase water storage capacity, and channel this vital energy through pressure tunnels to your powerhouses, generating electricity. The game unfolds over five intense rounds, where you must balance personal contracts with the demands of a competitive power track. Resource management is crucial, especially with the innovative 'construction wheel.' Here, your action tokens and resources are locked and only return after a full rotation of the wheel, demanding impeccable planning. Furthermore, water is a shared and highly contested resource. You'll need to intercept and store as much as possible, strategically building dams – upstream ones are expensive but can block flow for opponents. Raise your dams and construct long tunnels to divert water to your powerhouses. Water is never consumed, only used to generate power and then released, so intelligent positioning of your structures is essential to reclaim water diverted by yourself and other players. Recruit engineers, upgrade your machinery, and construct unique-effect buildings to customize your strategy and secure victory in this engineering and management challenge. ## How to Play Game Objective In Barrage, you take on the role of a CEO of a national company competing to dominate the energy production race in the French Alps. Your goal is to build Dams, Powerhouses, and Conduits to control the flow of water and produce energy. This energy allows you to fulfill Contracts and climb the Energy Track. The player with the most Victory Points (VP) at the end of the game is the winner. Setup General Setup Place the Map in the center, with the Energy Track and Management board nearby. Place Excavators, Concrete Mixers, Credits, and Water Drops in the general supply. Shuffle Headstream tiles and place 4 face-up on the Map. Shuffle Bonus tiles and place 5 face-up on the Energy Track. Shuffle Objective tiles and place 1 at the end of the Energy Track. Shuffle National Contract tiles and place a number of them equal to the number of players minus one on the Management board. Divide Private Contract tiles into three piles; shuffle them and place two face-up from each pile. Draw one Neutral Dams Setup tile from each of the three piles and place the corresponding Neutral Dams (level 1 in Mountains, level 2 in Hills, level 3 in Plains) on the Map. Place 1 Water Drop behind each. Place the Patent Office board next to the Map. Shuffle Advanced Technology tiles into three piles and place three face-up from pile 'I'. Player Setup Each player receives a Company board, an Executive Officer tile, and a Construction Wheel. Players take all components in their company color: 5 Bases, 5 Elevations, 5 Conduits, 4 Powerhouses, 5 Basic Technology Tiles, 1 Turn Order Marker, 1 Energy Marker, 1 Victory Point Marker, and 12 Engineers. Place Turn Order markers on the Energy Track and Energy markers at space "0". Place Victory Point markers on space "10" of the scoring track. Game Flow The game is played over five rounds. Each round consists of the following five phases in order: Income and Headstreams: Players collect active income from their Company boards and place Water Drops on Headstream tiles according to the round's requirements. Actions: Players take turns placing Engineers on action spaces to perform Construction Actions or Management Actions. Water Flow: All Water Drops on Headstream tiles flow downhill, filling Dams until they reach capacity, then overflowing to the next basin. Scoring: Players score VP based on their position on the Energy Track, collect Credits, and activate the current round's Bonus tile. End of Round: The turn order is updated (the player who produced the least energy goes first), Energy markers return to "0", and Engineers return to players' supplies. Actions and How to Play Construction Actions Performed on the Company board. The cost in Engineers increases as you build more structures per round (1, 2, 3, and finally 3 Engineers plus 3 Credits). To build, you must place the required Technology tile and Machineries in the Construction Wheel's open segment, rotate the wheel clockwise, and place the piece on the Map. Base: Creates a Dam to hold water. Costs Excavators (3 in Plains, 4 in Hills, 5 in Mountains). Elevation: Increases a Dam's capacity (max level 3). Costs Concrete Mixers (2 in Plains, 3 in Hills, 4 in Mountains). Conduit: Connects a Dam to a Powerhouse. Costs 2 Excavators multiplied by the Conduit's production value. Powerhouse: Used for energy production. Costs 2 Concrete Mixers plus 1 extra for every Powerhouse already built. Management Actions Performed on the shared Management board. These spaces are exclusive (except the Bank). The right-side space of an action costs more but provides a second chance if the first is occupied. Turbine Station: Move Water Drops from a Dam (your color or neutral) through a Conduit (any color) to your Powerhouse. Energy produced = (Conduit value × Water Drops) + action bonus/malus. If using another player's Conduit, pay them 1 Credit and they score 1 VP per drop. Water Management: Place Water Drops on Headstream tiles. Some actions cause water to flow immediately. Bank: Gain Credits equal to the number of Engineers placed. Workshop: Rotate the Construction Wheel to recover Machineries and Technology tiles faster. Machinery Shop: Pay Credits to buy Machineries. Contract Office: Acquire Private Contract tiles. Patent Office: Pay 5 Credits to acquire Advanced Technology tiles. Using Energy and Contracts Produced energy is recorded on the Energy Track. You may use a single production action to fulfill one Contract (Private or National Contract) if the energy produced meets or exceeds the requirement, granting immediate rewards. End of Game and Scoring The game ends after the Scoring Phase of the fifth round. Final scoring is calculated as follows: Objective tile: The top 3 players according to the goal score 15, 10, and 5 VP respectively. Resources: 1 VP for every set of 5 items (combined Excavators, Concrete Mixers, and Credits) in the personal supply. Water: 1 VP for each Water Drop held by your Personal Dams. The player with the most Victory Points wins. In case of a tie, the player who produced the most energy during the last round wins. Tips for Winning Prioritize Early Production: Connecting a Powerhouse to a Neutral Dam is the fastest way to start producing energy, though remember that other players can also exploit Neutral Dams. Plan for Bonus Tiles: The Energy Track is the most rewarding way to score; plan your moves according to the order of the Bonus tiles. Diversify Structures: Building more pieces of the same structure type activates your Company board income, which is a key to victory. ## FAQ ### Is Barrage a complex game? Who is it suitable for? Yes, Barrage is considered a highly complex game (BGG weight of 4.11/5). It is ideal for experienced players who enjoy heavy euros, with lots of optimization, long-term planning, and indirect interaction. It is not recommended for board game beginners. ### How many players can play Barrage, and what's the best player count? Barrage can be played by 1 to 4 players. While it works well at all counts, many consider the experience to shine brightest with 3 or 4 players, where the competition for water and board spaces becomes more intense and strategic. ### What is the average playtime for a game of Barrage? A game of Barrage typically lasts between 90 and 180 minutes, depending on the player count and familiarity with the rules. For your first game, allow extra time for explanation and adaptation. ### Are the components in Barrage of good quality? Yes, Barrage is known for its high-quality components. The original edition and reprints usually come with sturdy pieces, well-illustrated boards, and an overall production that enhances the gaming experience. ### Are there any worthwhile expansions for Barrage? Yes, 'The Leeghwater Project' expansion is highly praised by the community. It adds a fifth player, new companies, special buildings, and a new 'external works' mechanic, further deepening strategies without overly complicating the base game. ### Is language dependency an issue in Barrage? No, Barrage has low language dependency. Most components are iconic, and text is minimal, primarily found in the rulebook and some contract or building cards. With a rulebook in your language, the game is fully accessible. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 654,90 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B08R56W5YP?tag=bgbot26b-20&linkCode=as2) - **Dalaran Games**: R$ 664,90 (https://www.dalaran.com.br/barrage?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/barrage ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 71.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6395526&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/29910/barrage?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com