# Power Grid: Oracle & Industrial Espionage

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2012
- **BGG Rating**: 6.8
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 4, 5)
- **Duration**: 120 min
- **Weight**: 2.94 / 5
- **Designers**: Friedemann Friese
- **Artists**: Lars-Arne "Maura" Kalusky
- **Publishers**: 2F-Spiele, Arclight Games
- **Categories**: Economic, Expansion for Base-game, Industry / Manufacturing
- **Mechanics**: Auction / Bidding, Network and Route Building

## Verdict
If you love peeking at the next power plant, these cards add a tasty twist to Power Grid.Privileged informationEasy to useFull integrationDoesn’t change rulesMinor impactRECOMMENDED

## Description
Power Grid: Oracle & Industrial Espionage are two promotional cards released in October 2012 as a thank‑you for donations to the youth cultural centre "Die Friese" at the 2F‑Spiele booth during Spiel 2012 in Bremen. The cards later appeared in Spielbox 2013/#2 and have been sold through the BGG Store since November 2012. Each card gives its holder a single piece of information about the top card of the power‑plant or technology draw pile, letting players plan their purchases and network expansion more precisely. After buying a plant or technology from the market, the player must hand the used Oracle/Industrial Espionage card to the previous player in turn order, creating a small espionage effect that can shift the flow of the game. They do not introduce new core rules, but they add a layer of strategic depth and a "privileged information" flavor that fits perfectly with Power Grid's economic, auction‑driven gameplay. The components are minimal – just two high‑quality paper cards – yet they can be a game‑changing tweak for those who love to fine‑tune every bid and enjoy a bit of friendly spying. Perfect for owners of the base game who want a quick variant without extra setup time.

## How to Play
Game Objective
Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Preparation (Setup)
Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Game Flow
The Industrial Espionage card enters play at the beginning of the second round, after the first bureaucracy phase. The last player in player order receives the card at no cost, becoming the spy. From that moment on, the card remains in play and its owner changes according to specific rules.

Actions and How to Play
Industrial Espionage
The Industrial Espionage card is not shuffled into the draw pile; it is placed face up next to the power plant market. The player who possesses the card is the spy.

    Initial Receipt: At the beginning of the second round, after the first bureaucracy phase, the last player in player order receives the Industrial Espionage card for free.
    Spy's Ability: The spy can look at the top card of the draw pile at any time. This gives them the advantage of knowing one more power plant, information that can be used during the bidding phase.
    Information Restriction: The spy cannot reveal any information about the spied card to other players (neither type, nor consumption, nor output). The other players can only try to infer which factory might enter the market next based on the spy's bids.
    Card Transfer: As soon as the spy buys a power plant, they must hand the Industrial Espionage card to the player directly in front of them in player order. If the current spy is the first player, they hand the card to the last player. The new spy can immediately spy on the top card of the draw pile.
    Transfer Example: If the spy is in fourth place in player order and buys a power plant, they hand the Industrial Espionage to the third player.


End of Game and Scoring
Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Tips for Winning

    As the spy, use the information from the top card of the draw pile to plan your bids more strategically, knowing which power plant might enter the market soon.
    Observe the spy's bids to try and infer which power plant they might have spied on, even if they cannot reveal the information directly.

## FAQ
### How many players can use the cards?
They work in games with 2 to 6 players, just like the base game.

### Do they add extra playing time?
Practically none – just read the info and pass the card.

### Do I need to buy any other component?
No, it’s just the two ready‑to‑use cards.

### Can I use them with any Power Grid edition?
Yes, they work with both the base game and Power Grid: The First Sparks.

### Are the cards in Portuguese or English?
The cards are bilingual, containing text in both languages.