Weather Machine (2022) Board Game

Weather Machine is a board game released in 2022 by designer Vital Lacerda and published by Eagle-Gryphon Games. Set in a science fiction universe, players take on the role of weather engineers who manipulate the weather to gain control over territories. With a runtime of 60-150 minutes and designed for 2-4 players aged 14 and up, Weather Machine offers a unique gaming experience blending action points, set collection, tile placement, and worker placement mechanics.

Game Components of Weather Machine

Player Boards: Dual-layered boards for each player.

Pawn: A single pawn for each player and an additional pawn for Professor Lativ.

Bot Workers: Constructible bots from player mats.

Machine Parts: Collectible parts for building prototypes.

Subsidy Tiles: Government-provided tiles granting bonus actions.

Research Tiles: Tiles representing various research projects.

Storage Capacity Tokens: Tokens for increasing storage.

Artwork: Created by Ian O’Toole.

How To Setup Weather Machine

To set up the game, each player chooses a player board and places their pawn on the starting location. The main board is laid out with various areas: Supply, Government, Research & Development (R&D), and Lativ’s Lab. The necessary tiles, tokens, and machine parts are distributed according to the game’s instructions. Professor Lativ’s pawn is placed on the board as well, ready to influence gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players move their pawn to one of four locations to take actions.

Resource Management: Manage bots, machine parts, and storage capacity.

Area Control: Take actions in Supply, Government, R&D, and Lativ’s Lab.

Bonus Actions: Utilize Subsidy tiles for additional actions.

Prototype Building: Construct prototypes using collected machine parts to score Climate Points.

Game Objective: Score the most Climate Points by effectively managing resources, completing research projects, and building prototypes.

Player Experience

Weather Machine offers a complex and dynamic gameplay experience. Players must be efficient in their actions, combining bonuses to maximize their turns. The game is highly interactive, with changes in the board state occurring rapidly between turns, making it crucial to adapt tactically rather than plan too far ahead. The game’s complexity and the need for frequent adjustments can lead to both engaging and sometimes frustrating experiences.

Pros

Addictive Gameplay: Players find the game highly engaging and addictive, with a strong desire to play multiple times to master strategies.

Deep Strategy: The game offers deep strategic options, requiring players to optimize their actions and resource management.

Dynamic Board: The board changes significantly between turns, keeping the game fresh and challenging.

Cons

High Complexity: Weather Machine is very complex, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Lengthy Turns: Some turns can be lengthy due to the multiple steps involved.

Cost and Production Quality: Some critics feel the game’s price is higher than expected compared to its production quality.

Divisive Reception: The game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it opaque and anti-thematic.

Personal Thoughts on Weather Machine

Weather Machine is ideal for experienced gamers who enjoy complex Eurogames and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering the game’s intricacies. It is not a good introduction to complex games or to Vital Lacerda’s works, as it requires a significant amount of time and effort to fully appreciate. For those who relish deep strategy and dynamic gameplay, Weather Machine can be a rewarding and challenging addition to their game collection.

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