Age of Industry is a board game that was designed by Martin Wallace and published by Treefrog Games in in 2010. It is a strategic economic game that focuses on industry, manufacturing, and transportation during the industrial revolution. Players compete to build the most successful network of industries and factories in order to generate the most profit.
Game Components of Age of Industry
Game Board: A two-sided, six-panel linen-textured board featuring Germany on one side and New England on the other. Each side offers a different geographical setting with color-coded cities and locations for building industries.Cards: A deck of 60 cards, half of which display industry pictures, and the other half are color-coded location cards matching the cities on the board.Cardboard Bits: Includes counters for industries, railroads, loans ($10 and $40), and market demand. These are printed on medium-weight linen-textured cardboard.Money: Plastic discs in silver and gold, though some players find the plastic coinage less appealing and insufficient in quantity.Rulebook: An attractive full-color rulebook with well-laid-out rules, examples, and a quick reference page.
How To Setup Age of Industry
To set up the game, players select one of the two-sided boards (Germany or New England) and place it in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a set of player counters and places them on the board according to the starting rules. Players begin with zero cash but can take loans as a free action. The deck of cards is shuffled, and players draw a starting hand. The market counters are placed on the board to denote extra market demand.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Game Objective: Players aim to build the most advanced and profitable industries by inserting their businesses into the larger economic web.Card Usage: Only three of the seven actions require using a card; cards are more flexible, and players can choose to draw two cards as an action.Industry Building: Players build factories, cotton mills, shipyards, ports, iron works, and coal mines, and connect locations with railway tracks.Loans: Loans are free actions and do not require cards.Market Demand: Market counters denote extra demand, influencing player strategies.Single Era: Unlike *Brass*, *Age of Industry* has only one era with one-time payouts for completed industries.
Player Experience
Playing *Age of Industry* involves strategic planning and economic management. Players must navigate the industrial landscape, managing resources like coal and iron, and leveraging market demand to their advantage. The game scales well for 3-5 players, with playtime consistently around 90 minutes. The different maps offer varied experiences, making each game unique.
Pros
Simplified Rules: Less complex than *Brass*, making it more accessible for new players.Flexible Card Usage: Cards are more versatile, allowing for better hand management.Variability: Different maps (Germany and New England) and the potential for expansions add variety to the game.Strategic Depth: Engaging tactical elements and interactions among players.
Cons
Aesthetics: The game’s components, such as the plastic money and paper player boards, are not highly praised for their quality.Limited Coins: Some players find the number of coins insufficient.Tiny Print: Some rules printed on the board are hard to read across a large table.
Personal Thoughts on Age of Industry
*Age of Industry* is ideal for those looking for a strategic game withdeep economic and industrial development mechanics. It serves as a gentler introduction to the *Brass* system, making it a great entry point for new players. For fans of *Brass*, it offers a refined and more polished experience with less complexity and more variability. However, the game’s production quality could be improved, particularly in terms of component aesthetics and usability.
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.
