Funkenschlag (2001) Board Game

Funkenschlag, also known as Power Grid, is a German-style board game that was first released in in 2001. It was designed by Friedemann Friese and published by 2F-Spiele. The game is set in a world where players take on the roles of power companies trying to supply electricity to cities and expand their networks. Funkenschlag has gained popularity for its strategic gameplay and deep economic mechanics.

Game Components of Funkenschlag

Game Board: A random, mythical map with cities and terrain, made of flimsy card stock.

Crayons: Used for drawing routes between cities.

Power Plant Cards: Featuring different types of plants with base bid numbers and resource requirements.

Resources: Represented by cubes or barrels for coal, oil, trash, and nuclear.

Money: Original money tokens, though poker chips are recommended for better gameplay.

Terrain Price Sheet: Part of the player cheat sheet cards.

How To Setup Funkenschlag

To set up Funkenschlag, players begin by placing the game board in the center, which is often problematic due to its flimsy nature and tendency to develop a permanent hump. The power plant cards are shuffled and placed within reach. The resource market is set up on a separate, flimsy cardboard sheet, where each price box can hold up to three of each type of resource (except for nuclear resources, which are limited to one per box). Players choose their player tokens and prepare the terrain price sheet and other cheat sheet cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Auction Mechanic: Players bid on power plants to add to their network.

Resource Management: Players buy resources to power their plants, with the last-place player getting the first choice at a cheaper rate.

Network Building: Players draw routes between cities using crayons, each route crossing different terrains with specific costs.

Turn Order: The leading player has significant disadvantages, making it difficult to maintain the lead throughout the game.

Game End Condition: The game ends when all cities on the board are powered, and the player with the most powered cities wins.

Player Experience

Funkenschlag offers a complex and engaging experience, closely related to classic crayon rail games like British Rails or Empire Builder. The game requires strategic planning, resource management, and tactical bidding. Despite its challenging nature, the game has been praised for its depth and replayability. However, the original version’s components and setup can be cumbersome, with the flimsy board and crayon mechanics sometimes causing frustration.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Replayability: High due to the random map and varied power plant cards.

Challenging: Engaging gameplay with significant strategic depth.

Cons

Flimsy Components: The board and resource market sheet are made of low-quality material.

Crayon Mechanics: Drawing routes can be time-consuming and messy.

Long Gameplay: The original game can take up to 180 minutes to complete.

Personal Thoughts on Funkenschlag

Funkenschlag is ideal for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy complex, strategic games. While it has its drawbacks, particularly with the component quality, the game’s depth and replay value make it a favorite among many gamers. However, for those looking for a more streamlined experience, the updated version, Power Grid, may be a better option due to its improved components and refined mechanics.

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