Furnace (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Furnace is a card game designed by Ivan Lashin and published by Hobby World in in 2020. It falls into the categories of economic and industry/manufacturing games, with a post-Napoleonic setting. The game revolves around players competing to build successful factories and dominate the industrial landscape.

Game Components of Furnace

Company cards (double-sided with basic and upgraded sides)

Capitalist cards (special powers unique to each player)

Startup cards (provide initial resources and effects)

Bidding discs (numbered 1-4, and variable bidding discs in the Interbellum expansion)

Resource tokens (coal, iron, oil)

Upgrade tokens

Money tokens (victory points)

Manager tokens (included in the Interbellum expansion)

How To Setup Furnace

To set up Furnace, each player starts with a random capitalist card and a startup card, which are placed facing upwards in their play area. The capitalist card indicates a special rule-breaking effect active throughout the game. Players also receive four colored bidding discs numbered 1-4. The company deck is shuffled and placed on a designated tile with the upgraded side facing upwards. Players take the resources and bonuses depicted on their startup cards, and one player is chosen as the starting player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Auction: Players bid on company cards using their bidding discs, with restrictions on duplicate numbers and colors.

Compensation: Losing bids receive compensation in the form of resources or ability effects multiplied by the disc number used.

Production: Players activate their company cards in any order to gain resources, process resources, and upgrade cards.

Engine Building: Players build their industrial corporations by acquiring and upgrading company cards.

Game Objective

The goal is to accumulate the most money by efficiently managing resources and company cards over four rounds.

Player Experience

Furnace offers a unique blend of auction and engine-building mechanics that makes each game engaging and strategic. The auction phase is particularly tense, with players needing to balance winning bids with strategically losing to gain valuable compensation. The production phase, while more procedural, requires efficient planning to maximize resource conversion into money. The game is praised for its depth and the variety of strategies it offers, despite its relatively short playtime of about an hour.

Pros

Unique Auction Mechanism: The compensation system for losing bids adds a layer of strategy and depth.

Engaging Decision-Making: Players must constantly weigh the benefits of winning and losing auctions.

Efficient Gameplay: The game balances complexity with a short playtime.

Expansions: The Interbellum expansion introduces new company cards, startup cards, and mechanics like variable bidding discs and manager tokens.

Cons

Analysis Paralysis: The addition of variable bidding discs in the Interbellum expansion can increase game length and lead to analysis paralysis.

Limited Content in Base Game: The base game has a limited number of company cards, which can lead to repetition in gameplay after several plays.

Learning Curve for New Players: While the core mechanics are simple, new players may find the auction strategy challenging to grasp initially.

Personal Thoughts on Furnace

Furnace is ideal for fans of economic and auction games who enjoy strategic depth and efficient gameplay. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate the interplay between bidding and engine-building mechanics. The game’s short playtime and unique compensation system make it accessible and engaging, even for those who might not typically enjoy auction games. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a very light or casual gaming experience due to its strategic complexity.

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