Legendary Inventors (2016) Board Game

Legendary Inventors is a board game designed by Frédéric Henry and published by Bombyx in in 2016. The game is set in the 19th century, a time of great innovation and discovery. Players take on the role of inventors competing to create the most legendary inventions and earn prestige.

Game Components of Legendary Inventors

Inventor cards, each representing a historical figure like Archimedes, Marie Curie, and Leonardo da Vinci

Invention cards with various skill requirements and reward tokens

Colored cubes for each player to represent their inventors’ skills

Reward tokens (Number, Victory Points, Cup, Crates, Stars)

Knowledge tokens and crates

Leonardo da Vinci bust to track the first player

How To Setup Legendary Inventors

To set up, each player chooses a team of inventors and receives the associated starting knowledge tokens and cubes. Invention cards are drawn from the Age 1 deck, equal to the number of players plus three, and placed face up in the play area. Reward tokens are randomly drawn and placed on each invention. Players decide who goes first, with the first player receiving the Leonardo da Vinci bust.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker Placement: Players send their inventors to work on inventions.

Resource Management: Managing skill levels and knowledge tokens.

Variable Player Powers: Each inventor has unique skill sets.

Area Control: Players compete to contribute the most to an invention.

Game Objective

Work on inventions by placing colored cubes matching the required skills.

Acquire patents and rewards from completed inventions.

Improve the skills of your inventors.

Form runs of inventions to earn additional points.

Earn victory points from inventions, runs, and inventor progress.

Player Experience

In Legendary Inventors, players are immersed in a competitive yet cooperative environment where they must strategically use their inventors’ skills to contribute to inventions. The game is divided into three Ages, each representing a different period of technological advancement. Players must balance between improving their inventors’ skills and contributing to inventions to maximize their victory points.

Pros

Educational Value: Players learn about historical inventors and their contributions.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Replayability: Random invention and reward token draws ensure different games each time.

Engaging Theme: Celebrates innovation and historical figures.

Cons

Complexity: Can be overwhelming for new players due to the variety of mechanics and rules.

Length: The game spans three Ages, which can make it somewhat lengthy.

Luck Element: Random draws of invention cards and reward tokens can affect gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Legendary Inventors

Legendary Inventors is ideal for players who enjoy strategic worker placement games and are interested in history and innovation. It’s a great choice for those who appreciate complex gameplay with a unique theme, but may not be the best fit for casual or new board game enthusiasts due to its complexity and length. The game offers a rich experience that combines learning with competitive fun, making it a standout in the realm of historical-themed board games.

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.