Mars Needs Mechanics (2013) Board Game

Mars Needs Mechanics is a board game that was released in in 2013. It is designed by Bryan Fischer and published by Nevermore Games. The game falls under the categories of Economic and Science Fiction, and it involves gameplay mechanisms such as Commodity Speculation and Set Collection. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 10 and above, and has a runtime of 45 minutes.

Game Components of Mars Needs Mechanics

Deck of 56 cards: Eight cards each of seven different components (e.g., wires, gears).

Scrap Metal cards: Used to facilitate selling groups of cards.

Tokens: Representing the components and their market values.

Cogs: The game’s currency, with each player starting with 30 cogs.

Mechanism cards: For building steampunk mechanisms.

How To Setup Mars Needs Mechanics

To set up the game, each player starts with a hand of five cards: three randomly drawn from the deck and two Scrap Metal cards. Eight cards are placed in the store, where players can purchase them. Each component starts at a price of five cogs. The start player chooses to either buy one card or pass, with subsequent players following the same process until the market is sold out or all players have passed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Market Price Manipulation: Players buy cards, influencing market prices. Tokens farthest back decrease in price, center tokens remain stable, and top tokens increase in price.

Card Collection: Players collect sets of components to build mechanisms.

Mechanism Building: Mechanisms like the Rocket Booster provide additional cogs when selling cards.

Selling Cards: Players sell groups of three or more cards, using Scrap Metal to sell smaller groups.

Game Objective: The player with the most cogs at the end of the game, when the deck runs out of cards, wins the position as Astronautical Engineer.

Player Experience

**Mars Needs Mechanics** is praised for its simplicity and elegance. The game requires strategic timing to manipulate market prices and maximize cogs. It is enjoyable with two to four players, offering a different dynamic depending on the number of players. With two players, the game becomes more mathematical, while with four players, it involves more strategic interaction with opponents.

Pros

Simple to Learn: Easy to understand the basic rules.

Complex Gameplay: Deep strategy in manipulating market prices and building mechanisms.

Beautiful Art: The game’s steampunk theme is visually appealing.

Interactive: Players influence each other’s strategies directly.

Cons

Repeated Actions: The game involves repetitive actions of buying and selling cards.

Luck of the Draw: Initial card draws can significantly impact gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Mars Needs Mechanics

**Mars Needs Mechanics** is ideal for fans of economic and strategic board games who enjoy a blend of simplicity and depth. It’s a great option for families and casual gamers looking for a game that can be both straightforward and challenging. The game’s unique mechanism of market price manipulation adds a layer of strategy, making it engaging for players who enjoy planning and adjusting their tactics based on the actions of others.

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