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Pipeline (2019) Board Game

ByMichail

Pipeline is a board game released in 2019 by Capstone Games. Designed by Ryan Courtney and featuring artwork by Ian O’Toole, the game falls under the economic and industry/manufacturing category. With a playing time of 60-120 minutes, Pipeline is suitable for 2-4 players aged 12 and above.

Game Components of Pipeline

  • Player boards and tokens**
  • Oil cubes (crude and refined)**
  • Pipe tiles of various lengths and colors**
  • Machinery and storage tanks**
  • Upgrade cards**
  • Contract and loan cards**
  • Government tile markets**
  • Valuation cards**
  • Money**

    How To Setup Pipeline

    To set up Pipeline, each player starts with a personal player board and a limited amount of money. The main board is populated with various action spaces, including markets for crude and refined oil, spaces for buying pipes, tanks, and machines, and areas for contracts, loans, and upgrades. The pipe markets and government tile markets are filled with the appropriate tiles. Each player also receives a set of randomly determined pipe lengths required to refine different grades of oil.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

    Mechanics:

  • Worker Placement:** Players place their single worker on an action space to perform an action.
  • Tile-Laying:** Players build their pipeline network using pipe tiles.
  • Economic Management:** Buying, refining, and selling oil; managing loans and contracts.
  • Upgrades:** Acquiring machines and other upgrades to improve efficiency.

    Objective:

  • The objective is to earn the most money by buying crude oil, refining it, and selling the refined oil.
  • Players must optimize their pipeline network, fulfill contracts, and manage their resources efficiently.
  • The game is divided into three rounds, each with a decreasing number of turns (8, 6, and 4 turns respectively).

    Player Experience

    Playing Pipeline is an intense and strategic experience. Players must constantly balance short-term needs with long-term goals, managing their resources carefully due to the limited number of actions available each turn. The game requires strong spatial visualization skills to efficiently build and optimize the pipeline network. The variable end-game valuation cards add a layer of unpredictability, making the game challenging and replayable.

    Pros

  • Engaging Economic Strategy:** Players must make strategic decisions about buying, refining, and selling oil.
  • High Replayability:** Random pipe lengths and valuation cards ensure each game is different.
  • Beautiful Art Direction:** The game features impressive illustrations by Ian O’Toole.
  • Tight Resource Management:** Players must manage their actions and resources carefully, adding to the game’s tension and challenge.

    Cons

  • Complexity in Spatial Visualization:** The pipe-laying mechanism can be time-consuming and may frustrate players who struggle with spatial visualization.
  • Limited Player Interaction:** The game focuses more on individual efficiency rather than direct player interaction.
  • End-Game Scoring Disparity:** The end-game scoring can sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of the game, leading to surprising wins or losses.

    Personal Thoughts on Pipeline

    Pipeline is ideal for fans of economic and Eurogames who enjoy complex strategic challenges and tight resource management. It appeals to players who are good at spatial visualization and can handle the pressure of optimizing their pipeline network. However, it may not be the best fit for those looking for high player interaction or a more relaxed gaming experience. If you’re up for a challenging and rewarding game that tests your strategic thinking, Pipeline is definitely worth considering.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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