Steam Time (2015) Board Game

Steam Time is a board game released in 2015 that combines elements of adventure and economic strategy. Designed by Jacqui Davis and featuring artwork by KOSMOS, the game is set in a fantastical world where players travel through time and space to gather resources and complete contracts. With a playtime of around 90 minutes, Steam Time is suitable for 2 to 4 players aged 12 and up.

Game Components of Steam Time

Airship tokens: Three tokens and a personal airship board for each player.

Airship board: Includes spaces for gold, unused airships, and steam tracking.

Compartments: Six colored compartments (green bridge, blue engine room, black laboratory, pink time portal, grey Midas machine, and orange analytic engine) with slots for crystals.

Upgrade tiles: Placed on the right side of the airship board.

Cards: Mission, expedition, and specialist cards placed on the left side of the airship board.

Main game board: Serves as a repository for cards and resources, and includes an esteem track (victory points).

Monument boards: Six boards with action spaces corresponding to the airship compartments.

How To Setup Steam Time

To set up Steam Time, players start by receiving their airship tokens and personal boards. The main game board is prepared with the esteem track and resources. The six monument boards are randomly stacked, each containing action spaces that match the colors of the airship compartments. Upgrade tiles, mission cards, and other resources are seeded onto the boards accordingly.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players perform three placements per round, using their airship tokens to claim actions on the monument boards.

Engine Building: Players collect and place crystals in their airship compartments to activate actions.

Resource Management: Players manage gold, steam, and crystals to optimize their actions.

Time Portal Mechanism: Advancing the time portal track allows for an extra action using the Mr. Time token, which can be placed at any location on the time stream.

Objective: The goal is to earn the most victory points by collecting resources, completing actions, and optimizing airship upgrades.

Player Experience

Steam Time offers a medium to heavy complexity game experience, favoring experienced hobbyists. The game is notable for its numerous options and the need for optimization, which can lead to mental paralysis due to the wealth of choices. However, this also allows for a high degree of freedom in strategy development. The game requires several plays to fully grasp the potential strategies and absorb all the mechanics.

Pros

High Replayability: With many avenues to explore and different strategies to develop.

Deep Strategy: Offers a complex and engaging gameplay experience.

Resource Management: Requires careful management of resources, adding depth to the game.

Multiple Paths to Victory: Players can choose various ways to earn victory points.

Cons

Complex Setup: The game involves a fiddly setup and reset process.

Steep Learning Curve: Not suitable for new gamers or casual players due to its complexity.

Lengthy Resets: The board needs to be wiped and reset multiple times during a session.

Personal Thoughts on Steam Time

Steam Time is for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy efficiency games and are willing to invest time in understanding the intricate mechanics. It rewards repeated plays and strategic planning, making it a great fit for those who appreciate complex, optimization-heavy games. However, it may not be the best choice for new players or those looking for a casual gaming experience.

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