Age of Innovation

2023 · Fantasy

Age of Innovation

Players lead one of twelve asymmetrical factions across a variable map and terraform terrain into their preferred homeland to build and expand. Erect and upgrade buildings, merge structures into cities, and gather resources such as tools, scholars, coin, and power to fuel further growth. Proximity to other factions affects expansion and interaction, creating strategic tension between competition and opportunity. Develop schools and collect books to research innovations, and construct landmarks like palaces, workshops, guilds, and universities to unlock new abilities and cultural advancements.

Players
1–5 best 4
Playing time
40–200 min
Age
14+
Complexity
4.3 / 5
8.2 on Ludoyafrom $79.96EconomicTerritory BuildingModular BoardVariable Player PowersVariable Set-up

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On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
222
Plays logged
318
Players
2h 26m
Average play
95
In collections
37
On wishlists

8.2/10

from 51 Ludoya reviews

  • beqs the 1st8.5

    The definition of a heavy euro game. Many different mechanisms that interlock perfectly. Complex decisions with contested resources.

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

How does the Power cycle work — where do I gain power and from which bowl can I spend it?

Power tokens cycle clockwise through your three Power Bowls: gaining power moves tokens from Bowl I→II, or from II→III if I is empty, and you can only spend tokens that are in Bowl III, which are then cycled back to Bowl I when spent (see p. 7).

If another player builds next to my buildings, do I automatically gain power and what does it cost me?

Other Factions may gain power equal to the total Power values of their buildings adjacent to the newly built/ upgraded building, but they may choose whether to take that full amount or not; gaining power costs points according to the scale (1/2/3/4 power costs 0/1/2/3 points respectively), you cannot take a partial amount, and you can’t drop below 0 points (see p. 8).

I got Spades as a Science Bonus in Phase III — can I use them immediately to terraform and build in the same round?

No: Spades gained as a Science Bonus are awarded outside Phase II and therefore cannot be used to terraform-and-build until Phase II of the next round (see p. 12).

When I terraform with multiple Spades can I use extra Spades on other hexes and still build where I want?

If you gain multiple Spades at once you must use them before building: any extra Spades may be applied to other reachable hexes (even up to 2 or 3 hexes), but you must complete the terraforming to your Native terrain on the primary hex first and you may only build one Workshop as part of that action (see p. 11–12).

Does upgrading a building trigger adjacency power for other players, and what happens to the old building piece?

An upgrade counts as the build of the new building and can trigger adjacency power for other Factions (they calculate power from their adjacent buildings and may opt to gain it), and you must exchange the old building by returning it to the rightmost empty space on its track on your Planning display before placing the new building (see p. 13 and p. 8).

If I send Scholars to the Science display, can I ever get them back to use again?

Scholars you place on the Science display are generally not recovered, though you may return 1 Scholar to the supply to advance 1 Level in a Discipline as an alternative; note you have a limited pool of 7 Scholars, so placement is permanent unless you use that return option (see p. 15).

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Score sheets and play helpers

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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.