AquaSphere

2014 · Science Fiction

AquaSphere

Players manage a deep-sea research team made up of an engineer, a scientist, programmable bots, and submarines to collect scientific data from a submerged facility. The board has two zones: a headquarters where the engineer programs bots by selecting from available actions, and a research station of six sectors where the scientist brings bots to perform tasks. Over four rounds, players alternate turns choosing to program bots or send them into sectors to improve the lab, deploy submarines, gather crystals, study creatures, and otherwise expand capabilities or score knowledge points. Limited lab space acts as a personal resource that can be expanded at a cost, forcing trade-offs between long-term upgrades and short-term opportunities.

Players
2–4 best 4
Playing time
100 min
Age
12+
Complexity
3.7 / 5
6 on LudoyaNauticalArea Majority / InfluenceOnce-Per-Game AbilitiesTech Trees / Tech Tracks

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On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
174
Plays logged
221
Players
1h 29m
Average play
79
In collections
8
On wishlists
1
Pre-ordered

6.0/10

from 44 Ludoya reviews

  • Garfield2.0

    I just don't like these dry euro games anymore. [c] Theme: :star::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]No --> Gameplay: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Only 2 actions possible, but very meaningful decisions --> Interaction: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Fighting for majority --> Artwork: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Good --> Luck: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Maybe what new tiles are placed near your scientist? --> Strategy: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Very strategic --> Components: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Good --> Play duration: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Ok --> Easy to teach: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Not that complicated for a Stefan Feld game... --> Rules quality: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Perfect! --> Setup time: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Takes a little bit... --> No downtime: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Should be quite fast if no one suffers from AP... --> Replay value: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Different strategies, random board etc. --> [/c]

  • Daniel García Cruz8.0

    Feldazo como la copa de un pino!! Amaras y odiaras a esos pulpitos que te van fastidiando la base submarina, de mis preferidos de este maestro.

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

How many Bots can I have programmed at once — can I program more than two?

You may not have more than 2 programmed Bots at a time; there are two ways to program a Bot (move your Engineer along the Headquarters or, once per round, pay 3 Time Markers to place a Bot on any unoccupied Program Symbol). (page 6)

What happens when I move a Bot onto a Control Space that’s already occupied — do we lose Bots from the Loading Station?

The displaced Bot is moved to that Sector’s Loading Station; if the Loading Station then exceeds the permitted number, each player must return all but one of their Bots from that Loading Station to their supply (permitted numbers: 2 players = 2, 3 players = 4, 4 players = 5). (page 7)

When do Research Cards trigger — do some activate immediately and others later?

Research Cards have different timings: some give an immediate reward when you take them (you also gain Knowledge Points from the Center Tile when taking the card), others trigger on events (e.g., when moving your Engineer or catching Octopods), some are used during Intermediate Scoring, and some must be used immediately or only once — see the Appendix for details. (pages 9, 12)

Can I place more than one Submarine in the same Sector, and what do I get for placing one?

You may only have one Submarine in each Sector; to place one you take the next Submarine from your board, pay the Time Markers shown on the Submarine space (or you cannot choose the action), and you immediately gain the Knowledge Points shown on the current Center Tile — placing all six Submarines gives a 5 KP endgame bonus. (page 9)

What if my Lab is full — can I still take Time Markers, Crystals, or Research Cards?

When taking Time Markers or Crystals you may only take as many as your Lab capacity allows and must leave the rest in the Sector, and you may only take a Research Card if you have capacity to accommodate it (you may not discard Research Cards later). (pages 8, 9, 12)

How do Time Markers work at Intermediate Scoring — do I get extra ones and can I use 'pause' Research Cards then?

At Intermediate Scoring you receive 1 Time Marker per Submarine you have deployed in the Station and you may then use any Research Cards marked with the pause (II) symbol (for example, to pay 1 Time Marker to place a Bot on a Program Symbol); also return any Time Markers shown in the top-right of your Player Board to the general supply. (page 10)

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

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