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Age of Innovation
Age of Innovation is a standalone game set in the world of Terra Mystica.
Twelve factions, each with unique characteristics, populate this world of varying terrains. Here you will compete to erect buildings and merge them into cities. Each game allows you to create new combinations of factions, homelands, and abilities so that each game isn’t the same as another.
You control one of these factions and will terraform the game map’s terrain into your homelands where you can erect your buildings. Proximity to other factions may limit your expansion, but it also gains you significant advantages in the game. This tension adds to the appeal of the Terra Mystica series.
Upgrade your buildings to gain valuable resources such as tools, scholars, money, and power. Build schools to advance in different sciences and collect books, which you can use to make innovations. Build your palace to gain a powerful new ability or build workshops, guilds, and universities to complete your culture.
—description from the publisher
| Ages | 14+ |
|---|---|
| Players | Solo, 2 Players, 3 Players, 4 Players, 5 Players |
| Play Time | 40m – 200m |
| Designer | Helge Ostertag |
| Mechanics | Hexagon Grid, Turn Order: Pass Order, Victory Points as a Resource, Variable Player Powers |
| Theme | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Capstone Games, Gém Klub Kft., Super Meeple, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., White Goblin Games, Feuerland Spiele |
candoo
Where do we go from 14…20…40 Terra Mystica factions? 1344 new factions! AOI is modular TM on steroids; and not a re-skin. There are 12 “book abilities” that are decoupled from 16 “stronghold” abilities that are decoupled from 7 asymmetric colour boards. These can combine to create 12x16x7=1344 different factions. These can further be combined with 18 different “innovations”. Innovations are like the super-techs from Gaia Project which are purchased with the new currency, “books”. Books can also be used to take “book actions”, which are in addition to the normal six power actions from TM. AOI is not for the uninitiated. It is the spiritual successor of TM with its feel; more so than Gaia P. It has a bigger economy than TM but retains TM’s flavour, yet offers a new enhanced gameplay providing more to explore on the TM platform. I don't see AOI replacing TM. I will play both and enjoy them both. I prefer TM because it has a tighter system. AOI is looser, and gives me a slight VP-salad vibe. Lots of passive passing VPs. And now 5 of the 12 favours generate VPs so you can skin the proverbial cat in numerous ways. (My gaming group doesn't care for Gaia P so much, so that title never hits my game table.) AOI will likely be too heavy for most players other than fans of TM or GP. Game length is similar to TM, which is way superior to GP's drawn out r6.
BigD527
Better than Terra Mystica, not as good as Gaia Project, though the extent of the asymmetry of the player factions is outstanding and I'd love to see some way to make that happen in GP. Otherwise, it's basically Terra Mystica 2.0.
CosmicSkyeSignal
Sleeved with Mayday USA Chimera and Magnum Ultra Fit for Lost Cities (Premium) 3d Printed Insert by PrintablesbyCaren (Etsy) Gift from Mom