Steam Power is Martin Wallace’s magnum opus Age of Steam simplified to become a family game. Well, not exactly. Indeed much is
simplified, but some elements in Steam Power are just different. Some are a
little like Brass.
In Steam Power, you build your own rail network. You also build
factories. Every city allows one specific factory type. When you build a
factory, you place five goods next to it. Anyone can use these goods for
fulfilling contracts. Your factory will score points at game end only if all
its goods are used up. Your railroad network doesn’t score points directly,
but they give you access to factories. When you fulfil a contract, you can use
any goods accessible by your network for free. You can use goods outside your
network but you’ll need to pay for using your opponent’s railroads to bring
these goods to your network.
The game ends when a player completes his 11th contract. You score points
for completed contracts, fully utilised factories and major cities you
connect to. During game setup, two unused city tiles augment the values of
specific factory types. This creates variability from game to game.
Network building is competitive. You want to claim territory and access to
cities. Access to major cities does give you points, but it is access to
factories which is more important. You get to use goods at these factories for
free. You are not limited to build factories within your network. You can
build in others’ networks if you foresee there is demand for your goods and
your opponents will be willing to use your goods even when they know they will
be helping your factory score.
This is a very clean design. Building factories is free. Building tracks is
free as long as you avoid hills and mountains. You don’t use cash often, and
this cuts down a lot of tedium. There is much board play. You have to analyse
the distribution of goods production to decide how best to start and grow your
network. There is a race to expand your network. There is also a race to
fulfil contacts. You must watch your opponents and make sure the game ending
doesn’t catch you off guard.
Steam Power is quite a different beast from Age of Steam. It is lighter and the pace is brisk. It is not as unforgiving but it is still competitive. This works as a family strategy game. This deluxe edition that I played is very pretty and welcoming.
