How to Play

Age of Innovation

1-5 players 40-200 min 8.5 Board Game Geek Rating

Players control unique factions competing to terraform terrain and construct buildings in this strategic game. Transform landscapes into suitable homelands, then build and upgrade structures to collect resources like tools, scholars, and money. Advance through sciences, create innovations with books, and merge buildings into cities to complete your civilization and win.

Published 2023

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Select board side

Use the designated sides of the main game board and innovation display(s) based on player count (2p: special rules, 3p: either side, 4-5p: use innovation display extension)

Place round scoring tiles

Ensure rounds 5 & 6 tiles are not the 2VP per spade tile

Cover round 6 tile

Place a final round scoring tile on the righthand side that does not yield the same bonus as the round 6 tile

Limit science track bonuses

In rounds 1-5, maximum 2 tiles can have end-of-round bonuses applying to the same science track

Select random tiles

Randomly choose 3 book action tiles and the appropriate number of innovation tiles

Assign competency tiles

Randomly assign innovation tiles and all 12 competency tiles to their positions

Remove planning card

Randomly remove 1 planning display card, place the other 6 face-up

Display faction tiles

Randomly display faction tiles equal to player count + 1

Display palace tiles

Randomly display palace tiles equal to player count + 1 (exclude red-backed beginner tile)

Display round bonus tiles

Randomly display round bonus tiles equal to player count + 3

Draft components

Beginning with start player clockwise, each player chooses either a planning display card, faction, or palace tile (in any order) until each player has all 3 items

Select round bonus tiles

Beginning with last player, players choose their first round bonus tiles before placing starting workshops

Add dummy player

A dummy player competes with both players for area/science scoring

Place area score tile

Blindly place an area score tile facedown at top-left of game board (revealed at start of round 6, setting dummy's area to 12-15)

Block scholar spaces

On the science display, use power tokens to block off a scholar's 2-space on each of the 4 science tracks

Mark dummy science levels

For each science track, place a power token at level = 2 + total bonuses shown on round scoring tiles for endgame science scoring

Apply faction/planning bonuses

The 14 factions and 7 planning displays all grant starting bonuses

Gain power from science advances

If science track bonuses advance you past a power threshold, take the power

Desert faction spade

Receive a free spade immediately after everyone places start buildings, but cannot build there until first turn

Inventors competency tile

Receive a free competency tile; if it grants income, take it at start of round 1

Monks university placement

Place university after opponents place all buildings; receive a competency tile (income taken at start of round 1)

Omar neutral tower

Place a 3rd building (neutral tower) after opponents place start buildings but before Monks place university; it grants round 1 income

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Blessed science bonus

Act as though science tracks have +3 for end-round bonuses

Illusionists power discount

Power actions cost -1 and grant 3-4VP depending on player count

Lizards city bonus

Get a free terraform and build after city founding (workshop is free)

Moles tunneling

Spend a cube to skip over 1 hex when terraforming/building (gain 4VP); spend a cube to build a bridge even over land (no VP); area scoring includes all buildings 1 hex away or within shipping reach

Philosophers book bonus

Gain 1 extra book per competency tile of the matching colour

Place white buildings immediately

White buildings must be placed as soon as gained; you may terraform using tools (cubes) while placing them

Place purple annexes later

Annexes are not placed immediately but one at a time on future turns; they increase building value and make city founding easier

Neutral university restriction

The neutral university does not grant a competency tile (though neutral school does)

Calculate power from opponents

When opponents build next to your buildings, gain power equal to total power value of all adjacent buildings

Include annexes in power total

Annexes count toward total power, but do not gain power when an opponent places an annex next to you