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Welcome to Webknight's Board Game Corner!

Details: Written by: Webknight; Category: Webknight's Board Game Corner; Published: 01 March 2024; Hits: 1095

Game Reviews

First off, a little about me. The games I grew up with were the older games like Monopoly, Battleship, Uno, etc, .etc.

When I joined GPI I started exploring more modern games. So, I would like to share my thoughts on them.

The first game I want to talk about is called Innovation. Boy I really like this game.

First off there are four expansions available and It's a relatively easy game to learn for 2 to 4 players. For me one play-through was enough to learn the game mechanics, but to learn how to play well will take many more play-throughs.

Sadly I have only played the base game. So I will limit my thoughts to that one. When I play the expansions I will talk about them.

Innovation is a game of civilization building through technologies, ideas, and ingenuity. There are ten ages from the Stone Age to The Space Age.

One of the things that I really like about the game is that the mechanics only involves card play with no board or other pieces involved. I generally don't like games with a lot of pieces.

To win the game you must score various forms of achievements. The number of achievements required to win varies, which depends on the number of players; The more players the fewer achievements that are required.

In the game there are four actions available for the player to take:

Draw: Add a card to your hand from the supply piles.
Meld: Take a card from your hand and put it onto your board.
Dogma: The core action of Innovation. It allows you to activate one of the top cards on your board for its game effect.
Achieve: Allows you to claim an achievement.

Some of the dogmas allow you to display cards, which allows you to access more symbols to use with the dogmas.

My final thoughts are that it is great family fun taking place in the civilization genre of games. Easily accessible for even the beginning gamer in your family.

What makes it really fun is the ability to see the interactions between technology and concepts of the ages

Introduction to Mechanology

Details: Written by: Silas DeShane; Category: The Disciplines & Differentiations of Mechanology; Published: 12 January 2024; Hits: 1354

In its essence Mechanology is the science of machines and new machine technology. Technology is, specifically, the realm of new techniques in using what is known, whether machine-based or not. While, on the other hand, the science of Mechanology is the realm of new mechanisms and machines.

Although Technology and Mechanology go hand in hand in the development of new and better science and innovations and they are seen as two distinct vocations. At its heart
Mechanology is about Power, personal power through machines.

Mechanology differs from Technology because it relies on the non-Einsteinian, or in your world called Quantum Mechanical, interaction of the Æther with machines. This goes along with the knowledge and skill of the Inventor, rather than the routine use of a constant principle or a machine based on Newtonian Physics.

Mechanology is defined as the use of the unusual properties of the Luminiferous Æther in conjunction with machines and then used by the Inventor to impose their will upon the world. It requires a lifetime of schooling to master, and so can be used by fewer people than Technology, but the personal power offered is far greater.

In general Mechanology can match the power of Technology at lower levels of Mechanological Advancement. Mechanology also works much faster than Technology. As an example armies of Clockwork Soldiers are capable of being created in the Steamworks Manufactory faster than human infantry can be trained.

However, on the downside Mechanology is resource intensive and inefficient, draining huge amounts of energy compared to Technology. This drawback requires the constant attention by knowledgeable Inventors.

Unlike Technology, Mechanology is also much less reliable and the desired results often fail, spectacularly, or do so in unexpected ways.

In my next journal entry I will expand on the scientific principles that Mechanology relies on.

Godspeed, Silas

The Odyssey of Silas DeShane

Details: Written by: Silas DeShane; Category: The Traveller from Beyond the Æther; Published: 02 November 2023; Hits: 900

Steampunk

To continue my journal entries I will provide you good folks with some information on myself and how I got to your world. First off, my name is Silas DeShane and I am a professor of Æthernautics at the Minnesota Institute of Mechanology, located in St. Anthony. I believe in your world it is called the city of Minneapolis.

I have a PHD in Æthernautics and a Masters in Organics. I am 48 years of age, and I was born in Davenport Iowa. Finally I am a citizen of the United States of Vespuccia... and when I left my world and before I entered your universe it was October 31st, In the year of our Lord 1883...

"Due to the season, and the fact that both of our worlds celebrate Samhain, or as you folks call it Halloween, I would like to tell you all how I got here in the first place.

First up is a bit of physics. In both of our worlds we have a theory that membranes of energy separate the universes from each other. Add to that in both of our universes the legends of the Celts state that the veil between the living and the dead is exceedingly thin.

Moreover, in my studies of Æthernautics I have detected such a thinning of the interdimensional veil on Samhain.

So, due to these two factors I decided to perform my experiment to open an Ætheric doorway on the 31st. This doorway was not supposed to completely open. It was to, so-to-speak only open a crack and allow me to observe another universe.

However, the US Ætheric observatory at Mt Palomar had issued an Ætheric storm watch for the night of October 31st. But the storm was supposed to pass by outside the orbit of Luna. At that distance it should not have interfered with my experiment. Alas, and unfortunately, at the last moment the storm veered towards the planet and struck just as I activated the Ætheric doorway.

Goodspeed, Silas

The Traveller from Beyond the Æther

Details: Written by: Silas DeShane; Category: The Traveller from Beyond the Æther; Published: 30 October 2023; Hits: 833

Steampunk

Ladies and Gentlemen I have been asked to speak to you about myself and my world by a very good friend, Mr. Lance Messer of this fine technological innovation called a website.

To continue, my name is Silas DeShane and I am a professor of Æthernautics at the Minnesota Institute of Mechanology, located in St. Anthony. I believe in your world it is called the city of Minneapolis.

In future journal entries I will endeavor to expound on how I arrived in your strange, but beautiful world.

Goodspeed, Silas

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