FAQ
65 answered questions59 official
Rules questions from the BoardGameGeek forum. Answers marked Official were confirmed by Alley Cat Games or the designers.
Common mistakes
- Working out a completed line with normal maths priority: the machine goes strictly left to right or top to bottom, and each line is capped by Steam. Ruling · Rule
- Removing the rightmost Program, Assignment or Partner whenever an item is taken: only the main action of that area cycles the display. Ruling · Rule
- Paying for every lower Lecture level: you stop at the first level where you already have a disc. Ruling · Rule
- Counting a grey die as any colour for Programs or Assignments: it is wild only to choose an action. Ruling · Rule
- Spending Coal on the pushed die: Coal is spent only before the push, on the die you move or one Workshop die. Ruling · Rule
- Moving Research from a full track to another when it was for that colour only: it is lost. Ruling · Rule
- Taking a free Addition Gear from Ada’s Study for a “build for free” reward: it must already be in your supply. Ruling · Rule
- Publishing or building before the action, or doing both: one of them, at the end of the turn. Ruling · Rule
Showing 65 of 65
Can you take the Publish action or build a Gear before the main action? Official
No. Publish or Build is the last thing you do in your turn, after the main and advanced actions, and you choose only one of the two.
Source: BGG thread
Can you spend Coal to change the die after it has been pushed out? Official
No. Spending Coal is part of step 1 of the Workshop turn; once the die is pushed out in step 2 it can no longer be changed. Follow the order in the main rules, not the summary on the back page.
Source: BGG thread
Does the extra Coal move apply to any die, as the back-page summary says? Official
No. Page 6 is the full rule: Coal moves the die you chose one more space. The second Coal option may change the value of any one die in the Workshop, though usually you change the die you move or the one you collect.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Is the Workshop Publish action decided by the colour of the drafted die? Official
No. After a Workshop turn the Publish action is always the Workshop one (Steam), whatever colour you drafted.
Source: BGG thread
May you draft a tenth die? Official
Yes, as long as your Store has room. The game is almost always 18 turns, usually 9 of each type, but taking a last Workshop turn instead of an action is occasionally the better move.
Source: BGG thread
What happens if the dice bag runs out? Official
If it runs out, it runs out: an emptied space is not refilled. There are enough dice for the turns you need; you just have less choice near the end.
Source: BGG thread
Must the die that meets a Partner card's requirement be the die you collected this turn? Official
Yes. Only when an effect lets you play a card without its cost do you ignore the requirement.
Source: BGG thread
Which die do "active die" effects such as Visit the Casino use? Official
The active die: on a Workshop turn the die you collect, on an Actions turn the die you place in your Mill.
Source: BGG thread
Can you change a 6 into a 1 with one pip change? Official
No. Values do not wrap round; you would need five separate changes.
Source: BGG thread
Does gaining a Program, Assignment or Partner from another effect cycle the display? Official
No. Only the main action of the area removes the rightmost item. Items gained through other rewards are taken, the rest slide right and the gaps are refilled.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread · BGG thread
At Ada's Study, when is the rightmost Assignment removed when you take several Study rewards? Official
Once per action, after the main action's reward and before the advanced action; it is not repeated for each extra reward.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread · BGG thread
If an Assignment taken in Ada's Study unlocks Research level II, can you use the level II advanced action in that same action? Official
Yes. Research is gained at once; taking an Assignment first to unlock the next level and then a Book or Gear is a common play.
Source: BGG thread
When you gain a Partner card, must you remove a card before drawing? Official
The rule says immediately, to stop decks growing past eight. The designer accepts removing it at the end of the action instead, as long as it is done that turn.
Source: BGG thread
When you play a card that draws cards, is it discarded before or after its effect? Official
After. It is not shuffled into a new deck by its own draw.
Source: BGG thread
Do you get the rest of a Partner card's effect if one part cannot be gained? Official
Yes. Gain as much as you can (and you must if you can). If you cannot or do not pay a cost within the effect, you do not get what it pays for.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can you take the Research of a two-colour Assignment in one colour and tuck it under the other? Official
Yes. The two choices are independent.
Source: BGG thread
Does Catherine Murray count herself as a card in hand? Official
No. You gain £2 and 1 Coal per card in hand, up to 3 times, counting after she has been played.
Source: BGG thread
Does William Cuffay count cards in hand or cards discarded? Official
The card's icons are right: 1 Brass for each card in your hand, up to 3. The appendix wording is an error.
Source: BGG thread
With William Whewell, do you discard all cards before taking the bonuses? Official
Yes: discard the cards, then take that many Workshop bonuses.
Source: BGG thread
Does Isambard Kingdom Brunel give the reward of every Small City you move to? Official
Yes: for each card discarded, move to a next Small City and gain its reward.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Do Assignment and Program decks get reshuffled if they run out? Official
They should not run out if displays cycle only on main actions. If they do, recycle the removed items into a new deck.
Source: BGG thread
If a Research track is full, can you move Research from Assignments to another track? Official
No. Research for that colour only is skipped; only Research you can choose may go to another track.
Source: BGG thread
When do you gain a Breakthrough and the advanced action reached on a Workshop turn? Official
The Breakthrough reward at once; the advanced action on your next Actions turn in that area.
Source: BGG thread
Do grey dice trigger advanced actions? Official
Yes. The advanced action is part of the action however you triggered it, as long as your Research is high enough.
Source: BGG thread
Can you hold two Assignment or Science Scoring tokens of the same colour? Official
No. Once you hold a token of a colour (from the track or a reward such as the Advancement of Science) you cannot gain another; the 2-point token stays for the next player. The same applies to Science tokens.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
If you are on 5 Innovation and gain 2, when do you choose to spend 2 for a Workshop bonus? Official
Innovation is gained one at a time: when you reach 6 you decide at once to spend 2 (then gain the next one) or to stay at 6 and lose the rest.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
What is the next Small City when several are possible? Official
Any Small City one Small City away along any route, even one reached through a University. You choose.
Source: BGG thread
Can you end a Travel action where you started? Official
The main movement must go to another city, but the advanced action's second movement may return to where you started.
Source: BGG thread
How do stacked discs on a University score? Official
The University value scores once per player. Each disc scores 2 for every disc on top of it, whoever owns them: two of yours under one opponent's disc score 4 + 2.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
What are the regions of the printed Travel Objective?
Southern (orange), Central (blue) and Scottish (purple): a disc in each completes it.
Source: BGG thread
Are Lady Sarah-Ann Philips' and similar disc moves free?
You move a disc, not your Travel token, so there is no route cost; gain the reward of the new University as the card shows.
Source: BGG thread
How much does a Lecture cost if you already have a disc on a higher level? Official
Just the level you place in: you always pay that level, and lower levels only down to your first disc. With a disc on level 5, level 3 costs 1.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can you take the Analytical Society (level 1) reward? Official
Yes, as a main action without a disc (a weak use of a turn) or, more usually, through the Institutions advanced action.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Can you place a disc in a full Meeting room? Official
Not with the main action. Only Ada's Study Publish can stack a disc on one of yours.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Does the "place a disc in a Meeting room" reward let you take a Partner? Official
No. It only places a disc: no cost, no card, no draw.
Source: BGG thread
Which Science is the Royal Society level 6 token? Official
Your choice, as long as you hold no token of that Science.
Source: BGG thread
Does a free "build an Addition Gear" reward use a Gear from your supply or from Ada's Study? Official
From your own supply, unless the reward also shows gaining a Gear.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
What happens to a Subtraction Gear swapped for an Addition Gear? Official
It is removed from the game.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
What does a Gear cost show when no number is printed? Official
A single icon means 1; a number appears only for more than 1.
Source: BGG thread
Are completed lines worked out with normal maths priority? Official
No: strictly left to right and top to bottom. 4 + 4 × 4 is 32 and 2 × 3 + 5 is 11. Each line is capped at your Steam (at most 40).
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread · BGG thread
Can a completed line score negative points? Official
Yes, for example 1 − 6 × 6 = −30. Put Subtraction Gears in lines you will not complete.
Source: BGG thread
Does a Gear space still covered by a disc count for the unbuilt-Gear penalty? Official
Yes: the penalty counts Gears not built, discs or not.
Source: BGG thread
Do grey dice count as any colour for Program tiles? Official
No. Grey dice are grey: they do not count for "only blue", and two grey dice are the same colour.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
What does the Program "Different, no consecutives" require? Official
All three dice different, and no two neighbours one apart, read left to right or top to bottom: 2-5-3 and 1-6-3 score; 1-2-6 and 1-4-1 do not.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Does "Consecutive numbers" accept 1-2-1? Official
The designer first said no, then ruled that it does, because other tiles already cover ascending and descending runs; he invites groups to settle on a ruling they are happy with.
Source: BGG thread
Do Programs read the dice in order? Official
Yes, left to right and top to bottom, as for scoring lines.
Source: BGG thread
Does the "completed line" Objective need a Program in that line? Official
Yes: a Program, 3 dice and 2 Gears in the same line.
Source: BGG thread
Can you claim an Objective of another area during your turn? Official
Yes, whatever action you took; check at the end of your turn. Once your disc is on it you no longer need to meet it.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
What does "most discs across 2 different levels" mean? Official
More discs than any other player on each of two Lecture levels at the moment you claim; a tie is not the most. A later overtake does not take the Objective away.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
What does the "highest disc in 2 different Institutions" Objective need? Official
The highest disc in each of two columns when you claim it, at any level.
Source: BGG thread
Does the Silver Lady claim Objectives only through solo rewards? Official
Yes; she only works towards them when choosing where to go.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Does she take Assignment Scoring tokens when she reaches the top of a track? Official
Yes, as normal. At the end she may also take one by difficulty: none at level 1, a 1-point (or 2 if none) at level 2, a 2-point (or 1 if none) at levels 3 and 4.
Source: BGG thread
When building the last Gear of a line, does she compare dice pips or line scores? Official
Dice pips.
Source: BGG thread
Does she gain a solo reward for Innovation beyond 6? Official
No.
Source: BGG thread
Does a grey die trigger her Assignments? Official
No, for her or for a player.
Source: BGG thread
What if she must place a disc and has none left? Official
Move one of her placed discs, as a player would — the one worth the fewest points.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
Which is her most preferred Objective? Official
Left to right along the bottom of her board, like her other colour choices.
Source: BGG thread
How does she break Travel ties between Small Cities? Official
By the compass, clockwise. Red route lines are ferries and work both ways.
Source: BGG thread
What die values give the Silver Lady a Book in Ada's Study?
The booklet prints 1–2 for the Book; the solo reference card shows the correct 5–6.
Source: BGG thread
[Exhibition] Is an activated Exhibitor card replaced?
No. Exhibitor cards stay in place; the face-down stack is only used by Joseph Paxton.
Source: BGG thread · BGG thread
[Exhibition] When do you gain the bonus of a Visitor space?
Only when you draft a grey die and move a Visitor onto the empty space; activating an Exhibitor moves its Visitor without the bonus.
Source: BGG thread
[Exhibition] With James Nasmith, can both Assignments go to the same column? Official
Yes. Each card moves to a column it is not already in, independently, and each gives 1 Research of its new column: two into the same column give 2 Research of that colour.
Source: BGG thread
[Objectives] Can a stacked disc count towards an Alternative Objective? Official
Yes. Objectives count discs, so discs stacked or moved by effects count.
Source: BGG thread
[Tiles] Does one side of a Workshop Bonus tile count as one bonus? Official
Yes. Everything on one side is one reward; as you flip it at once, the other side can be your next choice.
Source: BGG thread
[Essen] How are the promo Starting Partners added?
They replace the random Tier 1 card dealt to each player; the unused promo cards and 4 Tier 1 cards go back in the box, as the booklet says.
Source: BGG thread