Micro-Engine: Pocket Workshop

Cost / Requirement — To play a card, discard the shown number of cards (Cost) and meet its Requirement (e.g., “chain length ≥3”, “3 Upgrades in play”).

Connections — Parts show an Input (top / left) and Output (bottom / right). A new Part must attach to the end of your chain by matching the previous Output to this Part’s Input.

Types

• Part — Extends your chain; primary source of VP.
• Upgrade — Tucks under a Part/Core; improves economy/flexibility; may grant extra actions; does not extend the chain.
• Calibration — One-shot “do it now” effect; announce, resolve, then discard. Calibrations also grant +1 action (after resolving), unless a card says otherwise.

Effects — May be when played, ongoing, or conditional. VP — End-game points.

Upgrade Slots (limits)

• Each Part has 1 Upgrade slot by default (some show 2+ as printed; never exceed printed slots).
• Your Core has 1 Upgrade slot.
• If a Part leaves play or moves its position (both are rare), its attached Upgrades leave with it.

No hand limit. Play proceeds clockwise for the set number of rounds.

Phase A — Draw

• Take 2 cards total in any combination from the Workshop Row and/or the top of the deck. Refill the Workshop Row at the end of the phase.

Phase B — Play

Choose one action (some effects may grant extra actions, taken immediately):

• Play a Part: Pay Cost and meet Requirement; attach to the end of your chain; resolve “when played” effects.
• Play an Upgrade: Pay Cost and meet Requirement; tuck under a Part/Core (respect slot limits).
• Play a Calibration: Announce, resolve, discard; then gain +1 action.
• Research: Draw 3 cards from the deck.
• Pass: Do nothing.

Extra actions cannot be stored; use them when gained.

• On your turn, the instant you satisfy an unclaimed Patent’s condition, announce and take it.
• Patents are not refilled. You may claim multiple in the same turn if you meet their conditions.

End of the Game & Scoring

• Game ends after fixed amount of rounds: 12 - N players (2 players — 10 rounds, 3 players — 9 rounds, 4 players — 8 rounds)
• After the final round, score VP on all Parts, Upgrades, Patents, and any bonuses from Cores and card effects.
• Winner: Most VP. Tie-break: Longest chain (still tied → shared win).

Timing & Priority

• Immediate effects fully resolve before continuing. “When played” triggers after a card legally enters play.
• Ongoing effects apply whenever their condition is true.
• If multiple of your effects trigger simultaneously, you choose the order.
• No direct opponent interaction unless a card explicitly says otherwise.

Costs & Requirements

• If you can’t pay a Cost, you can’t play the card.
• Requirements must already be true when you start playing the card; they can’t be completed mid-resolution unless a card allows it.
• High-value cards often use stricter Requirements instead of discard Costs to prevent early spikes.

Connections (types, rarity, icons)

Use four connection types with distinct rarities to shape flow and tension:

• Mechanical ⚙️ — very common (~40%) · Gears, cams, belts; reliable chainers.
• Electricity ⚡ — common (~30%) · Coils, relays, regulators; tempo & trigger play.
• Steam ♨️ — uncommon (~20%) · Boilers, exchangers; conversion & burst power.
• Magnetic 🧲 — rare (~10%) · Bearings, clutches, separators; precision & control.

Helpful palette: Mechanical = steel/graphite, Electricity = amber/yellow, Steam = red/orange, Magnetic = indigo/purple.

Edge Cases & Variants

• Deck runs out → Shuffle the discard into a new deck.
• Multiple Research? Yes, if you gain extra actions (each Research is one action = draw 3).
• Play a Part anywhere? No; only to the end, unless a card permits otherwise.
• Claim Patents outside my turn? No; only on your turn when the condition is met.
• Variants: Quick game — 8 rounds instead of the default; No Row (Travel Mode) — Omit the Row; all draws from deck; Patent cap — Max 2 Patents per player if needed.