Hi All!
I've got an exciting idea that I'd like to get feedback on.
So everyone in the game is a gnome inventor, but everyone knows that gnomish inventions aren't always the most reliable creations. Often times their gadgets don't work, or will sometimes even blow up in their faces! Here's the game idea:
-There is a deck of Parts cards which go to a general pool, along with a deck of Product cards and a deck of Reliability cards. Reliability cards have a number 1-6 on them which determines how reliable the Part is that it will work based on a dice roll. Cards with a 1 will automatically work while a 6 will be very difficult to work.
-Each time a Parts card comes out face-up into the general pool (wheels, gears, tubes, etc.), a Reliability card is placed face-down underneath it. The goal is build Products (jetpack, trolley, clock, etc.) using sets of the Parts they acquire.
-Whenever you acquire a Parts card (by means undetermined yet) you don't look at the Reliability of it, but the two cards stay together. The only way to find out information about how reliable your Parts are is by getting a second set of eyes on the materials. In other words, your opponents look at the Reliability attached to the card.
-Here's the catch: your opponents can be truthful, or they can lie right to your face! If your card is a 5 it will likely need some help to function properly, so your opponent can tell you that you need to spend some more time on it or they can lie and say it'll be good to go. Getting advice from multiple players can be a good thing in this case.
-Players mitigate unreliable Parts by spending time, money, etc. to improve them. The improvements come in the form of tokens placed on the cards that add to the die totals.
It's like a mix between Hanabi, Sheriff of Nottingham, and Liar's Dice. Thoughts?
Yes, a bidding system was definitely a plan. Surprised I didn't mention it above.
I love that "slots" idea! Definitely fits the theme of reckless inventions and would encourage people to be more diligent about getting the right parts when needed. A small go-kart made up of 2 steering wheels, 3 tires, and a steam engine would be ridiculous, but still has a chance of actually moving!
An option for parts/money/improvements acquirement was to have a set of custom dice to be drafted each turn. Player 1 rolls 12 dice (3 per player) and takes 3 of his choice, Player 2 takes 3, etc. til they're out. Dice faces would have things like Add 2 Improvements, Gain 5 Money, etc.
Definitely a light, silly game. You hit the nail on the head there.