A while ago I had a card game idea about building train in space and the players are working to make sure each car has the resources it needs to sustain the function it needs during it's journey. Some basic resources needed would be power, water, food but then there would be more sci fi themed resources such as reactor fuel, gravity, cryo, lasers, shields, etc.
The game play would involve cards that represent different car types. The different car types would show what resource they produce and what resource they consume. In order for a car's function to be maintained it would need to have it's resouce needs met by being in contact with other cars that produce its needed resources. Many of the cars only need a partial amount of resource that a source car can produce so a source car can fill the needs of two cars as long as it contacts those two cars.
Basically this is a card arrangement game and since this is a train in space the cards aren't limited to a linear arrangement. Cars can be attached side by side and can be offset so they touch two cards at one time. I am thinking of limiting the overall width of the train to three cards.
Comments
I had the same idea!
Haha, I had the same idea with the same name in February this year, but with a more computer game focus. I also realised it would make a great board game, if I could simplify the mechanics enough.
I was going for more of a race plus resource collection and management game where the ship is equipped with modules like mining lasers to get resources to trade and sell. Money would be made by exploring space, trading between planets, and transporting goods and people to places.
Along with the train itself, there was a randomly organised board with random planets and space anomalies that the players would interact with.
I didn't really get much further with the design, but it sounds similar to what you came up with too.
Been toying with different names
I've been toying with different names like Space Cargo or Dangerous Cargo since the current focus of the game is keeping the cargo secure or else the trip through space is doomed. The name Space Train does have a nice ring to it though.
The alliteration is nice.
The alliteration is nice. :P
Hmm. Interesting about the keeping the cargo secure idea. I was going for a more build and expand style game. :D