Infernal Machine – Submarine Entrepreneurship in the Civil War
Infernal Machine is a unique solitaire board game that casts you as an inventor-entrepreneur in mid-19th century America. Amidst the chaos of the Civil War, you must navigate a dynamic business environment to bring your blueprints to life. From hiring skilled mechanics to dodging rumors that threaten your secrecy, every step toward launching your "Fishboat" is a high-stakes gamble.
Innovation Amidst Conflict
- Custom Engineering: Design your submarine from the hull up. Will it be powered by crew-cranked propellers or a dangerous steam boiler? Will you arm it with a spar-mounted torpedo or a captive mine? Every component adds capability—and risk.
- Business & Recruitment: Seek out wealthy investors to fund your project, but beware their interference. Hire mechanics for their engineering expertise and sailors for their nautical know-how. Your crew’s skills are the only thing standing between a successful mission and a watery grave.
- Dynamic Campaigns: Play as either the Union or the Confederacy across four distinct theaters (Charleston, Mobile, the Mississippi, and the James River). Experience fluctuating material costs and random historical events that can derail your progress or offer unexpected opportunities.
- Tactical Missions: Once seaworthy, take your machine into enemy waters. Navigate through currents, limited visibility, and mechanical malfunctions. Successful attacks yield prize money and promotions, while failure adds your crew’s names to the Rolls of the Missing.
Accessible Complexity
Featuring a clever "Cyclopedia" page notation system, the game allows players to find answers quickly within the rulebooks, ensuring a smooth learning curve for a deep simulation. From 2-hour scenarios like the CSS Hunley’s daring attack to a full 4-year campaign, your place in naval history is yours to claim.
Components
- Three Countersheets.
- 166 Cards (117 small-size, 49 regular-size).
- One Wooden Block and 41 Wooden Cubes.
- Two Mission Boards and one Tactical Board.
- One Gauges Board and two Historical Submarine Displays.
- Five Booklets (Rules, Scenarios, Campaign, etc.) and three Player Aids.
- Three Dice.
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