STEAMPUNKS

The Steampunks faction, part of the Awesome Level 9000 set, excels at harnessing the power of innovative machines to dominate the game. With a complexity rating of Low-Medium, they offer a unique playstyle that revolves around their 10 minions and 10 actions. The total base power of their minions stands at 30, or an average of 3 per minion, but certain abilities like Steam Man and Rotary Slug Thrower can significantly boost this power. Their action cards are primarily focused on bases, with 7 play-on-base actions, including Aggromotive, Difference Engine, and Rotary Slug Thrower, which interact with minions in meaningful ways. In contrast, they have no play-on-minion actions and only 3 standard actions, such as Change of Venue and Scrap Diving, which don't affect minions directly. Notably, Rotary Slug Thrower is the only action that directly increases a minion's power. Key minions include the Steam Queen, with her power of 5 and ability to protect actions from other players' interference, and the Mechanic, who can replay discarded actions. The Steam Man, Captain Ahab, and other minions work in tandem with play-on-base actions to create powerful synergies. For instance, the Steam Man gains +1 power when a base has one of the player's actions, while Captain Ahab can move to a base with a played action. Actions like Aggromotive, Difference Engine, and Ornate Dome provide ongoing benefits when played on a base, such as increased power, extra card draws, or protection from opposing actions. The Escape Hatch ensures that minions are returned to the hand instead of being destroyed, and the Zeppelin enables minion movement between bases. The Workshop and Inventor's Salon bases further support the Steampunks' playstyle. The Steampunks' strength lies in the symbiotic relationship between their minions and play-on-base actions. As they combine these elements, their power and mobility grow, but separating them can lead to weakness. The beginning of the game and periods after scoring bases can be slow, but abilities like Mechanic and Scrap Diving help recycle play-on-base actions and maintain momentum. While the Steampunks lack card draw and play abilities, the Difference Engine provides a valuable exception, drawing an extra card at the end of the turn. This helps them find key cards, even if it means discarding down to 10. Opponents may try to disrupt their plans, but the Steampunks have counters like Steam Queen, Escape Hatch, and Ornate Dome to maintain control. Factions with play-on-base actions, like Pirates and Tricksters, complement the Steampunks well. Other factions, such as Bear Cavalry, Ancient Incas, and Star Roamers, offer synergistic opportunities, like extra minion plays or protective movement chains, to enhance the Steampunks' gameplay. By leveraging these combinations, players can create a formidable Steampunks deck that harnesses the power of innovative machines to dominate the game.

1x Aggromotive - Play on a base. Ongoing: If you have a minion here, you have +5 power here. 1x Change of Venue - Place one of your actions that is on a base or minion into your hand. Play it again as an extra action. 1x Difference Engine - Play on a base. Ongoing: If you have a minion here, draw an extra card at the end of your turn. 1x Escape Hatch - Play on a base. Ongoing: If your minions here would be destroyed, return them to your hand instead. 1x Ornate Dome - Play on a base. Destroy all other players' actions on this base. Ongoing: Other players cannot play actions on this base. 1x Rotary Slug Thrower - Play on a base. Ongoing: Your minions here each have +2 power. 2x Scrap Diving - Place an action from your discard pile into your hand. 2x Zeppelin - Play on a base. Talent: Move one of your minions from another base to here, or from here to another base.

Their play-on-base actions synergize with their minions, both gaining power, mobility, and rescue from your discard pile.