looking for a theme to match mechanic (4x4 tile grid)

Some cool ideas but still struggling to find a way to implement.

So additionally, the four resources collected (based on matching up symbols together) will be worth points at the end of the game based on end-game market value. So it could be that red resources collected are worth 5 points/dollars at the end of the game and green worth 2 points/dollars. Some of the symbol matching during the game will allow you to adjust the end game values. The trade-off for the players will choosing between collecting resources, adjusting market values for these resources, and collecting bonus/power cards.

Feel free to move forward with any ideas mentioned here.

Ok, so let me explain a little more detail how the grid works in hopes of more thematic suggestions (always feel hesitant since I feel protective of what I perceive as a novel idea).

1. Think shape/color matching from Qwirkle.

2. Each player has their own player board with a 4x4 grid.

3. Each tile has an assortment of shapes on it made up of four colors (red, green, yellow, blue; circle, square, hex, diamond). Each player has the same set of 16 starting tiles.

4. Shuffle the 16 tiles and put them on your grid. Each tile also has starting position indicated by an arrow on it. Tiles are placed initially so the arrow is pointing up.

5. There will be 16 rounds/turns in the game. On each turn a player will get to rotate 1 tile from it's starting position (15, 30, or 90 degrees).

6. After the tile is rotated, check to see what is activated on that tile. Multiple activations can occur. It activates when color meets color, shape meets shape, and/or color & shape meets color and shape. The color match gets a resource, the shape match adjusts the market for the resources, the color and shape match gets a bonus/power card.

7. After game end, evaluate how much your resources are worth based on the final state of the market.

8. As far as the market, I have something in mind like Arkadia where you can flip over double sided tiles from another grid (how many on this grid will be based on player count so lets' say 4x4 in a four player game). So for instance, if there are 5 face up red tiles at the end of the game and 2 greens, your five red resources will get you 25 points (green 10 points). The market will provide the player interaction since everyone will have a different goal card at the beginning of the game, i.e., player A's red resources are worth 4 at the end but player B's reds will be worth 1). Finally, you have to pay increasing amounts to flip the market tiles. For this, you will want to pay with your resources that are worth less at the end of the game giving players incentives to collect weaker valued resources to pay for market adjustments.

9. The goal cards will enhance abilities (provide a wild resource, etc.)

Any further thoughts? Sound totally awesome or disappointed? lol No worries about critical feedback.

P.S This is the 3rd version of the game and I will be playtesting this weekend.

There is no “biggest shape” and everyone has a different “point color” goal.

Player A’s goal card may be Red resource= 3 points, Blue=2 points, Green=1 point, yellow=0 points. Player B’s goal card is different (Yellow= 3 points, etc).

Therefore, Player A will want to manipulate the market so most red side of tiles are face up at the end of the game. Other players will want to do the same to increase color multipliers while decreasing others.

I looked at Takat and the similarities are remote. I attributed Qwirkle so the point isn't completely new game ideas but how mechanics blend together in a unique way.

Interesting idea. What value does the worth of items start at and can it go below 0? If the values are managed openly on tracks, my immediate concern is that it will be too trackable and scores will be very close every time (Perhaps bonus cards could mitigate).

I know what you mean about the tile flipping idea revealing preferences but I was hoping it would be more about clever bidding. So if I pay 2 resources to flip a tile, the next person has to pay 3 (or maybe some tiles require certain resources to flip). I was even thinking that if a person pays to flip a tile, they get to get ½ cubes on the tile (rounded down) back. Or instead of special cards, each time a card is flipped, someone gets an ability unique to that tile. Too many ideas floating in my head but I do like the core mechanic or rotating and activating.

Thinking about this some more and what if the four demand value tracks had different values/volatility? One track will start at a low value but will be more stable compared to another that starts high but drops at a faster rate as more players make connections. I'll test this weekend.

Just thought of another angle. What if the demand for each of the four resources goes up every round, each at a different rate?

Players have the opportunity to sell each resource once in the game and get points equal to the demand value (4 red cubes x 4 demand value= 16 pts).

There are 16 face down tiles at the beginning of the game, each one is flipped over the beginning of each round. The tiles will represent each good with and two blank tiles. So 2 red, 3 blue, 4 green, 5 yellow, 2 blank (sort of like the disaster tiles from Peloppones).

When the all of the colors of one resource are revealed from the tile flips, the market crashes for that resource and restarts at the bottom of its value track.

Red will normally crash faster since it only takes two tile slips to make crash. But you may press your luck.

Color matches will generate resources. Shape matches will advance a particular resource. Color & shape not sure. Maybe cards that get you more resources and/or faster track advancement.