- BGG rating
- 5.3
C.O.G.: Shifting Gears
- 2–4 players
- 20–40 min
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,146
- BGG rating
- 6.5
C.O.G.
2017
Rules assistance for C.O.G.
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for C.O.G.
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
C.O.G. is a board game released in 2017 for 2–4 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Steve Finn and its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Spelling, and Worker Placement.
Expansions
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About the game
London 1875 – The Cabinet of Gadgetry (C.O.G.) appeals for resources to continue its important work in constructing The Great Apparatus – an automated machine for transporting her majesty's citizens safely and quickly through the increasingly crowded streets of London. Will you answer the call and perform your service dutifully? C.O.G. is a steampunk themed game that fuses a crossword game with a eurogame. Each player has their own tableau (similar to a Scrabble board) on which they spell various resource words (such as cog, pulley, rod, aether, bulb, lens). When a player spells a word, they have collected that resource, which will score points at game end. The central turn mechanic is worker placement. In each round, players take turns placing workers to gather letter tiles, action cards, and a die. The letter tiles are used to construct words on the players' tableaus. The action cards provide a variety of actions. For example, some cards are "resource cards" that provide an alternative way to collect resources. Other cards provide the ability to manipulate letters. Other cards provide victory points and other special powers. The die chosen has two functions: (1) to move player's pawns along a track whose spaces provide more abilities and (2) to activate some of the action cards.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Dr. Finn's Games
Questions and answers
C.O.G. supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for C.O.G. is 60–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists C.O.G. for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
C.O.G. has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
C.O.G. belongs to these categories: Word Game, Dice, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Spelling, and Worker Placement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of C.O.G. are: Steve Finn. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists C.O.G. as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.