
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,682
- BGG rating
- 6.1
8 Masters' Revenge
- 1–4 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2013

Rules assistance for Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D is an expansion for Steam Torpedo: First Contact released in 2011 for 2 players, 40 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Bruno Sautter and Ludovic Roudy and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Modular Board, and Worker Placement.
Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D is a non-collectible booster pack for the tactical submarine battle game Steam Torpedo that includes ten new submarine compartment tiles, thereby allowing players to build new submarines and create new strategies.
Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D is 40 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 Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D for ages 13 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.
Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Modular Board, 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 Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D are: Bruno Sautter and Ludovic Roudy. 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 Steam Torpedo: First Contact – R&D as an expansion for Steam Torpedo: First Contact. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Steam Torpedo: First Contact to use it. Check that your edition of Steam Torpedo: First Contact is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.