The shared workshop

Create a strategic decision that considers an opponent’s actions.

Two craftspeople share a set of machines to fulfil orders. An occupied machine is unavailable to the opponent until the next round. Design a choice between a quick simple order and preparation for a valuable order that a competitor can disrupt.

Two players and tokens

• There is no randomness or hidden information.
• Use no more than three machines and three order types.
• The game ends after six rounds.

1. Describe available actions and when machines become free.
2. Create two situations in which the preferable action depends on the opponent’s response.
3. Swap players’ positions and check the effect of going first.

Rules, two analysed game states and observations about turn order.

• Explain how one player’s action changes the other’s options.
• At least one decision depends on the opponent’s expected response.
• Check whether the first player receives a persistent advantage.

Does a player win through planning or through the privilege of moving first?