Stephens (PT, EN)

Description

In 1755, with a major earthquake devastating Lisbon and much of the southern coast of Portugal, it was imperative to rebuild an entire nation. The demand for window glass increased to such an extent that William Stephens, a British businessman, expanded his business to Portugal by investing in the glass industry.

In 1769, Stephens purchased the glass factory located in Marinha Grande, a small town surrounded by a vast pine forest planted in the sand centuries before. Thanks to the significant support of the Marquis of Pombal and the protection of King José I, this glass factory grew to the level of its largest European competitors and became an important factor in the development of the region and the entire country.

William and his brother John hired glassmakers from England and Italy, bringing them to work in Portugal. Using their business skills and strong civic education, these brothers were able to create an unprecedented industry that provided health care, education and culture to workers and their families.

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Their initiative and resilience attracted other Portuguese industrialists to open new factories in the following years, creating new jobs and introducing new resources. Even during the destructive and oppressive Napoleonic invasion, the city maintained its position and, with the impetus of the Royal Glass Factory, returned to the path of being a major industrial center that still exists today.

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In Stephens, you take on the role of a master glassmaker working at the famous Stephens factory, striving to become the most prestigious person in town - second only to William Stephens himself, of course. Through smart planning, you will develop your glassworks, invest in new local businesses and foster the creation of new jobs.

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On your turn, you must choose a single action to take from a variety of options using a distinct action selection mechanism:

You take a single cube from a factory OR you take a single disc from your player board

As you and the other glassmakers strive to prosper and increase your personal investments, the French army advances towards the city. Stephens is played in an indefinite number of sequential turns until the Napoleonic forces arrive in the city.