Frequently asked.

Cogwork is an independent, informational field guide to game mechanics — the building blocks like worker placement, deck-building, and area control that make games work. Each one is explained in plain language.

Anyone curious about how games tick — new players wanting to learn faster, hosts who teach games, and folks who just enjoy understanding the machinery behind a good design.

No. Cogwork is purely informational. There's nothing for sale and nothing to sign up for — just open a page and read.

Start with the Anatomy page — 'Name the Core Loop' teaches the single idea that unlocks every other mechanic. Then browse the Mechanics index one specimen at a time.

A mechanic is one building block, like drafting. A family is a group of related mechanics that share a feel — the Families page organises everything so you can explore by theme.

Combos show how two mechanics work together in a design. The overlap between them often creates the most interesting decisions in a game — the Combos page walks through a few classics.

Absolutely. Use the Contact page to suggest a mechanic you'd like documented, and it may appear in a future update to the field guide.

The examples describe kinds of games rather than naming specific titles, so the guide stays about the mechanic itself — the idea you'll recognise across many games.