18XX - where to start?

Boardgames
#163

I made a few miscalculations that I will blame on the abstracted presentation of 18xx.games that would not be present in a physical play:

  • The train rush surprised me; I totally expected to be able to trade my 4 for a D. This miscalculation lost me the game for sure (I’m not saying I would have won, but I certainly wouldn’t have been so far behind everyone else)
  • I thought everyone going through DC was incented to leave a hole. This ultimately didn’t matter to much to my PRR as an alternate, more lucrative path was established.

Also: I grossly mis-played the first two stock rounds but was afraid somebody would kickstart PLE too early and steal it from me (robbing me of any chance to recoup the costs of the private), even worse, par PRR too high, blocking me out of my high-level strategy.

Hopefully my missteps didn’t sour the experience for anyone else – I certainly took some risks, but that was intentional and was me exploring the possible decision space a little more than prudence would permit.

1 Like
#164

I remembered being worried with B&O rusting and have to pay out of my pocket but managed to transfer money from C&A to pay for a T6!

1 Like
#165

That said, I’m up for another game whenever we have enough interest.

I’m up for any of the following:

18xx.games:

  • 1889
  • 18Chesapeake
  • [ALPHA] 1846 (I’d probably prefer to wait until this is at least in beta)
  • [BETA] 1836Jr30 (1836Jr is an ‘expansion’ for either 1830 or 1856 - the base you use for it influences what’s possible on the map due to the different tilesets; this implementation is using 1830 as the base. I don’t really know anything about it other than that)

board18 (dozens available, so here’s the highlights; requires the use of a separate spreadsheet (or something) to track holdings and cash):

  • 18Ireland – pre-orders available now; I’ve already pre-ordered, so I’d be interested in seeing how it plays
  • 18CZ – I own this one and it looks great. Privates are very basic (they all have the same power). There’s a fixed cadence for Stock Rounds and Operating Rounds. And there’s mergers.
  • 1862/EA – Probably a very heavy lift to get this one going.
  • 1824/1844/1854 – These are all owned (1844/1854) or preordered (1824). I would have to read up on any of these before playing.
#166

@lalunaverde I thought about dumping a train- and moneyless C&O on you during the last stock round, but I had no idea if this would even benefit me so it just seemed mean.

I underestimated how fast the Ds would deplete the bank, I was hoping for another set of rounds. I might have been able to make some good money with those two Ds, but oh well this game was a lot of fun anyways.

I think I’m going to sit the next one out since I won’t have that much time over the next two weeks.

2 Likes
#167

I definitely made some mistakes in that game, like paring N&W too high so it took me too long to get it going, however I did enjoyed that. It was interesting to compare and contrast it to 1889, on one hand the shallower market seemed a lot more forgiving, but I was worried about the transition to 5,6 and D trains right from the start.

I’m happy to go again right away or wait a bit whatever suits people. I did look at 18board and it seemed a bit more basic than 18xx.games and I’m a bit concerned about using an external spreadsheet. So my preference would be for another game of 1889 or 1836Jr30 but I’m happy to go with flow.

1 Like
#168

Another option is rr18xx. I can provide the magical incantation that permits users to sign-up. rr18xx is, I believe, a full runs-the-entire-game-and-enforces-rules like 18xx.games but is much slower (like, the user interface lags).

The games available there are: 1830, 1853, 1856, 1870, 18C2C, and 1817. All but 1830 would require me to learn the rules.

#169

(Also, I’m currently running a private instance of board18 and hacking at the PHP to see about tracking, at least, share ownership. Money would continue to be a problem but could easily be tracked in a forum thread here (which is true about shares as well)

2 Likes
#170

I feel like you’ve invited me to a Michelin starred restaurant (with a chance to eat with the kitchen brigade) but I only recognize two things on the menu. The only thing I can say is which one would you like to go with? I’m happy to give any of them a try.

2 Likes
#171

Let’s wait and see if a 3rd or 4th person is interested and try to find something we can all be excited about

#172

Sorry I’m being over eager aren’t I :smiley:

2 Likes
#173

Me too! Play it cool; let’s not scare off potential opponents! :wink:

2 Likes
#174

Where are you based? And specifically which timezone?

1 Like
#175

I live in Essex, England. Which is currently on British Summer Time (UTC +1)

#176

I’m in the UK too, so timezones work. I played before with pillbox on TTS. We met online 5pm each day UK time, work permitting. I’d be up for a game like that again but I don’t think I have much enthusiasm for asynchronous play. Would that work for you? Does that still suit @pillbox?

2 Likes
#177

Works for me. But, also feel free to exclude me if you can get an entire game going with just Bitishy people on a workable schedule

#178

Nah, if you can play do so. We can select a more operations oriented title to play for some variety from our previous 1889 expedition.

Edit: Found a mod for 1861…

1 Like
#179

I’ve tracked down a fair number of 18xx titles on TTS, so the sky is the limit

[Edit: that said, I’m open to 1861]

[ EDIT 2: List of 18xx TTS mods I’ve found

18 Grand Junction
18 Los Angeles [Scripted]
1800
1817NA
1817WO
1822: The Railways of Great Britain
1822CA
1822MX
1824 Austrian-Hungarian Railway (Second Edition)
1825
1828
1830
1832: The South
1836jr
1836jr - 1856 Variant
1841/Lite
1844: Switzerland
1846: The race to the midwest
1848 Australia
1849
1854
1856 Railroading in Upper Canada from 1856
1860 Railways on the Isle of Wight
1861 The Railways of the Russian Empire
1862
1867 The Railways of Canada
1870: Railroading across the Trans-Mississippi
1879
1880: China
1882
1883 Express d’Orient
1886
1888
1889
1890
1899 v2
1899+1: 18Born
18AL
18Africa
18Ardennes
18CZ
18Chesapeake
18Dracula
18EB
18EU
18FR
18GA
18GB: The Railways of Great Britain
18JPT
18Lilliput
18MEX
18NEB
18NL
18NY
18NYC - The Great American Subway Game
18NewEngland
18Ozarks
18PT
18SCAN
18TE
18TraXX 2020: Great Plains Railroading
18US
18VA
2038 Tycoons of the Asteroid Belt
21Moon
Poseidon
Steam Over Holland
Ur: 1830 BC

]

#180

Yes, I could definately be up for that. I am sometimes a bit restricted by work and family stuff but I sure I sort something out.

@pillbox please stop adding games to the list, my head is starting to spin! :grin:

1 Like
#181

Im fine with TTS and 18xx.games. i dont think i have the appetite to learn a new interface :sweat_smile:

1 Like
#182

That makes 4, no?