1830: Railways & Robber Barons - Learning Session

[Mark Humphries]

Later this year Mayfair Games will reprint 1830 Railways & Robber Barons. This game was designed by Francis Tresham, the designer of Civilization, and is the most popular of the extensive 18xx series of railroad games. Considered by many the best business game ever published.

Here's the BGG blurb:
1830 is one of the most famous 18xx games. One of the things some gamers like about this game is that the game has 'no chance' element. That is to say, if players wished to play two games with the same moves, the outcome would be the same also. This game takes the basic mechanics from Tresham's 1829, and adds several new elements. Players are seeking to make the most money by buying and selling stock in various share companies located on eastern United States map. The stock manipulation aspect of the game is widely-regarded as one of the best. The board itself is actually a fairly abstract hexagonal system, with track tiles placed on top of the hexes. Plus each 18xx title adds new and different elements to the game. This game features private rail companies and an extremely vicious, 'robber baron' oriented stock market. A game is finished when the bank runs out of money or one player is forced to declare bankruptcy, and the player with the greatest personal holdings wins.

The 2011 version of 1830 will be published by Mayfair Games in partnership with Lookout Games of Germany. This 1830 publication is being developed under license from Francis Tresham in co-operation with Bruce Shelly (the Original 1830 Developer).

In preparation for the reprint I'd like to host a learning game using the Avalon Hill edition in the near future if people are interested. This will be a 5 player game, if more than 5 players sign up they will be formed into teams. Since this will be a learning session you can expect it to last anywhere from 3 to 7 hours. The focus will be on learning rather than competing, I will explain the rules, no prior preparation is required.

Although this game came out before the Euro craze, I imagine players today would consider it to be a very heavy Euro, like Die Macher, although it's probably simpler and easier to learn than High Frontier for example.

Please post on this thread if you're interested.

[xtriker]

sign me up!

[vladsee]

I'm interested too but would like to know when you'll hold it.  Keep us posted. 

[Gerald]

Sign me up as well.

[Adrian (the other one)]

I am very interested!  Sign me up please, and hopefully the schedule will allow.

[Mark Humphries]

Here are some options:
Saturday, July 23
Sunday, July 24
Saturday, August 6
Sunday, August 7
Saturday, August 13
Sunday, August 14

Any preferences?

[vladsee]

Any of the Sundays are ok with me.  Dottie will come along too if Sunday!

[Adrian (the other one)]

Here are some options:
Saturday, July 23
Sunday, July 24
Saturday, August 6
Sunday, August 7
Saturday, August 13
Sunday, August 14

Any preferences?

Would prefer July 23, 24, August 13, or August 14.

[Gerald]

I'm fine with the proposed August dates.

[Mark Humphries]

Intro to the 18xx series:
 

[Mark Humphries]

We are a go for an 1830 game on Sunday, August 14, starting at 10:30am at Residencia. This will be an intro session for those unfamiliar with the game, rules will be explained, no preparation is required. This will be a 5 player game, if more than 5 players show up, they will be split into teams. Please post here to confirm your participation.

[Zinegata]

I'd like in. I stopped playing the computer game and got massacred in my first game anyway .

[JayMata]

Posting my interest

[vladsee]

Dottie and I can make it and will play as a team. 

[Adrian (the other one)]

I'm in if there's still a slot. XD