18NY – questions to the game designer

We decided to do a small promo of all AAG games before the Kickstarter starts. We allowed all designers to prepare some stories about their games and publish them with new graphic designs. We hope this way you will know the games a little better and you will know what to buy for sure.

Today: 18NY by Pierre LeBoeuf.

Our questions list :

What is the length of the gameplay?

it is about as long as 1830

What is the best number of players? 

I’ve played it 3 to 6, 4 is best

Is it working enough with 2 players?

I think so, not sure if I’ve played it with 2

The train rush – how fast is the train race? Is it always the trains we buy are running at least once, have there been games in which they did not manage to run even once!

train rush is worst when the brown trains come. Sometimes, the last green train (6H) does not get to run

Private companies – how much this part of the game is interesting for the players?

All of the privates have specific properties, They include a bridge discount, a free station in Albany, an engine discount, exclusive access to coal, and the presidency of the D&H major company. The fifth private, the Erie Canal, is a negative track company. It earns money for the owner if the Erie Canal right of way has unbuilt hexes.

Stock exchange – how extensive is the stock exchange, how often do we sell/buy shares, and how much does the sale of shares affect their price?

18NY has a normal 2-D stock market. Stock sales make prices fall (vertically). In addition, when companies take loans, prices move one column to the left. When loans are repaid, prices move one column to the right. Companies completely sold out move up 1 row (down and to the right if on the top row) after the stock round. Minor companies are also on the stock market, but there are no share sales of minors. All companies advance one column only if their earnings equal their share price.

The risk of bankruptcy – how often the game ends with the bankruptcy?

bankruptcies are rare. Minors need not own a train. Loans are available to help buy trains. All trains are worth 25% of their bank cost when they rust. Trains may also be voluntarily salvaged for this 25%

The complexity of the rules – how big part of the rules are taken from 1830? Will it be possible to play the game after a short one-two page summary by advanced 18xx players?

18NY borrows a lot from 1830, as well as elements of 1826, 18EU, 1835, and others

The complexity of the tracks – are they more like 18GB or 1860, or simple ones like 1817/1822?

the tracks basically use 1830 style tracks. A big change is that yellow towns upgrade to yellow cities of the same type. Several cities have specific upgrades (NYC, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Brooklyn).

Are there other titles similar to the game?

as previously mentioned 18EU, 1861, 1826, 1830, 1835

 

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