![\"1844](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/1844_b.jpg\")
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In time for Essen 2003 the 18xx family of railroad games, based on Francis In 1844 the first railroad appeared in Switzerland and it ran from Strassbourg, France Another new concept is that of mountain railways, railroad companies that can be built A concept taken over from 1826 is the H trains, which travel a number of hexes rather There are 7 private companies and 15 railroad corporations, 5 mountain railways and 5 Overall, the larger amount of railroad corporations provides much more room for Another important fact is the distribution of shares across the corporation’s The mechanism for handling the priority deal is a big improvement over 1830 since it In order to achieve a track system that resembles history in its basic principles, This shortage of corporation treasury is on the one hand caused by many mountains and Especially the 5 and 6 trains rust too quickly and become (permanent) H trains with a On the other hand, the game is much less cut throat as e.g. 1830. Villages have green All in all, 1844 is a more than worthy member of the 18xx family. Helmut Ohley was A few words about the game material: looking at the professional quality of all Preview of Helmut Ohley’s 1844 In time for Essen 2003 the 18xx family of railroad games, based on Francis Tresham’s 1829, has received a new member: “1844 -Schweiz” for 3 to 7 players. Those not familiar with the 18xx games should have a look at our 18xx section if they want to learn more about … Preview of Helmut Ohley’s 1844<\/span> weiterlesen
\nTresham’s 1829, has received a new member: “1844 -Schweiz” for 3 to 7
\nplayers. Those not familiar with the 18xx games should have a look at our 18xx section<\/a> if they want to learn more about the series.<\/p>\n![\"1844](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/1844tunnelges.jpg\")
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\nto Basel. Helmut Ohley, the author of 1844 made the effort to implement the scenario
\naround the development of railroad companies during that time. Compared to other 18xx
\ngames the author designed a number of new ideas derived from the real setting in
\nSwitzerland. Due to the landscape Swiss railroad companies were forced to deal with many
\nmountains and to cross the Alps and hence one of the new elements is that players are
\nable build tunnels in the course of the game, which are operated by companies that
\ngenerate dividends by themselves.<\/p>\n![\"1844](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/1844bergbahn.jpg\")
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\non specially designated mountains and which, in terms of dividends, count like major
\ncities for the other railroad companies. Mountain railways, too, generate their own
\nincome.<\/p>\n![\"1844](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/1844bergbahnges.jpg\")
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\nthan a defined amount of cities\/villages. Players can decide on which type of engine to
\nbuy for their corporations with H-type engines being slightly less expensive than the
\nnormal trains. Most engines now rust in two steps: normal engines become H-type and lower
\nH-type engines disappear altogether. The largest engine available is the 8E, an electric
\nengine which may skip the small villages on its route.<\/p>\n
\ntunnel companies. This makes it possible that even in a seven player game each player
\nshould be able to become director of at least one of the corporations. Like in 1835 four
\nof the corporations will however unite to form the SBB major once the first 5 train has
\nbeen bought. In addition, four regional corporations exist, which can only run H trains
\nwithin Switzerland.<\/p>\n
\nstrategies and tactics but also make the game mechanics less transparent for new players.
\nIn particular, the fusion of the earlier corporations to become the SBB is something
\nwhich I feel to be very demanding in terms of devising a proper strategy. Like in 1835 I
\nalways felt a bit out of control of the fate of an early corporation and the resulting
\nsuccess of the SBB. Anyway, the reduction of corporations in mid-game provides a tough
\ndecision base for all players.<\/p>\n![\"1844](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/1844director.jpg\")
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\ncertificates. Like in 1830, the major corporations have a 20% director’s share and 8
\n10% shares. The small regional corporations have a 50% director’s share and two 25%
\nshares and the early corporations have a 40% director’s share plus three 20% shares.
\nBuying the director share of a regional is rather attractive as the corporation floats
\nimmediately and even an early corporation floats after only 2 certificates have been
\nbought. The SBB comes with 5% certificates which make the corporation a favourite for
\nstock manipulations in the end phase of the game.<\/p>\n
\neliminates many manipulation possibilities. Priority deal now goes to the player with the
\nmost money in hand, usually the least invested player.<\/p>\n![\"1844](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/1844tunnel.jpg\")
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\neach corporation has been asigned a target city. Once a route exists between the home
\ntown and the target city, the remaining 50% of the corporation’s cash are paid to its
\ntreasury. While this is a nice mechanism to take care of history it yields track systems
\nwhich are much more independent from each other than with for example in 1830. No fights
\nfor the best routes around Boston and New York here but rather a well organised,
\nstructured way of track building. In our game there was also no real fight with station
\nmarkers as hardly any corporation had enough money to lay them in the mid and end phase
\nof the game.<\/p>\n
\nrivers which need to be crossed and on the other hand by the constant need to buy trains.
\nAs opposed to other 18xx games one train is removed from the bank (“sold to a
\nforeign country”) after each set of operation rounds. This speeds up the game and
\nmakes it impossible for players to run a single engine for very long.<\/p>\n
\nrather limited range. This makes building large diesel type routes unnecessary and, due
\nto the mountains, even unattractive. This may be historically correct but does not appeal
\nto any empire building style of playing.<\/p>\n
\ntiles thus making the blocking of routes virtually impossible. And share prices drop by
\none field when shares are sold, independently of the number of shares sold, making stock
\nscams much more unlikely.<\/p>\n![\"1844](\"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/Ressourcen\/1844finallarge.jpg\")
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\nable to blend the characteristics of the Swiss railroad system into the 18xx concepts
\nvery well and he managed to create a game with truly new and challenging mechanics.
\nSwitzerland as a setting provides enough possibilities for this. Game play is very
\nbalanced somewhere between empire building and cut throat stock market play. It appears
\nthat there are a lot less “extreme” situations where a game can tilt in favour
\nor against a player, and ganging up on the leader seems to be more difficult, too.<\/p>\n
\ncomponents it is hard to believe that 1844 is produced as a private effort. Compared to
\nAvalon Hill’s 1830 the components are of far better quality and even when looking at
\nthe platinum edition of 1851 I still find that 1844 provides more value for money. And
\nlast but not least: it comes with a full featured rule book, not just a “difference
\nlist”, which makes it a true standalone game suitable just as like for novices and
\nexperts of 18xx game series. Recommended!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"