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Gareth Madeley
United Kingdom
Wirral
Merseyside
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So, it was Easter Monday a Bank Holiday, so we had quite a bit of time in the afternoon to board game over in the Lion.
When I arrived there was only Paul there (which was odd considering the number of people who had posted on the group they were arriving at 4. Simon appeared shortly after and we pulled out Parade, a short card game filler themed around Alice in Wonderland. I won, against Simon, I'll take any victory I can get.
With another Simon appearing, we thought we'd drag out Outpost, and started setting up when Ste appeared, lucky for him. I came fourth (not last in Outpost is another thing I'll take when I can manage it) I was limited by my lack of population early on, outposts while incredible, appear quite let, and if you're relying on them for people, you're in trouble.
I'd taken 18EU and, out of those I've played, this is probably my favourite 18XX. In the 18XX series (if you don't know) you're buying and selling shares in various railway companies, and each company lays track, buys trains and the shares in that company (hopefully) pay dividends and increase in value. However, in 18EU, you start out with 15 minor companies that run similarly to major companies, these are auctioned off at the beginning and this affects how the game will run. Each player will have a different set of companies, and these will want to join up to work together or possibly merge into a major company, so the track that's built early on will be affected by how the companies are split between the players, which will then affect how the majors run and work.
I'm intrigued by economic games, but I never seem to win. Maybe I just enjoy the complexity of these games, I enjoy the fact that there are so many things going on and it's more like a simulation than "just" a game. While I do like lighter fare, I almost always prefer the heavier stuff, which is probably why I'm liking the GMT games I'm getting.
When it comes to 18XX games (and most heavier economic games) I can see both the appeal and the reasons against paper money. We played with poker chips and we had to call our game of 18EU because of time (and we all knew Simon was going to win anyway), and I'm sure that paper money slows down the game. However, if you have time I can see the preference for paper money as it seems more ... thematic, you're actually moving money around rather than plastic representative chips. But when you need to cut time down,t he money isn't necessary to enjoy a good game of 18XX, and if it was, it wouldn't be a good game.
And so, next Monday it's May Day, another bank holiday, and probably, with my record, something I'll be saying several times.
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