18EZ Level 1 Rulebook | 18EZ

the track tiles formerly known as

(jimb)

United States
Berkeley
California

Drew- since you've nicely posted all 3 18ez levels here on the geek, I want to ask you a question about their usage-

In any game forum, sometimes a question will come up, and the easiest way to answer it (or even ask it), can be to refer to a concrete/clear text/example/etc in a rules text that's available to everyone, here.

These 18ez manuals are a great resource for that- above and beyond their applicability to initial 18ez play, and 18ez customers in general. (Indeed, 18ez is intended as a guide for 18xx- but you don't get $$ for the manuals, unfortunately.)

Are you ok with these rulebooks being quoted/used in other threads/etc on the geek- as a general 18xx resource beyond the 18ez forum? Or, would you rather their usage was generally confined to 18ez, itself?

Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 8:27 pm
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Some other Drew

(drewdane)

United States
Rockford
Illinois

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

I'm not saying that you're not entitled to your opinion. I'm just saying that you're wrong.

18xx rules vary slightly from one game to the next, so I would think it would be more productive to consult the rules specific to the game being discussed, or the 18xx difference list when discussing other games.

There are some core elements that span most games, but the sticking point is knowing what in this book is useful elsewhere... Was that even an answer?

Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 8:55 pm
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the track tiles formerly known as

(jimb)

United States
Berkeley
California

drewdane wrote:

18xx rules vary slightly from one game to the next, so I would think it would be more productive to consult the rules specific to the game being discussed, or the 18xx difference list when discussing other games.

If that was easy, in general, 18EZ might not exist. :-)

Since 18EZ route, track and station roughly follow '1830 etc' traditions (insert flourishing hand wave), the 18ez manual provides some good overview texts and examples, that apply well beyond 18ez. (Notwithstanding, that unique specifics are indeed critical within each game.)

For example, I was in an 18AL game pbem, guiding a completely new player along. (Surprisingly, he had also taken the time to read the 18al manual before we started.)

Still, it was quite useful at one point to refer him to some route/track overview in your level2 manual, instead of the 18AL manual text- because 18al's manual is nearly unreadable as an introductory overview, even with handholding. But- he wasn't a paying customer of yours (in this case, I was, but you know what I mean, i think).

In a sense, you've written '18xx For Dummies'- and then, you include a complete boxed game, too. (I mean this in a good way.)

PS. Another example is my own experience with current-player transitions during the 1830 initial-stock-round- specifically, during the privates' auctions. I was playing this wrong, until I read your description for 18ez- then reviewed the 1830 rulebook with comprehension. I've seen other players struggle with this rule in 1830 and 18AL, too- but you explain it well.

Edited Fri Nov 6, 2009 9:36 pm
Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 9:28 pm
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the track tiles formerly known as

(jimb)

United States
Berkeley
California

What I really wish- but I don't know if it's practical- was that there was some way to purchase the 18ez manuals, online. (Eg, a donation link or whatever for people that wanted to use this manual set as a tutorial assist, examples, etc- perhaps without even playing 18ez.)

This would also provide a fixed point-of-reference for new players trying to navigate the 18xx differences list for isolated specifics.

This may be a dumb idea, but this general issue is what prompted my question.

[I realize you'd recommend that players learn 18xx at level 1, then 2, then 3- but that's not always an option, eg, for pbem 18xx games using more traditional titles. The same basic reasoning applies in common 18xx rules questions- posted to groups like 1830 or 18al here on the geek- sometimes, the answer is more clear in your manual than anywhere else.]

Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 9:50 pm
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Some other Drew

(drewdane)

United States
Rockford
Illinois

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

I'm not saying that you're not entitled to your opinion. I'm just saying that you're wrong.

jimb wrote:

In a sense, you've written '18xx For Dummies'- and then, you include a complete boxed game, too. (I mean this in a good way.)

The working title we used at first was 18FD (for dummies) but I came up with the name 18EZ to stay away from Wiley Publishing's trademark.

Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:27 pm
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Adverb

(Adverb)

United States
Framingham
Massachusetts

I'm just getting started with 18xx games, and your Levels 1-3 rulebooks have been a great way for me to learn and understand the fundamentals of the genre. Thanks for making the EZ game, and thanks for sharing the rules! They're an invaluable resource for anyone who's trying to teach themselves 18xx.

Edited Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:31 pm
Posted Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:29 pm
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Some other Drew

(drewdane)

United States
Rockford
Illinois

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

I'm not saying that you're not entitled to your opinion. I'm just saying that you're wrong.

Thank you for those kind words. The check is in the mail.

Posted Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:41 pm
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