Game: 18AL

Thread: Re: First time of 18AL, but not first time of 18xx

photocurio — 2008-07-03T05:27:15+00:00

Henkka wrote:
photocurio wrote:
I'd like to see a photo of your home made copy.

And I'd like to show it, but I don't own a working digital camera at the moment.. (believe it or not) :cry:

When you actually go and buy yourself new digi camera, just so that you can take a few shots of your board game(s).. you know your a geek (or freak/insane).

But it's not like I can't use it for other purposes as well.. (denial)

Wow, that was quick on the digital camera (see photos just posted to the gallery). I think your copy looks great, quite professional.

I also just had this printed out at my local office printing shop (Kinkos). Not wanting to spend a lot of cash for a game that I don't know will be a hit with my friends, mine looks a lot cheaper. I didn't have it laminated, for one. But it cost all of $12 - very cheap. When I get all the tiles cut out, I'll take some pics. I've never played any of the 18XX games before, so this is an experiment.

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Henkka — 2008-07-03T12:13:20+00:00

The map, open stock market and different private companies.

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Henkka — 2008-07-03T12:11:59+00:00

Initial offering and available trains.

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Henkka — 2008-07-03T12:09:57+00:00

All tiles for 18AL

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Henkka — 2008-07-03T12:08:02+00:00

Different trains in 18AL

Thread: Re: First time of 18AL, but not first time of 18xx

MichaelB — 2008-07-03T06:16:21+00:00

Yep. I won quite easily thanks to my experience (I have played dosbox-PC client 1830 for years and of course some live 1870, which I own, games).

It was clear that I had no hurry to start any companies at the beginning as my upkeep from private companies was the best. As Henkka told my couple of big moves were timed perfectly. Roimaa (as he had the least experience of 18xx games though winning the last 1870 we played) played somewhat bad at the beginning and the board position indicated that Henkka is way more dangerous. I think Henkka would have done better but choose to play too conservatily after a good-looking start which supported my own strategy perfectly.

I did not play perfectly the whole game but my mentioned big moves were extra beneficial and halted Henkka's and Roimaa's chances big time.

It was great. '9' rating for 18AL from me. And to boot...Henkka's print&play copy looked great (I actually did not notice that it was print&play version at first).

.mikko

Thread: Re: First time of 18AL, but not first time of 18xx

Henkka — 2008-07-02T05:27:41+00:00

photocurio wrote:
I'd like to see a photo of your home made copy.

And I'd like to show it, but I don't own a working digital camera at the moment.. (believe it or not) :cry:

When you actually go and buy yourself new digi camera, just so that you can take a few shots of your board game(s).. you know your a geek (or freak/insane).

But it's not like I can't use it for other purposes as well.. (denial)

Thread: Re: First time of 18AL, but not first time of 18xx

photocurio — 2008-07-01T10:51:13+00:00

I'd like to see a photo of your home made copy.

Thread: Re: First time of 18AL, but not first time of 18xx

Henkka — 2008-07-01T06:59:37+00:00

derk wrote:
18AL is a sweet little game, and I'm very happy to have it. Nice session.

Agreed. And thanks for the riches. :D Though, in all honesty, I'm a bit puzzled by the riches and thumbs ups as I think this particular effort is hands down my worst.. and BGG eating the first one didn't exactly help. (yes, I typed it again, from the first sentence.. it didn't get better the second time) My current theory is; because it's 18xx.

Of course, my best one isn't much of an effort either..

Thread: Re: First time of 18AL, but not first time of 18xx

derk — 2008-07-01T05:38:26+00:00

18AL is a sweet little game, and I'm very happy to have it. Nice session.

Thread: First time of 18AL, but not first time of 18xx

Henkka — 2008-06-30T08:41:22+00:00

Monday evening, which equals to board games around here. This time I finally got to play my home made copy of 18AL. :D And I was pleased to find out that I hadn't spent those 10 hours in vain as I liked the game quite a bit.

The investors involved in this game were me, [url=http://www.boardgamegeek.com/user/mikko_r]Roimaa and [url=http://www.boardgamegeek.com/user/MichaelB]Ämmälä. Roimaa started the initial bidding by buying the $20 company right out, I followed by buying the $40 "coal-token-firm" and Ämmälä bought that lumber mill one. No competition at all. During next round Roimaa passes and I bought the $100 one and Ämmälä the $120 one. Again very peaceful.

During the first stock round I set ABC to $75 and proceed to float it. Roimaa sets L&N to $60 and floats it. Ämmälä on the other hand only invests in our companies and concentrates on drinking. The next few operating round -> stock rounds went pretty uneventful until around stock round four.. where Ämmälä gets rid of all of his ABC and L&N certificates and proceeds to form TAG at $105. He also managed to buy the presidency in ATN (although Roimaa let him). The effect of TAG was to get the train market going and soon 2 trains rusted. I though before Ämmälä's move, that I was doing pretty well, but now that the train race was really beginning I wasn't so sure any more. Though ABC was still doing "fine" my other enterprise called WRA wasn't so hot even if it had permanent 5 train, it's stock value was way too low for it to be "competitive" in the 18xx sense.

Then in the next few operating rounds things went rather peacefully until Ämmälä made one of those moves and placed a station marker that had the income stopping power of a well aimed half-brick.. (quoted from Pratchett, I never think up anything remotely funny) Now my enterprise didn't only need to worry about it's low market value, it had seriously low payout to boot! Damn. Otherwise things progressed smoothly as the train race took a calmer turn, at least until next stock round. Ämmälä once again forms new company (M&O) at $105, floats it himself and causes massive train rustage in the following operating rounds, which then eventually led to Roimaa's bankruptcy.

In closing, Ämmälä won by huge margin, Roimaa was equally huge loser and I was there somewhere in the middle. I must say that the main point of this game, which is manageable playing time is also one of it's best features. I have learned that I just don't have the patience to duke out all day 18xx session without getting seriously bored towards to end. I envision (and hope) that this game gets played a lot (and hopefully soon). I like, I recommend.

edit(s): some bad grammar..