Game: Age of Steam Expansion - Vermont, New Hampshire & Central New England

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Garry — 2008-11-09T18:31:38+00:00

Vermont at the end of a 4 player game.

Thread: Brutal competition in the granite state

wmspringer — 2008-11-02T22:26:00+00:00

At our most recent session, Tim, Heath, Nikki and I sat down for a go at Ted Alspach's new map, New Hampshire. This map has two changes from vanilla AoS that make it extremely challenging. First, track between two {cities;towns} cannot be duplicated; if one player builds from Colebrook to Berlin, nobody else can. As you can imagine, this produces fierce competition to lock up prime routes early on, especially in light of the second new rule: you may not deliver over anybody else's track.

At the start of the game, I was bidding for urbanization, but failed to get it anytime in the first three turns, something that would cost me dearly. Tim (blue) and Heath (green) both decided to start out in the south:

while Nikki (yellow) started up north, and I (red) went for the north section just south of Nikki, figuring that would give me the most flexibility to extend my track without too much competition, while cutting her off from my cities.

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Alas, remember what I said about failing to get Urbanize? Just as I set up a nice 5-length route to deliver my purple goods, Nikki jumped in and urbanized my town to New City F, cutting the route in half!

In the meantime, Tim and Heath were building all over the south; Tim managed to set up a number of long deliveries that would ultimately give him the game. Heath, for whom I think this was the 3rd (or maybe 4th) game of AoS, managed some nice routes of his own, and would have given me a very close run for second if he hadn't taken additional shares on the last turn.

Oops, looks like the blue stack got knocked over! Tim almost lapped Nikki, which is understandable, since he plays this constantly and this was her second game!

Next time: on to Vermont, and then....Central New England!

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wmspringer — 2008-11-02T03:33:17+00:00

Fighting it out in northern NH

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wmspringer — 2008-11-02T02:58:57+00:00

The blue city is MINE!

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

JeffyJeff — 2008-10-28T15:44:45+00:00

FWIW, I'm told in this bundle you get two (2) copies of the NH/VT map... from http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/2767187#2767187

Here's what you get:

2x hardboard maps, Vermont and its duplicate, for the reason you mentioned. Very professional production quality, BTW.

4x "Blueprint" cardstock maps, with a single map on each side of each board, shrinkwrapped. (You also get a cardstock income track and goods track).

1x Signed and numbered Essen Spiel map, comprised of 4x cardstock pieces, each with different single-sheet "Blueprints"on the back, that aren't blue, which I will politely refer to as "similar".

What I hadn't realized was that only the NH/VT double sided map is mounted on mapboard... the rest of the maps are on card stock.

I probably would actually be happier with the NH/VT being on single sided cardstock instead... and the NH/VT border on each map be cut so when you combine them for "Central New England" that they actually line up (it's actually a river (Connecticut River) by the way that forms the border). Or even printed as one map where you can play either half (NH or VT) or combined.

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

JeffyJeff — 2008-10-27T02:02:32+00:00

unic wrote:
The sixteen maps are:

Vermont, New Hampshire & Central New England ( 3 maps, counting the combined one )
According to funagain on their product page at http://www.funagain.com/control/product/~product_id=019516 ....

In order to play Central New England Map you need to copies of the VT/NH map because VT and NH are printed on opposite sides of the same board

Or does the Essen combo have two copies of the VT/NH map, even though the funagain preorder doesn't

Thread: Re: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

Malachi — 2008-10-21T20:45:40+00:00

hrdkor wrote:
Malachi wrote:
I'm imagining really hostile builds that cause other players to have split networks...

You are correct! And I forgot to mention that we had that exact situation happen. I built between two cites effectivly cutting off a player in the Northern section of the map from the Southern portion. Purely evil. moo ahhh ahhh ahhh.
That seems worse than mooching to me...

Thread: Re: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

lucmoscrop — 2008-10-21T19:08:07+00:00

Thread: Re: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

hrdkor — 2008-10-21T18:29:34+00:00

masaakunokouchi wrote:
I got to agree with david here, where is the fun. I mean, sounds like a really boring way to play the game. My personal favorite is Korea... that map is brutal.

Actually that would be an incorrect assumption... see the post above. I forgot to mention one of the additional ways how this map can be brutal. Having already mentioned that once a link is built between two cites that it can no longer be built in the same fashion. That in and of itself is brutal. I could see how someone could really mess with someone else by buiding in their future network path. That can totally hose another player.

Thread: Re: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

hrdkor — 2008-10-21T18:24:57+00:00

Malachi wrote:
I'm imagining really hostile builds that cause other players to have split networks...

You are correct! And I forgot to mention that we had that exact situation happen. I built between two cites effectivly cutting off a player in the Northern section of the map from the Southern portion. Purely evil. moo ahhh ahhh ahhh.

Thread: Re: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

Malachi — 2008-10-21T18:00:22+00:00

I'm imagining really hostile builds that cause other players to have split networks...

Thread: Re: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

masaakunokouchi — 2008-10-21T16:46:00+00:00

I got to agree with david here, where is the fun. I mean, sounds like a really boring way to play the game. My personal favorite is Korea... that map is brutal.

Thread: Re: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

Frogman — 2008-10-21T12:59:32+00:00

Well, as you say. It certainly sounds like AoS for people who don't like AoS.

Thread: AoS: New Hampshire... moochers beware!!

hrdkor — 2008-10-20T21:07:33+00:00

So you say AoS isn't for you? You don't like it when others build in your territory and then steal a good you had planned to deliver? Delivering goods before you can for more profitable income, sometimes even using 1 or 2 of your own track in the process. Well look no further the AoS: New Hampshire expansion is for you.

What you get:
This set comes with 3 maps: New Hampshire, Vermont and by putting both of these two maps together you get Central New England.

The map it self is pretty straighforward, with your typical AoS build costs $2-grasslands, $3-rivers and $4-Mountains.

However, what makes this map interesting is the unique rules that this expansion offers. It features strict anti-competitive rules to ensure there's no mooching amongst players. This is achieved through requiring:

Unique Track Builds: Track builds can not be duplicated; once a player has built a section of track between two locations, no one else can build that same connection. Too bad I already built that link...

No Track Sharing: Players must deliver goods across their own track only. If you can't deliver the good across only your track then you can't deliver it. Sorry that's my good....

I personally love this map!! Not only does it reward thinking ahead and "seeing" 3-4 turns in advance, it also rewards building first. And my favorite aspect... The no "mooching" factor.

IMO, another great map by Ted Alspach. Keep em' coming Ted!!

Thread: Re: Recieved!

Hopalong — 2008-10-20T16:32:12+00:00

Got mine in the mail today in the UK

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absent handed — 2008-10-18T18:07:17+00:00

Everything you get with two expansions, needed to play Central New England. You'll also need an eight player scoring track, like the one that comes with Secret Blueprints of Steam Plans 1&2

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absent handed — 2008-10-18T18:00:58+00:00

Central New England (Note: This picture is of two copies of the expansion.)

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absent handed — 2008-10-18T17:56:45+00:00

Vermont

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absent handed — 2008-10-18T17:54:02+00:00

New Hampshire

Thread: Re: Recieved!

ChemEng — 2008-10-16T00:23:02+00:00

Got mine in the mail today.

Thread: Re: Recieved!

wmspringer — 2008-10-15T19:10:52+00:00

Two of us had the expansion at gaming last night, but I couldn't seem to get a game going...darnit! Like Tim said, we're just gonna have to play two games this weekend :-)

Thread: Re: Recieved!

hrdkor — 2008-10-14T22:25:14+00:00

Guess we'll have to play this and CCCP Saturday.

Thread: Re: Recieved!

gische — 2008-10-14T22:24:22+00:00

Hell, I've already played New Hampshire.

Yes, I'm working on a session report.

Thread: Recieved!

wmspringer — 2008-10-14T20:52:51+00:00

Looks like they've started shipping; I received a copy today! (Colorado)

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

JeffyJeff — 2008-09-10T21:17:08+00:00

wmspringer wrote:
Wow, I'm surprised this is still available; with 300 copies I expected they'd be gone long before now.
According to BGN post today over 2/3rds have been, so somewhere under 100 copies of the Essen set are still reservable.

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

CortexBomb — 2008-09-09T17:36:05+00:00

JeffyJeff wrote:

Guess I won't be buying this and hope someone will sell off their VT/NH maps separately afterwards.

The VT/NH map will be made available by itself post-Essen, perhaps sooner? The only things exclusive to the package deal are the Essen map and the Secret Blueprints #3 set of cards.

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

wmspringer — 2008-09-09T16:36:20+00:00

Wow, I'm surprised this is still available; with 300 copies I expected they'd be gone long before now.

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

JeffyJeff — 2008-09-09T16:16:56+00:00

well I'm glad I checked as it sure is confusing to count combining maps as creating new distinct maps. I sure hope no one orders thinking they are getting 16 distinct maps

Guess I won't be buying this and hope someone will sell off their VT/NH maps separately afterwards.

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

CortexBomb — 2008-09-09T16:10:14+00:00

JeffyJeff wrote:
jtakagi wrote:
Only the top 3 in your list are included. I think they arrive at 16 by counting the different combinations of Vermont, New Hampshire & Central New England.
Are you sure? Those top 3 do say they are only availble as part of the Special Essen '08 Bundle of 16 maps, but it specifically says "All sixteen maps", not "combinations of 6 maps"?

Yes. Ted is counting the individual map cards in the Secret Blueprints series, hence the 16. You can either count those as 12, 3, 2, or 1 depending on how you look at it. AFAIK they all share identical rules. #1 and #3 can be mixed and matched, #2 is intended to be played by itself only.

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

unic — 2008-09-09T15:53:17+00:00

The sixteen maps are:

Vermont, New Hampshire & Central New England ( 3 maps, counting the combined one )
Secret Blueprints 1, 2 & 3 ( 4 maps each = 12 maps total )
Essen Spiel Limited edition ( 1 map)
===
Total 16 maps.

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

JeffyJeff — 2008-09-09T15:32:26+00:00

jtakagi wrote:
Only the top 3 in your list are included. I think they arrive at 16 by counting the different combinations of Vermont, New Hampshire & Central New England.
Are you sure? Those top 3 do say they are only availble as part of the Special Essen '08 Bundle of 16 maps, but it specifically says "All sixteen maps", not "combinations of 6 maps"?

Thread: Re: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

jtakagi — 2008-09-09T15:18:59+00:00

Only the top 3 in your list are included. I think they arrive at 16 by counting the different combinations of Vermont, New Hampshire & Central New England.

Thread: What other maps do you get when you order this one?

JeffyJeff — 2008-09-09T14:36:00+00:00

From the description: Available for Preorder as part of the Essen '08 "Sixteen new Maps for Age of Steam" from Bezier Games at http://games.bezier.com/direct.html
The ordering page listed above it's not clear to me which 16 maps are included in that bundle? There appear to be more than 16 (8 pairs) listed...

Age of Steam Expansion: Vermont, New Hampshire & Central New England
Age of Steam Expansion: Secret Blueprints of Steam plans 1&2
Age of Steam Expansion: Essen Spiel Limitied edition & Secret Blueprints of Steam #3
Age of Steam Expansion: America & Europe
Age of Steam Expansion: Jamaica & Puerto Rico
Age of Steam Expansion: Barbados & St. Lucia
Age of Steam Expansion: Mississippi Steamboats & Golden Spike
Age of Steam Expansion: Sun & London
Age of Steam Expansion: Disco Inferno & Soul Train
Age of Steam Expansion: 1830's Pennsylvania & Northern California

Thread: Re: I can't wait to read reviews of the New Hampshire map!

JeffyJeff — 2008-09-09T14:27:08+00:00

I also just noticed... this is the only game in the BGG database with "New Hampshire" in it's title (or "Vermont" for that matter)!

Thread: Rules posted at Bezier Games

rockusultimus — 2008-09-09T13:45:49+00:00

http://games.bezier.com/PDFs/AoSVTNHCNErules.pdf

Thread: I can't wait to read reviews of the New Hampshire map!

JeffyJeff — 2008-07-18T03:27:21+00:00

Being a life long New Hampshire resident I can't wait to hear about this map!

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toulouse — 2008-07-03T00:55:26+00:00

Front cover