[Board/Tactical Game]: 1870, reviewed by Emmit Other (4/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11406.phtml

Emmit Other's Summary:

1870 is a game involving two primary arenas of action. There is a well done stock market combined with an innovative tile system that allows rail companies to flourish or die.

Go to the full review for more information.

[Jade Bells Ringing]

well, basically, this review is generally correct, as far as it goes. A few details were incorrectly relayed, but only an experienced player would note them.

Purchasing of trains makes the order that the stock companies operate in quite important. When purchase of an advanced train makes older models obsolete, they (obsoleted trains) are taken away from any company that has them, and these companies may be required to buy another train on their turn. If the company needs a train and does not have enough money in the treasury to buy a train, the company president MUST pay the difference himself. This encourages swaps of money between companies and passing of dividends.

Purchasing of more advanced trains also makes new tiles available. At the start, yellow tiles, then green, then brown and only a couple of grey tiles. They are available to be played after the first train of sufficient levl is purchased, so, again, who buys what train and and what order companies operate in makes a difference in tile laying (track laying and improvement/replacement with more valuable tiles), since there are limited numbers of tiles and upgrades.

10 hours to play is a long time, but not for new players. These games (1870 and other 18xx games) routinely play in 4 hour slots at conventions if the players have some experience and you are not stuck with a dawdler.

[AusJeb]

It has been awhile since I played an 18XX game, and when I pulled 1870 down from the shelf recently to play, I found the stock rules hopelessly confusing and woefully short. Which is really unfortunate, because I have greatly enjoyed the other 18XX games that I have played.

[Jake]

<i>1870</i> is a wonderful game, if complicated. I vastly prefer <i>1825</i> with its leaner rules, smaller board and less cutthroat stock-market, but I cut my teeth on <i>1870</i>. I liked it enough to buy <i>1825</i>. Two things the review did not emphasize much are:
- there is <i>no</i> luck in the game. No randomizer whatsoever. You decide what to do, and that is done. If you fail, then the other players made better decisions.
- it's a great conversation game. You'll do better than other players if you're a good talker.

(I keep promising myself to review <i>1825</i> but alas... I can't get started for some reason.)