1899 (1994)

About this game

This 18xx game is a variant of 1830: Railways & Robber Barons in China. Full rules are not provided, the designer only provides the modifications to the 1830: Railways & Robber Barons rules. This game is essentially the regular game of 1830: Railways & Robber Barons, played on a new map, with relatively minor rules modifications: - Inner Mongolia: Extended off-board runs can be made to Inner Mongolia. - There are High mountains which cost $80 to upgrade to Green tiles, and wide rivers which cost $120 to cross. - Mail runs: Each company earns 1/2 of revenue from the starting and ending cities for one of its trains. This mail revenue always goes to the company treasury and is used to defray the higher building costs. - One private company builds a ferry for a major company. - There a few new tiles in the game. - There is $17,000 in the bank at start. This game uses components of 1830.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 3 to 6.
• Rules load. At 4.2/5 this is a heavy game — read the rulebook before people arrive.
• Age. The publisher suggests 14 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.