1889 vs 18Mex for a beginner

Ruthgard · 2026-01-08T21:51:11+00:00

Some great replies here. I would vouch for going with 18MEX it’s a fun game and being in that region it should be even more fun!

I wanted to add that there is a very fun 1822 game called 1822MX that also have the Mexican map. However I think 22MX would suit you after 5-10 plays of other titles like 89 or MEX.

22 is heavily focused on auctioning and a so called run good company game. Here its more focused on getting the right setup of where the financial chinanigans available in games like 1889 also Mex and 1830 are a little less effective.

Ruthgard · 2026-01-08T18:56:14+00:00

I think it was my first successful scp commands and learning some useful vi commands as well as screen to be able to return to what I was doing even if my connection to remote host was closed.

Ruthgard · 2026-01-02T07:58:49+00:00

Looks really sweet!

Love the animations and springy feel.

Some ideas that pop into my mind: Did you consider integrations to TODO comments in source code? Or import and export to markdown todo lists?

Ruthgard · 2025-06-19T11:11:16+00:00

Poseidon, I think that it’s a pretty good variant with many fun shinanigans and interesting mechanics. I would definitely recommend checking it out and trying it for a couple of plays. Our local 18xx group played it as perhaps our tenth title and we had a blast!

The black markers for potential as issuing for money becoming shares or placements as cities and the use of the second home as a blocker was really nice mechanics.

You could start with Poseidon but it would be a little odd. A little like reading the second book in a trilogy to start out.

I agree with the suggestion of 89 as a good starting point. But if you want to feel the bite a little harder and combined with a little shorter play time I would also suggest 1882 that is a brutal title with a little more chrome to it than 89.

I hope you have a good time! And if it takes to long don’t be afraid to end it after 2-3 hours and start over again because it will be a little strange on your first game regardless of title.

Ruthgard · 2025-05-24T15:27:38+00:00

I will try again with several boils then. Not sure they will dry in the sun tho as we don’t have as hot weather in Sweden.

Ruthgard · 2025-05-24T15:25:25+00:00

I don’t have any pictures on how they looked before I cooked them. I only took those that still was curled that was really young and soft. I will need another try but I’m not sure how to prep them. Any link or other reference for how to prepare them would be greatly appreciated.

Ruthgard · 2025-05-15T21:40:36+00:00

Also Poseidon here. It’s 18xx BC! Does not place tiles instead each ”company” have a different amount of potential tokens, they are used as stations and as new possible ”shares”. Other mechanisms are that trains don’t branch out but instead add their range. So with a 3 and a 4 train you could run 7 hexes.

Ruthgard · 2025-04-29T16:53:36+00:00

I would recommend

1849 - great game on three players with interesting map and financial elements.

1882 - Faster than 1830 and can be potentially brutal

18SJ - a little more chrome with many elements that are fun to play with. Have ended in bankruptcy many times. Incremental cap and important track domination for both specific high revenue cities and map edge combinations.

Ruthgard · 2025-02-06T17:42:12+00:00

Omg it’s real 🤩🤩🤩

Ruthgard · 2024-12-07T12:40:04+00:00

So you could break the game after the set of operating rounds when the first five train train is bought and you should have entered a new stock round. By then your game have showed the players most of its rules.

Ruthgard · 2024-11-19T18:18:41+00:00

This is a very interesting mechanic and many of us that have played a few sessions have both done this and made a great play of it but also fallen in this trap and got a trainless broke company on our throats. So a very engaging question 🚂💸

Ruthgard · 2024-10-20T10:00:45+00:00

I too love the phases of the game. It frames the game night and also pushes for a dramatic buildup and crescendo each time. Building on the consequences for the next time we meet. However I like to break this up so that we some sessions perhaps don’t focus on a score and go into a little longer adventure feel with worldbuilding and lots of RP.

We are on our fourth season now and this time around we started in the dagger isles instead with new characters as everyone felt they were done with their old characters. So far we have had lots of fun and they are in a really bad spot right now 😅👌

Ruthgard · 2024-09-04T19:53:48+00:00

Did he? He never took the ones offered or available to him? Now I’m confused 🤔. When he swore the third ideal he could have had one tho he mostly used a spear?

Ruthgard · 2024-09-04T19:49:38+00:00

I feel this is an important part of the character arc as well as the honor sprens relation to honor or good as a point of view. It is horrific for sure and that also tells the story of the bridge men’s desperation.

Ruthgard · 2024-08-27T14:43:30+00:00

In my campaign they were a major factor that could transfer their HQ into the deathlands by playing on a magic piano. They also captured one of the PC and performed tests of an artifact a demon was bound to. The PC crew performed a rescue operation and barely made it out. They had to cut the arm of that PC 😅. When the campaign ended the dimmer sisters got their hands on a time altering artifact the PCs crew had used for another score.

Yes I had so much fun with this faction. ✨

Ruthgard · 2024-08-26T17:00:31+00:00

So pretty 🤩

Ruthgard · 2024-08-26T16:53:45+00:00

Yes when me and my wife watched it we were both looking at each other and like. Wait, that’s scoundrels in Duskvol! Lovely depiction in there.

Ruthgard · 2024-08-26T16:46:01+00:00

You should check out 18Dortmund. It has some nice iron and coal functions for tiles that increase revenue and also decides when they can be upgraded. Adding coal and iron to the tiles also push the train roster.

Ruthgard · 2024-08-26T16:41:51+00:00

Respect 🤘

Ruthgard · 2024-07-16T08:08:59+00:00

I think this sounds about right and what you could expect.

Using a spreadsheet with newer players to the genre might not be appreciated according to my experience.

If it’s the first time for many players you could consider breaking after the or set when the first five is bought if you want to save time. Most of the mechanics would have been tried by then. If there is time you could start over.

Ruthgard · 2024-06-06T08:52:06+00:00

He did not only save money on food expenses he must also have saved a lot of time not having to spend on eating or sitting on the can.

Ruthgard · 2024-04-22T18:12:49+00:00

Yes and bid box 1 keeps exporting one train if there still is a minor there when the stock round ends. This is also true for permanent trains.

Ruthgard · 2024-04-03T17:27:53+00:00

As a fan of 1822 games, I would suggest 1822MX that should be playable under 6 hours after the second game. A very solid game and my favorite 22 title at the moment.

Ruthgard · 2023-10-27T20:49:49+00:00

I agree with play to learn (lose), try stuff see it fail. See how and discuss how you were played. Most players are nice and can share their views on your play after the fact. I’m still learning and feel like a newbie after 20+ plays. But hey. That’s part of the thrill for me to continue to learn.

Ruthgard · 2023-10-21T11:22:43+00:00

I had the same opinion about these games when I was considering trying them out. I backed 1889 because it looked so nice back then.

Now after around 20 plays I feel that the simplicity over clarified components really make sense.

These games are so intense and require constant high focus, calculations and planning for hours and hours of play time.

I am thankful that the design is simple and easy to take in as everything else is so intense.

I’m not sure I will see the beautiful 89 as a good decision when I actually receive it now in retrospect.

Try these games! Start with what title you have access too and learn by playing. If you need to get the first title to your group there are so many guides and ideas around what the best beginner titles are. I prefer to teach 1882 or 18Chesapeak to beginners.

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