The Big Scary or the 18XX series
Whenever the words "Let's play 18XX" are mentioned, images of big scary sessions and 2 hour long rules explainations are conjured up in the minds of most Malaysian players. This is especially true with my local playing group as I would only have to mention these 3 dreaded words and you will see my friends disappear one by one.
"Umm... I have to go home and spend time with my mother in law" Says one.
"Ahh... I think I hear my mum calling me for dinner" Says another (at 2pm on a Saturday).
"Oh wow, look at the time..." etc.
So, today, I'm here to dispel the notion that 18XX games are scary and induces A.P.'s (Analysis Paralysis, and not Approved Permits).
Lesson number one : 18XX games can be short - If you are playing 10 hour marathon games of 1889, then you are playing it all wrong. A game of 18XX is in fact made to be very brutal and fast with minimal downtime. The reason why your games take 10 hours is because everyone is too nice and accommodating. If you had never experienced being forced to buy trains when all your trains are obsolete, especially, when you are low on cash, then you have never experienced 18XX. And, if you have never played a game where a player dumped a 'dead' company on another player, then you have never even played 18XX the way it should. These games are made to be brutal, so stop playing nice!
Lesson number two : 18XX is a business oriented game - If you think 18XX is all about track-building and going round the V.P. track then you are gravely mistaken. The 18XX series are very different from all the other train games out there (eg. Age of Steam, Railroad Tycoon, Union Pacific etc.) as it integrates the operations part (eg. Age of Steam) of train games with the business part (eg. Acquire) of stock market driven games. Imagine a game without the need for V.P. but instead the winner is determined as the one with the most money at the end of the game. Just like in real life...
Lesson number three : 18XX is fun - The biggest misconception about these types of games is that it is very boring (Read : Not fun to play) and mundane. This is where the general gaming community is very wrong. Never ever judge a book by its cover. Just because it looks boring and has subpar components, doesn't mean that it is not fun to play. A typical session of 18XX involves lots of backstabbing, track blocking (forcing the other player's companies's track building to stop abruptly), stock trashing (sell ones shares when profitable, even if it forces that corporation to tank [bankrupt]), and forced train purchases (imagine: what would happen if your company has no money and all your trains are forced to retire early, so you are forced to buy new trains at sky-rocket prices). I guarantee you that when playing 18XX with the right company, you will be constantly at the edge of your seat.
Lesson number four : 18XX is deeper and more enjoyable than Age of Steam - Age of Steam only involves the operational side of actual train management but 18XX involves the actual buying up of stocks in a railroad company. So, the laying of tracks and generating income (operational round) only happens when you successfully float (start) your company. Also, there are the private companies up for auction at the beginning of the game. Some of these private companies significantly alter the way a player will play. This depends on which private company the player decides to get, as each of these companies have a special ability that breaks certain rules in the game.
So, with this, I hope to dispel some of the myths surrounding this great game. If you have any questions or feedback pertaining to any of the 18XX games or this article, please do write to me.