Allows you to claim 4, 5, and 6 space routes. The Mechanical Stoker is still needed to claim 3 space routes. If you are likely to forget to immediately score some of the routes you claim, we recommend designating a player as the scorekeeper; have him move all the Score Markers throughout the entire game, or at least prompt the other players to do so when they forget. The ability for players always having access to their last claimed route which can be used each turn after it has been completed until another route is claimed instead (known as Train Stations). This allows you never to lose your trains even if they reach their destination meaning additional points at the game’s end!

You just need to be aware that if cities are connected by a double route, you cannot claim both routes! If you are playing with only two or three players, the double routes don’t count. Once one of the routes of any colour has been claimed then the other route cannot be used. This particular version focuses more heavily on trading goods over passengers making the map less like a map and more like an actual area with cities where you’re trying to build up your own empire! Components

Inside The Box

on at least one of the spaces making the route. To claim a Ferry Route, a player must play a Locomotive card for each Locomotive symbol on the route, and the usual set of cards of the proper color for the remaining spaces of that Ferry Route. It's really easy to understand, it's super fast-paced because you can only do one thing on your turn (draw new cards or claim a route), and it still gives the brain a nice workout if you like to play tactically. Days of Wonder takes its name from the childhood fascination many feel when they first play games. In 2004 it became the youngest publisher ever to win the Spiel des Jahres, just 2 years after it was founded.

Again, the artwork on the cards is of a good standard. But when playing this game you will have to use the train cards from the original game and not the ones in the box.On the UK side of the board, technology plays its part. You start out as a small train tycoon in England. At first, you can only build routes that are one- or two-trains in length. But if you spend the wild train cards, you then ‘upgrade’ your tech! Then you can build longer routes. Then you can start extending your network into Wales, Scotland and Ireland. There’s even bonus cards up for grabs, with other means to score points! As you build routes, you’ll notice companies on the board. Whenever you connect, you get a share in that particular company. The player with the most shares in a company gets some bonus points. There are also some grey routes on the board. These can be claimed using any colour train card, as long as you play the right amount. For example, you can claim a grey route three trains long with three red train cards, or three green train cards. This restriction of route length in the early game adds a new level of play and forces players to change up their tactics on the fly as new technologies are opened up and new opportunities become available. Which technologies will end up in your hand is fairly unpredictable so it certainly behooves the canny player to dive in straight away with those short routes and see where the game takes you. Because the score for some routes may be affected by technologies such as the Boiler Lagging or the Steam Turbines, waiting until the end to compute Routes points doesn't work in this expansion.

When claiming a Route, you may play 1 less card than required. You must still play at least 1 Card, and you cannot ignore a Locomotive on a Ferry route. Advanced Technologies can be added to the game for a more competitive experience. Note that the number of Advanced Technologies is limited. Dale Y: It’s hard to say which of the two maps in this expansion that I like more – but I think I’m leaning towards this one. I love the slow but steady buildup through the tech-tree, as well as the added strategy that you can employ – both by using your own technologies as well as realizing what technologies your opponents have (and don’t have).When looking at who has the longest continuous path, you should look at each colour in turn. Trains can pass through the same city more than once, but each train can only be counted once. If two (or more) players are tied for the longest train, then they each score 10 points.