18GB Status Update

I regard the core design of 18GB as stable and I'm well into the development or "tweaking" phase.  This requires lots of test games to evaluate all the tweaks as we converge on a final configuration.  This status report summarises the key areas that I am still working on. 

There have been fewer five-player tests than those with other player counts, which means the train mix for five players needs further validation, although it does seem to be about right.

The optional character cards are being fine-tuned and more experience is needed to make them both interesting and well-balanced.  Some of the characters have a face value that the player selecting that character must pay.  Refining those costs is part of the tuning process.

My biggest concern about the game play is that sometimes one player seems to get an early lead and other players don't catch him.  That could lead to a dull game (although I suppose experienced players could just call the game at that point).  The fine-tuning of the characters and companies is intended in part to  reduce this problem.  As I described in an earlier blog post, I also plan to try tweaking the rule on stock sales to allow players more opportunity to reduce the leader's stock value.  If this works, it will make the game more resilient to early leads, without negating the advantage of good early play altogether.

In version 26, I added a £20 surcharge to the LNWR director's certificate to balance its strengths as a good starting company. This is a slightly ungraceful mechanism and so I will try adding a new Private Railway that gives its owner the LNWR Directorship.

Another tweak I made in version 26 was to give a special ability to the Midland Railway.  This is the only public company to have a special ability, which again I find a little ungraceful as a mechanism.  I am experimenting with adding this ability to the Leicester & Swannington Private Railway instead.

In addition to the above, the playtesters are giving feedback about where the rulebook is not quite as clear and unambiguous as I hoped.  This is all very useful and is helping to improve the game.