1812 end game
Dave Berry
So far, I really like the early game of 1812. The opening SR
requires some careful arithmetic but that's OK. Running the minors
is fun. I like the extra options provided by the G trains. Deciding
when and what to merge is fun. The track laying works well and I
like the N-S routes.
When it comes to investing in other player's companies, I feel less
sure. This may just reflect the fact that I'm a novice: I've played
2 games of 1861 and 3 of 1812 (one of which was a two-player
game). But the two games seem different. In 1861, there will be
several more operating rounds after the first public company appears,
so investing in that company can remove income from the company and
generate income for the investor. In 1812, there are fewer ORs, so
the gain to the company of immediate capital might outweigh the
longer-term reduction in company income. Groupthink applies: if one
other player invests, then the company will probably do well and so
the other players are almost forced to invest. Which I guess could
be a valid aspect of the game - if (and that's still an if) its
better for all players if none of them invest, but any individual
gains by investing, then that's an interesting situation. But there
is also scope for kingmaking.
I might feel easier if companies became fully capitalised at some
point, e.g. after selling 50% of their stock. Then buying the
remainder would be a no-brainer. Although, in terms of making the
game interesting, a no-brain decision is not necessarily a good thing.
I can't quite put my finger on my unease, so as feedback goes this is
perhaps not as helpful as one might wish. Still, I figure that it
might be useful to have some feedback from the point of view of
someone who is not experienced with 1861.
Dave.
Ian D
1. Early game - up to the end of OR4/beginning of SR3
2. Middle game - up to the purchase of the last brown train (OR6-7?)
3. End game - Phase 5
There is no doubt that the endgame (in this definition) is rather dull
- the final positions have (most probably) already been decided. But
there is probably only 3ORs, so the elapsed time is not so long. This
is like 1861.
Where 1812 and 1861 differ is in the mid-game. According to Bruce,
1861 has been decided by the end of SR3 (I say by the purchase of the
first 4 train). Buying shares in other companies is pretty much of a
no-brainer in 1861. It's a bit early to say, but 1812 doesn't seem to
be decided until the purchase of the first 5/4G, and buying shares in
other companies in the mid-game is not so obvious - the extra capital
you give can be important, and the amount of capital you deny (due to
buying at a lower price) is less important. I think that the
differences between the two games is good.
In both games, if you screw up the early game you're going to lose -
this is inevitable in a game with partial capitalisation. At least
1812 is shorter.
One thing which does concern me is whether we have a poison 3-train
situation. In SR3, there are generally some 3/2G trains left but fewer
than the number of players. The richest players start minors which
gobble up the 3/2G's, and the other player(s) wait a round and merge.
These latter players often do better?
Ian D