Bridgenorth Cliff Railway

Railway Rivals game 6 – Turn 12

Previous turns: Turn 11 Turn 10 Turn 9 Turn 8 Turn 7 Turn 6 Turn 5 Turn 4 Turn 3 Turn 2 Turn 1 Start-up

Races

Race	From	To	VROOM	BESTRAIL	SEAWEED	BILL	CR	MLX
36	12	S5	+4	20-9	10+9-4
37	13	56						20
38	22	34		20			10
39	25	43			20-8		10	+8
40	31	62		20-1		+4	10+1	0-4
41	46	S4					10	20
42	52	64	+4		10+9-4		20	10-4
Total			8	50	27	4	61	50
JR = Joint Run, ER = Exchange of Running powers

A very close finish and CHUFFING RAILWAYS can feel aggrieved: 7 points in the end of it. The last set of races weren’t good for SEAWEED, who had MLX coming up fast behind him.

Builds and points

Player A – 5th
VELOCITY RAILS OF ODD MOTION (VROOM) - Gina Teh (BLACK)
Builds: None
Score: 95 +8 = 103

Player B – First
BEN'S ELECTRIC & STEAM TRAINS RUN ALONG INLAND LINES (BESTRAIL) - Ben Brown (RED)
Builds: None
Score: 297 +50 = 347

Player C – Third
SOUTH EAST AND WEST EXPANDING ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENTS (SEAWEED) - Tim Macaire (BLUE)
Builds: None
Score: 263 +27 = 290

Player D – 6th
BILL'S INGENIOUS LEVERAGED LOCOMOTIVES (BILL) - Bill McKinley (GREEN)
Builds: No Moves Received
Score: 80 +4 = 84

Player E – 2nd
CHUFFIN' RAILWAYS (CR) - Nathan Richards (BROWN)
Builds: None
Score: 279 +61 = 340

Player F – 4th
MOONS-LENS XPRESS (MLX) - Gerald Udowiczenko (ORANGE)
Builds: None
Score: 210 +50 = 260

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Game End Statements

SEAWEED (3rd)

At first I thought this was an odd map, and that the numerous hills would channel the routes too much for 6 people. But it worked well, though perhaps there might have been problems if somebody not starting at Brum had dropped out.

I stuck to my basic strategy, of 'claiming' a quarter of the map, and was quite pleased with the result. I had expected there to be more long-distance runs through Tenbury and felt a bit unlucky with the way the races came out (unless the result is unexpected, in which case it was all due to skill!).

But it was a great game, and I'd happily play the same map again (not a hint, Mike).

Tim Macaire

CHUFFING RAILWAYS (2nd)

In best Kate Winslet style, I would like to thank Ben, Tim and ooh, what’s the other one called, oh Gerald, for sticking with the game and seeing it through to the bitter end. It’s been the closest-fought game I can recall. Of course, I believe that my network is actually the best and should have trounced the lot of you except for my own incompetence on turn 3 which meant I missed out on ten points for a race I could have come second in but hadn’t marked up the map properly and then points on a race because my turn was late or something.

Thanks, of course, go to our sterling GM without whom I would not be where I am now (yes, it’s a reference to Mike’s appalling dice rolling – well, you asked for it, Mike, so you got it!) and I look forward to the next game.

Nathan Richards

Moon-Lens Xpress (4th)

Congratulations to either Ben, Nathan or Tim.

Yet again this was a map I had never played before (had anyone else?), but even so I think my route wasn’t too bad. I didn’t get as far South as Nathan, whose route I think was probably the best of everyone’s. But I had good connections to the top half of the board and did get some way South, which I thought would have been good enough to give me a chance… But I guess not.

It was a real shame that Bill dropped out, as it would have made building in the centre of the map even more interesting.

The real problem this game I think was communication, or lack of it. I am really surprised how few Joint Runs I was able to run. I’m not sure whether this was down to bad timing (someone else had already asked), if I was perceived as a threat and people didn’t want to give me points, or maybe there just weren’t that many Joint Runs that could be run. Which really would surprise me as the map seemed suited for this.

And lastly I think Mike would be disappointed if I didn’t mention the “special” dice he “only” uses for me, so as not to disappoint him. In the races I was able to run the dice robbed me!!

Many thanks to Mike for running a very enjoyable game and I look forward to the next one.

Gerald Udowiczenko

GM Notes

Thank you all for taking part.

Bill McKinley (BILL) dropped out early without explanation, but Gina (VROOM) had computer problems and was too far behind to compete. She built the interesting line directly south from Birmingham instead of competing for the narrow gap through the hills to the west won by CR. SEAWEED had a network centred in the south west which barely crossed the Severn, yet did quite well. MLX’s northern stronghold was penetrated by CR and VROOM, though he did have links into a lot of the map. CHUFFIN’ RAILWAYS had a good network on the east of the Severn, penetrated the north, linked a lot of towns and was very close, but in the end was pipped by BESTRAIL whose network linked roughly the same number of towns. More joint runs would have helped those with the more regional networks, it is true, but communication between players sometimes flagged.

So Congratulations to Ben for winning and holding off Nathan at the finish.