Last weekend we had some friends visiting us with sole purpose - 1856. We have played it together couple of times already and with every play they like it more and more... and despite of what everybody's saying it's not too difficult to teach. First time it was 40 minutes to explain the rules... unlike first times of Vinhos, for example :) But nowadays I believe that Vinhos can be taught as well with 30mins.
Anyway, as I had more 18xx-experience than visitors, I took different approach this time, with trying to maximize the income, instead of evil scheming. Nevertheless it was an very interesting game, as one of my companies got never higher than it's par price (67) and it got also out of yellow zone only during last set of OR's. But this was also one of my keys to victory, as comp being in brown zone I was able to purchase 80% of it's stocks - and then run it with two permanent trains. It wasn't planned but turned out as an excellent opportunity... just like another move with receiving the presidency of CGR. Those two combined ensured me first place with my wife being second (by ca 1000$) and then one of the guests by also ca 1000$.
There were times when I thought that 1856 is "the bestest evar" in 18xx-series... but now I'm not sure if it's even in my personal TOP3. 1817 has an excellent M&A side, just like 1841... the classic version of 1830 is very cut-throating (but not the variants) - and also 1861 (that's either hated or loved - but mostly hated) with it's high learning curve in being totally different from others.
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