I think the #1 advice to anyone that wants to try these games is to find someone to teach them. So i think there is a huge difference between what game to bring to the table for a group that wants to try the genre (not even sure such a game exists, given the state of the rule books) and what game you should use to teach someone 18xx.
As always, thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on the video. It is always better to have a teacher. That being said there are alternatives that allow you to gain a good grasp of a game prior to playing it with your friends. Of all the games I own, If I had to pick one to learn from scratch with out a teacher it would be 18MS. If I had to do this, I would read the rules, which are available on 18xx.games. Read the most relevant BGG threads, watch a couple of youtube videos of instruction and playthroughs, Play a couple of games on 18xx.games, asking questions etc. Then you are ready to teach the people you play games with. It is a tedious process to learn without an experienced teacher but doable these days.
I have no experience with Lost Atlas, but when I was thinking about learning 18xx, I spent a lot of money purchasing train games like Steam and Age of Steam. Even though these are both good games they did not scratch the 18xx itch. Enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. There is a new game that I would add to this list, If I was to do it again. 18SVEA is part of All Aboard Games Wave 6. The Kickstarter is over, but All Aboard Games maybe opening preorders soon.
Nice video Joe, I think these are all good options. Two other choices I'd consider would be 1893 Cologne from Marflow, which plays super fast and is a game in the minor/1835 tradition; and Poseidon which might appeal to heavy Euro Gamers hesitant about full 18xx games or train themes, it is OOP but quite often comes up 2nd hand.
I have no experience with 1893 nor Poseidon, but I tried to keep to the games that are still published and available to anyone interested in 18xx. If it wasn't for the announcement of the kickstarter, the number 1 1889 would not have been on the list due to the difficulty of obtaining it. Thank you for watching and commenting
Great video, I would say that it would be more accurate to call these games entry level 18xx games. I would consider games like Stephenson's Rocket, North American Railways, Railways of the World and Age of Steam to be gateways as they introduce some of the concepts in 18xx games without the whole package. People get more accustomed to route building, investing in companies without all the bells and whistles of rusting trains, limited tracks, privates etc. I especially like North American Railways (although that game has very alien rules regarding hostile takeover and company investing for 18xx players) as it perfectly shows the difference between company money and personal money and the effect of correlation/causation on one another.
Thank you for taking the time to watch the video. I went down a similar path before diving into 18xx games. I first purchased Steam, then Age of Steam before purchasing 1889. I do not necessarily regret those purchases, however, I don't play them very often any more. I would prefer to play an actual 18xx game. The games featured in the video are some of the easiest to get to the table with non-18xxers. Enjoy the games!
I am not a big fan of cube rail games. Before I started 18xx games I tried both Steam and Age of Steam, both palled in comparison to 18xx. I would strongly suggest one of the five recommended here, or any game that you can get someone that enjoys playing. Any 18xx game can be a gateway game, if the person teaching it is passionate and patient.
@@18xxtraining625 Hmm I'm not really sure where Steam or Age of Steam come in here. From what I have read and seen about 18XX (to be fair, I haven't played one yet), it doesn't share too many similarities with 18XX, yes there's laying track with hex-shaped tiles (no junctions though) and some route building involved, and the train value somehow resembles the different trains in 18XX, but it's a vastly different game, right? Iberian Gauge has stocks that rise or drop in value when that train company reaches or doesn't reach a new city (you can't sell the stocks though, it's a simple game), it has company money and private money and by leasing track from other companies you can transfer money between companies which gives the possibilities for shenanigans simple to trading trains for ridiculous prices and such. Again, I haven't played an 18XX game myself yet but I think I have a good grasp of what they are about and from having played both Iberian Gauge and Steam (only the app though), I think the former shares a lot more DNA with 18XX and it was the game that signified for me, that I wanna try 18XX, I have backed 1889 Shikoku and I try to get a copy of 18Chesapeake, but it's not widely available in Germany. If I were to introduce people to stock market train games, I'd probably start with a session of Iberian Gauge, it takes an hour to play, has 2 pages of rules and teaches the concept of company money vs private money, different shareholders in the same company and stuff.
@@WuschelofDespair I see your point. I have no experience with Iberian Guage, so cannot comment on how close it is to 18xx. I was just relaying my experiences when looking to start 18xx. If it works wonderful. Good luck and best wishes
@@18xxtraining625 i‘m happy to Play my First 18XX someday. I‘m usually good with rulebooks for heavy games so hopefully it will work. 1889 is still at least half a year away and 18Chesapeake is Hard to get for a good price here in Germany (there was no retail Distribution). 1830 is cheap and easy to get, but I dread the long time it takes to play. 1846 sounds nice though, it‘s ugly but it sounds like a game I could enjoy, I think it focuses More on running a good company, which I‘m Interessted in
@@WuschelofDespair I do not know the availability of 18xx games in Germany, but if 18Chessy is hard to find, have you thought about 18MS? It is an less expensive introduction to 18xx, and I truly feel it is a good first game, Especially if you are new to 18xx and do not have an experienced teacher. Once again thank you for watching the video.
1882 is a good game, I taught it to my family after 18Ches. The good thing is after you know 18ches and 1882, you can combine them with a set of rules for a very vicious game of 18ches off the rails. It would not be the first 18xx I introduce people to, because of the privates and the revolution. The three that I use normally are 1889, 18ches, or 18MS if they have never played an 18xx before. But if you like 1882 then go for it!
I think the #1 advice to anyone that wants to try these games is to find someone to teach them.
So i think there is a huge difference between what game to bring to the table for a group that wants to try the genre (not even sure such a game exists, given the state of the rule books) and what game you should use to teach someone 18xx.
As always, thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on the video.
It is always better to have a teacher. That being said there are alternatives that allow you to gain a good grasp of a game prior to playing it with your friends. Of all the games I own, If I had to pick one to learn from scratch with out a teacher it would be 18MS. If I had to do this, I would read the rules, which are available on 18xx.games. Read the most relevant BGG threads, watch a couple of youtube videos of instruction and playthroughs, Play a couple of games on 18xx.games, asking questions etc. Then you are ready to teach the people you play games with. It is a tedious process to learn without an experienced teacher but doable these days.
Railways of the Lost Atlas seems most suitable for a newbie like me. Currently in kickstarter.
I have no experience with Lost Atlas, but when I was thinking about learning 18xx, I spent a lot of money purchasing train games like Steam and Age of Steam. Even though these are both good games they did not scratch the 18xx itch. Enjoy.
RotLA is a fantastic entry to 18XX. 18XX with map building, what’s not to love?\
Great video, I was looking into getting into this genre. And this helps.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. There is a new game that I would add to this list, If I was to do it again. 18SVEA is part of All Aboard Games Wave 6. The Kickstarter is over, but All Aboard Games maybe opening preorders soon.
@@18xxtraining625 cool thank you will check it out
Nice video Joe, I think these are all good options. Two other choices I'd consider would be 1893 Cologne from Marflow, which plays super fast and is a game in the minor/1835 tradition; and Poseidon which might appeal to heavy Euro Gamers hesitant about full 18xx games or train themes, it is OOP but quite often comes up 2nd hand.
I have no experience with 1893 nor Poseidon, but I tried to keep to the games that are still published and available to anyone interested in 18xx. If it wasn't for the announcement of the kickstarter, the number 1 1889 would not have been on the list due to the difficulty of obtaining it.
Thank you for watching and commenting
Great video Joe! Let's get another game of chessie in real soon!
Thank you for watching. I am always ready for a game, just hit me up on discord.
This is a helpful resource, Joe. Thanks for the shout out for the podcast as well.
Thank you for watching. I hoped to make something that would be useful for people new to the hobby.
Well done, Joe. Very thoughtful and concise.
Thank you for watching.
Great video, I would say that it would be more accurate to call these games entry level 18xx games. I would consider games like Stephenson's Rocket, North American Railways, Railways of the World and Age of Steam to be gateways as they introduce some of the concepts in 18xx games without the whole package. People get more accustomed to route building, investing in companies without all the bells and whistles of rusting trains, limited tracks, privates etc. I especially like North American Railways (although that game has very alien rules regarding hostile takeover and company investing for 18xx players) as it perfectly shows the difference between company money and personal money and the effect of correlation/causation on one another.
Thank you for taking the time to watch the video. I went down a similar path before diving into 18xx games. I first purchased Steam, then Age of Steam before purchasing 1889. I do not necessarily regret those purchases, however, I don't play them very often any more. I would prefer to play an actual 18xx game. The games featured in the video are some of the easiest to get to the table with non-18xxers. Enjoy the games!
@@18xxtraining625 completely agree. My entry level were 1846 and 1889 and they are great.
@@th3cha1rmak3r Both are evergreen titles and easy to teach and find players that know them. Very popular on 18xx.games
I would have loved a video like this when I was starting out. Good job.
Thank you for watching.
Great List Joe!
Thank you for watching.
Thoughts about Iberian Gauge as an intermediate Gateway step to 18XX?
I am not a big fan of cube rail games. Before I started 18xx games I tried both Steam and Age of Steam, both palled in comparison to 18xx. I would strongly suggest one of the five recommended here, or any game that you can get someone that enjoys playing. Any 18xx game can be a gateway game, if the person teaching it is passionate and patient.
@@18xxtraining625 Hmm I'm not really sure where Steam or Age of Steam come in here. From what I have read and seen about 18XX (to be fair, I haven't played one yet), it doesn't share too many similarities with 18XX, yes there's laying track with hex-shaped tiles (no junctions though) and some route building involved, and the train value somehow resembles the different trains in 18XX, but it's a vastly different game, right?
Iberian Gauge has stocks that rise or drop in value when that train company reaches or doesn't reach a new city (you can't sell the stocks though, it's a simple game), it has company money and private money and by leasing track from other companies you can transfer money between companies which gives the possibilities for shenanigans simple to trading trains for ridiculous prices and such.
Again, I haven't played an 18XX game myself yet but I think I have a good grasp of what they are about and from having played both Iberian Gauge and Steam (only the app though), I think the former shares a lot more DNA with 18XX and it was the game that signified for me, that I wanna try 18XX, I have backed 1889 Shikoku and I try to get a copy of 18Chesapeake, but it's not widely available in Germany.
If I were to introduce people to stock market train games, I'd probably start with a session of Iberian Gauge, it takes an hour to play, has 2 pages of rules and teaches the concept of company money vs private money, different shareholders in the same company and stuff.
@@WuschelofDespair I see your point. I have no experience with Iberian Guage, so cannot comment on how close it is to 18xx. I was just relaying my experiences when looking to start 18xx. If it works wonderful. Good luck and best wishes
@@18xxtraining625 i‘m happy to Play my First 18XX someday. I‘m usually good with rulebooks for heavy games so hopefully it will work. 1889 is still at least half a year away and 18Chesapeake is Hard to get for a good price here in Germany (there was no retail Distribution). 1830 is cheap and easy to get, but I dread the long time it takes to play. 1846 sounds nice though, it‘s ugly but it sounds like a game I could enjoy, I think it focuses More on running a good company, which I‘m Interessted in
@@WuschelofDespair I do not know the availability of 18xx games in Germany, but if 18Chessy is hard to find, have you thought about 18MS? It is an less expensive introduction to 18xx, and I truly feel it is a good first game, Especially if you are new to 18xx and do not have an experienced teacher. Once again thank you for watching the video.
Thoughts about 1882 as a gateway?
1882 is a good game, I taught it to my family after 18Ches. The good thing is after you know 18ches and 1882, you can combine them with a set of rules for a very vicious game of 18ches off the rails. It would not be the first 18xx I introduce people to, because of the privates and the revolution. The three that I use normally are 1889, 18ches, or 18MS if they have never played an 18xx before. But if you like 1882 then go for it!