Brass: Lancashire (Deluxe)

Brass: Lancashire invites you to step into the competitive world of 19th-century cotton entrepreneurs as you navigate the challenges of the Industrial Revolution. In this captivating economic strategy game, players will develop, build, and expand their industries while responding to the pressing demands for iron, coal, and cotton. Your path to victory is paved with tactical decisions and clever resource management!

The game unfolds in two thrilling phases: the canal phase and the rail phase. To emerge victorious, aim to accumulate the most victory points (VPs) at the end of each phase. Points are scored through your constructed canals, railways, and established industry tiles.

Each round, players alternate turns based on the turn order track, with each player taking two actions from a wide array of strategic options:

• Build an industry tile
• Construct a rail or canal
• Develop an industry
• Sell cotton
• Take a loan

The clever turn order mechanism is determined by the amount of money spent in the previous round, with the lowest spender going first. This creates exciting strategic opportunities for players in later turns, offering the chance for back-to-back actions!

As the game progresses and all cards have been played for the first time (with the deck adjusted for the number of players), the canal phase concludes with a scoring round. Following this, all canals and the lowest-level industries exit the game, paving the way for the rail phase, where the stakes are even higher! Now, players can occupy multiple locations within a city, and although they may be costly, double-connections are available for ambitious builds.

Strategically manage your cards, as they dictate where you can develop industries, sell cotton, or lay down connections (though any card can be used for development). Resource availability adds another layer of strategy—constructing a rail line means sourcing nearby coal, potentially from an opponent's coal mine, which could advance that player’s scoring as well.

The redesigned Brass: Lancashire, the 2018 edition by Roxley Games, revitalizes the classic Warfrog Games original with stunning new artwork, improved components, and streamlined rules:

• The optional virtual link rules between Birkenhead provide flexibility for gameplay.
• Three-player games have been refined for a more balanced experience, mirroring the ideal four-player dynamic.
• New two-player rules allow for engaging gameplay without needing an alternate board.
• The value of the level 1 cotton mill has been adjusted, now granting 5 VPs, making it a more viable option.

Gather your friends and family, and prepare to dominate the textile industry in Brass: Lancashire—where strategy and competition reign supreme!