Random Events in 1830
by Brad Martin
from: THE BOARDGAMER, Special Preview Issue, Aug 1995, p 16.


The railroads game 1830 provides players with many difficult choices. However, after a number of games most players work out which corporations and private companies provide the best opportunities. A game played with only three or four players is also more predictable.

At the risk of offending the "diceless" purists, I have drawn up a random events chart. These events should add variety, enhance the sometimes "cut-and-thrust" atmosphere of the age of the Robber Barons, without significantly distorting play balance or depreciating the value of intelligent and skillful play.

The Random Events Chart should be consulted at the start of each game-turn, by one player rolling a twenty-sided die. If an event calls for a random Railroad [RND RR] to be affected, a player should roll one eight-sided die to determine the identity of the Corporation from the Random Railroad Chart.

Random Railroad Chart
Die Roll Affected Railroad
1 PRR
2 NYC
3 CPR
4 B&O
5 C&O
6 ERlE
7 NYNH&H
8 8&M

1830 Random Events Table

Die Roll Title & Description of Event
1. BULL MARKET - Move stock token of RND RR up 1 line.
2. BEAR MARKET - Move stock token of RND RR down 1 line.
3. PUBLIC BUYS - The public buys 1 share certificate of a RND RR from the Initial Offering or Bank Pool (remove certificate from play).
4. PUBLIC SELLS - If the public has previously bought a share 1 certificate, return it to play (if more than 1 such share then roll randomly to determine which).
5. TRAIN SALE - Overproduction of trains cuts purchase prices by 25% for the first operating round only.
6. TRAINS SCARCE - Factory strike causes train purchase prices to rise by 25%, for the first operating round only.
7 POLITICS - A RR President may use his own money to purchase one train in the first operating round.
8. STRIKE - One RND token of a RND RR is closed down for the first operating round.
9. BONUS - Increased productivity allows RND RR to lay an extra tile in the first operating round.
10. FIRE - One RND terminal of RND RR is burnt down (return token to Corporation card).
11. BRIDGE DOWN - If RND RR has a tile in a river hexagon it is removed.
12. BOOM - Double the income from all Private Companies.
13. BUST - No income from Private Companies this turn.
14. GOV'T SUBSIDY - There is no cost to place tiles in mountain or river hexagons this turn.
15. AVALANCHE - If RND RR has a tile in a mountain hexagon it is removed (roll RND if more than one).
16. BANKRUPT - Private Company closed down (roll 1 6-sided dice to determine which, #1 being Schuylkill).
17. NEW TRAIN - The optional 6-train is available for purchase.
18. DIRTY TRICKS - RND RR uses innovative tactics to seize the initiative - treat this RR as if it had the highest share price this turn.
19. CONFIDENCE - Failure to declare a dividend does not result in the stock valuation being moved 1 space to the left this turn.
20. INTEGRITY - Trains may not be purchased from another Corporation at less than half their face value this turn.

Updated 11 Jul 09.

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