Brass: Lancashire

Get ready to dive into the Industrial Revolution of Lancashire with Brass: Lancashire! In this economic strategy game, you take on the role of a shrewd entrepreneur, competing to develop, build, and expand your industries and transportation networks. The goal is simple, but the execution is complex: capitalize on the growing demand for iron, coal, and, of course, cotton, to accumulate the most victory points.

The game is divided into two crucial phases: the canal era and the rail era. Points are tallied at the end of each phase, based on your canals, railways, and established (flipped) industries. In each round, players take turns, performing two actions from the following options: build an industry, construct a canal or railway, develop an existing industry, sell cotton, or take a loan. Turn order is a strategic detail in itself: the player who spent the least in the previous round goes first, which can open up opportunities for consecutive turns and bolder planning.

The cards in your hand limit where you can build or sell, but any card can be used to develop your industries. A key point is the management of shared resources: if you need coal to build a railway line, you'll have to use coal from the nearest source, which might be an opponent's coal mine, indirectly benefiting them. At the end of the canal phase, after the deck has been played, all canals and lowest-level industries are removed, making way for the rail phase, where new cards are dealt and the competition intensifies. In this phase, it's possible to occupy multiple spaces in a city and even build double connections, though they are more expensive. Another scoring round at the end of the rail phase determines the ultimate winner.

The 2018 edition from Roxley Games, which is the Brass: Lancashire we know today, brought a visual and component overhaul, as well as rule adjustments. The virtual link rules in Birkenhead became optional, the 3-player experience was improved to be closer to that of 4 players, and specific 2-player rules were created, without the need for an alternate board. Oh, and the level 1 cotton mill is now worth 5 VPs, making it a little less 'terrible'!