Capstone Games 32

from Around the Table Q2 2021

IELLO

The Iron Rail Series

by Capstone Games

By Jillian Ross

The Iron Rail series from Capstone Games focuses on rail network developments in various geographic regions around the world at a time when iron and steam powered locomotives were the best means of transportation. This series is dedicated to the robust iron railways that were built during this period of history. Player interaction, route building, and stock investments are key features of the Iron Rail series. With accessibility in mind, each game in the series has one sheet of rules and plays in just one hour!

The first game in the series, Irish Gauge designed by Amabel Holland, is a cube rails game where players manage ownership of railroad companies and build their own railroad tracks from city to city. On each player's turn, they can either place a share of one of five companies up for auction, build track in one of these five companies, upgrade a town to a city, or call for dividends. The dividends are paid out to shareholders of certain railroads based on how many cities/towns they connect to and how many shares of this company have been issued. The upgrade and dividend actions also affect game length and the likelihood of further dividends for each company. The game ends when a certain condition is met at the end of a player's turn, and the player with the highest sum of money and stock value at the end of this turn wins. Irish Gauge plays 3 to 5 players in about an hour, ages 12 and up!

The next game in the series, Ride the Rails from Winsome Games, is a pick-up and deliver train game where players will lay track to deliver passengers across the US. Each player will invest in railroad companies, build railway tracks across the

United States, and deliver passengers to as many cities as possible. Each round, a new railroad company is introduced to the game, and each railroad company has its own special placement rules! Deliver passengers to as many cities as possible to earn the most points. Be cautious in travels as shareholders of railroads that you use will also earn points! Ride the Rails offers an expansion map for France and Germany, and a new expansion map available in July 2021 featuring Australia and Canada!

The newest addition to the Iron Rail Series is Iberian Gauge by Amabel Holland. Much like Irish Gauge, Iberian Gauge is a cube rails game where players manage ownership of railroad companies and build their own railroad tracks. Each player will invest in railroad companies during Stock Rounds. In the Operating Rounds, each share of stock allows the shareholder to build a track for that company, in the order those shares were purchased. But building in such hostile terrain is expensive! Leasing track from other companies reduces cost and keeps your railroads expanding. Failure to expand will sink your stock values, leading to ruin!

Explore the world of iron and steam powered locomotives featuring beautiful artwork from Ian O’Toole in the Iron Rail Series from Capstone Games! Iberian Gauge and the new Ride the Rails: Australia and Canada Expansion Map will be available in July 2021.