1830

1830 is one of the famous 18XX games created in 1986. From its alternate game name " 1830: The Game of Railroads and Robber Barons ", we can foresee that this game players can be really money hungry $.$ and ruthlessly plunder company's treasury. The basic game ( no later expansion) can be played with 2-6 players.

Players can plunder company's treasury, by means of looting money - reselling his/her own private(s) which is/are bidded from initial share round.

The privates are S&V, Ch. St. L., D&H, M&H, C&A and B&O.

In my opinion, except 6 players game, the functions of S&V, Ch. St. L., D&H, M&H are mostly useless.

For simplicity, Ch. St. L. is mostly used for placing tile 58 pointing towards New York direction or towards maritime provinces. (or block others, yup good destructive tool to ruin Canadian Pacific)

D&H can be used as an isolated station to help connected to New York. But cost is so high.

M&H can exchange to a NYC share but you lose the double face value money $$ which 90% not worth it. Exception is when you can use it to secure a NYC presidency for purchase of 2 permanent 5Ts in next stock round, mostly happen in 6 players game.

For this M&H exception, one can consider that the max loot $220 actually caused from $132 (=$220 * 0.6) players' paid cost. So For a NYC share (usually 67-100 value), you can regain at least $67 face value + dividends paid + creativity destruction gain ( i.e. securing permanent trains that in your control + opponents potential loss due to obsolete trains ).

The bidding price of C&A is exceptionally important in this game as it gives highest loot + an extra PRR share (sucks in early game, usually good in end game for profit).

Face value of C&A is $160, with its high dividend pay $25 per OR, its Div/Cost is way too high if bid is too low.

For this evaluation, one can consider 2 magic numbers $335 and $402, the first one can open a PRR at par $67 by purchasing 5 shares. Latter can help set up a brand new company at par $67. For advanced play, you may consider the money and share you can have at stock round 2 ( right before companies starting to play).

B&O private is usually very bad as leftover and player who get this as only private need to play in an extraordinary way. As you cannot resell B&O, you need to maximize other players' loss in order to fight in a equal chance. (Hint: leveraging players' loss, you lose less but others lose more)

This game contains 8 companies namely B&O, PRR, NNH, B&M, C&O, CPR, NYC and E&R.