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1849: Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Designer: Scott Petersen

Federico Vellani's 1849 taken further south, to the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, in a revision by Scott Petersen.

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1849: Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Contents

How it works

Setup
  • 1849's rules on a new map: southern Italy, from Roma to Reggio
  • Starting cash: L. 375 (4 players), L. 330 (5) or L. 300 (6); L. 7,760 bank
  • All 8 companies always play; place cards set their order
  • Initial stock round: buy the cheapest private or bid on a pricier one
  • The [RSA] comes with the president's certificate of the first company
Stock round ×1
  • Turn: sell as many shares as you like, then buy one
  • Start the next company in line: price L. 68 or L. 100 (later 144 and 216)
  • The president pays for the 20% and up to two more 10%: it goes to the treasury
  • Treasury shares are bought at share price and the money goes to the company
  • At the end: shares in the open market go down; nothing left to sell goes up
Operating round ×1-3
  • Private income
  • Each company, highest share price first:
  • 1. One tile: lay or upgrade
  • 2. One station (already paid for on founding)
  • 3. Run trains: pay out or withhold
  • 4. Buy trains
  • 5. Sell treasury shares or buy one back
↻ Repeats until the end
End
  • A share price reaches L. 377: the game ends when that company finishes operating
  • The bank runs out: the set of operating rounds finishes
  • Only one player is left in the game
  • Most cash plus shares wins (–L. 750 per emergency loan)

Components

Players
  • Cash
  • Shares (max. 60% of a company)
  • Privates (count toward the certificate limit: 14, 12 or 10)
Companies
  • 8 companies with incremental capitalisation
  • 20% president, six 10% shares and a 20% "last certificate"
  • Three stations, paid for on founding
  • The [SFR] picks its home among the free cities
Privates
  • 5 privates with fixed income
  • The [SCE] blocks Caserta while a player owns it
  • Close with the first 12H train
Bank
  • L. 7,760 bank
  • Open market (max. 50% of a company)
  • New trains
Map
  • Broad gauge, narrow gauge and mixed track
  • Trains count hexes, not stops
  • Roma, Terni and Messina: grey off-board destinations
  • Avezzano: a grey 30 tile that the earthquake wipes out

Where the money goes

  • Players Companies Buying treasury shares, always at share price
  • Players Bank Buying privates and open market shares
  • Bank Players Dividends, private income, share sales
  • Bank Companies Withheld revenue, dividends on its own shares, sale of treasury shares
  • Companies Bank Trains, terrain and stations
  • Companies Players Buying privates (phases 6H to 10H)

Phases

4H
Start
4H · L. 100
Yellow; 1 operating round; 4-train limit
6H
1st 6H train
6H · L. 200
Green; 2 operating rounds; companies buy privates; L. 144 par price
8H
1st 8H train
8H · L. 350
4Hs removed; limit of 3
10H
1st 10H train
10H · L. 550
Brown; 3 operating rounds; 6Hs removed; limit of 2; L. 216 par price
12H
1st 12H train
12H · L. 800
Privates close; earthquake: Avezzano becomes a 10 town with no track to Roma
16H
1st 16H train
16H · L. 1,100 · R6H · L. 600
8Hs removed; share price can enter the blue zone
  • The share price only rises if the total dividend is equal to or greater than the share price.
  • Compared with 1849: the map, 8 companies, more trains (8H, 10H and 16H) and an R6H costing L. 600.

A round, step by step

Illustrative example with 1849's real rules and this map's data (the rulebook has none): 4 players with L. 375 each. We follow [PL1], who takes the [RSA] and with it the [IFP] in Napoli, through the initial round and the first two operating rounds.

  1. Before starting Company order Phase 4H

    Place cards decide the order in which the 8 companies can be started. The first is the [IFP], based in Napoli: it's the one that comes with the [RSA].

    Nobody chooses which company to start: it's always the next one in line.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 375
    [IFP] treasury
    —
    [IFP] share price
    —
    [IFP] trains
    —
  2. Initial stock round A bid for the [RSA] Phase 4H

    The cheapest one for sale is the [SCE] (L. 20). [PL1] doesn't buy it: they bid L. 155 on the [RSA], L. 5 over its price. The money is set aside.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 375
    [IFP] treasury
    —
    [IFP] share price
    —
    [IFP] trains
    —
  3. Initial stock round The other privates Phase 4H

    [PL2] buys the [SCE], [PL3] the [SIGI], [PL4] the [CNM] and [PL2] the [SMS], each at its price. When the [RSA]'s turn comes, [PL1]'s is the only bid: they take it for L. 155.

    With more than one bid, the bidders would hold an auction among themselves.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 220
    [IFP] treasury
    —
    [IFP] share price
    —
    [IFP] trains
    —
  4. Initial stock round The [IFP] is born Phase 4H

    With the [RSA], [PL1] gets the [IFP] president's certificate (20%) and sets its price at L. 100. The company receives the certificate's value, L. 200, minus stations: the [IFP] pays L. 130, the top rate. It places its station in Napoli.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 220
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 70
    [IFP] share price
    L. 100
    [IFP] trains
    —
  5. Stock round 1 Capital for the [IFP] Phase 4H

    [PL1] buys two 10% shares from the [IFP] treasury, L. 100 each, over two turns. The money goes to the company. They now hold 40%.

    At the end of the round the [IFP] still has shares in its treasury and none in the open market: the share price doesn't move.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 20
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 270
    [IFP] share price
    L. 100
    [IFP] trains
    —
  6. Operating round 1 Income Phase 4H

    [PL1] collects L. 25 from the [RSA]. The [IFP] lays no track: Caserta is blocked by the [SCE] while [PL2] owns it, and towards Avellino there are mountains.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 45
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 270
    [IFP] share price
    L. 100
    [IFP] trains
    —
  7. Operating round 1 No train Phase 4H

    No trains, no revenue: the share price moves one column left, from L. 100 to L. 90.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 45
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 270
    [IFP] share price
    L. 90
    [IFP] trains
    —
  8. Operating round 1 A 4H train Phase 4H

    Napoli and Salerno are already linked by broad gauge, so the [IFP] has a route and must buy a train: a 4H for L. 100. It's its first train and the [RSA] closes.

    [PL1] loses the [RSA]'s L. 25 a round: that's the price of starting the company so early.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 45
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 170
    [IFP] share price
    L. 90
    [IFP] trains
    4H
  9. Stock round 2 A quiet round Phase 4H

    With L. 45 [PL1] can't afford an [IFP] share (L. 90) and passes. Meanwhile, the others start the next companies in line.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 45
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 170
    [IFP] share price
    L. 90
    [IFP] trains
    4H
  10. Operating round 2 Napoli – Salerno Phase 4H

    The 4H runs Napoli (20) – Salerno (10): L. 30, using just one of its four hexes.

    Towards Avellino, narrow gauge would cost L. 40 instead of L. 160, but every narrow-gauge hex counts as two.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 45
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 170
    [IFP] share price
    L. 90
    [IFP] trains
    4H
  11. Operating round 2 Paying out Phase 4H

    The [IFP] pays L. 3 per 10%. [PL1] (40%) collects L. 12 and the treasury's 60% earns L. 18 for the company. Since L. 30 doesn't reach the share price, it doesn't rise.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 57
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 188
    [IFP] share price
    L. 90
    [IFP] trains
    4H
  12. Operating round 2 A second 4H Phase 4H

    It buys another 4H for L. 100. Two are left in the bank.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 57
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 88
    [IFP] share price
    L. 90
    [IFP] trains
    4H + 4H
  13. Operating round 2 Selling its own share Phase 4H

    The [IFP] sells a 10% treasury share to the open market at L. 90. The money goes to the company and the share price drops one row, to L. 86.

    Not allowed in the company's first operating round.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 57
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 178
    [IFP] share price
    L. 86
    [IFP] trains
    4H + 4H
  14. Towards stock round 3 What now? Phase 4H

    With that share in the open market, the [IFP] will drop another row at the end of the next stock round unless someone buys it. To grow it has to reach Roma, worth 60 now and 120 at the end, or Bari along the coast.

    [PL1] cash
    L. 57
    [IFP] treasury
    L. 178
    [IFP] share price
    L. 86
    [IFP] trains
    4H + 4H

1849: Kingdom of the Two Sicilies — Summary

Capitalization type

  • Incremental capitalization with no free par value: when founded, the company chooses its starting price from a fixed menu (L.68 or L.100 from the start; L.144 from the green phase onward; L.216 from the brown phase onward), and the Treasury only receives money from actual share sales, never from shares resold from the bank pool.

Floating percentage and per-player share limits

  • Floats once 20% of shares are sold for every corporation
  • No player may hold more than 60% (6 of 10 certificates) of a single corporation
  • Certificate limit per player: 4 players — 14; 5 players — 12; 6 players — 10

Starting cash by player count

  • 4 players: L.375 starting cash
  • 5 players: L.330 starting cash
  • 6 players: L.300 starting cash
  • The bank always starts with L.7,760, regardless of player count

End game triggers

  • A player goes bankrupt: immediate end
  • The bank runs out of money: the current full operating round set is finished
  • A corporation reaches the highest space on the stock market (L.377): the game ends right after that corporation finishes operating

Number of phases

  • 6 phases (4H, 6H, 8H, 10H, 12H, 16H), triggered by the purchase of the first train of each type

Train list and prices

  • 4H train — L.100 (4 units; rusts once the first 8H-train is bought)
  • 6H train — L.200 (4 units; rusts once the first 10H-train is bought; unlocks parring at L.144)
  • 8H train — L.350 (3 or 4 units depending on player count; rusts once the first 16H-train is bought)
  • 10H train — L.550 (2 or 3 units depending on player count; unlocks parring at L.216)
  • 12H train — L.800 (1 unit; buying it closes the privates and triggers the Avezzano earthquake)
  • 16H train — L.1,100 (6 units)
  • R6H train — L.600 (2 units, available from Phase 16H; the only train able to run on both track gauges)
  • Every train counts hexes of track traveled, not cities visited

List of private companies

  • SCE - Società Corriere — L.20, revenue 5, blocks Caserta (F8) while owned by a player
  • SIGI - Studio di Ingegneria Giuseppe Incorpora — L.45, revenue 10, the owning corporation builds or upgrades at half cost on mountain, hill, or rough terrain (standard gauge)
  • CNM - Compagnia Navale Mediterranea — L.75, revenue 15, the owning corporation may close it to place a permanent +L.20 marker on any port
  • SMS - Società Marittima Siciliana — L.110, revenue 20, the owning corporation may close it to "teleport" to any coastal city (except Foggia, Campobasso, L'Aquila, and Potenza) and build and/or token there
  • RSA - Reale Società d'Affari — L.150, revenue 25, cannot be sold to a corporation; comes with the first president's share of the associated corporation; closes when that corporation buys its first train (or otherwise at the start of Phase 12H)

List of corporations

  • SFR - Società per le Strade Ferrate Romane — no fixed home; the president chooses on floating among E11, H8, I13, I17, J18, K19, L12, L20, O9, or P2
  • SFCS - Società per le Strade Ferrate Calabro-Sicule — home at O9
  • AL - Società Adami e Lemmi — home at N20
  • SFM - Società Italiana per le Strade Ferrate Meridionali — home at B14
  • IFP - Impresa Ferroviaria di Pietrarsa — home at G7
  • PL - Società Anonima Pia Latina — home at G15
  • FCU - Ferrovia Centrale Umbra — home at A9
  • M&C - Società in Commandita E. Melisurgo & C. — home at L18
  • All 8 corporations are always available, with none randomly removed (unlike the original 1849)

Game-specific mechanics

  • No free par value: the starting price comes from a fixed menu of four figures, expanded as the game progresses
  • Random, forced founding order via position cards: no player chooses which company to found
  • Dual track gauge (standard and narrow) with different building costs; gauge can only change at a station
  • Each company's train limit drops from 4 to 3 and finally to 2
  • Corporate bankruptcy: permanent closure and total loss for shareholders, with no compensation
  • The president's personal ruin: a L.500 loan from the bank with a L.750 penalty at final scoring
  • Avezzano earthquake when the first 12H train is bought: removes the special tile on that hex

Emergency sell

Identical to 1849: treasury, then the president's personal cash, then a forced sale of the president's own shares — including the same restriction that a corporation's own shares can't be sold to fund itself until it has already operated once. 1849Boot only changes the map, market and trains, not this mechanic.

Comparison with 1830

1. Setting, map and number of players
1830 covers the northeastern USA for 2-6 players. This "Kingdom of the Two Sicilies" edition (based on the original 1849 set in Sicily) moves the action to the mainland, to the old Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (southern Italy, from Naples down), for 4-6 players, with 8 operating companies instead of the original base game's 6.

2. No free par value: the starting price comes from a fixed menu
In 1830 whoever founds a company picks its par value from a wide price table, and shares trade afterward relative to that value. Here there's no par value in the 1830 sense: every transaction happens at the current market value, and the president can only choose the starting value from a very small fixed menu of figures.

3. Random, forced founding order
In 1830 each player freely chooses which company to found and when. Here, position cards are randomly dealt at the start of the game and determine the exact order in which presidential certificates become available; a player who wants to found a company cannot choose one: they always take the next one available in that predetermined order.

4. Dual-gauge track
Something that doesn't exist in 1830 at all: the map has both standard-gauge and narrow-gauge track, with different building costs for each. Most trains can only run on one of the two gauges; only the special R6H train can use both networks, though it counts standard-gauge hexes as twice as costly in distance.

5. Corporate bankruptcy: permanent closure with no compensation
In 1830, if a company can't pay for a mandatory train, the president covers it with personal funds and, as a last resort, the company is liquidated but still exists with its shares. Here, if there's still not enough money to pay for a train even after the president has dipped into their own pocket, the company is closed entirely: all its tokens and any privates it owned are removed, and shareholders receive no compensation whatsoever.

6. The president's personal ruin
Here, if the president also can't cover an emergency payment with personal money, they can take a L.500 loan from the bank to keep playing, but L.750 is deducted from their final net worth. 1830 has no equivalent mechanism for individual personal debt.

7. An earthquake tailored to the new map
The base game (1849 in Sicily) has an earthquake that downgrades Messina once the first 12H train is bought. In this edition, the equivalent event hits Avezzano instead: the special tile on that hex disappears forever, revealing a weaker printed town with no connection to Rome — a thematic mechanic with no equivalent in 1830 at all.

Related games

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More games by Scott Petersen

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