18CZ: The Railway Comes to Czech Lands

Designer: Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler

The Czech Lands with fifteen operating companies in three sizes (small, medium, big) that absorb one another, over a fixed run of eight stock rounds.

View on BoardGameGeek → View the rulebook → View on Ludoya →

18CZ: The Railway Comes to Czech Lands Contents

How it works

Setup

Cash by player count: from 380K (3) to 210K (6), or 280K with 2; the bank is unlimited
Preliminary round: 18 local railways (small, medium and large) at fixed prices
Bought in snake order (1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1…)
Whoever has the least cash goes first in the stock round

Stock round ×1

Sell as you like and buy one certificate
Small companies from the start; medium from the 1st b train; large from the 1st d train
Floats at 50%: receives 4×, 5× or 10× the price depending on size
Selling drops one space; if fully in players' hands, it goes up

Operating round ×1-3

Local railway income; their price rises every round
Each company, highest share price first:
1. Track: one yellow (two on the first turn) or one upgrade
2. One station (40K, later 100K)
3. Trains, matching the company's size
4. Pay out (right; large ones, two) or withhold (left)
5. Absorb smaller companies
6. Buy trains (must own one it can use)

↻ Repeats until the end

End

Fixed length: 13 operating rounds (sets of 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 and 3)
It ends when the local railway price reaches 120K
Cash + shares + local railways at 120K − loans and penalties
Highest total wins

Components

Players

Cash
Shares: max. 75% of a small company, 60% of the others
Limit of 14 to 9 certificates

Local railways

Small (5K), medium (10K) and large (20K) income
Owned by a company: one extra purple-edged tile, or skip one terrain cost
Only sold to a company, for 1K up to the current price

Companies

5 small (50-25-25), normal trains
5 medium (40-20-20-20), "plus" trains
5 large (20 + 8×10), E trains that skip towns
A bigger one can absorb a smaller one

Bank

Unlimited money; sold shares go back to it
Each train card has three versions: small, medium and large
Emergency loans

Map

Czechia; rivers, hills and mountains with a cost
Prague: P tiles
Large companies' homes on red hexes: +50K for their company

Where the money goes

Players Bank Local railways and shares
Bank Companies On floating, 4×, 5× or 10× the price; withheld revenue; selling a local railway to the bank
Bank Players Dividends, local railway income, share sales
Companies Bank Trains, terrain and stations
Companies Players Buying a local railway; paying for an absorbed company's shares
Players Companies Forced train purchase: the director makes up the shortfall, with a loan if needed

Phases

Start

2 · 70K

Small companies only; 3-train limit

1st b train

2 · 70K / 2+2 · 80K

Medium companies; local railways and trains can be bought between companies

1st c train

3 · 120K / 2+2 · 80K

1st d train

3 · 120K / 3+3 · 180K / 3E · 250K

Green; large companies; green value on off-boards

1st e train

4 · 250K / 3+3 · 180K / 3E · 250K

A 4 rusts the 2s; small companies, limit of 2

1st f train

4 · 250K / 4+4 · 400K / 4E · 350K

A 4+4 rusts the 2+2s; medium companies, limit of 2

1st g train

5 · 350K / 4+4 · 400K / 4E · 350K

Brown; a 5 rusts the 3s

1st h train

5 · 350K / 5+5 · 500K / 5E · 700K

A 5+5 rusts the 3+3s; small companies, limit of 1

1st i train

5 · 350K / 5+5 · 500K / 6E · 800K

Grey; a 6E rusts the 3Es; medium companies, limit of 1

1st j train

5 · 350K / 5+5 · 500K / 8E · 1,000K

An 8E rusts the 4Es; large companies, limit of 2

Each company can only run trains of its own size, but it can hold others to sell them.
At the end of every set of operating rounds the top train of the stack is exported: phases move on their own.

A round, step by step

Illustrative example with the game's rules: 4 players with 300K each. We follow [P1] and the [BCB], a small company based in Pardubice, from the preliminary round to the second operating round.

Before starting Not much money Phase a

With 4 players, each has 300K and the limit is 12 certificates. At first only small companies can be started.

[P1] cash

300K

[BCB] treasury

—

[BCB] share price

—

[BCB] trains

—
Preliminary round A local railway Phase a

[P1] buys the small local railway [S1] for 25K. It pays 5K every operating round and, if a player holds it at the end, it's worth 120K.

A local railway counts toward the certificate limit, and a player can't sell it to another player.

[P1] cash

275K

[BCB] treasury

—

[BCB] share price

—

[BCB] trains

—
Stock round 1 Starting the [BCB] Phase a

[P1] buys the [BCB] director's certificate (50%) at 60K per share: they pay 120K. With 50% sold, the [BCB] floats immediately and receives 4 × 60K = 240K.

A medium company would receive 5 times the price, and a large one 10.

[P1] cash

155K

[BCB] treasury

240K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

—
Stock round 1 Up to 75% Phase a

[P1] buys another 25% of the [BCB] for 60K. You can own up to 75% of a small company. The last 25% stays in the bank, which is why the share price doesn't rise at the end of the round.

[P1] cash

95K

[BCB] treasury

240K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

—
Operating round 1 Income Phase a

Local railways are worth 40K in the first operating round. The [S1] pays [P1] 5K.

[P1] cash

100K

[BCB] treasury

240K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

—
Operating round 1 Two yellows on the first turn Phase a

The [BCB] places its station in Pardubice. Since it's its first turn, it can lay two yellows: a city tile in Pardubice, which has a river (10K), and a track tile towards Hradec Králové.

On later turns, just one yellow or one upgrade.

[P1] cash

100K

[BCB] treasury

230K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

—
Operating round 1 No trains, no revenue Phase a

No trains and no payout: the share price drops one space, from 60K to 58K.

[P1] cash

100K

[BCB] treasury

230K

[BCB] share price

58K

[BCB] trains

—
Operating round 1 A small train Phase a

A company must end its turn with a train it can use. The [BCB] buys a 2 from row a for 70K.

[P1] cash

100K

[BCB] treasury

160K

[BCB] share price

58K

[BCB] trains

2
Operating round 1 A train goes abroad Phase a

The set of rounds ends, which right now is just one round. The top train of the stack is exported and leaves the game.

If it's the first of a new letter, it also opens a phase.

[P1] cash

100K

[BCB] treasury

160K

[BCB] share price

58K

[BCB] trains

2
Stock round 2 [P1] passes Phase a

[P1] already holds 75% of the [BCB], the maximum, and buys nothing else.

[P1] cash

100K

[BCB] treasury

160K

[BCB] share price

58K

[BCB] trains

2
Operating round 2 On to Hradec Králové Phase a

Local railways are now worth 45K. The [S1] pays [P1] 5K. The [BCB] lays a yellow city tile in Hradec Králové, which also has a river: 10K.

[P1] cash

105K

[BCB] treasury

150K

[BCB] share price

58K

[BCB] trains

2
Operating round 2 Paying out Phase a

The 2-train runs Pardubice–Hradec Králové: 20 + 20 = 40K. The [BCB] pays it out: [P1] collects 75%, 30K, and the bank's 25% stays in the bank. The share price moves up one space: back to 60K.

Dividends are always rounded in the player's favour.

[P1] cash

135K

[BCB] treasury

150K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

2
Operating round 2 The first b train Phase b

No a trains are left. The [BCB] buys the first 2 from row b for 70K. Phase b begins: medium companies can now be started and companies can buy local railways.

[P1] cash

135K

[BCB] treasury

80K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

2 + 2
Operating round 2 The [BCB] buys the [S1] Phase b

Still on its turn, the [BCB] buys the [S1] from [P1]. The price must be between 1K and the current value, 45K: [P1] picks 45K. The income now goes to the [BCB], which once can skip paying for a river or lay a purple-edged green tile.

Had [P1] kept it until the end, it would have been worth 120K to them.

[P1] cash

180K

[BCB] treasury

35K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

2 + 2
Towards stock round 3 Here come the medium companies Phase b

In stock round 3, [P1] can start a medium company with the 180K. Later on, a bigger company could absorb the [BCB], paying 50% to 150% of the share price for each share players hold.

[P1] cash

180K

[BCB] treasury

35K

[BCB] share price

60K

[BCB] trains

2 + 2

18CZ — Summary

Capitalization type

Capitalization depends on company size: upon floating (50% sold, except medium companies which float at 60%), small companies receive 4 times the par price, medium companies 5 times, and only large companies get the usual 10 times seen in 1830.

Floats at 50% of shares sold, except medium companies, which float at 60%
No player may hold more than 60% (6 out of 10 certificates) of a large or medium company, but may hold up to 75% of a small company
Certificate limit per player: 2 players — 14; 3 players — 14; 4 players — 12; 5 players — 10; 6 players — 9

Starting cash by player count

2 players: 280 K starting cash
3 players: 380 K starting cash
4 players: 300 K starting cash
5 players: 250 K starting cash
6 players: 210 K starting cash
The bank is unlimited (no fixed amount of money)

End game triggers

Fixed length by round: the "Local Railways Price" automatically rises by 5 K at the start of every operating round (from 40 to 120); once it reaches 120, that final operating round is played and the game ends, unrelated to the bank running out (which is unlimited anyway)

Number of phases

10 phases (a-j), triggered by the purchase of the first train of each type (2b, 3c, 3d, 4e, 4f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 5j)
Medium companies unlock in phase b and large companies in phase d
Green tiles unlock in phase d, brown in phase g, and gray in phase i
The train limit per company progressively shrinks and varies by size (small/medium/large)

Train list and prices

2a train — 70 K (5 units; rusts with the 4e/4f/5g/5h/5i/5j trains) — exclusive to small companies
2b train — 70 K (4 units; same rusting) — buying it unlocks medium companies; "2+2b" variant for 80 K
3c train — 120 K (4 units; rusts with 5g/5h/5i/5j); "2+2c" variant for 80 K
3d train — 120 K (4 units; same rusting) — buying it unlocks large companies; "3+3d" (180 K) and Express "3Ed" (250 K) variants
4e train — 250 K (4 units); "3+3e" (180 K) and "3Ee" (250 K) variants
4f train — 250 K (4 units); "4+4f" (400 K) and Express "4Ef" (350 K, rusts with the 8Ej) variants
5g train — 350 K (4 units); "4+4g" (400 K) and "4Eg" (350 K, rusts with the 8Ej) variants
5h train — 350 K (2 units); "5+5h" (500 K) and "5Eh" (700 K) variants
5i train — 350 K (2 units); "5+5i" (500 K) and "6Ei" (800 K, rusts with the 8Ej) variants
5j train — 350 K, unlimited; "5+5j" (500 K) and the final Express "8Ej" (1,000 K) variants
Three train families: "Normal" trains count exactly the locations visited; "Plus-trains" (X+X variants) have a total limit with a sub-cap on cities; "Express" trains (E variants) can pass through unlimited towns without them counting

List of private companies

Regional Railways (S, small) — 5 K revenue each: S1 Plan-Tachau 25 K, S2 Melnik-Mscheno 30 K, S3 Zwittau-Politschka 35 K, S4 Wolframs-Teltsch 40 K, S5 Strakonitz-Blatna-Bresnitz 45 K, S6 Martinitz-Rochlitz 50 K — allow ignoring a river's building cost or laying a purple-edged green upgrade
Main Railways (M, medium) — 10 K revenue each: M1 Raudnitz-Kmetnowes 40 K, M2 Schweißing-Haid 45 K, M3 Deutschbrod-Tischnowitz 50 K, M4 Troppau-Grätz 55 K, M5 Hannsdorf-Mährisch Altstadt 60 K, M6 Friedland-Bila 65 K — allow ignoring a river or hill's cost, or laying a purple-edged green/brown upgrade
State Railway seeds (L, large) — 20 K revenue each: L1 Aujezd-Luhatschowitz 55 K, L2 Neuhaus-Wobratain 60 K, L3 Opočno-Dobruschka 65 K, L4 Wekelsdorf-Parschnitz-Trautenau 70 K, L5 Nezamislitz-Morkowitz 75 K, L6 Taus-Tachau 80 K — allow ignoring a river, hill, or mountain's cost
All eighteen "Local Railways" are bought at a fixed price in a Pre-Stock Round; once in a player's hands, they can only be sold to a company (never to another player) starting once the first "b" train is bought, at a price between 1 K and the current "Local Railways Price"

List of corporations

Large (State Railways, 20%+8×10%, 2 stations, all trains): Sächsische Eisenbahn (SX) — A8/B5; Preußische Eisenbahn (PR) — A22/B19; Bayrische Staatsbahn (BY) — F3/H5; kk Staatsbahn (kk) — J15/I18; Ungarische Staatsbahn (Ug) — G28/I24
Medium (Main Railways, 40%-20%-20%-20%, 3 stations, small and medium trains): Böhmische Nordbahn (BN) — E12; Österreichische Nordwestbahn (NWB) — E12; Aussig-Teplitzer Eisenbahn (ATE) — B9; Buschtehrader Eisenbahn (BTE) — D3; Kaiser Ferdinands Nordbahn (KFN) — G20
Small (Regional Railways, 50%-25%-25%, 3 stations, small trains only): Eisenbahn Karlsbad Johanngeorgenstadt (EKJ) — D5; Ostrau-Friedlander Eisenbahn (OFE) — C26; Böhmische Commercialbahn (BCB) — E16; Mährische Westbahn (MW) — F23; Vereinigte Böhmerwaldbahnen (VBW) — I10

Game-specific mechanics

Three tiers of operating companies (small, medium, large), each with its own share denomination, number of stations, and allowed train family
A Local Railway owned by a company grants a one-time special power, without stopping its regular income
After running trains, a large company may fully acquire a smaller company if both directors agree, paying cash between 50% and 150% of the market price
Obsolescence only affects trains of the same family/color: Normal trains don't rust Plus-trains or Express trains, and vice versa
Emergency financing comes with a one-time 100% surcharge on the borrowed amount; until the debt is repaid, the player cannot buy shares in any subsequent stock round

Emergency sell

A sharp departure from 1830: presidents here can never be forced to sell personal shares. Order is treasury, then the president's personal cash, and if that's still not enough, an interest-free bank loan for the rest — but that loan comes back to bite at the very end, subtracted a second time from the player's final score. Corporations must also always hold a train here, not just when a route needs one, and can only ever buy from the bank, never from another corporation.

Comparison with 1830

1. Setting, map and number of players
1830 covers the northeastern USA for 2-6 players. 18CZ moves the action to the Czech lands (Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia), for 2-5 players in the base game, with additional variants for 2 players (the "Bohemia" map) and 2-3 players (the "Moravia-Silesia" map).

2. Three tiers of operating companies, each with a different share denomination
In 1830 every company has exactly 10 shares of 10% each. In 18CZ there are three sizes: small companies or Regional Railways (denomination 50%-25%-25%, small trains only, 3 stations), medium companies or Main Railways (denomination 40%-20%-20%-20%, small and medium trains, 3 stations), and large companies or State Railways (denomination 20%+8×10%, can use every train type, but only 2 stations).

3. Eighteen "Local Railways" bought at a fixed price, not through an auction
In 1830 the six privates are awarded through an ascending auction. In 18CZ there are eighteen Local Railways (privates, six of each size) distributed in a Pre-Stock Round where each player simply buys one at its stated fixed price or passes. Once in a player's hands, they can only be sold to a company (never to another player) starting once the first "b" train is bought, at a price between 1 K and the current "Local Railways Price."

4. Local Railways owned by a company grant a one-time special power
A function that doesn't exist in 1830. When a company owns a Local Railway, it may, on its turn, activate its special power exactly once (lay an extra purple-edged tile, or ignore the terrain-building cost), without this stopping its regular income.

5. A company can fully acquire a smaller one
In 1830 companies never merge with or absorb each other. In 18CZ, after running trains, a larger company may acquire a smaller company outright if both directors agree, paying shareholders in cash a per-share price between 50% and 150% of the market price and absorbing its treasury, trains, and stations.

6. Three distinct train families, each tied to a company size
In 1830 every train follows the same rule of counting cities and towns passed through. In 18CZ "Normal" trains (for small companies) count exactly the revenue locations visited; "Plus-trains" (for medium companies) have a total limit but with a sub-cap on cities; and "Express" trains (for large companies) can freely skip as many towns as needed without them counting toward the total. On top of that, buying a new train only scraps trains of the same family, so the three obsolescence tracks age independently of each other.

7. Game length is fixed by a price track, not by the bank or the last train
In 1830 the game ends when the bank runs dry or the last available train is bought. In 18CZ the "Local Railways Price" automatically rises by 5 K at the start of every operating round; once it reaches 120, that final operating round is played and the game ends, regardless of how much money remains in the bank (which, in fact, is unlimited).

8. Emergency financing is a one-time 100% surcharge, not liquidation
In 1830, if a company can't pay for a mandatory train, it can ultimately be liquidated. In 18CZ, if the director doesn't have enough personal cash to cover the shortfall, they borrow from the bank with a one-time 100% surcharge on the borrowed amount (not recurring interest); until that debt (not the surcharge) is paid off, the player cannot buy shares in any subsequent stock round.

Related games

More games by Leonhard "Lonny" Orgler

A term you do not recognise? They are all explained in the 18xx glossary. Glossary →