18Svea

18Svea is a "micro 18xx": rather than chasing radically new mechanics compared to 1830, its big difference is the extreme compression of the whole system into a tiny map and a tiny playtime. Here are the points where this shows the most.

1. Setting and a tiny map
1830 covers the northeastern US with a large map. 18Svea takes place in central Sweden on a board of just ten hexes in total, probably one of the smallest maps in the whole 18xx family.

2. Designed for 2-3 players, not large groups
While 1830 shines at its best with 3 or more players (often up to 6), 18Svea is designed specifically for games of 2 or 3 players.

3. A game under 2 hours
A game of 18Svea is completed in under 2 hours, noticeably less than a typical 1830 game, making it ideal as an 18xx "filler" for a weeknight session.

4. Every decision counts much more because of the small size
With only ten hexes available, every tile and every track-laying decision in 18Svea carries proportionally much more weight than in 1830, where the size of the map allows more room for error and recovery.

5. Fewer companies and trains in play
In line with the map's size, 18Svea runs with a much smaller number of companies and trains than 1830, while still keeping the classic structure of stock and operating rounds.

6. Recognizable game structure from 1830
Despite its size, 18Svea keeps the basic 1830 framework: stock rounds alternating with operating rounds, share and train purchases, and phase progression. It doesn't aim for groundbreaking innovations, but rather a compressed, accessible version of the same system.

7. Self-published and very recent design
Unlike 1830, a classic design by Francis Tresham with decades of history, 18Svea is a self-published 2022 creation (Jonas Jones), designed from scratch for the modern era of short, direct games.

In short: anyone who already knows 1830 will recognize almost everything about how it works, but condensed into a fraction of the time and space — ideal for introducing someone to the genre or for a quick game among hobbyists.

18Svea — Schematic summary (vs 1830)

SETTING

• Central Sweden — a map of just 10 hexes
• 2-3 players, a game under 2 hours

SCALE

• Fewer companies and trains in play than in 1830
• Every track-laying decision carries much more weight due to the map's small size

STRUCTURE

• Keeps the classic 1830 framework (stock + operating + phases), just compressed