An introduction to Rail Baron, the classic board game of strategy that is fun for ages 10 and up.
Whether it is played in the classic board game or internet version, Rail Baron is fun and challenging. Deal making, judging value and outright luck combine for hours of entertainment, and a painless way to learn U.S. geography.
Rules for Playing Rail Baron
Rail Baron is best played with three to six people. The board is representation of the United States, with cities connected by railroads from the early 20th Century. The goal of the game is to collect $200,000 and reach your home destination.
Each player is given $20,000 at the start of the game and rolls dice for a home base and first destination. The player moves along the board on railroads according to the number or succeeding dice roles, with each player taking turns.
When the player reaches a destination, he has the opportunity to buy a railroad. A railroad will only stop in certain cities. For instance, The Boston and Maine will only take the player from Boston to Portland, Maine. A player can also buy an Express or Superchief, which allows him to move quicker about the board.
If a player takes his own railroad or a railroad that is not owned by any player, he pays a $1,000 fee to the bank. If his destination forces him to take another players railroad he is required to pay that player $5,000. Therefore, it is important to choose railroads wisely.
Deal making and Back Biting
Unlike other games, Rail Baron is a great combination of luck and skill. The roll of the dice is involved in the selection of destinations and the number of spaces moved. Judgment is required in the selection of railroads, and the optimum path to the destination.
There is opportunity for making deals, in that all players are approaching or selecting destinations on every turn. Most cities can be accessed by more than one railroad, so a player can choose which railroad to take based on current or future favors.
If a player does not have enough money to pay the fees, he can choose to sell railroads to the bank for half their value, or auction it to other players for as much as he can get. If he has no railroads or money, he is bankrupt and out of the game.
Winning the Rail Baron Game
Once a player has accumulated $200,000 he can choose to make a declaration that he is heading for his home city in an effort to win the game. If he makes it in one roll, he is the winner, but if he does not, other players can “run him over”, that is, occupy the same space on the board. If this happens, the first player must pay the other $50,000 and head to an alternate destination, in order to try again.
Rail Baron can take several hours to play, and is most fun early in the game, when there are many railroads to buy and decisions to make. Once all the railroads are bought, it is a struggle to accumulate the $200,000. Be open to adjusting the rules to keep the excitement going.
