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Welcome to the Standard Game on Steam
Hey there! I want to tell you all about the Standard Game available on Steam. It’s an amazing experience that you’ve got to check out. I’ll give you all the details about what it is, and why it’s so great.
So, let’s dive right in. The Standard Game on Steam is something you definitely don’t want to miss. It’s a game that provides hours of fun and entertainment. Now, I know you’re wondering what makes it so special. Well, I’ll break it down for you.
First of all, let’s talk about the gameplay. The Standard Game is easy to pick up and start playing, which is perfect for someone like me who doesn’t want to spend too much time learning complicated controls. I love how it immerses me in a world of adventure and excitement. The game allows me to explore different levels, collect items, and complete quests. It’s truly interactive and keeps me engaged for hours on end.
Another thing that sets the Standard Game apart is its incredible graphics and sound. When I’m playing, it feels like I’m right in the middle of the action. The visuals are stunning, and the sound effects make everything so realistic. It really adds to the overall experience and makes me feel like I’m part of a whole new world.
One of my favorite features of the Standard Game is the wide range of characters and customization options. I can customize my character to look just the way I want, with different hairstyles, outfits, and accessories. It’s so much fun to experiment and create a unique character that represents me.
But it’s not just about the gameplay and customization. The Standard Game also has an amazing online community. I can connect with other players from around the world, join guilds, and team up for epic battles. It’s a great way to make new friends who share the same interests and passion for gaming.
Lastly, I have to mention the regular updates and new content that the Standard Game offers. The developers are constantly adding new features, levels, and challenges to keep the game fresh and exciting. There’s always something new to discover, which keeps me coming back for more.
So, there you have it. The Standard Game on Steam is a must-play for any gaming enthusiast. With its immersive gameplay, stunning graphics, extensive customization, vibrant online community, and constant updates, it delivers an unforgettable gaming experience. Trust me, once you start playing, you won’t be able to put it down. So, hop on board and join the adventure today!
Once you’ve got the hang of the Base Game, you can try out the Standard Game for a bigger challenge. There are three main differences between the Base Game and the Standard Game.
First, each player needs to decide how much money to raise at the beginning of each turn and is not allowed to raise more money during that turn. Secondly, players bid for their positions in the turn order every round, but they don’t have to pay anything for the Action tile they choose. Lastly, every player has to pay for the upkeep of their locomotive every turn.
These changes mean that there’s less money available, so players have to plan ahead carefully or risk going bankrupt.
The game ends after the same number of turns as in the Base Game rules, and the winner is determined in the same way too. Except for what’s mentioned here, all other Base Game rules still apply.
The way the turn progresses goes through a few distinct phases. Let’s break it down together!
First things first: Setting up
To start off, we need to determine the order in which players will take their turns. This is done randomly by handing out Action tiles and arranging player tokens from lowest to highest value. The person with the lowest value action will be the first to bid.
Now, take a good look at the Action tiles. We won’t be using the numbers printed on them for this version. Instead, flip the tiles to their non-numbered side. The values and costs on the other side won’t come into play today.
How to Play the Game
- Start by Buying Capital
- Determine Who Goes First
- Choose Your Actions
- Build Your Track
- Move Your Goods
- Collect Money and Pay Expenses
- Prepare for the Next Turn
Phase 1 – Buying Capital
When playing the game, you need to “buy capital” in order to get money. Instead of asking the bank for money every time you need it, you buy capital once per turn. To buy capital, you follow the rules from the Base Game, which state that you get $5 for each space you move back on the Income Track.
Keep in mind that during the Standard Game, you can only buy capital during phase 1. Each player takes turns to buy capital. It’s important to note that you cannot use capital to get money during any other phase of the game. Any payments you need to make during phases 2 to 6 must come from your own cash.
Starting off a game with enough money to sustain yourself can be a tricky task. It’s especially easy to make a critical mistake right at the beginning, where you might end up having too little cash to survive the first few turns. That’s why we suggest that you make a capital investment of at least $10 when the game begins.
If you’re an experienced player and you’re playing with newcomers using the Standard Game rules, you may want to consider bending this rule for their benefit. For instance, you could allow newer players to raise extra funds for track costs and maintenance expenses as needed.
Phase 2 – Determining the Order of Play
In this game, players bid to determine the order of play in every turn. It’s important to note that this auction is different from the one used in the base game!
Bidding starts with the current first player, who can choose to bid $0 or more. It’s my turn to bid, and I have to either top the current highest bid or pass. I can’t bid more than the amount of cash I have. Once I pass, I can’t bid again.
If I pass during the auction, I put a token on the last free spot on the Turn Order Display. The first player to pass will go last in the turn, the next player will go before the last player but after everyone else, and so on.
When all players except one have passed, the player who is still bidding (the highest bidder) puts a token on the first spot on the Turn Order Display.
Now, let’s talk about the Turn Order Action Tile.
The Turn Order Action tile in the Standard Game has a new effect. If you chose the Turn Order Action tile on the last turn, you can now pass once during the auction without dropping out and placing your token on the Turn Order Display.
You have two options: you can either re-enter the bidding the next time it’s your turn, or you can pass and wait. If you choose to pass a second time, your token will be placed on the Turn Order Display in the last available spot.
Now, let’s talk about paying for your bid. When it’s time to pay, each player must give money to the bank. The players in first and second place on the Turn Order Display have to pay the full amount of their bids. The player in last place doesn’t have to pay anything. As for the other players, they only have to pay half of the amount they bid, rounding up if necessary.
Phase 3 – Choose Your Actions
Just like in the Base Game, we select our Action tiles in the order that we’re sitting. But here’s the difference – now we don’t have to pay anything for the Action tile we choose. That means, when we pick our tile, we don’t have to give any money – neither when we pick it, nor when we use it. Cool, right?
Now, let’s talk about Urbanization and City Growth. When we choose these actions, we have a special perk. We can decide not to use the Action when it’s our turn to build track. In other words, we can pass if we want to. It’s totally up to us. Pretty neat, huh?
Phases 4 and 5: Game Progression
Now we’re moving on to Phases 4 and 5, which follow the rules we’ve discussed so far, but with a special twist. In these phases, you can no longer generate money by moving backwards on the Victory Point Track. The only time you’ll receive income is in Phase 1, when you’re buying capital, and Phase 6, if your income is greater than your expenses.
When it comes to track building, you can only spend the cash you have on hand. This means you can’t spend more money on track building than what you currently have. If you have City Growth or Urbanization Action tiles, you have the option to pass instead of placing a new city tile or cubes.
Phase 6 – Income and Expenses
In Phase 6, it’s time to collect income and pay expenses. During this phase, you need to pay for maintenance based on your Locomotive Level. For each level, the maintenance cost is $1.
Hey there! If you’ve got a level 3 locomotive, you’ll need to fork over an extra $3, on top of any other money stuff you’ve got going on. And if you’re lucky enough to have a level 6 locomotive, well, that’s a $6 fee every turn. Ouch!
If you can’t make a payment, try to pay as much as you can with the money you have. Then, you’ll need to move back one space on the Victory Point Track for every $2 you’re still short.
If you end up at 0 on the Victory Point Track, start dropping on the Income Track at a rate of 1 point = $2. If you end up with an odd number of expenses paid this way, you’ll get $1 in change.
If you have no cash, no Victory Points, and your income is -$10 and you still owe money, your railroad has gone bankrupt! Like in the Base Game, your tokens are taken off the board and you’re out of the game.