Speaking of building, let’s dive into the track differences. 18Ireland introduces two types of track, narrow gauge and your standard, everyday broad gauge. While the broad gauge functions like you’d expect, the narrow gauge acts as a way to boost the value of cities that it is connected to. Oh, and the narrow gauge is free from the chains of terrain cost. Who doesn’t like a free placement? It exists to help bolster the value of your low hex runs. I was going to say unlike Amazon, this bonus can go away. This is the last Amazon reference, I’m sorry.

Let's get into company talk that matters. You will find two types of companies in this game. The first being the 5 share, one station companies, the second is your garden variety 10 share company. All of these 5 share companies have a unique starting station, so I hope you don’t like choosing your own token placement. “Oh well, I’ll just choose the one that starts in the spot I that I like.” No you won’t.

At the beginning of the game, all of these company charters are shuffled up, one is removed, and the rest are splayed out much like your brain will feel after playing this game. When starting a new company, your only choice is to bring the company on top of the pile up for auction. Tough times for investors back then. Maybe everything in Ireland was auctioned back then, hell I don’t know.

While you can choose to start a 10 share company in later rounds, you can also pay the iron price for one. Mergers. This mechanic introduces a great deal of tension. Everyone is jockeying to be in a good position, either because they want to lose their company, or because they want to steal yours. Any two or three 5 share companies that are connected by broad gauge track are liable to be brought up to a merger vote by any shareholder. I love this, each shareholder gets one vote per share, designating all votes as yes or no. You also need to be cognizant of the shares in the bank pool, as they will vote according to their self interest.

18Ireland hinges on these mergers, it provides a perfect arc to pivot on towards the finale. I overwhelmingly recommend this game, and not solely for the fact that you can speak in an Irish accent the entire game. However it can be brutal. The rulebook literally states “Bankruptcy stalks you like death.” Just know what you’re in for.

Picture Credit (http://www.all-aboardgames.com/home/ian-scrivins-s-18ireland)