18 India

At the dawn of the 19th century, the invention of the steam locomotive transformed ground transportation forever. From the purview of those looking to line their pockets, few places were more enticing than India. Under the guise of proving a service to to help move goods and citizens more reliably across its vast interior, many investors, with the backing and guaranty of the British government, began expanding their iron influence across the country.

18 India sets out to capture this explosion of rail in India and puts you, the player, in the shoes of investors trying to make their fortunes by providing a much-needed transportation network connecting commodities with ports and providing passenger services from coast to coast.

18 India is inspired by 1829 Mainline by Francis Tresham, and while the venerable Mr. Tresham created some novel mechanics for that game, many of them are not ideal for players that eschew in-game randomness. In 18 India, those random elements are transformed into an amazing level of pre-game variability, which gives each session of the game a different character. Critically, 18 India causes players to think differently about 18XX standards such as train management and investments.

The mechanics include: track gauge changes, "Guaranty Companies", competition for commodity contracts, shares with exclusive rights to purchase, train trade-ins, a unique IPO display, and all track upgrades being available from the beginning of the game. Making each game of 18 India a fresh and engaging game experience for veteran and new rail barons alike.