FAQ
30 answered questions26 official
Rules questions from the BoardGameGeek forum. Answers marked Official were confirmed by Spielworxx or the designers.
Common mistakes
- Only count opponents’ industries for the Produce Goods popularity; a neutral Wood Depot does not count. Ruling · Rule
- Raise your income only once when you develop a service; the prestige is what counts each industry. Ruling · Rule
- Give 1 prestige only for goods loaded on a ship a player built, not on a neutral ship carrying their trader. Ruling · Rule
- Score the processed-goods bonus for every good unloaded, not once per ship. Ruling · Rule
- Use a canal action from the tile under your boat in any district; the district tile above it does not limit it. Ruling · Rule
- Keep city cards working for the rest of the game, not only in their decade. Ruling · Rule
Showing 30 of 30
The game sequence box shows "2/3/3" where the rules say 2/3/4 players. Is that a misprint? Official
No. The 2/3/3 is the number of ships drawn into the scheduled ships section for 2, 3 and 4 players, not a player count.
Source: BGG discussion
Our game ran very long and the last decade had little left to do. Is that normal? Official
The game is meant to be long, but most games do not run out of things to do. How far the city develops depends on the bonus goods players gain and on which city cards come out. Playing one decade fewer would need many other adjustments, such as starting money, income and ship arrivals.
Source: BGG discussion
If my navigation boat is on the rightmost district, do I have to pay to stay there?
Yes. From the rightmost space you can only pay £1 to stay or £1 to move left, or pass. There is no free move from that space.
Source: BGG discussion
How often can I use the local market? Official
You can buy basic goods for £1 as often as you like during the whole game; place a goods marker only the first time you do it in a development phase. The other two trades can each be done once per development phase.
Source: BGG discussion
Can I take my canal action in the middle of a Produce Goods action? Official
Yes. Produce Goods is flexible as long as you follow its rules (pay for each production, produce only once per industry). You may, for example, produce iron, use a canal tile to upgrade an industry with that iron, then go on producing in the upgraded industry.
Source: BGG discussion
Does producing in a neutral Wood Depot count towards the popularity for producing in 2 opponents' industries? Official
No. A neutral Wood Depot is not an opponent's industry, so it does not count.
Source: BGG discussion
When I develop a service, does my income rise once per industry in the district? Official
No. Your income rises by 1 step once. Only the prestige counts each industry in the district.
Source: BGG discussion
What do I get for developing a service if my income marker is already at the end of its track? Official
You gain 2 prestige for the income step past £4, plus 1 prestige per industry in the district. With 3 industries there, that is 5 prestige.
Source: BGG discussion
What does the Water Power service do? Official
When anyone builds or upgrades an industry in that district, they produce once in it for free. A processing industry still needs its basic goods, and this free production gets no Cargo Train or Clay Pit bonus.
Source: BGG discussion
When does loading a good give another player 1 prestige? Official
Only when you load on a ship that player built in a Shipyard. A neutral ship with another player's trader on board gives that player nothing.
Source: BGG discussion
Is the bonus for processed goods paid per good or once per shipment? Official
Per good. Two beers to the US each score your trade level plus the beer bonus.
Source: BGG discussion
Do goods score if no trader is on the ship?
Yes. Every goods marker on an unloaded ship scores for its owner, whether or not a trader travelled with it.
Source: BGG discussion
Can two empty ships going to the same market both take the same type of good?
No. Each market has one foreign trade token per good, so only one ship to that market can carry a given good at a time.
Source: BGG discussion
What happens when a ship with only a trader on board is pushed out of the canal? Official
It is unloaded as usual: the trader goes to the export agency.
Source: BGG discussion
Once my own ship is unloaded, can I build it again? Official
No. Every ship, neutral or a player's, leaves the game once it is unloaded.
Source: BGG discussion
When I board a trader on an empty neutral ship, do I choose its type of good? Official
No. The first player to load a good on it chooses. You only set the type of good in advance on a ship you build yourself.
Source: BGG discussion
Is there any point sending a trader once my trade level is at the top? Official
Yes. You still take the trader bonus, score 1 prestige for that trader in every administration phase, and take a place other players can no longer use.
Source: BGG discussion
Where does the good come from when a city card lets me load a good on a ship? Official
From your company board, as with the Ship Goods action.
Source: BGG discussion
With the Load 2 goods on 1 ship canal tile, can I put 2 goods on each of two ships? Official
No. You still load 2 goods in total; the tile only lets both go on the same ship.
Source: BGG discussion
When I use a "Develop the Lachine Canal" canal tile, which district's canal marker moves? Official
The district you choose. A canal action works from any district, even McCord or St. Ann, and develops St. Gabriel, Les Bassins or Wellington, whichever you pick; you take a tile from that district's section and move that district's marker.
Source: BGG discussion
Does a canal tile's Build or Develop a Service action happen in the district above it? Official
No. A canal action may be taken in any district, whatever district tile sits above it.
Source: BGG discussion
Does the coin on the "Produce goods once" canal tile replace the normal cost? Official
No, it is a reminder. Pay £1 and, for a processing industry, its basic goods, as usual.
Source: BGG discussion
Does the Board a trader canal tile also work when I ship goods? Official
Yes. It works with either half of the Board a Trader or Ship Goods action. With Load 2 goods on 1 ship next to it, you can load 2 goods on one ship and also place a trader.
Source: BGG discussion
Do city cards only work during their own decade? Official
No. Once acquired, a city card stays active for the rest of the game.
Source: BGG discussion
Can I save a card's immediate effect for later? Official
No. Instant actions and immediate effects both happen when you acquire the card; the top box just groups actions that appear on many cards.
Source: BGG discussion
Must I resolve a city card's effects from top to bottom? Official
No, in any order. With Preferred Loading you may place your schooner first and then load a good on it.
Source: BGG discussion
Do I still pay for the district action I take with a city action? Official
Yes. A city action lets you take one more district action, and you pay its normal cost.
Source: BGG discussion
Is the prestige a card gives me when I buy other city cards a city action? Official
No, it is only a bonus. City actions come only from cards showing +A.
Source: BGG discussion
The Newspaper wins ties for the election, but ties are already broken by the stack. What does it do? Official
Whoever holds the Newspaper wins any tie for most popularity, whatever the order of the discs in the stack.
Source: BGG discussion
Can I be mayor twice and so acquire a 7th city card?
You can be elected more than once, but the mayor bonus is used once per game, so 6 city cards is the most anyone can have. Only one mayor card is used.
Source: BGG discussion