1870: The Trans-Mississippi

4 Sequence of Play and Game Phases

Each complete game turn consists of a Stock Round followed by one, two or three operating rounds. The game progresses through eight phases to simulate the changes that occurred over time in the game area. It is possible for one or more phase changes to occur during an operating round. During an operating round all operating companies operate and produce income. Private companies operate first, then companies operate in share price order.

4.1 Sequence of Play

A: Stock Round.

Players in clockwise order from the priority card, buy private companies (if they are available for sale), buy and sell shares, or do actions for their companies. The stock round ends when everybody has passed in order. The priority card is given to the person to the left of the last person to do an action affecting the position of the priority card. See rules Section 5.2.2.

B: Operating Round.

Operate private companies (if they are still in existence).
Operate all running companies in share value order.
- The president of each public company performs the following actions in order on behalf of the running company during the company's operating turn.
  If this is the first time a company has operated, start by placing the home token on the game map.
- a) Lay or upgrade track. (Optional) Rules Section 6
- b) Place a new token. (Optional) Rules Section 7
- c) Operate any trains and calculate income. Rules Section 8
- d) Pay or withhold dividends. Rules Section 9
- e) Adjust the company share price token on the stock market. Turn it over to show that it has operated.
- f) Buy a new train. (Optional or forced) Rules Section 10

Any time while operating and after the start of phase two, an operating public company may buy a private company from any player for up to double and no less than half its printed list price. Some companies may be purchased during phase one. See rules section 15.2.
A company connection run may be triggered at any time during the operating round, even when other companies are running. See rules section 11
Operate the next company.

After all companies have operated, adjust the operating round marker forward to the next round. This will be either another operating round or a stock round.

4.2 Game Phases

Each game progress through eight phases to simulate the changes that occurred over time in the game region. The following summarizes the various phases and the changes that occur with the onset of each.

4.2.1 Phase One

Phase one runs from the beginning of the game to the purchase of the first type three train. During phase one the following restrictions apply:

Only yellow tiles may be placed.
Each public company may own up to four trains.
Private companies may not be sold to public companies.
There is one operating round between each stock round.
Use the first value for running to red off board areas.

4.2.2 Phase Two

Phase two starts after the purchase of the first type three train and runs until the purchase of the first type four train. During phase two the following restrictions apply:

Yellow tiles or green upgrades may be placed.
Each public company may own up to four trains.
Private companies may now be sold to public companies.
There is one set of two operating rounds between stock rounds following the next stock round.
Use the first value for running to red off board areas.

4.2.3 Phase Three

Phase three starts after the purchase of the first type four train and runs until the purchase of the first type five train. During phase three the following restrictions apply:

Yellow tiles or green upgrades may be placed.
Each public company may own up to three trains.
Private companies may be sold to public companies.
There is one set of two operating rounds between stock rounds.
All type two trains are scrapped as obsolete.
Use the first value for running to red off board areas.

4.2.4 Phase Four

Phase four starts after the purchase of the first type five train and runs until the purchase of the first type six train. During phase four the following restrictions apply:

Yellow tiles or green and brown upgrades may be placed.
Each public company may own up to two trains.
All private companies are closed. The Port and Cattle tokens if placed are still active.
There is one set of three operating rounds between stock rounds following the next stock round.
Use the second value for running to red off board areas.

4.2.5 Phase Five

Phase five starts after the purchase of the first type six train and runs until the purchase of the first type eight train. During phase five the following restrictions apply:

Yellow tiles or green, brown and grey upgrades may be placed.
Each public company may own up to two trains.
Remove the Port and Cattle tokens.
All type three trains are scrapped as obsolete.
There is one set of three operating rounds between stock rounds.
Use the second value for running to red off board areas.

4.2.6 Phase Six

Phase six starts after the purchase of the first type eight train and runs until the purchase of the first type ten train. During phase six the following restrictions apply:

Yellow tiles or green, brown and grey upgrades may be placed.
Each public company may own up to two trains.
All type four trains are scrapped as obsolete.
There is a set of three operating rounds between stock rounds.
Use the third value for running to red off board areas.

4.2.7 Phase Seven

Phase seven starts after the purchase of the first type ten train and runs until the purchase of the first type twelve train. During phase seven the following restrictions apply:

Yellow tiles or green, brown and grey upgrades may be placed.
Each public company may own up to two trains.
There is a set of three operating rounds between stock rounds.
Use the third value for running to red off board areas.

4.2.8 Phase Eight

Phase eight starts after the purchase of the first type twelve train and runs until the end of the game. During phase eight the following restrictions apply:

Yellow tiles or green, brown and grey upgrades may be placed.
Each public company may own up to two trains.
All type five trains are scrapped as obsolete.
There is a set of three operating rounds between stock rounds.
Use the third value for running to red off board areas.

Table of Contents - Game Setup - Stock Round - Glossary

Last Modified: November 12, 2003. Copyright 1999-2003. W.R.Dixon.
Contact Bill Dixon designer.