To clarify, the Japan map is not a cooperative game; rather, certain routes count towards
all players' connections (and building the most of those is the end-game 10-point bonus).
(Or something like that.)
certain routes count towards all players' connections.
If you don't contribute to the public network you lose 25 point.
In a two player game the greater contributor get +10, the lesser contributor -10, so it's an effective 20 point bonus.
Like in all TTR, you can win without getting the bonuses.
It was my wife's favorite until she figured out how to game the system in a two player game, at which point it (the board, not my wife
) became stupid.
I would not buy the USA or Europe maps without at least planning on adding the 1910/1912 expansions.
The original cards in USA are half size cards, and 1910 replaces them with full size, and adds many more routes.
Based on the boards we have:
I would advise someone new to the game to start with the original USA to get used to the basic rules, and progress from there.
Europe adds ferries and tunnels. Nordic is similar. but are "base" games, with base prices (though all can be found on sale as cheap as $20)
Switerland/India basically dont add any new rules over Europe/Nordic though have original bonuses (India: connect the route in a circle. Switzerland: City to neighboring country) and could be a good first expansion.
The other boards build on the rules introduced in USA/Europe/Nordic/Germany (I'll deal with Germany later)
Japan/Italy: Japan eyin leil. Italy has a unique ferry system, and I find it to be an interesting board - bonus for connecting regions. Longer board than the rest - you may not have room for it on the table! (especially in a Yechida!)
UK/Penn: UK is my personal favorite. It's sort of a history of trains game. At the start, you can only build 1 and 2 train length routes, and only in England. You can buy technologies that allow you to build longer routes, and into Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and France, to build ferries and get some bonuses...There's even a 40 point route. It's a more mature game. Penn turns scoring on its head. after you build most routes you earn stocks in various train companies. The more stock in a company you have at the end of the game...the more points. Highly recommended!!
France/Old West. France: Its a whole new game. You have to build the tracks before you can put trains on them. Old West: You start from a home city and can only build connections to it... it's our least favorite map to play as a couple. Its also a wider board than the rest...def wont fit on Yechida table.
Germany: base game (comes with the trains, and train deck) has separate decks for long and short routes. can be a lot of fun for two players, but if you have USA or Europe...you don't NEED it.
Poland: Smaller board expansion. unless you have a really small table in your dira, you dont really need it. I actually bought it because I wanted to learn the geography of Poland. like where Krakow in relation to Warsaw. ( yeah i'm a history/geography buff). Simple rules, like USA, no ferries or tunnels.
Rails and Sails: our newest board. so far a great game, but MUUUCH more complicated that the other boards. also quite a bit more expensive. I recommend it for when your really good at the other boards. also larger board, measure your table first.