Objective of the Game
In Trans America (or TransEuropa), the goal is to be the first to connect all your cities on your player board using a railway network. This simple yet captivating railroad game requires strategic thinking and planning.
Components
- A board with a map of North America or Europe, overlaid with a grid.
- City markers of different colors placed across the map.
- Track pieces in players' colors or black tracks for shared use.
- City decks with cards of all cities represented on the board.
Setup
- Each player draws five city cards from the city deck and places them face down in front of them. These cards determine which cities they must connect.
- The starting player is determined. Each player receives a number of track pieces.
- Players keep their city cards hidden from others.
Gameplay
- Starting with the beginning player, play proceeds clockwise.
- A player can place two track pieces in their turn or one track piece across difficult terrain (e.g., mountains or rivers).
- Track pieces can be placed anywhere on the board. Players can utilize their own as well as others’ existing rail connections to connect their cities.
Special Rules
- Once a player has connected all their cities through a continuous rail network, the current round ends.
- The other players then count the number of connections they still need to connect their cities.
- The player who first connects all their cities receives no penalty points; all others receive penalty points according to their remaining connections.
- The game is played over several rounds until a player exceeds a certain penalty point limit, typically 13 points.
End of the Game
The game ends once a player surpasses the predetermined number of penalty points. The player with the fewest penalty points wins the game.
Tips and Strategy
- Cooperation is Key: Sometimes it’s beneficial to use the rail lines built by another player to save your resources.
- Speedy Building: Plan your tracks efficiently to swiftly connect all your cities.
- Consider Difficult Terrains: Take into account the challenges of building across difficult terrains as they can delay your plans.
Trans America offers a good blend of strategy and chance. It’s easy to learn but promises a lot of fun with its tactical depth in every game.
