Plan B GamesGreat Western Trail - Rails to The North
W**N
HIGHLY Recommended for HARDOCRE fans only!
Great Western Trail: Rails to the North is a massive expansion for the euro classic of the same name!Rails of the North adds a completely new top edge of the board that completely replaces, and radically changes, the train/engine and delivery mechanics of the base game! The expansion essentially adds "branch lines" that connect to LOTS of new TOWNS and CITIES. Thus increasing your shipping and rail connections strategy/options by about 10-fold!! Many of the old cities (Santa Fe, El Paso, etc) have been removed and replaced by cities like New York, Montreal, and Chicago! But those cities are all no longer in a straight line! They have to be connected via "BRANCH LINES." Read on!Among the new things added are:-Two new buildings (#11a/b and #12 a/b). Building 12 specifically deals with the new branch lines.-Six new Station Master Tiles for the new branch line map.-Exchange Tokens which can be cashed in to draw two additional cards into your hand, and then allowing you to discard two cards as well. This makes cycling through your deck much faster and is a welcome addition!-Most importantly, Rails of the North adds a new tile with an new AUXILIARY ACTION: Branchlet. Branchlets are how you connect to the new board. Branchlets are represented by 15 small houses, or stations, that are stacked I the new tile in 5 rows of 3. You also get a new player disc that covers up the more powerful (white) Branchlet action space, but it can be removed like any other player disc. Also, removing each row of 3 branchlet can unlock a 'bell symbol' which can give you a reward.The branch lines added by the new board add SIX new region with 3-10 (yes TEN!) rail connections EACH!! You connect to them by placing a line of uninterrupted BRANCHLETS starting a Kansas City. The rail connections are divided into SMALL TOWNS, MEDIUM TOWNS, STATION TOWNS and BIG CITIES. You train engine is useless here. Although, by moving your engine further down the line (in addition to delivering cattle to those few cities still left on the straight away line), you can access other branch lines that may contain shorter routes!-Small towns are usually a blank space that you must place a branclet into just to connect to a bigger town/city. Though, a few have a reward for connecting to them.-Medium towns have special tiles (randomly placed each game) that give you an immediate action when you place a branchlet in them.-Station towns work just like the stations in the base game. If you place a branchlet in them, you have the option to upgrade the station (with the same requirements as in the base game) and get the station tile as a reward.-Big Cities have crests on them just like the base game, and they are new destinations for your cattle. The work the same as the delivery cities in the base game, except you have to connect to them via a chain of branchlets.This big addition adds a ton of new options and strategies for Great Western Trail! If you wanted a BIGGER, HEAVIER version of the game, then this expansion is for you!However......It does complicate the game more, will make it last longer, and double the amount of AP in those kinds of players! With this expansion, I will NEVER play with 4.
J**.
More to love about GWT!
This is a wonderful expansion. If you love GWT, then get this. If you do not love GWT, then I don’t think the expansion will change your mind. So, if you’re still reading this, I’ll assume you’re a fan. In RttN, we find new cities, stations, bonus tiles and buildings. All combine for a deeper, more immersive GWT experience. Turns are more “thinky” and game time is slightly longer as a result. But, if you love the game, then it’s just more to love, right? Highly recommend!
K**K
Wonderfully Wonderful
This is a great expansion for a great game. The expansion adds to the Kansas City (top of the board; see pics) and an auxiliary action where you're adding branchlets to town squares and receiving rewards for doing so. It's amazing and shant play without it.
J**G
Expansion Gives New Life to Original Game
Great Western Trail is one of our favorite games, but after playing it over 50 times, it was beginning to feel repetitious. This expansion has breathed new life into the game, and makes the deliveries much more varied and interesting. I highly recommend this expansion to the original game. Be aware, you will need the original game to play this.
D**N
Great expansion
The original game is one of our favorites and this expansion really enhances it. For the record, I’m not big on quite a few expansions out there and often find that they aren’t necessary. This is the exception.
N**S
Perfect Expansion
This is an example of the perfect game expansion. After playing with this new addition, I will never play the game without it.
X**O
Wouldn’t really recommend
I’m not a fun of the expansion. Doesn’t add much to the base game and not well balanced. The production quality is good though.Also the box was damaged when arrived.
C**P
Great Expansion for one of my favorite games.
I will probably never play this game without this expansion again...it adds little touches that make for the overall experience to be much better and more fun. Highly recommend if you enjoy Great Western Trail.
A**P
Worth adding to the base game
Adds a lot of new possibilities and extends the life of the game. Recommended.
K**I
Great buy
Great expansion for an already great game. Really adds to the game.
M**N
Damaged box
The box was very damaged upon arrival due to poor packaging. I ended throwing the box in the garbage, but at least the extension fits in the core box.
D**D
Buena expansión
La expansión ayuda a dar profundidad a la parte más lineal del juego, lo vale 100%, pero alarga un poco la toma de decisiones.
S**R
Awesome game!
Great addition
Trustpilot
1 month ago
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