Don D.
United States
Miami
Florida
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I recently picked up this map expansion and was very eager to try it. I've played a few of the other 2p maps and always liked GA reconstruction the best but was interested to try this. I wasn't too excited for it because I typically like the maps with neat rule twists and this one didn't really have any. I was however very pleasantly surprised.
Rule changes:
- no loading cubes when urbanizing
- two track per turn (3 w engineer)
- you cannot select an action tile you've previously selected until your opponent selects it as well
- two foreign cities each with a string of future goods that load into the city once per turn, and no player may take goods from both cities over the course of the game.
- some special rules related to towns and cities that are adjacent
How does it play?
Great! What I found when playing this map is that even though it had no real unique or creative "twists" to the rules, it served the game well to be that way. What the rules as is have created is a two player game that feels almost identical to a regular 4/5 player game of standard steam. The game is taught, tough, and tense. It's unforgiving when a mistake is made and has all the hallmarks of regular steam- you start off relatively peacefully but it's not long before players are on top of one another scheming on how to break into a city or steal a good.
Advice for first timers:
Very very important- 1) Luxembourg is BLUE not purple
2) the rules on urbanizing as printed as WRONG so read the posts by the designer on this forum To clarify
Conclusion
Overall I rate this higher than GA reconstruction and now have this as my go to map for 2p steam. It's really fantastic. I haven't played the other two maps yet, and am not optimistic that Brussels can supplant Montreal metro as my go to 3p map (more because that MM map is so awesome than me doubting the brussels map itself)but I can say that id have bought this map just for the 2p and found it worth it.
I give this a strong 9/10 rating.
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Damen Parker
United Kingdom
Northampton
Trust me. You know it makes sense
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Good summary. I enjoy this map.
One rule that my opponents forget (despite my emphasis) on their first play is that you cnnot transport cubes through the foreign cities.
Suddenly they have no cubes or at best a reduced route and therefore income.
Cheers
D.
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Morgan Dontanville
United States
Brooklyn
New York
Plate of Shrimp.
Here we are folks, the dream we all dream of.
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I'll second that the Montreal Metro map is brilliant.
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Don D.
United States
Miami
Florida
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sisteray wrote: I'll second that the Montreal Metro map is brilliant.
It really is! The only downside is the pain of hauling Plexiglas around to play it! I will eventually try the brussels map, probably next time time I sit down for 3p Steam Ill suggest it. If its anywhere near as great as MM Ill be pleased. And like I said, the strength of the 2p map BY ITSELF warrants the purchase of this expansion..if either of the other two maps are at all decent I'll consider it just gravy!
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Andrew Bond
United Kingdom
Banstead
Surrey
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dond80 wrote: Overall I rate this higher than GA reconstruction and now have this as my go to map for 2p steam. It's really fantastic. ...I give this a strong 9/10 rating.
Another game we agree on, Don!
I have played the 2- and 3-player sides and loved them both. Shame about the colour misprint, however, which confused us first time out.
I am now looking forward to the second map expansion even more...
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Don D.
United States
Miami
Florida
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Update: I've played the 3 p side...as expected it falls short of the brilliant Montreal metro map but because it was still a very solid map and plays faster than MM, it will definitely see table time.
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Don D.
United States
Miami
Florida
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geocentrix wrote: dond80 wrote: Overall I rate this higher than GA reconstruction and now have this as my go to map for 2p steam. It's really fantastic. ...I give this a strong 9/10 rating. Another game we agree on, Don! I have played the 2- and 3-player sides and loved them both. Shame about the colour misprint, however, which confused us first time out. I am now looking forward to the second map expansion even more...
Which was the other?! 
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Morgan Dontanville
United States
Brooklyn
New York
Plate of Shrimp.
Here we are folks, the dream we all dream of.
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dond80 wrote: Update: I've played the 3 p side...as expected it falls short of the brilliant Montreal metro map but because it was still a very solid map and plays faster than MM, it will definitely see table time.
I'll take that as a compliment as MM is so good. 
dond80 wrote: Which was the other?!
The new map pack comes with a 3-4 player Great Britain map with public canals that anyone can use until they are built over, and ports that get used up as you ship to them. It is really tight.
The 3 player California map is pretty straightforward with a couple fun little twists.
China plays 2 player with a kooky revolving action tile system, 3 player with flooding, and 4 players with partners (either friendly or unfriendly).
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Don D.
United States
Miami
Florida
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sisteray wrote: dond80 wrote: Update: I've played the 3 p side...as expected it falls short of the brilliant Montreal metro map but because it was still a very solid map and plays faster than MM, it will definitely see table time. I'll take that as a compliment as MM is so good. dond80 wrote: Which was the other?! The new map pack comes with a 3-4 player Great Britain map with public canals that anyone can use until they are built over, and ports that get used up as you ship to them. It is really tight. The 3 player California map is pretty straightforward with a couple fun little twists. China plays 2 player with a kooky revolving action tile system, 3 player with flooding, and 4 players with partners (either friendly or unfriendly).
1) you definitely should take it as a compliment bc MM is brilliant. I think by making yours shorter yet still very tight you've done a great job. As I said, Brussels will continue to hit the table for me I suspect.
2) I was asking Andrew what the other game we agree on was, I'm well aware of and very excited for map pack 2!
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