John Company: Second Edition

2022

Experience the 18th-century British East India Company in John Company. Guide the corporation, negotiate power, and compete for prestige in this riveting strategy game.

240
minutes

1 - 6
player(s)

13+

Heavy

About the game

John Company: Second Edition is an enthralling board game that transports players back to the era of the British East India Company’s domination of trade in the Indian Ocean. This game uniquely combines elements of history, strategy, and negotiation to provide an immersive and challenging play experience.

The game’s setting and theme are steeped in historical context. As a player, you step into the shoes of an ambitious family in 18th-century Britain, seeking to climb the social ladder and amass wealth. Your family is part of the powerful East India Company, and your aim is to exert influence, secure positions of power, and navigate the tumultuous trade landscape of the time.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

John Company: Second Edition is a highly strategic board game that simulates the rise and fall of the British East India Company. The game is packed with numerous components, each playing a crucial role in the game’s mechanics. Here is a detailed list and description of each component:

1. Game Board

The game board is the heart of the game. It showcases different regions, offices, and tracks that players will use throughout the game. It contains spaces for the Company’s treasury, the market, and the various firms and enterprises.

2. Rulebook

The rulebook provides a detailed explanation of the game rules, setup instructions, game flow, and guidelines on how to play the game. It also includes illustrations and examples to clarify game mechanics.

3. Player Boards

Each player receives a player board that represents their family’s assets, influence, and prestige. They track their wealth, family members, and positions in the company.

4. Wooden Cubes

Wooden cubes in different colors represent various resources and influences. These include ships, company men, and prestige. Their placement and movement on the board signify different actions and effects in the game.

5. Event Cards

Event cards are drawn at specific times during the game and trigger various events, affecting the state of the game. These events can be beneficial or detrimental, and players must adapt their strategies accordingly.

6. Dice

Dice in the game are used to determine the results of certain actions, such as trade and warfare. The roll of the dice adds an element of uncertainty and risk to these actions.

7. Office Tiles

Office tiles represent various positions within the East India Company. Players can acquire these offices to gain influence, make decisions, and increase their wealth.

8. Trade Good Tokens

Trade good tokens represent various goods that the company trades. These goods generate revenue when successfully traded, adding to the Company’s treasury and potentially increasing players’ wealth.

9. Firm Tokens

Firm tokens are used to establish firms during the game. Firms allow players to conduct their own private trades, independent of the Company’s operations.

10. Debt Tokens

Debt tokens are used to track the Company’s debt. Accumulation of debt can lead to bankruptcy, affecting all players’ strategies and the overall state of the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

John Company: Second Edition is an intricate board game which revolves around the theme of British East India Company. Players assume roles within the company and navigate through complex dynamics of trade, politics, and military operations. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game.

Step 1: Player Roles
Each player will assume a role in the company. The roles include Chairman, Director of Trade, Director of Ships, Director of Purchasing, Director of Military Affairs, and Director of Finance. The roles are distributed randomly at the start of the game.

Step 2: Board Placement
Place the game board in the center of the table where it is easily visible and reachable by all players. Make sure that the board’s ‘Company’ side is facing upwards, as this will be where the players place their pieces.

Step 3: Initial Resources
Each player begins the game with a determined set of initial resources based on their roles. Here is the breakdown:

Chairman: Receives 3 ships and 3 £.
Director of Trade: Receives 3 trading posts and 2 £.
Director of Ships: Receives 2 ships and 1 £.
Director of Purchasing: Receives 1 good of each type and 1 £.
Director of Military Affairs: Receives 1 regiment and 2 £.
Director of Finance: Receives 2 £.

Step 4: Random Elements
Shuffle the event cards and place them face down on their designated place on the board. Similarly, shuffle the market price cards and place them face down on their designated place. These cards will add an element of randomness to the game, and will be drawn at the start of each round.

Step 5: Setting Up the Company
Start by placing the company’s initial resources on the board. The company starts with 5 £, 3 ships, 3 trading posts, 2 regiments, and 1 of each type of good. This initial setup represents the company’s starting assets and will be used throughout the game.

Step 6: Setting Up the Market
Draw the top card from the market price deck and place it face up next to the deck. This card determines the starting market prices for goods.

Step 7: Setting Up the Event Deck
Draw the top card from the event deck and place it face up next to the deck. This card determines the starting event for the game.

Once all these steps are completed, you are ready to start playing John Company: Second Edition.

Game flow Round and round we go

In John Company: Second Edition, players represent ambitious families looking to navigate and control the East India Company. Every game is divided into multiple rounds, each consisting of several structured stages or phases. The game continues until the Company is dissolved or it successfully navigates three Wars.

Company Phase

This phase is divided into four steps:

Office Assignment: Players, starting from the Chairman and proceeding clockwise, place their family members into vacant Company offices.
Revenue & Dividends: The Company earns revenue from Presidencies and pays dividends to shareholders.
Company Actions: Each office executes its duties, which may include opening trade routes, purchasing ships and goods, and dealing with events.
Retirement: Elder family members retire and new ones come into play.

Family Phase

The Family Phase follows the Company Phase and includes three steps:

Family Income: Players receive income based on their family’s investments and positions.
Family Actions: Starting from the Chairman and moving clockwise, each player can perform two actions such as purchasing shares, getting a family member a job, and more.
Marriage: Players may arrange marriages between their families to form alliances and share perks.

Event Phase

After the Family Phase, the Event Phase occurs:

One event card is drawn and resolved. These events can include wars, economic changes, and other global events that affect gameplay.

Victory Phase

This phase occurs only when the game ends, and the victory conditions are checked:

Victory points (VP) are calculated based on a player’s wealth, prestige, and other factors.
The player with the highest VP is declared the winner.

Each round progresses through the Company Phase, Family Phase, Event Phase, and finally checks for an end-game condition. If not met, the game continues to the next round.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

John Company: Second Edition is a game that allows players to take on the roles of ambitious families looking to build an empire within the British East India Company. During each player’s turn, they can take a series of actions, make strategic decisions, and influence the overall gameplay. Let’s break down these aspects:

Action Phase

During a player’s turn, they can perform several actions:

Appoint Family Members: Players can place their family members in different positions within the company. This can give them control over different areas and the ability to influence company policy.
Activate Offices: Players can use the abilities of the offices they control to take various actions. These can include opening new trade routes, managing finances, or dealing with crises.
Propose Company Policy: Players can propose changes to the company’s policy. These proposals then go to a vote among the players, potentially changing the rules of the game.
Trade and Negotiation: Players can trade goods, offices, and promises with other players. This allows them to potentially gain more resources, influence, or control over the company.

Strategic Decisions

Throughout their turn, players also need to make strategic decisions that can affect the future of the game:

Company Leadership: Choosing which family members to place in leadership positions can greatly affect a player’s strategy. Leaders have more influence over company policy and can control the direction of the company.
Office Activation: Deciding which offices to activate can also have a major impact. Some offices may provide immediate benefits, while others may be more beneficial in the long term.
Policy Proposals: The policies a player proposes can change the rules of the game, potentially benefiting their strategy. However, these proposals must be approved by a vote, so players need to consider the potential support and opposition from other players.
Trade Negotiations: Players need to carefully consider their trading strategies. They can trade goods, offices, and promises with other players to gain resources, influence, and control. But they also need to manage their resources and ensure they don’t give away too much power.

Impact on Gameplay

The actions and decisions made during a player’s turn can greatly affect the gameplay in John Company: Second Edition. They can change the balance of power, the rules of the game, and the future of the company. The player who best navigates these changes and strategically uses their resources and influence is often the one who emerges victorious.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

John Company: Second Edition is a strategic board game that ends under two distinct conditions. Each of these game-ending conditions initiates a final scoring round which decides the winner based on various factors.

The first condition that may end the game is when the Event Deck is exhausted. During the game, players draw cards from the Event Deck at the beginning of each round. When there are no more cards left in the deck, it signals the end of the game.

The second condition that may trigger the end of the game is when the East India Company collapses. This occurs when the company’s treasury is empty at the end of a company phase and there are still offices that need to be paid.

When either of these conditions is met, the game enters its final stage where players calculate their victory points to determine the winner. The following are the conditions that contribute to the final score:

Family prestige: Players add up the prestige points earned by their family members throughout the game.
Company shares: Each share in the East India Company that a player owns is worth points. The exact number is determined by the Company’s final standing.
Manors and monuments: Players earn points for any manors and monuments they have built.
Private enterprises: Players receive points for any private enterprises they have established.

After calculating the total points based on these conditions, the player with the highest total is declared the winner. If there is a tie, the player who is later in the turn order wins.

Before final scoring, players must make sure to carry out any remaining actions for the round after the game-ending condition has been met. This includes paying office costs, receiving any potential dividends, and finalizing any outstanding company affairs.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

John Company: Second Edition is a unique board game that revolves around managing an East India Company. The game’s scoring system is based on two primary factors: Family Honor and Offices. There are additional factors that contribute to the final score, such as Wealth, Goods, and Offices held in the Company.

Family Honor

The game’s primary scoring mechanism is Family Honor. Players gain Family Honor points through various actions in the game, such as successful trade expeditions, high-ranking offices, and other in-game accomplishments. At the end of the game, each player’s Family Honor points are added up to determine their final score.

Offices

Offices held in the Company also contribute to a player’s final score. There are nine possible offices, and each office held at the end of the game grants the player a specific number of points. The points value of each office varies based on its importance and difficulty to maintain.

Additional Scoring Factors

In addition to Family Honor and Offices, players can also gain points from Wealth and Goods. Wealth is accumulated through successful trade and can be used to purchase goods. At the end of the game, each point of Wealth and each Good is worth one point.

Tie-Breaking Rules

Should there be a tie at the end of the game, the following hierarchy is used to break the tie:

The player with the most Offices in the Company wins.
If the tie persists, the player with the highest total Wealth wins.
If the tie still continues, the player with the most Goods wins.

If there is a tie even after these tie-breaking rules have been applied, the victory is shared.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

John Company: Second Edition is a deep and complex board game with unique gameplay mechanics and rules. There are several rare or special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that are important for players to understand.

1. Family Prestige:

The game introduces a special rule where families gain prestige, which is tracked separately from money. The family with the most prestige at the end of the game wins, even if they aren’t the richest.

2. Regency Rules:

While in the Regency, a player can only use their office powers and not their family powers. This is an exception to the normal rules and can significantly change the dynamics of the game.

3. Company Collapse:

When the company collapses, all of its offices (including the chairman) are eliminated. This is a rare event that can dramatically alter the game’s progression.

4. Officer Retirement:

Officers can retire at any time during their turn, but they lose all of their influence in the company. This is an important rule to consider when strategizing.

5. Manoeuvre Bill Rule:

A special exception is the Manoeuvre Bill, which allows a player to change the order of a law’s execution. This can be used to strategically alter the game’s outcome.

Rule Clarifications:

The game does not end immediately when the company collapses. Instead, the game ends after the current round is completed.
Even though officers lose their influence when they retire, they still retain their prestige. This means they can still win the game if they have the most prestige at the end.
The Chairman has the power to set prices for company goods. However, they cannot set prices lower than the cost of production or higher than the market price.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Understanding the game’s economic system is key. Invest in the right companies at the right time. Keep an eye on the market trends and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Don’t underestimate the power of negotiation. The ability to strike beneficial deals with other players can make or break the game.
Remember that the game is not just about earning money. It’s also about gaining influence and control over the East India Company. Balancing these two aspects is critical.

Beginner Tips:

Take the time to understand the game rules. ‘John Company: Second Edition’ has complex mechanics, and understanding them is essential to devise a winning strategy.
Start with a conservative strategy. As you gain more experience, you can start taking more risks.
Pay attention to what other players are doing. Learn from their moves and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don’t focus solely on earning money. While it’s an important aspect of the game, it’s not the only one. Gaining influence and control over the East India Company is equally important.
Avoid risky investments, especially in the early stages of the game. They might seem tempting, but they can also lead to your downfall.
Don’t overlook the importance of negotiations. They can significantly influence the outcome of the game.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan ahead: Try to anticipate the moves of other players and plan your strategy accordingly.
Stay flexible: The game’s dynamics can change quickly. Be ready to adjust your strategy on the fly.
Use your resources wisely: Making the most of your available resources is a cornerstone of success in ‘John Company: Second Edition’.