Ur: 1830 BC

About this board game

Ur: 1830 BC is a 3–6 player strategy game with an approximate play time of 180 minutes, set around the diversion of river water into irrigation channels. Released in 2001, it shares several characteristics with the 18xx series while remaining a distinct game.

Instead of private companies, the game features independent nations. Landowners purchase sections of land within countries, and the player with the majority of land in a kingdom becomes its controlling King. As a kingdom acquires enough land, it can begin developing water infrastructure, including reservoirs and pumps.

These structures draw water from the rivers into irrigation channels, which are drawn directly on the board. When a section of land is irrigated, its owner receives a small income, while the kingdom gains a much larger amount. Kingdom income can be distributed to landowners or retained in the treasury for future improvements.

• Purchase land and compete for control of kingdoms.
• Build reservoirs, pumps, and irrigation channels to use the available water.
• Adapt to advancing technology as older channel diggers become obsolete.
• Balance personal wealth against investment in kingdom infrastructure.

The game ends when all incoming water has been used, triggering an invasion by the southern tribes, or when a kingdom can no longer meet its obligation to buy more ditch-diggers and falls into revolution. In Ur: 1830 BC, victory goes to the player with the greatest personal holdings, combining land and money.