Wabash Cannonball

2007

Wabash Cannonball, also known as Chicago Express, is a strategic business game where players vie for control of historic railroads, auction shares, and expand rail systems in a race to maximize returns. Perfect for 2-6 players.

60
minutes

2 - 6
player(s)

12+

Medium

About the game

Wabash Cannonball is an exciting and strategic board game that transports players to the era of burgeoning American industry. The game unfolds in the setting of the 19th century, when the United States was witnessing a bloom in its railway infrastructure. The board game captures the essence of this period, offering players an opportunity to experience the thrill and challenge of railroad expansion and investment.

The heart of this game lies in its core mechanics. The game is a blend of stock market speculation and railway construction, intricately interwoven to provide a dynamic and immersive experience. Players take on the roles of investors who buy stocks in six different railway companies. As the game progresses, players strategically build railway tracks to expand the reach of their companies, exponentially increasing their wealth in the process.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Wabash Cannonball is a strategic board game that involves players buying and developing railroads in order to earn the most money. Each component of the game has its own specific function and interaction with the gameplay. Let’s go through each of them:

1. Game Board

The game board is the main component of the game. It features a map of the United States with various cities and routes marked on it. Players place their trains and build their railroads on this board. The board’s layout affects the strategy and decisions of the players.

2. Wooden Trains

Each player receives a set of wooden trains in their chosen color. These trains are used to mark the railroads that a player controls. The more railroads a player controls, the more income they can generate.

3. Railroad Tiles

The railroad tiles represent different railroad companies. Players can buy these companies and use them to expand their railroads. Each company offers unique benefits and affects the overall gameplay.

4. Money

The money in Wabash Cannonball is used to buy railroad companies, build railroads, and pay dividends. The player with the most money at the end of the game is the winner.

5. Stock Certificates

The stock certificates represent shares in the different railroad companies. Players can buy and sell these shares to earn money and gain control of companies.

6. Player Tokens

Each player has a player token in their chosen color. These tokens are used to track the turn order and the number of actions a player has taken.

7. Action Cards

The action cards determine the available actions for the players in each round. These actions include building railroads, buying companies, and selling shares.

8. Income Track

The income track is a tool for keeping track of each player’s income. It helps players plan their strategies and make decisions based on their current and potential income.

Each of these components interacts with each other to create a complex and engaging game of strategy and decision-making. The balance between building railroads, buying companies, and managing income is crucial to winning Wabash Cannonball.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Wabash Cannonball is a strategic board game where players become railroad tycoons, aiming to amass the greatest wealth. Each player’s turn consists of several possible actions and strategic choices that can affect gameplay. Here is a detailed breakdown of these actions:

A player’s turn in Wabash Cannonball consists of one of the following actions:

Start an Auction: A player may choose to start an auction for a share of a company. The player specifies the company and the starting bid. This action results in the players bidding on the share, with the highest bidder receiving the share. This can affect the gameplay significantly as owning shares in companies can increase a player’s wealth.
Build Track: A player may choose to expand the rail network of a company they own a share in. They place a track tile on the board, expanding the company’s reach. This action can impact the game by increasing the company’s income potential and providing strategic advantages.
Place a Station: A player may choose to place a station on a city that a company they own a share in has track to. A station increases that city’s value to the company. This action can increase the company’s profits and potentially the wealth of the player.
Call for Dividends: A player may call for dividends to be paid out. Dividends are paid out to shareholders based on the profitability of the companies they own shares in. This action can significantly boost a player’s wealth and may affect other players’ strategies.
Buy a Locomotive: A player may choose to buy a locomotive for a company they own a share in. Locomotives increase the number of cities a company’s trains can reach, increasing its income potential. This action can strengthen a company’s position and boost its shareholder’s wealth.

Each action a player chooses to take during their turn can have strategic implications. For example, expanding the track of a company can block other companies from accessing certain cities. Similarly, buying shares in a company another player is investing in can disrupt their strategy. Therefore, players must carefully consider their options and the potential impact of their actions on the game’s outcome.

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

The game of Wabash Cannonball concludes when the last corporation charter on the board is purchased or when all available shares have been issued. Once either of these conditions is met, the game moves into the final scoring phase.

Victory Conditions:

The main objective of the game is to amass the highest total net worth by the end of the game. This total net worth is calculated as the sum of a player’s cash on hand and the value of their stock holdings in the various corporations. The player with the highest total net worth is declared the winner.

Final Scoring Actions:

Calculate Cash on Hand: Each player counts the amount of money they have left. This is added to their total score.
Calculate Stock Value: Following this, players add up the current market value of all the shares they possess. This value is determined by the final position of the corporation’s stock on the Stock Market track.
Calculate Dividends: As a final step, players receive additional cash equal to their share in each corporation’s dividends. This is determined by the final position of the corporation’s dividends marker on the Dividends track.

After all these steps, the player with the highest total net worth (the sum of cash on hand, stock value, and dividends) is declared the winner of the game.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Scoring in ‘Wabash Cannonball’ revolves around the accumulation of points through the purchase and control of railroad companies, the acquisition of shares in those companies, and the strategic building of railroad routes. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Scoring during the Game:

Company Value: Every time a company expands its railroad by building a new route, the value of that company increases. The player who controls the company gets to decide where the new route is built. The value increase depends on the type of terrain the track is built on. For example, plains increase company value by $2, mountains and rivers by $3, and cities by the city’s current value.

Share Value: The value of individual shares in a company is determined by dividing the company’s total value by the number of issued shares. Therefore, as the company’s value increases, so does the value of its shares.

Scoring at the End of the Game:

Total Assets: At the end of the game, players add up the value of all the shares they own, plus any remaining cash they have. This is their final score. The player with the highest score wins the game.

Tie-breaking Rules:

If two or more players have the same total score at the end of the game, the tie is broken using the following rules:

The player with the most cash on hand (not tied up in shares) wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who controls the company with the highest total value wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most total shares wins.
If there is still a tie, the winner is decided by a roll of the dice, with the highest roll winning.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Wabash Cannonball is a strategic board game that involves railroad development and stock manipulation. While the game rules are generally straightforward, there are some special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that players should be aware of.

The first involves initial company valuation. When a player floats a company, they will decide its initial value. However, this value can’t be arbitrary:

The initial value must be between $9 and $16 inclusive.
The initial value must be a multiple of $1.

Another special rule is the city development rule. A player can’t develop a city if they don’t have a train station in it. The exceptions to this rule are:

The first turn of the game, where players can develop any city.
When a player has the ‘Engineer’ role, they can develop any city regardless of train station presence.

There’s also a rule about dividends which states that a company’s income is divided among the shareholders as dividends. However, there are some exceptions:

If a company has no paying cities, no dividends are paid.
If the company’s income is less than the current stock value, dividends are not paid and the stock value decreases by $1.

Lastly, there’s a clarification regarding the auction phase. During the auction phase, players bid on available roles. Players can bid any amount of money, but the minimum bid is the current highest bid plus $1. If a player passes, they can’t re-enter the bidding for that role. The player who bids the highest amount wins the role and pays their bid to the bank.

Understanding these special rules and exceptions can greatly enhance the strategic depth and enjoyment of Wabash Cannonball.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Wabash Cannonball

Invest wisely: Focus on making strategic investments. Owning a majority stake in a profitable company can be a strong position, but it’s also essential not to overextend your resources.
Track the game: Keeping an eye on the number of shares in each company that are still available, and who owns them, is crucial to your strategy.
Use auctions strategically: Use auctions to drain your opponents’ resources. Bidding high on a company that you don’t necessarily want can force others to spend more than they’d like.

Beginner Tips for Wabash Cannonball

Learn the basics: Understand the basic mechanics of the game, such as how to auction, build rails, and issue shares.
Start small: Initially, focus on smaller companies. They may not bring in as much revenue, but they can provide a steady income and help you understand the game’s dynamics.
Watch the experts: Pay attention to experienced players’ strategies. Observing how they play can provide valuable insights.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Wabash Cannonball

Don’t overspend: Spending too much on auctions early in the game can leave you without enough resources to bid on valuable companies later.
Avoid tunnel vision: Focusing too much on one strategy or company can lead to missed opportunities. The situation can change rapidly, so it’s crucial to stay flexible.
Misunderstanding the game: Wabash Cannonball is not just about building railroads; it’s about investing and manipulating the market. Understanding this aspect is crucial to success.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in Wabash Cannonball

Plan your moves: Before starting the game, have a clear plan of action, but also be prepared to adapt as the game develops.
Balance your portfolio: Diversify your investments across different companies to reduce risk and potentially increase returns.
Use your turns wisely: Every action counts in Wabash Cannonball. Whether you’re auctioning, building, or issuing shares, make sure each move contributes to your overall strategy.