Brass: Lancashire (Board Games)

Brass: Lancashire — first published as Brass — is an economic strategy game that tells the story of competing cotton entrepreneurs in Lancashire during the industrial revolution. You must develop, build, and establish your industries and network so that you can capitalize demand for iron, coal and cotton. The game is played over two halves: the canal phase and the rail phase. To win the game, score the most victory points (VPs), which are counted at the end of each half. VPs are gained from your canals, rails, and established (flipped) industry tiles. Each round, players take turns according to the turn order track, receiving two actions to perform any of the following:

1. Build an industry tile
2. Build a rail or canal
3. Develop an industry
4. Sell cotton
5. Take a loan

At the end of a player's turn, they replace the two cards they played with two more from the deck. Turn order is determined by how much money a player spent on the previous turn, from lowest spent first to highest spent. This turn order mechanism opens some strategic options for players going later in the turn order, allowing for the possibility of back-to-back turns.

After all the cards have been played the first time (with the deck size being adjusted for the number of players), the canal phase ends and a scoring round commences. After scoring, all canals and all of the lowest level industries are removed for the game, after which new cards are dealt and the rail phase begins. During this phase, players may now occupy more than one location in a city and a double-connection build (though expensive) is possible. At the end of the rail phase, another scoring round takes place, then a winner is crowned.

The cards limit where you can build your industries, but any card can be used for the develop, sell cotton or build connections actions. This leads to a strategic timing/storing of cards. Resources are common so that if one player builds a rail line (which requires coal) they have to use the coal from the nearest source, which may be an opponent's coal mine, which in turn gets that coal mine closer to scoring (i.e., being utilized).

Brass: Lancashire, the 2018 edition from Roxley Games, reboots the original Warfrog Games edition of Brass with new artwork and components, as well as a few rules changes:

• The virtual link rules between Birkenhead have been made optional.
• The three-player experience has been brought closer to the ideal experience of four players by shortening each half of the game by one round and tuning the deck and distant market tiles slightly to ensure a consistent experience.
• Two-player rules have been created and are playable without the need for an alternate board.
• The level 1 cotton mill is now worth 5 VP to make it slightly less terrible.

A Note on Item Conditions when ordering from us!

When shopping any of our websites or in our stores, you will notice that we segment games, systems and accessories into condition categories.  We stock Brand New from Manufacturer, Brand New Sealed old stock, and Pre-Owned items:

• Brand New* - Brand New and/or Original Seal in original packaging and includes original components.  
• Complete - Very Good* - item is complete in box (CIB) with all original components and is Pre-Owned. It will include jewel case/box, artwork, instruction manuals and any included items where applicable. All items will show very little wear.
• Complete - Good* - item is complete and will include jewel case/box, artwork and manual and is Pre-Owned. Labels/Manuals/Boxes might show light to minor wear.
• Complete - Acceptable* - item is complete with original case/artwork, manual and game and is Pre-Owned. Item will show heavy wear from use.
• Game Only/Game System Only/Console Only/Accessory Only* - these items are Pre-Owned and not complete. These items will be game or system/accessory only and will not include original boxes, manuals or both. These items will show wear from use and might also have sticker or marker residue on them.  Unless listed otherwise, all consoles/systems include power cord, video cord, and controller.
• Ugly* - they might not be pretty but they work! We sometimes get items that show label damage, dents, deep scratches, cracks, etc. We're happy to offer these at a discount. If you just want to play a game, check the Ugly’s out and save a few bucks to boot! (items are Pre-Owned.)

*Downloadable content, if applicable, may have been previously redeemed or no longer available from the vendor. Some games are online only even if in physical form – please confirm before ordering.

**Please ask any clarifying questions BEFORE purchase!  We are happy to answer your questions via Chat, Phone or email!**

We offer a 30-day warranty on any item purchased from us. Contact us if there is an issue and we will work to troubleshoot, repair or replace the item. We can be reached via the Chat Bubble, via email: Sales@J2Games.com, or call us at the number listed at the top of the website.