- BGG rank
- BGG #6,504
- BGG rating
- 7.9
1828
- 3–5 players
- 210–420 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,091
- BGG rating
- 6.9
18FR
1997
Rules assistance for 18FR
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 360 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.8/5
Rules assistant for 18FR
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
18FR is a board game released in 1997 for 3–6 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Helmut Ohley, J. C. Lawrence, and Michael Liebetanz and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building.
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About the game
An 18xx game originally designed in 1987 by Michael Liebetanz as 1830: Railways & Robber Barons on a new map for France. In 1997 Helmut Ohley produced a variant set of rules for 18FR which introduced ports, the special track-tiles, etc. In 2009 J C Lawrence in collaboration with Helmut Ohley updated 18FR, extending and clarifying Helmut's original variant into a more interesting game. Both variants require additional components to 1830: Railways & Robber Barons to play (files are provided to make your own) and assumes familiarity with the 1830: Railways & Robber Barons rules. Though this uses components of 1830 this is not an expansion, but is a separate standalone game.
Categories
Publishers
- (Self-Published)
- Marflow Games
Questions and answers
18FR supports 3–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for 18FR is 360 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 18FR for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
18FR has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
18FR belongs to these categories: Economic, Print & Play, and Trains. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Tile Placement, and Network and Route Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 18FR are: Helmut Ohley, J. C. Lawrence, and Michael Liebetanz. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 18FR as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.