- BGG rank
- BGG #4,795
- BGG rating
- 7.5
18EU: Railroading in Europe From the 1830s to the 1930s
- 2–6 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,603
- BGG rating
- 7.3
18Scan
2005
Rules assistance for 18Scan
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for 18Scan
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
18Scan is a board game released in 2005 for 2–4 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by David G. D. Hecht and its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Network and Route Building, and Stock Holding.
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About the game
18xx meets Scandinavia -- Railroads on Skis Intro from the manual: "18Scan is an '18xx' game set in the Scandinavian peninsula of Northern Europe. It includes most of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. 18Scan is a small game, in the style of Mark Derrick’s 'one-state' games 18GA and 18AL, and is intended as a change from the more robust 18xx games often played." From the Designer Notes: "This is my second attempt at a 'small, short' 18xx game: the first, 18VA: The Railroads Come to Virginia, has matured -- alas! -- into a solid, medium-length performer, but has become quite unsuited for a quick 'fill-in-the-cracks' session. I am hoping that 18Scan will not only prove to be a better short game, but will be sufficiently straightforward that it can also be used as an introduction to the 18xx system. In 18Scan, I hope to bring to the table a simple game, yet with some strategic options, and a forgiving game -- unlike, say, 1830: Railways & Robber Barons. At the same time, 18Scan has a number of subsystems (Minor Companies, a merger railroad, Destinations, various categories of trains) that provide a panoply of the wide variety within the 18xx gaming space."
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- Deep Thought Games, LLC
- Golden Spike Games
Questions and answers
18Scan supports 2–4 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 18Scan is 180 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 18Scan for ages 12 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.
18Scan has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
18Scan belongs to these categories: Economic, Trains, and Transportation. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Network and Route Building, and Stock Holding. 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 18Scan are: David G. D. Hecht. 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 18Scan 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.