1855: Lu Trinittu

18xx set in the Papal State Marches region, Central Italy. The game starts in 1855, right before the Unification, when the Marches were part of the Papal State at the time of Pope Pius IX. He was the first Pope to embrace railways, after the missed opportunities of Gregorio XVI - he was so enthusiastic he had a personal train built for him. The game opens with an extended 1822/Amun Re Auction for Papal and Episcopal Concessions, Minor Companies and Privates. Concessions allow you to lay track with terrain discounts or steal money from the Pope. Minors can't lay track and have to rely on Concessions. Privates are randomly attached to Concessions and give different powers, active either before (Papal Phase) or after the unification. An Enthusiastic Investor is attached to each Minor Company, which can convert to a share of a certain Major Company or help floating it. After the Auction the Papal Phase starts, which consists of a variable number of "Papal" Operation Rounds (2 to 7). In these the Papal Concession will prepare the advent of the Strade Ferrate Romane, the National company, laying tracks from Ancona and preparing the treasury for train purchases, all the while stealing money for personal gain. The other players will use their Episcopal Concessions to lay track for their Minor Companies, starting inland near the mountains in poorer areas but running their trains and earning money right away. It's up to the Papal Concession player to judge when the Minors are earning too much money and if the Strade Ferrate Romane has enough money and track to start, and to pull the trigger for the Unification of Italy. The Papal Concession converts to the SFR presidency, while the other Concessions have to guess when the Unification happens in order to convert to SFR shares (or be burnt by the Pope if they mistime that). After the Unification the “standard” 18xx starts. The pre-game helps creating a different starting map and player positions for each game. The game will progress through historical events like the Ancona bombardment, the Financial Crisis, the advent of the “Autocarro” (+4 Train) and end with World War 2 and a vote for the First Republic. 1855 is an incremental cap game with debts, variable interest, government bonds, auctions for failed companies, Minors being acquired by Majors, a National Company and Destinations. And Geese. Very important. Bribe material for the antitrust official and bid tokens for the Auction. PnP files and manual are linked in the forum, in English and Italian