Borogravia (Lama)
Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 9:24 pm
After noticing that Lama’s Borogravia was a favorite of some forum members, I decided to give it a go.
Demanding and tense are words that come to mind about this game. Also the words studious, stimulating and likable come to mind. I heartily recommend this game to all.
As with most of Lama’s games, Borogravia is plainly presented yet it is no picnic to win. And very calculated; almost like playing chess. Lama cleverly uses terrain, strategically placed raw resources and widely spaced cities to create a very challenging game. Adding to the challenge, Lama set the initial productivity at 50% and industry cost at 120%, allowing them to normalize according to haulage quotas. This forces the player to make tough, make-or-break decisions about industry vs rails for much of the game.
He craftily provides a selection (random) of a ‘manager’ which cause the player to think out a strategy for best use of a manager. Knowing your company’s overhead costs is essential when selecting a manager each year.
I managed to achieve Gold with about 3 years to spare. I will divulge that it was steel plants with T&Ds, started in about year 15, which started the big cash flow. I began with a network of track to all four portal cities (based on cargo flow) before moving inland. I also ran most trains with zero minimum cars, replacing them at 15 years. Early industry HAS to turn a profit immediately because their returns are pitiful. I suggest holding back on tunnels until late in the game. Many can wait until the final connections. $3M to $5M tunnels add tremendous maintenance & overhead costs to a company. (Lama wisely made the mountains so steep & high it is almost as costly to build rail over them as to tunnel through them.)
I can see why some count this game as one of their favorites.
Demanding and tense are words that come to mind about this game. Also the words studious, stimulating and likable come to mind. I heartily recommend this game to all.
As with most of Lama’s games, Borogravia is plainly presented yet it is no picnic to win. And very calculated; almost like playing chess. Lama cleverly uses terrain, strategically placed raw resources and widely spaced cities to create a very challenging game. Adding to the challenge, Lama set the initial productivity at 50% and industry cost at 120%, allowing them to normalize according to haulage quotas. This forces the player to make tough, make-or-break decisions about industry vs rails for much of the game.
He craftily provides a selection (random) of a ‘manager’ which cause the player to think out a strategy for best use of a manager. Knowing your company’s overhead costs is essential when selecting a manager each year.
I managed to achieve Gold with about 3 years to spare. I will divulge that it was steel plants with T&Ds, started in about year 15, which started the big cash flow. I began with a network of track to all four portal cities (based on cargo flow) before moving inland. I also ran most trains with zero minimum cars, replacing them at 15 years. Early industry HAS to turn a profit immediately because their returns are pitiful. I suggest holding back on tunnels until late in the game. Many can wait until the final connections. $3M to $5M tunnels add tremendous maintenance & overhead costs to a company. (Lama wisely made the mountains so steep & high it is almost as costly to build rail over them as to tunnel through them.)
I can see why some count this game as one of their favorites.