Watch “10 Hidden Solo Modes That Make Multiplayer Games Solo-Friendly,” a board game video for Brass: Birmingham from Boardgaymergirl on BoardGameVideo.
Description provided by Boardgaymergirl on YouTube:
Did you know some of the most popular multiplayer board games have fan-made solo modes — and they're actually really good? I'm counting down 10 community-made solo variants that turned inaccessible multiplayer games into solo-friendly experiences, including Brass: Birmingham, Great Western Trail, Sky Team, Vindication and more. If you're a solo gamer looking to get more out of your existing collection, this one's for you. This list consists of the fan made variants that first pulled me into solo gaming, why they work, and which games they transform the most. I will also let you know about the complexity of each solo mode, if you are working against an opponent or trying to beat your own score, as well as whether they are competitive or cooperative.
If you are new here, my name is Natalie and I like to play games primarily solo which may or may not include some silly antics. Chapters for each game and links to all of the solo variant rules are below so you can try them yourself.
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00:00 Introduction
02:21 How I Picked these 10 Solo Modes
03:05 Great Western Trail
06:54 Root
11:23 Brass Birmingham (George)
13:48 Brass Birmingham (Eliza)
15:27 Brass Birmingham (Mautoma)
17:04 Space Base
21:58 The King is Dead Second Edition
27:32 Arboretum
31:58 Grand Austria Hotel
35:58 Vindication
39:37 Sky Team
43:01 Azul
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GAMES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO WITH LINKS
1. Great Western Trail - Garth - https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/151608/garth-specialized-automa-for-gwt-solo-play
2. Root - Clockwork Expansions - https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/170084/root-better-bot-project-outdated-see-forum-link
3. Brass Birmingham - George - https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/168370/brass-birmingham-with-george-solo-competitive-mode
4. Brass Birmingham - Eliza - https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/209734/eliza-a-brass-birmingham-solo-mode-w-mechanis-solo
5. Brass Birmingham - Mautoma - https://www.mautoma.com/brass-birmingham
Board Game Dave's Solo Playthrough - https://youtu.be/gihxo7y3Br0?si=38HB9wPb57_Fo4Rb
6. Space Base - https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1990937/article/29045812#29045812
7. The King is Dead Second Edition - Box of Delights - https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/213042/the-king-is-dead-20-solo-ai
Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ShXWCwnOA
8. Arboretum - https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2132669/unofficial-solo-variant-for-arboretum/page/2
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cletkXYdBs
9. Grand Austria Hotel - Leopold - https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1750721/solo-variant
10. Vindication - Golem - https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/175802/the-golem-ai-variant-for-solo
11. Sky Team - https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/268672/solo-variant
12. Azul - Box of Delights - https://www.boxofdelights.net/azul
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Mainly reviews. Brass: Birmingham is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 46 reviews, 20 how-to-play guides, 15 recorded sessions, 7 unboxings, and 23 other videos.
2 - 4 players
60 - 120 min
Heavy weight: Expect a long teach
About Brass: Birmingham, from BoardGameGeek:
Brass: Birmingham is an economic strategy game sequel to Brass. Brass: Birmingham tells the story of competing entrepreneurs in Birmingham during the industrial revolution between the years of 1770 and 1870.
It offers a very different story arc and experience from its predecessor. As in its predecessor, you must develop, build and establish your industries and network in an effort to exploit low or high market demands. The game is played over two halves: the canal era (years 1770-1830) and the rail era (years 1830-1870). To win the game, score the most VPs. VPs are counted at the end of each half for the 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 actions (found in the original game):
1) Build - Pay required resources and place an industry tile.
2) Network - Add a rail / canal link, expanding your network.
3) Develop - Increase the VP value of an industry.
4) Sell - Sell your cotton, manufactured goods and pottery.
5) Loan - Take a £30 loan and reduce your income.
Brass: Birmingham also features a new sixth action:
6) Scout - Discard three cards and take a wild location and wild industry card. (This action replaces Double Action Build in original Brass.)
Designers
Gavan Brown, Matt Tolman, Martin Wallace
Artists
Gavan Brown, Lina Cossette, David Forest, Gui Landgraf, Damien Mammoliti, Mr. Cuddington, Matt Tolman
