2016 ATO Annual - Confederate Rails
LEE AT GETTYSBURG - JULY 1ST 1863Fire on the Mountain The Battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862
Back to: ACW
AGAINST THE ODDS MAGAZINE
Against the Odds Magazine and Game
Theme: ACW Railway Magazines and Books
Confederate Rails, designed by Richard H. Berg, is a unique type of railroad game. Players operate the historical railways of the Confederate States of America during one of the "hottest wars" of the 19th Century – the American Civil War - which ends up turning it into a kind of an "anti-railroad" game. Not only do players have to deliver goods, supplies and military loads during a difficult time, but they have to adjust to a dwindling rail network.
Yes, paradoxically each player's rolling stock and rail net are at their absolute finest on the first turn. From there on in the players (representing the South's various railroad companies) battle Union military advances, each other, Confederate government decrees (and neglects), the rapidly inflating and worthless money, plus wear and tear on irreplaceable equipment.
The system also contains far more "outside events" than most rail games...thanks to the war. As the tagline on the cover suggests, it becomes an increasingly against the odds situation to stave off hunger and defeat among the South's armies.
Confederate Rails and the 2016 ATO Magazine Annual:
Maps - One full color 17"x22" mapsheet
Counters - Over 200 full color die-cut counters
Cards - 24 full color cards
Rules length - Around 12 pages
Charts and tables - 2
Complexity - Easy
Solitaire suitability - Low
Playing time - Up to 3 to 4 hours for each game
Designer - Richard Berg
Development - Lembit Tohver
Graphic Design - Mark Mahaffey