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Esprit Jeu

The Old Prince 1871

Par Joshua Starr

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8.3 BoardGameGeek

Statut actuel

Pledge Manager ouvert Fin de campagne : 06/07/2026

Fonds récoltés : 198 092 €

Economie Enchère Gestion Print'n'Play

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A trip on the Prince Edward Island Railway in 1871

Construction began on the Prince Edward Island Railway (PEIR) in 1871… the rest is a financial catastrophe. Criticized as the most crooked railway in the world (both physically and financially), Prince Edward Island was nearly at a full economic collapse within a year.

In 1873, Prince Edward Island dumped the PEIR onto Canada and joined the Canadian Federation. The years that followed showed an economic boom for the island and the railroad operated until the 1980s.

This game is not attempting to recreate the history of the island, but borrows its history and geography to explore a new narrative about the island’s Old Prince Edward Island Railway.

The Old Prince 1871 is an 18xx game set on Prince Edward Island. The innovations that make this title particularly unique are the train roster, the map, the private company auction, and the Prince Edward Island Railway. These combine to create a rich decision space for the entirety of The Old Prince’s 3 to 4 hour playtime with minimal complexity relative to the 18xx genre.

Train roster: 18xx games feature a mechanic called “rusting” where old locomotives are removed from play as new locomotives are introduced. While most 18xx games have a short train roster with 3 or 4 rusting events, The Old Prince has a long train roster with 7 rusting events. Despite the length of its train roster, The Old Prince maintains a surprisingly brisk pace.
Map: Railway construction on Prince Edward Island was actually purchased by the mile. As a result, construction companies built track that took the “scenic route” around the island, twisting and turning where possible. The Old Prince simulates this by including only curved track and a map tailored to create challenging tradeoffs when developing your routes.
Private Company Auction: The Old Prince features a new style of private auction where players take turns putting up items that only their opponents may bid on. In general, this auction will consume most of the players’ starting capital and will leave them in highly entangled positions with shared ownership over the starting companies: Mainline, Shortline, and Prince Edward Island Railway. The Mainline and Shortline are randomly selected starting companies and the Private Companies are randomly dealt out during setup, leading to highly variable starting positions and game states.
Prince Edward Island Railway (PEIR): While many 18xx games feature a national railway that grows during the game, The Old Prince starts with a large national railway that is deconstructed. Home stations of unstarted companies are used by the PEIR to build track and run trains. As those companies are started, the PEIR’s station tokens and shares will be forcibly converted to the new company which may also change ownership of the PEIR.

First game finished on the neoprene mat.

Want to learn how to play The Old Prince 1871?

Do you prefer to learn by reading the rulebook? Click the image at the bottom of this section to see the latest draft. Please note the version provided is still a work in progress and we welcome feedback for any rules omissions or mistakes.
Do you prefer to learn by playing online? Thanks to Toby Mao and his amazing team of engineers, The Old Prince 1871 is free to play online at https://18xx.games/. Click here to start a new game of The Old Prince 1871.
Do you prefer to learn by watching a video? Check out these teach and playthrough videos by Guerric Samples Games, or by the Choo Choo Crew of the Dads on a Map podcast. You can also check out our sponsored Heavy Cardboard Teach & Playthrough in the section below!
Do you prefer to learn by playing a physical game? Thanks to Christopher Giroir, The Old Prince 1871 is available for print-and-play through 18xx Maker.
Want to get a feel for the game before you do any of that stuff? Check out this primer video from Table Scraps where Ben Mandelker talks about what makes The Old Prince such an engaging title.

Watch Heavy Cardboard's stream of The Old Prince 1871!

1 hour teach (begins at 00:07:19): Edward does a full teach of The Old Prince 1871 and 18xx concepts.
3.5 hour playthrough (begins at 1:11:11): Jon, Greg, and Adam play a 3-player game with Edward as the GM.

Want to hear more about The Old Prince 1871's story?

Read here about early days of design, prototyping, licensing, and getting a graphic designer.
Read here about why we gave The Old Prince a spooky theme.
Read here about graphic design and production decisions for The Old Prince.
Read here about why many are saying that The Old Prince is the best 18xx game ever made.

While this will be the official publication of The Old Prince 1871, it has been available for print-and-play and in public playtesting for the past 4 years. In that time, The Old Prince 1871 has been played thousands of times by hundreds of players. Below are some words from those players:

Cole Wehrle (designer of Root, Arcs, John Company, and many more):

"The Old Prince 1871 is fantastic in every sense. It veers around every tired cliché of the 18xx genre and will keep players on the edge of their seat until the final operating round.

It is one of those rare, perfect games that somehow dances through the whole history of the 18xx without missing a beat. If you’ve ever wondered why folks keep returning to this genre, The Old Prince is a perfect introduction to the amazing possibilities of 18xx."

A clip from a Heavy Cardboard interview with Cole Wehrle. Cole raves about The Old Prince 1871 for about 5 minutes starting at 17:34:

James Geist (host of the Dads on a Map podcast):

"A genuine weeknight 18xx option that is equally terrific at both 3 players and 4 players, while requiring a careful reevaluation of incentives at each count.

After years of pruning my 18xx collection into a handful of games. The Old Prince sits atop that short list.

The Old Prince somehow feels classic and new in the 18xx world at the same time, requiring careful financial navigation through its systems, but also rewarding players for the work they do on the map for their companies."

A 3-hour DoaM podcast episode dedicated to talking about The Old Prince 1871:

Jordan F (BGG: ConstantConjunction):

"The learning curve is very high, even for someone with some 18xx experience, but the rewards are enormous: a spatially audacious map; a variable, brutal train roster; a fascinating mess of a national company in the PEIR that is dismantled rather than built up; a dynamic and unique private auction that ties up almost all of your initial capital; subtleties with managing turn order beyond simple priority deal; splits! It's just so innovative in so many ways, and squeezes it all into a miraculously short playtime (for an 18xx)."

RJ Eisma (Instagram: teameisoz, BGG: Rontuaru):

"Given that The Old Prince 1871 is an arrangement of 18xx mechanisms both familiar and foreign, one surmises it took no shortage of creative genius, genuine love for the genre, and precisely contributed editorial and testing work for the game to achieve its final working state. It is a tour de force of twisting convention, bizarrely approachable for even those mildly acquainted with 18xx, yet staunchly stubborn and tenacious towards experienced players attempting to exert their will on it."

Jonathan Anderson (BGG: PhysicsSquirrel):

"The Old Prince delivers on what many 18xx games fail to accomplish: contribute something unique and compelling to the 18xx space. Too many titles borrow most of a great game, to create only a good game, that is obsolete on arrival. The Old Prince has one of the most nuanced train rosters of any 18xx I've played. That and the entanglement it creates, leading to an uncommonly delightful 3p experience, makes this a title that has a place in even a small collection."

Garret Wehrman (BGG: Lemem):

"The Old Prince is incredibly unique in every facet and I'll just come out and say it, this game is a masterpiece. The private auction is utterly clever, entangling players in unique positions that differ immensely from play to play. Union Bank keeps everyone honest while PEIR is a toolbox that can be utilized in so many different ways. The map feels as though it was painstakingly crafted to work with the system's curved track, simultaneously rewarding and punishing players as they attempt to build out their networks. The train roster is downright genius and never feels like it overstays its welcome, despite the multiple rusting events, and the decision of whether to float or split a company isn't always as straightforward as it seems. Bravo to Mr. Boyd on his first design, this is quite an accomplishment."

Matthew Waymost (BGG: toaster83):

"TOP is a dynamic tour de force in 18xx design that’s full of impactful decisions from beginning to end. The brilliant opening auction of sixteen private companies forces players into a Gordian knot of positions that they have to spend much of the game untying. With ten different train ranks, the train roster is really a train river that keeps rolling stock moving into and out of companies throughout and creates tense decisions around purchasing trains, floating (or splitting) companies, and managing capital. And the tight map with its many intricacies and the lack of nearly any straight track means that players have to maintain map position with deft tile lays and timely token placements. TOP is a modern and thoughtfully crafted 18xx game full of wonderful chaos that’s both familiar and new."

Stephen S (BGG: cowbellthunder):

"This game is lightning in a bottle. TOP adds a tremendous amount to the 18xx experience while taking nothing away. It plays quickly, continually produces several different but playable positions out of the unique auction structure, and can be appreciated by newer and highly experienced players. The more this design influences new games, the happier I will feel about the future of 18xx."

If you are new to 18xx, welcome! 18xx is a game system that you may have heard of but not yet tried due to its reputation for being long and complex.

However, many 18xx games are actually fairly straightforward, take 3 to 4 hours to play, and are absolutely fantastic gaming experiences. You play the role of an investor who starts, operates, and purchases shares of railroad companies. The railroad companies build their networks across the map and purchase trains that will be used to generate revenue and pay dividends to the companies’ investors. Company values are tracked on a stock market, which players will use when making their investment decisions. At the end of the game, a player's score is determined by the value of the shares and cash in their hands.

What makes 18xx games so compelling to play is how players are able to affect the game and each other with seemingly insignificant decisions. Since games typically have perfect information, the outcome of the game is completely driven by the actions of the players.

I’d also recommend checking out Ambie's "Intro to 18xx" series on YouTube to learn more!

I am making the best possible version of The Old Prince 1871 that I am capable of—the version that I want to have in my own collection that I will play hundreds of times. Every copy will already include the best possible materials, finishes, and production standards.

All titles from Grand Trunk Games are open for print-and-play and, following in the footsteps of Wehrlegig Games, Grand Trunk Games will also be offering art assets for The Old Prince 1871 under the Creative Commons license BY–NC–SA 4.0 once art has been finalized.

Shikoku 1889 is an excellent introduction to the 18xx genre and will be getting a second print run as a part of this campaign. You can get a bundle discount and save a bit on shipping if you pledge for both The Old Prince 1871 and Shikoku 1889.

Check out these links for more information about Shikoku 1889:

Watch Heavy Cardboard's stream of Shikoku 1889!

1 hour teach (begins at 00:03:43): Edward does a full teach of Shikoku 1889 and 18xx concepts.
3.5 hour playthrough (begins at 1:06:35): James, Alexander, Paul, and Jon play a 4-player game with Edward as the GM.

Grand Trunk Games is partnered with Allplay who will handle pledge management, fulfillment, and distribution for this campaign. All shipping and taxes will be charged in the pledge manager after the campaign.

Want to pledge for more than 1 copy of The Old Prince 1871 or Shikoku 1889?

After selecting a reward tier, you will be taken to Kickstarter's checkout page. Here, you will be able to add on up to 3 copies of The Old Prince 1871 and up to 3 copies of Shikoku 1889.

Please note that shipping for The Old Prince 1871 & Shikoku 1889 reward tier already counts as 2 games.

USA: During the pledge manager, after the campaign, we will be collecting sales tax in these states - AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, OH, TN, PA, UT, VA, WA, and WI.

EU: VAT will be collected additionally in the pledge manager. Your games will ship from Germany. No taxes are charged at the time of delivery.

UK: VAT will be collected additionally in the pledge manager. Your games will ship from the UK. No taxes are charged at the time of delivery.

Canada: GST/HST will be collected additionally in the pledge manager. Your games will ship from within Canada. No taxes are charged at the time of delivery.

Australia and New Zealand: GST will be collected additionally in the pledge manager. Your games will ship from Australia. No taxes are charged at the time of delivery.

India: Is included in Southeast Asia in the table above.

Rest of the World: No taxes will be collected in the pledge manager. Taxes may be due when your games are delivered. Your games will ship from China or USA. We realize the shipping price is high, but that reflects our costs.

While we have thoroughly tested the first pre-production copy (PPC) of The Old Prince 1871, we wanted to use this campaign as an opportunity for feedback from the players before art files are finalized. After the campaign, we will take a few months to work through any changes and are building this buffer period into our timeline. Since art files for Shikoku 1889 are already complete, we will manufacture Shikoku 1889 and its add-ons while we put our finishing touches on The Old Prince 1871 and its add-ons.

Yes, retailers will be able to pre-order copies of The Old Prince 1871 and Shikoku 1889 after the campaign. They will be treated as any other item you can order through Allplay. Please visit allplay.com/wholesale for more information.

Lucas Boyd (game design):

I am honored and excited to present to you the debut design from Lucas Boyd. It was an absolute pleasure to witness the journey this game went on over the course of its 4-year development cycle. While this will be his first published game, Lucas has demonstrated the dedication, perseverance, and meticulousness of a veteran designer seeing this game through to his original vision.

Jan Lipiński (graphic design & illustration):

It has been such a joy to work with Jan on this project. He is truly a modern da Vinci. Not just for his technical ability like his fine art painting or his comprehensive visual design, but for his insatiable curiosity. Jan approaches every possible detail with both a seriousness to ascertain "truth" but also a playful curiosity to experiment. Jan could never be satisfied by "good enough" and continued to surprise me with new discoveries even after nearly 3 years of working on this project.

Jan has made incredible artistic contributions to the board game hobby including: Indonesia 3rd Edition, John Company 2nd Edition, and Horseless Carriage.

Joshua Starr (production):

Grand Trunk Games is a publishing company operated by me, Joshua Starr, dedicated to making 18xx more available, affordable, and approachable. The Old Prince 1871 is a timeless game. My hope is to provide you with a timeless production of it.

We hope you enjoy playing this game even half as much as we enjoyed making it for you, because we adored every moment of the journey this project took us on.

Kickstarter video music composed by Herman Stein, courtesy of Monstrous Movie Music/Gilead Music Co.: https://mmmrecordings.com