...that´s how we do it!
Hamburg, around 1900, the gate to the world. Amidst the Hamburg Freeport, the impressive Speicherstadt, Hamburg´s unique warehouse district, spreads its net of countless bridges and loading
canals.
There´s a constant bustle of activity. Everywhere rope winches are lowered from hatches in the warehouses to unload the ships waiting in the canals. And Lady Luck seems to be smiling on me, too. Just
now a fully loaded cargo vessel is steering towards the Speicherstadt. On board: valuable spices, exotic coffee and precious carpets. It virtually smells of good business, after all the demand for
spices and carpets fills my order books. My customers would be pleased to receive their ordered goods so swiftly. I could take the coffee to my coffee roaster, who will earn me a fair amount of money
with it. But will I even get the cargo?
It seems I´m not the only one interested in that ship. Just now a rival has severely raised the prices for those goods. It´s true what they say: Competition does not only stimulate business, it
sometimes also ruins the prices. Should I risk exhausting my financial reserves with my next bid? It won´t be long until the next ship calls at the port of the Elbe Metropolis. By that time, I will
perhaps be in a better financial position than the others and able to buy those goods at low prices. But what if the next ship´s cargo is only caoutchouc? Wouldn´t it be better to try to get a few
more contracts and become more flexible in my purchase? What´s more, I still need to improve the protection of my warehouse. After the devastating fire that wreaked considerable havoc at a rival´s
Kontor last spring, I´ve resolved to see to building my own fire service. Perhaps I should do it now, while everyone else is busy with the newly arrived goods. That would be one thing less to worry
about. At least.
As a merchant in Hamburg in the heyday of the Speicherstadt, the players have to make a number of decisions. Turn by turn they will have to chose cards they wish to buy from a constantly changing
display. The most victory points can be gained by fulfilling contracts. The goods needed for that are being brought by cargo vessels. But victory points are not money and that is not only scarce, but
also the pre-condition to buy a card in the first place. Which is why there is a card like the coffee roaster for each type of goods that immediately turns the respective goods into money rather than
victory points. Fire service is also very important, because fires will break out four times during the game. The price for having the least protection when that happens will be paid in victory
points. Several special cards like the Kontor, the Bank and the Port provide ever-changing card displays that vary from game to game.
The card-dealing mechanism is the central element of the game. It´s as simple as it is clever. The player have three tokens each, which they take turns to place next to the displayed cards. If
several tokens are placed with a single card, they form a row in ascending order. After all tokens have been placed, the purchase of the individual cards begins. The player who first placed a token
with a card may first choose to buy that card. He or she must, however, pay 1 coin for every token that was placed with that card. If he or she is unwilling or unable to pay that price, the player
removes the token, thus automatically decreasing the price for that card by 1 coin for the player who placed his or her token with that card second.
As easy as the rules are, the placing of ones 3 tokens will prove to be quite tricky. The tokens are not just a means to plan the use of ones own funds, but also to directly influence the financial
leeway of the opponents. This leaves a lot of room for tactical interaction, without making time stretch with each move. There is virtually no idle time for the players. The fluent course of the game
together with the mutable card displays makes for a varied, challenging, and fun game for 2 to 5 players. The graphic design by Michael Menzel and Harald Lieske will transport you into a grippingly
realistic gameplay.
After Hamburgum, the publisher eggertspiele has now topically referred to its regional roots for the second time. Hamburg´s Speicherstadt is one of the most striking landmarks of the Hanseatic city
and reminds us of the "romantic" period of oversea trade, which the game revives once more.
You want to get a first impression? Here is the video!
Hamburg 1900!
Hamburg around 1900 - the gate to the world. Within the harbour there stretches a unique complex of storehouses: Speicherstadt. The network of canals and bridges houses a terminal for spices, coffee,
tea and carpets from all over the world.
As one of Hamburg´s wholesaler at the heyday of the Speicherstadt you acquire shiploads for the storehouses, not too expensive, of course, as you like to make a profit selling them. Who makes the
best deals within a year and supplies his clients with the right goods will be the winner of the game. But beware! Sudden fires cause heavy losses. You might be adviced to invest in fire protection
early.
Playing The Speicherstadt you will be thrilled by the simple and original mechanism of acquiring desired action cards.
A game by
Stefan Feld.
Graphics:
Michael Menzel and Harald Lieske.
