How do you play Ticket to Ride First Journey? This engaging board game, designed by Alan R. Moon, is a fantastic introduction to the popular Ticket to Ride series. It’s perfect for families and friends looking for a fun and strategic game that’s easy to learn yet challenging to master. In this article, we’ll guide you through the rules and strategies to help you enjoy this delightful game to the fullest.
The game is set in the United States, and players take on the role of train conductors, trying to collect and complete train tickets to earn points. The objective is to connect cities on the map using train routes, while also competing against other players to earn the most points by completing the longest continuous train routes and collecting the most destination tickets.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to play Ticket to Ride First Journey:
1. Set Up the Game: Place the game board on the table and shuffle the train cards. Each player receives a set of train cards, a set of train pieces, and a score pad.
2. Choose a Starting Player: The youngest player or the player with the least amount of experience starts the game.
3. Draw Train Cards: Each player starts with a hand of five train cards. During the game, players draw train cards from the deck to replace the ones they play.
4. Play Train Cards: Players can play train cards to claim train routes on the game board. To claim a route, you must have the exact number of train cards of the color(s) required for that route. For example, to claim a route that requires two red cards, you must play two red train cards.
5. Claim a Route: Once you’ve played the required train cards, place your train pieces on the route you’ve claimed. Each route can hold up to five train pieces.
6. Draw Destination Tickets: After playing train cards, you can draw destination tickets from the deck. These tickets show two cities, and you must collect train cards to connect them.
7. Complete Destination Tickets: As you collect train cards and claim routes, you can complete destination tickets. When you complete a destination ticket, you earn points equal to the number of train pieces on the route.
8. End the Game: The game ends when the last train card is drawn from the deck. Players count their points, with the player with the most points winning the game.
Strategies to win Ticket to Ride First Journey:
– Plan Your Moves: Before playing train cards, think about which routes you want to claim and how you can complete your destination tickets.
– Be Flexible: Be prepared to change your plans if another player claims a route you were targeting.
– Collect Train Cards: Try to collect train cards of various colors to have more options when claiming routes.
– Prioritize Long Routes: Long routes are worth more points, so prioritize completing them first.
In conclusion, Ticket to Ride First Journey is a delightful game that’s easy to learn and fun to play. By following these rules and strategies, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a master train conductor in this exciting game of strategy and competition.
