West Indies (fan expansion for Ticket to Ride)

Description

--- This unofficial fan-made Ticket to Ride expansion introduces a special board, city cards, and modified rules for strategic route-building and scoring. Key mechanics include: - *City cards* Dealt like tickets with keep/dispose rules; provide points for visiting cities and extra facilities for ticket completion. - *End-game bonuses* Up to 9 bonuses awarded based on achievements. - *Card refresh action* Discard 5 cards to draw 5 new ones as a full turn, aiding acquisition of engines or specific colors. - *Early game end* Optionally claim final round when train stock reaches 3 wagons, blocking opponents. - *Board features* Lacks grey/parallel tracks with limited selective options; compatible with US/Europe base game trains/cards and optional stations. This fan-made expansion for Ticket to Ride adheres to core gameplay principles on a custom board with specialized cards and rules, where players score points by claiming routes, outmaneuvering rivals, and leveraging new elements. It requires train pieces and cards from the US or Europe base sets (or purchasable separately) and optionally supports stations. An additional deck of city cards, handled identically to destination tickets in quantity and selection rules, yields points upon visiting those cities, with some granting facilities to fulfill tickets more effectively. Up to nine end-game bonuses enhance scoring. The board omits grey or parallel tracks, offering only limited alternatives. Key innovations include a turn action to discard five cards and draw five anew—crucial for securing locomotives or desired colors—and the ability to trigger game end when the train reserve hits three pieces, strategically halting opponents' progress. ---