Set at the turn of the century, shortly after the second great Chicago Fire, City of the Big Shoulders is a euro-style, resource management and worker placement game with an 18xx-style economic engine. Take on the role of entrepreneur and investor as you build one of 15 historical companies, hiring workers, acquiring resources, and producing goods to line your pockets and become Chicago’s greatest resident.
In the Stock Phase you will have the opportunity to buy and sell stocks, investing in both your company and your opponent’s companies. Your goal is to gain as much wealth as you can, as quickly as you can so having a keen eye for detail, and an intuition for market conditions will help you consider which companies are worth investing in, and which aren’t worth your time.
During the building phase you will chose a building to play, one to discard and one to hold onto which you may play in the following decade. By constructing these building you create additional action spaces available to all players on the game board. With over 40 different buildings you and your opponents will have a unique experience every time you play the game.
On the Action Phase you will send your Partners across Chicago to hire workers, recruit salespeople, acquire Capital Assets and take actions on behalf of your companies, setting them up to run efficiently during the Operating Phase.
In the Operating Phase your company will acquire resources, craft goods and sell them to the Demand Track, distributing them to consumers throughout the Midwest. Once you have sold your goods you will calculate your company’s earnings and decide if you should pay your shareholders or withhold your company’s funds. This decision will affect your stock price, either raising it or lowering it depending on what you choose to do.
During the Cleanup Phase this other do
The Burden of Destiny expansion expands upon the original gameplay in City of the Big Shoulders to include five new and unique companies to bolster your empire. Make your mark across Chicago with companies such as Arnold, Schwinn & Co., Oscar Mayer, and Quaker Oats.
This expansion, which can’t be played on its own, also features upgraded, premium card-stock money and wooden tokens to represent all new and base-game companies alike.
Seal of the Republic
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Additional Rulebook translations coming soon.
Components can be purchased from a variety of sources, but below are our recommendations.