Ticket to Ride

[Sean]

I just wanted to say that Ticket to Ride is my new favorite game.  I love this game.  I was given it by my brother-in-law for Christmas and have played it almost once a week since we first got it out in the middle of January.  A curious note is that I love this game even though my wife has beaten me every time except once (I don't the count the first game since we were both learning.)

Anyone else thoroughly enjoy Ticket to Ride as well? I had thoughts of buying a tablet just to play this game, that's how much I love it.

Also, what are your strategies?  Thus far I have found it very effective to try as much as possible to simply have a continuous route until you have about 12 trains left.  Hopefully by this point I have made all my original ticket routes and then can either try to block an easy choke point or extend my route while also drawing more ticket cards to up the point total.

What has your highest score been? (how many players were there?)
Highest score we have is by my wife with like 134 or something around there just 2 of us.

[The Guardian]

I enjoy this game quite a bit though I've only played a handful of times. My strategy is usually dependent on the initial ticket cards I draw. If my routes are fairly interconnected, I try to get them completed as quickly as possible and start working on new tickets. If my routes are spread out, I just try to finish them and then go for longest route or get as many of the longer trains as I can. My most recent game, I tied someone else for first with 108 points, and that was with 5 people playing.

[TheMarti]

I love this game. I play it every time I go and see Gretel and Brad down in DC. They have one of the expansions too - that makes it even more fun, because there's even more route cards in there.

[Josh]

I too am a big fan of Ticket to Ride.  I assume you are referring to the US version?  I've played both the US and Europe versions, with and without expansions. 

From what I've seen, the US version (with 35 cities) is fairly easy to get train routes that play together.  The Europe version (47 cities) is more difficult, due to being more spread out.  In the US version, when I'm playing with my family, everyone usually ends up just sitting there drawing tickets near the end of the game.  For that reason, I like to force the issue and end the game quicker (if my routes favor it).  I love to play tracks of 6, preferably all at once at the end of a game, and make it "last turn" with 0 or 1 trains in my hand; you can catch people unaware often, and they have to eat some routes.

Europe also adds some variety with tunnels (we usually don't play with tunnels) and stations.  Europe also has smaller tracks; only 3 tracks are longer than 4 trains.  So it is harder to try and end the game quickly by playing long tracks.

I'm not sure what my high score is.  Most of my games are 4 player with the US 1910 expansion, and the person who wins usually has at least 150 points.  I've topped 200 before.

[TechnoEthicist]

Love this game (The Europe version anyway), with the expansion and 4 people playing I've hit 250 once...most games are at least 150+, unless Gretel gets a hot streak! My big strategy is focusing on the major cities (Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Berlin, Athens, London)...and then go from there...usually can rack up extra points from new track cards that runs through at least one of those...

[Prof Underwood]

I also really enjoy this game.  My wife loves it, and even my young kids can play it.  We just have the basic US version, and the winner usually scores around 120pts.  I think my high score was 200pts, but games are usually pretty close.

My strategy also usually depends on my opening draw of routes.  If one is a cross-country route like LA-NY, LA-Miami, or SanFran-NY then I'll focus on that and just fit the other one along the way.  If I get 3 missions that are all North/South, then I'll usually pick a couple and plan some sort of circuitous way to connect them that ideally contains a 6 or two and maybe even gets in other people's way.  I always try to go for longest train, and often win games based on that 10pt bonus.  Occasionally if I suspect I'm beaten, I'll go "dumpster diving" on my last turn (grabbing 3 missions and just hoping that I've already connected at least one of those 3 missions).

[Josh]

My strategy also usually depends on my opening draw of routes.  If one is a cross-country route like LA-NY, LA-Miami, or SanFran-NY then I'll focus on that and just fit the other one along the way.  If I get 3 missions that are all North/South, then I'll usually pick a couple and plan some sort of circuitous way to connect them that ideally contains a 6 or two and maybe even gets in other people's way.  I always try to go for longest train, and often win games based on that 10pt bonus.  Occasionally if I suspect I'm beaten, I'll go "dumpster diving" on my last turn (grabbing 3 missions and just hoping that I've already connected at least one of those 3 missions).

I recommend using the expansion rules:  you get 5 initial routes (and must keep 3), and whenever you draw routes, you draw 4 and must keep 1.  There's nothing worse than getting 3 routes that don't play together and being forced to keep 2; drawing 5 and keeping 3 does mitigate this somewhat.

Also, Sean, I didn't mean to turn this thread into "Look at how much higher my score is than yours".  One, I play with the US expansion, which has more routes and a higher point ceiling.  Two, you have just started playing.  I can attest that I used to be excited when I scored 134, because I knew I had a legitimate shot at winning, and that I had done very well.

[STAMP]

My current strategy is to save some money to buy the game.   

[Westok Kiok]

We play this game (basic US version?) with our extended family every time we get together. I really like it! I love strategy games! I usually load up on color cards, then go for as many destination cards as possible. I haven't played too much, however, and can't give loads of insight...  I think it is an awesome game!

[Bryon]

I also really enjoy this game.  My wife loves it, and even my young kids can play it.  We just have the basic US version, and the winner usually scores around 120pts.  I think my high score was 200pts, but games are usually pretty close.

My strategy also usually depends on my opening draw of routes.  If one is a cross-country route like LA-NY, LA-Miami, or SanFran-NY then I'll focus on that and just fit the other one along the way.  If I get 3 missions that are all North/South, then I'll usually pick a couple and plan some sort of circuitous way to connect them that ideally contains a 6 or two and maybe even gets in other people's way.  I always try to go for longest train, and often win games based on that 10pt bonus.  Occasionally if I suspect I'm beaten, I'll go "dumpster diving" on my last turn (grabbing 3 missions and just hoping that I've already connected at least one of those 3 missions).

All of the above is true for me, too.  The only difference is that we got the 1910? set with the larger cards and extra routes. 

It is a rare board game that my wife likes to play.  This is one the whole family enjoys.

[Sean]

LOL, jmhartz.  I specifically asked what people's high score was.  No worries dude.

So, what are the differences between the basic US version that I have for 1910 and the US expansion?

[YourMathTeacher]

How similar is this game to Rail Baron, for those who have played both? I also need to know whether to buy this game or Dominion, because I can't afford both right now. Any recommendations?

[Isildur]

Ticket to Ride is a better family game night style 3+ player game while on the other hand Dominion is a far better playgroup/party style game you break out and barrels of fun will appear out of no where.

[Josh]

So, what are the differences between the basic US version that I have for 1910 and the US expansion?

Pretty much just two things: 

1.  More routes.

2.  Bigger cards    Definitely worth the $10-15 you'll pay on Amazon or Ebay to get the expansion for bigger cards alone.

Also, I'm not sure if the US expansion has the 5 starting routes/4 drawing routes rule.  I know the European expansion does.  I recommend playing this rule if you get the expansion.

[Prof Underwood]

I also need to know whether to buy this game or Dominion, because I can't afford both right now. Any recommendations?

Personally I would buy Ticket to Ride.  It is a one time purchase and you can play it forever.  It also has more mass appeal to people who don't normally like games.

I love Dominion as well, but it would be a lot easier to simply make your own Dominion game using extra Redemption cards (like the old 2/2, no SA enhs).

[Sean]

I got the expansion for 13 bucks + 4 bucks for shipping off ebay.  I await the wonderfulness!

[YourMathTeacher]

Reviving this old thread to say that I picked up Ticket to Ride (basic US version) for $27 at a mall kiosk that had their games on clearance after Christmas. I just played my first game and I agree that this is an easy to learn game that would be fun for just about any age.

Is the "expansion" something that adds to the base game as far as complexity?

[TheMarti]

It adds more routes, actually. The basic US version is much simpler than the European version, I've found. Both are great, however.

[Prof Underwood]

Is the "expansion" something that adds to the base game as far as complexity?

My understanding is that the expansion gives you full sized train cards (instead of the little tiny ones that come with the original) and some extra routes (since there's no routes in the original to some cities like Charleston, Raleigh, Washington, Las Vegas, Omaha).  I've never felt the need to get it, but I might in a few years when my tiny cards are all wearing out from extensive use

[The Guardian]

This is probably my favorite board game right now. It's easy to teach while still having a lot of strategy that is learned from playing. Perhaps one of the things I like best is that the "luck" factor really isn't very obvious. At times I get frustrated with games (like Settlers for example) where the dice are simply not very nice to you. In TtR, the elements of luck (such as drawing random cards from the top of the deck) aren't seen by the other players. Ignorance is bliss, I guess? 

[Warrior_Monk]

My family recently picked up this game and I just haven't gotten into it. I feel like the game doesn't progress at all. It seems to be
1. Collect resources (cards)
2. Connect your original route
3. End the game/draw new routes
There are obviously some of each mingled in, and it depends on the routes you get and if somebody steals a crucial point, but I just haven't been engaged by it. Maybe I'm missing something, or I've just played with too few people (generally 3-4).

[YourMathTeacher]

That's pretty much it, Westy. I think the fun (for me, anyway) is in trying to find a way to make more than one route connect/overlap, so you can complete more Destination Tickets and shoot for Longest Route. I also have a history with Rail Baron, which used similar routes and cities. However, Rail Baron is much more complex and time-consuming. It also used much more mathematical knowledge of probability, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. 

[AJ]

I played TtR at NE regionals with Matt stu and a few others and thought it was quite fun

[Warrior_Monk]

That's pretty much it, Westy. I think the fun (for me, anyway) is in trying to find a way to make more than one route connect/overlap, so you can complete more Destination Tickets and shoot for Longest Route. I also have a history with Rail Baron, which used similar routes and cities. However, Rail Baron is much more complex and time-consuming. It also used much more mathematical knowledge of probability, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. 

I enjoy Rail Baron.

[YourMathTeacher]

I enjoy Rail Baron.

Ironically, that may be the problem. I know when I first opened the TtR box and read the rulebook, my initial thought was... "Is that it?" The game is a step down in complexity and strategy from Rail Baron. However, for me, that was actually a bonus for two reasons - 1.) the group I normally play Settlers and Rail Baron with needed a game that was less time-consuming (which is why we like Shadows Over Camelot, too) and 2.) TtR is easy enough for my 7-year-old daughter to play, which is a big deal for my family.