Which Brass do you prefer? Lancashire or Birmingham?

Having played both, I like Birmingham way more, 10/10 game for me. Birmingham fixes a lot of issues with lancashire such as rail spamming, distant market, static board (games feel samey) and wild card action. While it's slightly less tighter than lanc, I have more fun with Birmingham everytime because of the variable set up and variable strategies you can experiment with. At the same time it both maintains and adds to the core economics of the game with the addition of beer. The night side of the Birmingham board is pure luxury. Lastly, while a better Birmingham player will always win, a worse player will still have fun building something along the way. In lancashire the worse player never has a good time.

Nice play-through! Quick tip for the early game: when you know you want to take a loan AND sell on your turn, take the loan first. You will dip 3 steps into the negatives, but get out of there pretty fast. If you sell first, you make only two "income steps" and go down three, so you end up at -1. Monique, when you took your first loan that was such a situation. If you had done it the other way around you wouldn't have to pay 1 for negative income and would have had the one pound that you missed on your last turn.

Agree with your final comments. Plays best at 3-4, fantastic planning/financial game, also have both games, etc. For whatever reason my strategy is always super low income, which causes a lot of stress trying to optimize actions... but it's usually a winning technique when performed correctly. TIP: I use a BGG cheat sheet to hand out to new players that describes all the actions. It makes playing with new people as well as remembering how to play WAY EASIER. Great review!

Excellent, my wife, who comes from that "place up there" loved it (it's Barrow - in - Furness people!). :)

I have both (Lancashire and Birmingham) in my collection. In a 4 player match I’d choose Lancashire but in a 3 player match I think that Birmingham is better. Either way you can do no wrong with these masterpieces.

Naveen always seems giddy every time he plays this game, of course, it is his favorite

Amazing playthrough. Glad to see Naveen win again :) . But Im sorry to be the rules lawyer, at 44:14 his move was illegal, he could not build on Manchester the ironworks using the industry card since it was not part of his network. Now regarding my fave between Birmingham and Lancshire.. I have to incline for Birmingham since it really feels as an overall improvement. There are still things I prefer from Lancshire like the Wild build discarding two cards. Its much better than the scout action of Birm. Also I like having the alternative of selling to your ports instead of the distant market although I dont like the whole tile modifier thingy.. It adds an element of randomness that the game doesnt need.

I bet you two could play a game i dont like and i would enjoy the playthrough and in the end want to play the game. Thanks for making me smile. And...getting me fired up to finally get my new Lancashire to the table.

leaving a comment just to support this series, best board game series on youtube.

Have to point out that at 44:20 you broke the rules. You couldn't build Iron Works in there, because to use industry cards, the building location has to be within your network. The canal link was hers. Warrington & Runcorn was shut off, only way to build in Manchester in that case would be a Manchester card

I can tell that Naveen loves this game, which makes it even more fun to watch. Thank you both for the great playthrough!

We have several copies of Birmingham on my gaming group and I’ve been thinking about getting Lancashire as I don’t own any of the two and nobody else has Lancashire on my group. Thanks for the video.

Really enjoyed watching this playthrough. Been trying to decide which one to buy cos lots of reviewers are mixed on which they prefer. I've ordered Lancashire based on the fact it's meant to be easier to teach and I was born in Preston so the locality was another sentimental pull. But thanks for such a fantastic job with your playthrough. Great job, as always.

That's awesome, definitely going to watch , played only a couple times but in "adverse" conditions and was just preparing to play next week with my sons, already printed player aids.

I was literally searching for a playthrough by you guys of Brass a few days ago - glad you've put one up now!

There's a thematic reason for explaining why Coal needs transportation and Iron doesn't. In that age of industrialization, Coal was transported and needed in large amounts, so you needed a big way of moving with it around while Iron was needed in way lesser amounts, so it was easy to transport it in caravans, horses etc. which was easy enough.

I'm weirdly fascinated by this game. Unfortunately there's no one in my close circle who might even consider sitting down and learning how to play it.

Naveen has picked scissors 138/150 games

Been waiting for this one, y’all! I love Lancashire and how tight it feels

Just a head's up, in minute 44:20 Navine couldn't build the iron work there because it was not part of his own network

Really appreciate this video! To be fair, I appreciate them all, but this was very timely as I just picked up a copy of this game. I always learn a ton watching you two play, and find your delivery very easy to understand. Have you had a chance to play Barrage yet? I feel like there is a similar level of tightness and is equally one of many people's favorite games. Would you consider doing a video on that sometime soon?

Guys, try Age of Industry on The Great Lakes map - it's a criminally underrated game, it's a GREAT one. Both Brasses are 10/10 for me and so is Age of Industry ;). It's a really fun system.

We are confused about Develop VS. Build. Why would one take a Develop action to gain access to a higher Industry Tile when Building also removes the tile from the Player Mat? We are missing something here.

I love Brass, but when it comes to Martin Wallace games about the Industrial Revolution (a surprisingly large genre lol), I've found I actually prefer Anno 1800 the most. Which surprised me as I was skeptical of it at first because it was based on an IP but it feels more fun than Brass for me. One problem with Brass is that you can effectively lose after only a quarter of the game, at which point you don't really feel like playing out the rest (indeed arguably, that's what happened in this playthrough). It's like chess, it's not really fun to be the losing side. Whereas with Anno 1800 I have a lot of fun even if I don't win.

Great job guys, love it. I've got this copy of Brass, but have only played it once. Its such a brain burner that I love, but friends prefer something a bit lighter.

Really enjoyed this video, both the teach and the playthrough. I've always found it a challenge to teach the rules around coal and iron resources, but your explanation and playthrough examples made it smooth and intuitive (I'll be taking notes for my next teach). I've only played Birmingham, and then only with two players, but purchased both based on my enjoyment of Birmingham. Looking to get Lancashire to the table soon, and now I'm armed with some good teaching points.

If you want to pronounce the names as locals do, try saying the 'shire' ending like 'sher'. It's the same sound as if you were going to say the word 'shirt', but not pronouncing the 't'. (I come from Yorkshire) Loved watching this, as I've only played Brass Birmingham, so it was interesting to see the differences 😀

You now need to play a game at Brass Birmingham, even in two is really good!

Great job! I really enjoyed watching this play through more than I thought I would. I never thought this game was for me, but I may have to buy and use the “community variant” with 2. Thanks!

it was easier to transport iron back then... henceforth u can grab it from anywhere coal was more difficult so u need to be connected to a market in that case

Great video guys! I love Brass Birmingham, and have only played the app version of Lancashire. I share Monique’s disdain for the distant cotton market in Lancashire essentially limiting the number of cotton sales you can do so quickly. With Birmingham you have the limiting factor being how much beer you have access to to make sales which is not random like the distant cotton market in Lancashire. But both games are great!

I liked both games a lot, Lancashire wins for me however. It’s my number 3 game of all time. Both are wonderful games however.

got Birmingham but keeping my deluxe edition of original Brass. It's got metal coins and a 2 player map as well. I think I'm the only one who likes the old art just as much as the new. The old one reminds me of the pencil work you find in Dickens novels. The new one is like a beautiful painting. 🙂

I see you have the IRON CLAYS. They are so well made.

I was waiting for this! ❤

Its a game im contemplating buying and you guys have sold it! However, one little thing, I'm from Manchester and Bury is pronounced Berry (drove me mad the whole time 😂)

I finally played Birmingham... I prefer Lancashire! Birmingham feels more cutthroat because of the rarity of the beer. With Lancashire, I can focus on building my engine and networks.

Yet to buy a copy of either Brass. I get the impression Birmingham is the better game but I was born in Lancashire and know the places on the map😆

44:00 - Nabeen built an iron smelter in Manchester with an industry card - but as I understand it, it was not in his network (the link to it was not his) - so I don’t think that was a legal move. Just sayin’ 🤓

At 1:28:10 you spend an iron for a tier 2 cotton mill wich was not allowed, only for tier 3 & 4.

I LOVE Brass Birmingham so I’m eager to see what Lancashire brings to the table.

Just played the community variant with my best friend two days ago! We had a blast. I totally prefer Brass at 3 or 4 but this variant is perfect for teaching the game 1-on-1. Granted, this isn't the most intuitive game ever but once you're in, there's no turning back. I'm on Naveen's team: Lancashire is probably my favorite game of all time atm. Love that tight competition and overlapped actions with other players. Highly interactive euros is for sure my jam. It'd be real neat if you could do a playthrough of Age of Steam! There's tons of two players maps that work real well and I'd love to hear your thoughts on that gem by Mr. Wallace. Excellent content as always. Love ya both. Cheers!

Crushed it as Always. Great game, great content.

Still watching, but at 44:22, Naveen cannot play his Iron tile in Manchester with an industry card, as he's not connected to the city.

Lancashire best Brass :)

Thanks for this review - I recently played Brass Lancashire and thought my partner might enjoy it, but I was worried that it would not work well at two players. Can I ask, which edition of the game includes the community variant board that you mentioned? I was looking at the BGG page, but it just mentions rule variants without the need for an alternate board.

This is definitely Naveen's game! Nice win!

Haven’t watched the playthrough yet, will do later tonight, but I cannot not mention those beautiful curls! 😍 U both look great! Just had to tell u!

Thanks for the amazing video!

Correct me if I'm wrong, But when Naveen built his Iron works @44:24 he played an industry card ( Iron ) , and built in Manchester. However he doesn't have his network in Manchester. Illegal build. He would have needed a Manchester card to build there. Connection is not enough you need to have your network..... right?

I need to play Birmingham, but in both games you need to manipulate money and turn order…and I think that developing early is the key…

Hey pls play Brass Birmingham I’m looking for that video because I wanna watch you guys play it and learn from your playthrough thank you

Great playthrough! I was looking forward to this, it is one of our favourite games! We played the community variant for the first time after seeing your playthrough and we liked it so much better this way, it is tighter and more ruthless :) A comment on the play, in around 42 minute, Naveen built an iron works in Manchester using an industry card but it seems like it wasn't in his network right? So he would have to use a location card to be able to build there I think... Thanks for the playthrough, you re great!

Naveen dominated that, awesome!

Great Video as usual …may be as an idea doing a best of economic games. Because I also like them a lot

The first time Monique took out a loan she did it as her second action and that dropped her more income than necessary, thus costing a few pounds more.

Playing this game this afternoon for the first time, so very timely! Quick question though, in the canal era when Naveen built the ironwork in Manchester using his industry card - was that correct? I don't think Manchester was in his network, right?

I have Lancashire. Is it a good choice ? Plse anybody reply.

I think you should do a playthrough and review of Stray.

thanks for the video really nice explanation where can I get these poker chips \ money tokens ? thanks !

I have recently purchased and played Birmingham solo many times and at 4 players. I really love it and blinged it up with boats, trains, coal and iron. Now the question is, do I also now purchase Lancashire? Can you own and love both for different reasons? I think this version is great for the 2 player variant... sold. 😊

Did you say how much money you start with? You say the correct amount of cards, yes, but then explain that it is 5 pounds cost to build something, but not where the 5 pounds come from?

It's so cute how you pronounce Birmingham!! Haha.

I love Lancashire most with experienced players and Birmingham with new players. Lancashire sings when ppl understand that a little cooperation can help both players.

Very good playthrough :) And the fly just stole the show 😆 🪰

Ah, want to watch, but need to work, but need to watch... I prefer Birmingham. My easy top 10 game I enjoy a lot

I am trying to grasp the massive adoration for this game… I can appreciate the economy building, timing loans, card management, planning a few steps ahead, linking ,etc. but I just continue to find myself perplexed how this is the top rated game currently. The maximum player interaction is the use of one another’s resources/activating their tiles or avoiding that, and trying to fix turn order. Feels like you’re mostly on your own economy game. By no means am I saying Brass is a bad game, but just so limited in player interaction it doesn’t make sense to me it’s as highly rated as it is. I understand interactivity is not everything, but the rest of gameplay doesn’t seem to make up for the minimal amount there is, in my opinion. I do enjoy economy games, strategy, and the like, however I don’t see this as a game I’d buy nor eagerly jump in on if offered - maybe only inquisitively so, to try and understand the hubbub further. Nonetheless great content, thank you for always keeping it interesting - you’re both doing great!

I always thought that you couldn’t build links without buildings between them. Both Monique and Naveen did that on the first era and I’ve never read the rules that way. I’ve always thought it was ambiguous.

Were you guys paying 10 for double link during your first turn on second era?

I don't think Navine was able to build his iron works in Manchester or his coal mine in Bolton, because they weren't in his network. He was connected to those cities by Monique's links... not his own.

Uh oh. Is brass lanchishire going the way of Bora Bora?

do you reviewed tzolkin?

I love this game, but I just played the birmigham version.

Where are the 2-player variant rules you used?

I prefer Lancashire. Birmingham is good, but Lancashire feels more complex despite less.

At 1 hour into the video, Nareen took a coal but wasn’t linked to it

Could Monique not of overbuilt an iron on her last turn? With the iron going to the market, flipping right away