From the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 to the beginning of WWI in 1914, there was an amazing development of bigger, faster, and more modern steamships. Whereas in 1870 there are still many clippers around and the good old paddle steamer "Scotia" sails the North Atlantic, sea trade is dominated by the end of this era by huge vessels like "Mauretania"(Cunard), "Olympic"(White Star), or "Imperator"(Hapag).
In Transatlantic, 2 to 4 players lead their own shipping companies, which transport freight, mail, and passengers around the globe. They purchase new steamships from the market, each of them historical with their individual technical data (tons, knots etc.). Competition is tough, especially in the North Atlantic where winning the "Blue Riband" is not only a matter of prestige, but may also be a profitable investment. In order to let a shipping company flourish, purchasing the best steamships is not enough, if one fails to acquire enough coal bunkers and trade posts as well.
The game is driven by cards; on each turn, play one card and execute the related action. As new cards enter the game, build your individual deck of cards with new or improved possibilities. The task is to manage your merchant fleet most efficiently. It's a maritime strategy game with low luck, lots of interactive choices, and tough decisions.
Featuring fifty historic ships, Crossing Oceans revives the golden era of ocean liners at the turn of the 20th century. Ever larger and faster steamships revolutionized maritime traffic. Daring shipping companies opened steamship lines to the major ports worldwide. Modern steel juggernauts replaced traditional sailing vessels and competed intensely for dominance on the shipping routes.
Build yourself a thriving merchant fleet, and guide it to economic prosperity. Acquire the most modern steamships on the market and take over the precious ports from your rivals. Build an extensive network of trading posts and coal bunkers to expand the capability of your fleet. Make use of diverse options to carry out lucrative transports and win the prestigious Blue Riband of the North Atlantic.
Crossing Oceans picks up the theme and some elements of the 2017 board game Transatlantic, composing an entirely new game on a large historical map.
During their turn, a player can put a ship on the board or take a contract, use contracts in three different ways (optional), and choose an action on the rondel. (The main difference in this design is that it's a rondel game, not a card-driven game.)
