Introduction

Players of John Company often have a lot of questions, and asking those questions during the during a game can be difficult.

New players might have an understanding of the mechanics, but not how those mechanics can be used to get what they want to win. When trying to win John Company, those players can also struggle with questions which, when asked, might reveal their strategies.

The aim of The John Company Almanac is to give answers to these questions and to act as a reference to be used during play. The Almanac does not replace the Rulebook, or replace the Teacher, nor does it seek to stop discussion of rules around the table.

The hope is to do this without giving strategies, tips or hints, and the focus is on answering the things players wished they had you had known going in.

History

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India, 1710

Following the death of Aurangzeb, The Mughal Empire in the North of India has shown signs of collapse. New challenges rise from the Maratha Confederacy in the East and from the newly formed John Company.

The Company, formed from two rival Companies by way of Royal Charter, now has holdings in the Cities of Bombay, Madras and Bengal, sending ships back to London with goods to trade.

The Company endeavour is held in very high regard in England, and the dawn of a new era of commerce has begun to all of London giddy with the promise of profit.

India, 1758

The French returned to try to recover lost possessions and drive the British out of India, only to be defeated, strengthening the British Military hold on the subcontinent.

The Company monopoly holds firm despite recently losses, and the belief in London is that a stronger hand is needed to return the Company to rude health.

London, 1813

The newly passed East India Company Act of 1813 has Liberalised trade in India but left the Company to continue its rule over the subcontinent. A Governor General takes a direct control, enforcing a single policy over 175m people.

The wealth of India is to be shared between growing Private Firms of London, while the Company retains its powerful monopoly in the trade of opium with China.

The Aim of The Game

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The aim of John Company is to create a legacy for your family. Your legacy is measured in victory points.

You score victory points by retiring your family into expensive country houses, and then you have to pay to maintain those houses. You can also score victory points by having Luxuries, owing shares in a Private Firm, and winning trophies in politics and war.

If the Company is successful, most families will benefit, and those benefits will be manifested in points. Likewise, if families are not able to benefit, then all will probably score few points.

With that in mind, it is difficult to say that a good score is, and players tend to group around an average, and your position is relative to the other families.

Public Information

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All over components should be on display in your play area. Only face down, unplayed blackmail cards can be kept secret.

The Rounds & The Turns

John Company is played over a number of rounds. The round is made up of a set of actions which players take, and then in a specific order the Positions (or Jobs) within the Company take their turns, and then people get paid, or received money, Parliament sits, and events happen.

The Company's Success

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The success of your family, and the success of the Company, are entwined but not entirely connected.

If the Company is succeeding, and you are not in a position to benefit from that, then probably other people are benefiting will win. Your best judgement is required to assess when, how much, and in what areas, you want the Company to succeed.

Should the Company fail, and the game ends, and a card will be drawn at random to represent who the country blame for that failure.

This failure will be blamed on all players who have certain assets, and they will be fined victory points for that. It is not possible to discover who will be blamed for the failure of the company ahead of that event.

The London Season

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The London Season is when you can take members of your family from the retirements box, and spend money to put them into country houses to score victory points. If you do not put a family member in the retirement box into a country house, they are returned to your supply, and you will not score points for them.

Country houses have a maintenance payment you have to pay every turn, or the family member is removed and you lose the victory points.

The person who spends the most in the London Season gets the first pick of the three Prestige & Blackmail cards, then the one who can spend second, then third most.

The Prestige cards include Spouses who offer a discount on future retirements, as well as ways to get votes, power, victory points, and money.

Blackmail Cards are secret, and score points if they are not played. If you have an option to take one from the London Season, you can peek at the card, but you are never allowed to show the face of it until you play it.

Making Deals

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John Company is a game about negotiation, and core to that is a spirit that deals will be honoured, and while you are often at liberty to break a some deals the consequences of breaking that deal are socially enacted.

Starting Advice on Deals

Almost any deal can be made within John Company, and you are encouraged to experiment. The Promise Cards which all players have offer an indication of typical deals players may make, but you are limited only by your imagination.

An easy, early deal to make might to agree to take an action which directly enriches another family, for a share of that enrichment. Offering to fit out a ship will benefit the owner of that ship £1 each round, reaching a value of £8 maximum over the course of the game. Linking a deal to a share of income is a good guide to value in dealmaking.

Think carefully before breaking a deal.

Rules within Deals

In John Company, deals which involve immediate transfers are binding, while promises are not. If a deal includes an immediate transfer and a promise, then the transfer is binding, but the promise is not.

When a workshop, or a shipyard, or any asset which gives a benefit is traded, it can't be activated for a second time in the same turn.

When you trade a Blackmail card, the other player is allowed to look at it, but it should stay unrevealed to the table.

You are not allowed to trade:

Family Members pieces, other than those in the Board of Directors box, excluding the chairman.
Positions you have been appointed to.
The role of Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition.
Trophies.
Spouses.
Face up played blackmail cards.
Laws which have been passed.

Designer Note on Deals

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2923759/article/40742683#40742683

Only immediate transfers are binding.

By this, I mean that if one player purchases an enterprise from another, they can't renege on the deal after the check clears. Basically, this rule allows the assets players own to exist in a functional marketplace where things can be bought and sold.

Any component of a deal which deals with anything else is considered non-binding. By this I mean that the rules of the game will not enforce the deal. It is up to the players to establish codes of conducts, the terms under which a contract might be reasonably breached, and the proper amount of outrage that should be levied against the kind of blackguard who promises the moon but delivers only a saucer of milk.

Promise cards fit into this system as object which can be transferred (and are therefore subject to a binding exchange in the marketplace) and which themselves will force a player to compel to a particular action as indicated on the promise card. They give players the ability to essentially make specific kinds of binding agreements about future actions. But, they don't open the gates to whatever sort of binding agreement players might dream up.

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The Ruzzo Rule At the start of the game, the player could agree: A deal is binding only if all component parts can be enacted within the current player turn. A part is defined as: an asset, or an action which the current player has the opportunity and ability to perform. Assets include: Enterprises, face down (unplayed) blackmail cards, cash in your family's treasury, shares in the Company or in private firms, both your promise cards and other people's you have. If one player breaks the deal, then the other player must restore assets and actions taken are undone. (Adam Ruzzo) The Harrelson Convention The components in John Company represent the game state, but they are not the game state. A transfer which is conditional on an action being taken is considered to be simultaneous, and so only happens if both sides of the agreement are met. If this can not happen, then the components are out of place and need to be restored to match the game state. An example: If you are given £1 to fit a player's ship, and then do not fit their ship, you have £1 in your hand is in the wrong place because it is coming to you depended on you taking the action, and you need to give it back. An example: If you are paying someone to fit your ship, and your ship is placed on the game board, only for another player to call in a promise card to take your last £1, then the ship is returned to your shipyard. (Michael Wood)

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Family Action

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Your first real decision in the game will probably which Family Action you want to take. You have six actions you can take at the start of a turn. If you took the action in the last turn, you get to take the action at double strength this turn.

Enlist a Writer

Enlist a Writer to add a family member to one of the three Presidencies, and if you took this action last turn, add another. Writers earn small amounts of money for the family, but can be promoted into higher positions.

Enlist an Officer

Enlist an Officer to add a family member to the Military Affairs Box as an Officer-In-Training, and if you took this action last turn, add another. Officers-in-Training become Officers in one of the three Armies, and can become Governors or Commanders.

Buy a Luxury

Buy a Luxury for £4, and if you took this action last turn, add another for another £4. Luxuries give Victory Points, but can be taxed.

Buy a Shipyard

Buy a Shipyard for £2, and if you took this action last turn, add another for another £2. Shipyard make one ship which can be used by the Company or a Private Firm to fulfil Orders, you will need the Manager of Shipping pay to fit them. Shipyards also give a vote in Parliament and when fitted earn £1 each turn.

Buy a Workshop

Buy a Workshop for £5, and if you took this action last turn, add another for another £5. Workshops earn £1 each turn and provide two votes in Parliament. Workshops are also valuable when establishing or joining a Private Firm.

Seek a Share

Seek a Share in the Company by adding a family member to the Stock Exchange track, and if you took this action last turn, add another. When the Chairman of the Company takes on debt, family members on the Stock Exchange track can join the Board of Directors, where they could be paid company dividends.

Which family action should I take?

There is no answer to this question other than to say that the family actions are worse the more other players have taken them, although it is possible for duplicating a family action to be the best option in some circumstances.

A good rules of thumb is that if you intend to specialize, then specialize in something uncommon, but that the value of what you specialize in can change depending on what is going on in the game.

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Positions & Appointments Chairman Remit & Actions The Chairman decides how much debt the Company takes on, and then distributes all Company Funds to the treasuries of the offices, namely: The Director of Trade or Governor General, The Manager of Shipping, Military Affairs, The Superintendent of Trade in China, and The Presidencies of Bombay, Madras, and Bengal. The Chairman appoints the positions of The Director of Trade / Governor General, The Manager of Shipping, Military Affairs, and The Superintendent of Trade in China. Without the consent of all families who could be considered for those positions, The Chairman cannot appoint their own family to these positions. The Chairman is appointed by a vote of Shareholders. The Chairman is given an additional fatigue each year. Opportunities Appointing a position will give that family the capacity to generate personal wealth, and they may make a deal to ensure they get the role they want. The scope of a position is defined by the treasury The Chairman gives to that office. The family holding that position might make a deal to make sure they get the treasury they want. The Chairman decides on Company Dividends, and Shareholders may make deals to influence that decision. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... A vote of the Board of Directors. From... Board of Directors. Appointments... Director of Trade / Governor General, Manager of Shipping, Military Affairs, and Superintendent of Trade in China. Next Appointment... None. Director of Trade Remit & Actions The Director of Trade will use their treasury to open up Orders in India for the Company to trade with, and they can also open trade to China. Orders are the oval spaces on the map of India, and the value printed in that oval is how much money the Company earns when fulfilling them. The Director of Trade is then able to a limited number of Ships and Writers. Dice Pool To open an Order, roll one die per £1 spent, until the treasury has no more funds. Opportunities Presidents may profit from having open orders in their Presidency, so they may make a deal for that. Those Presidents profit from having fulfilling more orders and can only fulfil as many as they have ships in their Presidency, and so may make a deal to have more ships assigned where they want them. Opening Trade with China would create a new office, and enrich the Company, should the regions on the East of India with Export Icons be opened. Families may make a deal for you to do that. If trade is open, The Superintendent may make a deal to have ships assigned to China. Replacement & Retirement A Law may be passed which replaces this Office with the role of Governor General. The Director of Trade transfers to the new role. Lowest die in an action of 5 or more will force retirement. Lowest die in an action of 3 or more will add a fatigue to the Office Holder. Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Chairman From... Manager of Shipping, Military Affairs, Superintendent of Trade in China, Presidents. Appointments... Presidents Next Appointment... On law change, Governor General. Manager of Shipping Remit & Actions The Manager of Shipping will use their treasury to fit out, hire, or buy ships. Fitting out a ship allows the owners of Shipyards to make a profit, and the Company uses ships to trade around India and China. After fitting, hiring or buying The Manager of Shipping then puts that ship out to sea in one of the three areas around India, or to China. Opportunities Shipyard owning families earn £1 each turn when that ship is at sea, so the owners may make a deal for that. Presidents may profit from fulfilling more orders and can only fulfil as many as they have ships in their Presidency, and so may make a deal to have more ships assigned where they want them. The Superintendent of Trade may make a deal to have ships assigned to China. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Chairman From... Writers in Presidencies. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Director of Trade / Governor General Governor General Remit & Actions The Governor General collects money for each Region of India The Company controls. After that for each region in turn The Governor General can use the Govern action to either extract more money causing unhappiness, or add Regiments, or add Company Ships to any sea area or China. However, on failure, The Governor General will create additional unhappiness which will impact the Events in India. Dice Pool To use the Govern action, roll one die per £1 spent, until the treasury has no more funds, or you have a success. Opportunities The Govern Action can enrich a family by up to £8 each turn, depending on the number of regions controlled by the Company. Presidents may profit from fulfilling more orders and can only fulfil as many as they have ships in their Presidency, and so may make a deal to have more ships assigned where they want them. Presidents, Commanders, and Governors may make a deal to have Regiments assigned to the Army. If trade is open, The Superintendent of Trade may make a deal to have those ships assigned to China. Replacement & Retirement Lowest die in an action of 5 or more will force retirement. Lowest die in an action of 3 or more will add a fatigue to the Office Holder. Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Chairman From... Manager of Shipping, Military Affairs, Superintendent of Trade in China, Presidents. Appointments... Presidents. Next Appointment... None Superintendent of Trade in China Remit & Actions The Superintendent of Trade in China raises funds for the Company by exporting from Regions in the East and South of India which are controlled by the Company but, importantly, only the regions which have Export Icons. Dice Pool To take the Trade action, roll one die per ship assigned to China, only one action is allowed. Opportunities A successful Trade action will earn the Superintendent £1 per Export Icon and the Company £4. Someone may do a deal to make sure that happens. Export Icon An Export Icon is either an image of Boxes, or an Image of Poppies, depending on the version of the game you are playing. Two of the Export Icon can be seen under the tail on the image of a Tiger in the background of the Bengal Region in the North East of India. It represents Opium being grown in India to be exported to China. Replacement & Retirement Lowest die in an action of 5 or more will force retirement. Lowest die in an action of 3 or more will add a fatigue to the Office Holder. Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Chairman. From... Writers in Presidencies. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Director of Trade / Governor General. Military Affairs Remit & Actions Military Affairs moves two Officers and/or Regiments between the three armies, and then in turn assigns the Officers-in-Training to one of the armies. All Officers-in-Training have to be assigned. Then if the Commander role is vacant, or if one family has more pieces in that army than the Commander, then Military Affairs chooses between the families that have most pieces to swap with the current commander, if there is one. Opportunities Commanders take more loot than Officers, and so a family may make a deal to get that position. Officers-in-Training can be made Officers to different armies which have the potential to earn more loot, and get promotions, and decide who becomes Commander. A family may make a deal to have their Officer-in-Training moved to a certain army. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Chairman. From... Commanders. Appointments... Commanders. Next Appointment... Director of Trade / Governor General. President of a Presidency in India Remit & Actions The Three Presidents decides which order they, and the Governors under their control, and Commander of the Armies in their Presidency, take their set of actions. The President gives the Commander funds from the treasury, which the Commander can use to open orders or take control of regions by attacking them. The President used the treasury to take the Trade action. Governors do not need funds from the treasury and can add to it. The Presidents can take a Trade action which can earn the Company funds. The Writers within the Presidency are used to fill orders. Dice Pool To take the Trade action, roll one die per £1 less one die per region after the home region traded into. Only one Trade action may be taken each turn. Opportunities The Presidents will be paid for each successful Order in a Trade action. Writers within the region will also earn funds from Orders and could make a deal to be assigned to do that. The Commanders and Officers within the Army could enrich themselves taking control of Regions and may make a deal to have an increased treasury to do that. The President appoints Governors to the Regions which The Army takes control of. Governor is a role which family members can use to enrich themselves, and families could make a deal to be appointed. Replacement & Retirement Lowest die in an action of 5 or more will force retirement. Lowest die in an action of 3 or more will add a fatigue to the Office Holder. Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Director of Trade / Governor General. From... Governors and Writers. Appointments... Governors. Next Appointment... Director of Trade / Governor General. President of Bombay Remit & Actions The President of Bombay decides which order they, and the Governors under their control, and Commander of the Army of Bombay take their set of actions. The President gives the Commander funds from the treasury, which the Commander can use to open orders or take control of regions by attacking them. The President used the treasury to take the Trade action. Governors do not need funds from the treasury and can add to it. Bombay begins with a significant Indian presence to the North and more, less valuable, accessible Orders. Bombay has five adjacent Regions, which is more than Madras and Bengal's two each. Bombay has no Export Icons, but is adjacent to two. The President of Bombay can take a Trade action which can earn the Company funds. The Writers within the Presidency of Bombay are used to fill orders. Dice Pool To take the Trade action, roll one die per £1 less one die per region after the Bombay region traded into. Only one Trade action may be taken each turn. Opportunities The Presidents will be paid for each successful Order in a Trade action. Writers within the region will also earn funds from Orders and could make a deal to be assigned to do that. The Commanders and Officers within the Army of Bombay could enrich themselves taking control of Regions and may make a deal to have an increased treasury to do that. The President of Bombay appoints Governors to the Regions which The Army of Bombay takes control of. Governor is a role which family members can use to enrich themselves, and families could make a deal to be appointed. Replacement & Retirement Lowest die in an action of 5 or more will force retirement. Lowest die in an action of 3 or more will add a fatigue to the Office Holder. Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Director of Trade / Governor General. From... Governors and Writers. Appointments... Governors. Next Appointment... Director of Trade / Governor General. President of Madras The President of Madras decides which order they, and the Governors under their control, and Commander of the Army of Madras take their set of actions. The President gives the Commander funds from the treasury, which the Commander can use to open orders or take control of regions by attacking them. The President used the treasury to take the Trade action. Governors do not need funds from the treasury and can add to it. Madras is in the South of India, which is often the least impacted by unrest in the country. It has rapid access to valuable orders and a China Export Icon. Madras has just two, one of which has another China Export Icon. The President of Madras can take a Trade action which can earn the Company funds. The Writers within the Presidency of Madras are used to fill orders. Dice Pool To take the Trade action, roll one die per £1 less one die per region after the Madras region traded into. Only one Trade action may be taken each turn. Opportunities The Presidents will be paid for each successful Order in a Trade action. Writers within the region will also earn funds from Orders and could make a deal to be assigned to do that. The Commanders and Officers within the Army of Madras could enrich themselves taking control of Regions and may make a deal to have an increased treasury to do that. The President of Madras appoints Governors to the Regions which The Army of Madras takes control of. Governor is a role which family members can use to enrich themselves, and families could make a deal to be appointed. Replacement & Retirement Lowest die in an action of 5 or more will force retirement. Lowest die in an action of 3 or more will add a fatigue to the Office Holder. Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Director of Trade / Governor General. From... Governors and Writers. Appointments... Governors. Next Appointment... Director of Trade / Governor General. President of Bengal The President of Bengal decides which order they, and the Governors under their control, and Commander of the Army of Bengal take their set of actions. The President gives the Commander funds from the treasury, which the Commander can use to open orders or take control of regions by attacking them. The President used the treasury to take the Trade action. Governors do not need funds from the treasury and can add to it. Bengal is in the North East of India and is vulnerable to events and unrest in the country. It has two China Export Icon, and is adjacent to a third. Is adjacent to two Regions and has valuable orders in it, but has Maratha to the South, which has low value orders and acts as a buffer between Bengal and more high value orders. The President of Bengal can take a Trade action which can earn the Company funds. The Writers within the Presidency of Bengal are used to fill orders. Dice Pool To take the Trade action, roll one die per £1 less one die per region after the Bengal region traded into. Only one Trade action may be taken each turn. Opportunities The Presidents will be paid for each successful Order in a Trade action. Writers within the region will also earn funds from Orders and could make a deal to be assigned to do that. The Commanders and Officers within the Army of Bengal could enrich themselves taking control of Regions and may make a deal to have an increased treasury to do that. The President of Bengal appoints Governors to the Regions which The Army of Bengal takes control of. Governor is a role which family members can use to enrich themselves, and families could make a deal to be appointed. Replacement & Retirement Lowest die in an action of 5 or more will force retirement. Lowest die in an action of 3 or more will add a fatigue to the Office Holder. Can retire in the Retirements phase. Appointed by... Director of Trade / Governor General. From... Governors and Writers. Appointments... Governors. Next Appointment... Director of Trade / Governor General. Commander of the Army in India Remit & Actions Commanders can hire Local Alliances before they deploy to a Region which is not controlled by The Company to fight a battle for control, or a Region which has unrest shown by a cube which would be removed when the army quell that unrest. Dice Pool One die per Officer, Regiment or Local Alliance, less one die for each level of resistance shown by the towers in Indian controlled Regions. Opportunities When a Commander takes control of a new Region, it can be pillaged. Each level in an Indian controlled Region adds £4 to the Pillaged Loot. Pillaged Loot will be divided between the Commander, Officers, Regiments and Local Alliances. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. After a deployment, the Commander of the Army will roll to see if they have survived. The Commander is killed on the roll of six on a single die. Appointed by... Military Affairs. From... Officers in the Army. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Military Affairs. A Commander cannot be promoted to Governor. Commander of the Army of Bombay Remit & Actions Commanders can hire Local Alliances before they deploy to a Region which is not controlled by The Company to fight a battle for control, or a Region which has unrest shown by a cube which would be removed when the army quell that unrest. The Commander of the Army of Bombay is adjacent to the highest values Loot in India, but is also adjacent to the areas which are both most powerfully controlled by Indian interest, and most impacted by events. Dice Pool One die per Officer, Regiment or Local Alliance, less one die for each level of resistance shown by the towers in Indian controlled Regions. Opportunities When a Commander takes control of a new Region, it can be pillaged. Each level in an Indian controlled Region adds £4 to the Pillaged Loot. Pillaged Loot will be divided between the Commander, Officers, Regiments and Local Alliances. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. After a deployment, the Commander of the Army of Bombay will roll to see if they have survived. The Commander is killed on the roll of six on a single die. Appointed by... Military Affairs. From... Officers in the Army of Bombay. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Military Affairs. A Commander cannot be promoted to Governor. Commander of the Army of Madras Remit & Actions Commanders can hire Local Alliances before they deploy to a Region which is not controlled by The Company to fight a battle for control, or a Region which has unrest shown by a cube which would be removed when the army quell that unrest. The Commander of the Army of Madras is adjacent to only two regions and is the least likely to be impacted by events. Dice Pool One die per Officer, Regiment or Local Alliance, less one die for each level of resistance shown by the towers in Indian controlled Regions. Opportunities When a Commander takes control of a new Region, it can be pillaged. Each level in an Indian controlled Region adds £4 to the Pillaged Loot. Pillaged Loot will be divided between the Commander, Officers, Regiments and Local Alliances. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. After a deployment, the Commander of the Army of Madras will roll to see if they have survived. The Commander is killed on the roll of six on a single die. Appointed by... Military Affairs. From... Officers in the Army of Madras. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Military Affairs. Commander of the Army of Bengal Remit & Actions Commanders can hire Local Alliances before they deploy to a Region which is not controlled by The Company to fight a battle for control, or a Region which has unrest shown by a cube which would be removed when the army quell that unrest. The Commander of the Army of Bengal is adjacent to only two regions, and has a good chance of being impacted by events. Bengal also have two Export Icons which are only accessed when Bengal is under control of the Company. Dice Pool One die per Officer, Regiment or Local Alliance, less one die for each level of resistance shown by the towers in Indian controlled Regions. Opportunities When a Commander takes control of a new Region, it can be pillaged. Each level in an Indian controlled Region adds £4 to the Pillaged Loot. Pillaged Loot will be divided between the Commander, Officers, Regiments and Local Alliances. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. After a deployment, the Commander of the Army of Bengal will roll to see if they have survived. The Commander is killed on the roll of six on a single die. Appointed by... Military Affairs. From... Officers in the Army of Madras. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Military Affairs. Governor of a Region of India Remit & Actions The Governor is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in that Region which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll three dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of the Region, the Governor retires. Appointed by... The President of the controlling region. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Bombay Remit & Actions The Governor of Bombay is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Bombay. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Bombay which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll three dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Bombay. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Bombay, the Governor retires. Appointed by... The President of Bombay. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Madras Remit & Actions The Governor of Madras is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Madras. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Madras which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll four dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Madras. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Madras, the Governor retires. Appointed by... The President of Madras. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Bengal Remit & Actions The Governor of Bengal is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Bengal. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Bengalwhich will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll four dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Bengal. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Bengal, the Governor retires. Appointed by... The President of Bengal. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Punjab Remit & Actions The Governor of Punjab is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Punjab. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Punjab which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll three dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Punjab. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Punjab, the Governor retires. Appointed by... President of associated Presidency. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Delhi Remit & Actions The Governor of Delhi is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Delhi. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Delhi which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll four dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Delhi. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Delhi, the Governor retires. Appointed by... President of associated Presidency. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Maratha Remit & Actions The Governor of Maratha is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Maratha. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Maratha which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll three dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Maratha. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Maratha, the Governor retires. Appointed by... President of associated Presidency. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Hyderabad Remit & Actions The Governor of Hyderabad is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Hyderabad. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Hyderabad which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll three dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Hyderabad. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Hyderabad, the Governor retires. Appointed by... President of associated Presidency. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Governor of Mysore Remit & Actions The Governor of Mysore is available for appointment when The Company takes control of the Region of Mysore. The Governor can extract more money, or add Regiments, or add and Company Ships. However, on failure, the Governor will create additional unhappiness in Mysore which will impact the events in India. Dice Pool To govern take the Govern action, roll three dice, rolling one less die each action has been taken. You may take as many actions as you have dice to roll. Opportunities Governors gain £1/£2 for a successful action. Presidents may be interested in adding ships assigned to their Presidency. They may make a deal for this. Presidents and Commanders may be interested in Regiments joining their Armies. They may make a deal for this. Anyone in The Company may make a deal to not cause further unrest in Mysore. Replacement & Retirement Can retire in the Retirements phase. Should the Governor General Law be passed, the occupant of this Office will be retired. If the Company loses control of Mysore, the Governor retires. Appointed by... President of associated Presidency. From... Writers or Officers. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... President. Officer Remit & Actions Officers join the Army of a Region and can take part in battles to take control of Regions, although they may be killed in those battles. Opportunities When The Company takes control of a new Region, it can be pillaged. Each level in an Indian controlled Region adds £4 to the Pillaged Loot. Pillaged Loot will be divided between the Commander, Officers, Regiments and Local Alliances. Replacement & Retirement After a deployment, all Officers involved in the battle roll to see if they have survived. They are killed on the roll of six on a single die. Appointed by... Military Affairs From... Officers-in-Training Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Governor, Commander Writer Remit & Actions After a successful Trade action by the President, Writers in that Presidency must be assigned to orders if they are available, although if no writers remain, orders can still be filled. Opportunities Writers are paid £1 when they are assigned to an order. Appointments... No one. Next Appointment... Governor, President, Manager of Shipping, or Superintendent of Trade in China. Officer-in-Training Remit & Actions Military Affairs will select three Officers-in-Training to become Officers. Next Appointment... Officer. Prime Minister Remit & Actions The Prime Minister must advance a Law to be voted on of three Laws drawn one at a time. Should the Prime Minister draw a Crisis Card, which is a type of Law, then that must be put forward. Should no Crisis Card has been drawn, The Prime Minister is free to select which Law to advance to Parliament. The Laws the Prime Minister is considering are public knowledge. Following a vote, the Prime Minister will decide the impact of the vote, which often means families have to pay tax. Opportunities Every Law passed has the prospect of impact each family, either positively or negatively, and there are many deals to be made by the Prime Minister to advance one Law, or not advance another, or vote in one way. Following a vote, the Prime Minister will take an action which could result in taxes, or other changes which impact families, and many deals could be made around that. Replacement & Retirement Should The Prime Minister lose a vote on a Law they have advanced to Parliament, they vacate the role of Prime Minister in favour of the family who cast the most votes against that Law. Leader of the Opposition Remit & Actions The family who cast the most votes against a Law becomes The Leader of the Opposition. Opportunities The role of Leader of the Opposition is largely a signal to the group that one player has been able to cast a great number of votes in one direction. A deal may be done knowing that that player has a potential capacity to cast many votes. Parliament & Laws Of the twenty-five Cars in the Parliament deck, twenty are laws and five are crisis. There is a set aside law about Deregulation, which must be voted on if the Company is performing badly. This deck includes the laws to create the post of Governor General and remove all Governor roles, and the law to create the Superintendent of Trade in China role. The Prime Minister draws a card from this deck. If it is a Crisis then that has to be played, otherwise they are at liberty to draw again until they have up to three cards in front of them. The Prime Minister then decides which law to have voted on by Parliament. (Michael Wood)

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Events

Towards the end of each turn, a number of Events will happen in India. Those Events are wide-ranging, and can be massively important in the game ending the Company in a single turn, but also they can be uneventful and seem very far away from what you are doing. This is a very high level view of events and the very basics you need to know.

There will be between one and four events in India each turn based on the roll of a die. That die has one face with one event, and storms in all sea areas, one each of faces with two events and storms in the West or the East sea areas, another face with three events and storms in the South sea area, and finally two faces with four events.

Storms

Storms have a one in three chance of damaging ships, and a one in three chance of destroying ships, and if a damaged ship is damaged for a second time it is destroyed. A destroyed ship is returned to the owner's Shipyard and must be refit.

Events

There is a probability to drawing different events, but these probabilities are very broadly drawn.

Windfall - 10% chance

Writers in orders in a region get £1.

To benefit from this have writers in orders.

Peace - 10% chance

Either neighbouring regions of India make friends and get stronger, or one Region opens all orders and removes Unrest.

To benefit become a writer in the open Presidencies.

Turmoil - 20% chance

The North most Order is closed in a region, and if all orders are closed then a Cascade happens and all open orders connected to that region can be closed.

If an order is closed in an event, the Writer on it will be lost.

To mitigate the risk of a cascade, open orders in many regions.

To benefit become a part ofthe response to this, probably the Presidential army.

Leader - 20% chance

Either a region gets stronger, or it has a Rebellion against whoever dominates them. If the rebellion succeeds, then orders can be closed, and if the Company loses a region it will lose standing.

If an order is closed in an event, the Writer on it will be lost. Should a region is lost, the Governor of that region will also be lost

To mitigate the risk of a rebellion causing problems, ensure the Presidency has a functional Army.

To benefit become a part ofthe response to this, probably the Presidential army.

Crisis - 30% chance

A Crisis is the most common type of event. In a crisis, one region attacks another. The Elephant piece shows which regions this will be. If the region is controlled by the Company then rebellions can happen, regions can be lost, and so the Company standing may fall.

If an order is closed in an event, the Writer on it will be lost. Should a region is lost, the Governor of that region will also be lost

To mitigate the risk of a Rebellion causing problems, ensure the Presidency has a functional Army.

To benefit become a part ofthe response to this, probably the Presidential army.

Foreign Invasion - 5% chance

Attacks are made two one or all of the Presidencies home locations, or on another region, and those regions can be lost. To mitigate against this risk, ensure the Presidencies have functional Armies.

To benefit become a part ofthe response to this, probably the Presidential army.

Private Firms

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What Are Firms

Private Firms are small versions of the Company who trade independently of it with India and provide the shareholders with ways to score victory points. You form a Private Firm by swapping Company shares or Workshops you own for £5 investment.

Private Firms are only available to families after the Deregulation Law is passed. In the short 1710 Scenario, deregulation is never available.

Special Retirement

If a family has a share in at least one firm, it can take one additional retirement. This retirement cannot cost more than the highest total dividend paid out by a one of the firms they are invested in.

Should I Start A Firm?

Be encouraged if...

You have Workshops or Shares to invest and access to enough ships, at least one ship.
You are not effected by the Company getting a little less trade in India.
There are no other Private Firms, or the Private Firms which are established, might be willing to coordinate trade with you.
You have shares in the Company and you believe the Company will fare poorly and could fail.
You have no Company positions to use to enrich your family.
You have Company positions that will allow you to help your Private Firm access orders. Examples might be a Presidency or a strong Military involvement.
You have other families who want to create a Private Firm with you, perhaps to rival another Private Firm which has been created.
You have one or more spouses that will help secure good retirements.

Be discouraged if...

You do not have good relations with the families who are important for a Firm to succeed, such as the Presidents of the Presidencies where you intend to Trade.
There are already a number of Private Firms, and you do not have the means to compete.
Trade in India is limited, and few orders are open, or you think few will be open.
The end of the Company, or the game, will happen too quickly for you to grown your Firm to benefit from the shares and retirements a Private Firm can bring.

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Positions

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What this role can do

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Opportunties

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Replaced by

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Appointed by... xxx
From... xxx
Appoints... xxx
Next appointment... xxx

Use your actions to

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Die Pool

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