When I first started playing Brass Birmingham I always developed away my Level I Breweries. It’s such a solid move that it took me a while to realize it’s not actually that great. As I got better at the game, I started taking a different approach. By building those breweries, not only is it possible to secure more beer but also to obtain higher scores.
In 2019 Roxley not only released Brass Birmingham, but also reprinted the original under the name of Brass Lancashire. This was great news for fans of economic games, as Wallace’s game of the industrial revolution is highly regarded. But it also opened the question: Which one is best? And why?
Brass: Birmingham features six different industries, one more than its predecessor. Each one, from the powerful breweries to the risky potteries, plays a different role. If we want to win, we need to understand how they work and how they interact with each other. When should we build them and why?
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Brass: Birmingham is less punishing than its predecessor Brass: Lancashire. With more industries available and a wider array of options, it’s unlikely to get stuck or make a fatal mistake early on. But this softer approach also makes it harder to know what we do wrong.
Building too many coal mines, not developing lower level industries and dismissing beer are some of the most frequent beginner mistakes. I explain why they are common missteps and how to avoid them.
