Game Profile: London

London
starts just after the Great Fire of London and ends with the advent of the 20^th
century.  In the game you will be
responsible for running part of the city. 
You must balance finance with grandeur, with your achievements being
measured in victory points.  However, you
must be careful not to let rising poverty swamp your efforts.

London is very much a
card game.  The cards are divided into
three decks to create a sense of historical development.  You will create a sense of historical
development.  You will create a Building
Display, a line of cards laid out in front of your position at the table.  The cards in your display will give you
various benefits, such as money, victory points, and reduced poverty.  The majority of cards will only have an
effect when you decide to run your city.

Money is important, in
that you need it to pay for some cards and to buy land.  How much money you make depends on what cards
you have on your Building Display when you run your city.  If you do not have enough money you can always
take a loan. Buying land allows you
to gain more cards and to reduce the impact of poverty.  The board is divided into areas which are
referred to as ‘boroughs’.  Each borough
has a purchase cost, the number of cards you then pick up, and how many victory
points you score at the end of the game. 
Where you buy land can be significant, as the effect of some cards
depends on which borough you own.

Poverty is a big
issue.  Generally you increase your
poverty when you run your city.  You can
reduce your poverty through having certain cards on your Building Display.
The game will end when the
deck has been exhausted.  You now count
up your victory points.  These are gained
from the boroughs you have building counters in, the cards played on to your
Building Display and money in hand.  You
will lose victory points if you have any poverty points and/or outstanding
loans.