tubechallenge.com

tubeguru wrote: You need a tube map in front of you to mark the stations off on.

Well that's certainly how I play it. I thought all the aficionados on this site would be automatically tuned in though.

I don't need a map - I have Sporcle to thank for that.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Cryptus/everylustationmap

I use it to check FNC routes when I find myself without a map - the one below is for Zone 1.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/londontubecentral

Why is no interchange shown at Blackfriars on the TFL map?

The map is outdated. This is the current one: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/ ... es-map.pdf

Here's a little secret I thought I'd share: when I first thought of this game, the winner was the first player to reach Mornington Crescent. The idea was that I would go up to people who thought they knew about Mornington Crescent and say "you're getting it all wrong - these are the real rules", as they'd be in no position to contradict me!

Sadly it proved impossible for either player to get to Mornington Crescent in most cases, so the object of the game was changed. I reckon you could still fool some people though

Ealing Common? Interchange or not? District and Piccadilly run on the same tracks here.

List of stations player A can start at without committing suicide in one move, by line. Assuming Ealing Common is an interchange.

Following the latest version of the rules - where two starting stations cannot be on the same line, and it is permitted to start on the Circle line.

Bakerloo: Regents Park
Central: West Acton, Hanger Lane - West Ruislip, Queensway - Marble Arch, Chancery Lane, St Paul's, Buckhurst Hill - Epping, Wanstead - Roding Valley.
Circle: Bayswater, HSK, Sloane Square, St. James' Park, Temple - Tower Hill, Great Portland St, Euston Square.
District: Bayswater, HSK, Sloane Square, St. James' Park, Temple - Stepney Green, Bow Road, Bromley-by-bow.
H&C: Great Portland St, Euston Square, Aldgate East - Stepney Green, Bow Road, Bromley-by-bow.
Jubilee: Bermondsey - Canning Town.
Metropolitan: Preston Road - different ends of branches, Great Portland Street, Euston Square.
Northern: Chalk Farm - Edgware, Kentish Town - High Barnet/MHE, Borough, Goodge Street, Kennington, Oval.
Piccadilly: Uxbridge - North Ealing, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Korner, Covent Garden, Russell Square.
Victoria: Pimlico, Vauxhall.
Waterloo and City is banned.

The Orange One wrote:Ealing Common? Interchange or not? District and Piccadilly run on the same tracks here.

Under Tubeblock rules? Good question. I'd be tempted to say no for the reason you give.

Thanks for working that out. It confirmed my suspicion that the list of sensible starting stations in Tubeblock is a bit limited - I think Trainblock is probably a better game. Thanks for suggesting it.

Ealing Common is an interchange. Ealing Broadway to Rayners Lane is completed by changing lines there.

As currently drafted, the rules for Tubeblock (as opposed to Trainblock) say:

An "interchange" is defined as a station served by two or more lines running along different tracks. Stations where all services run along the same tracks (e.g. Bayswater) are not considered interchanges.

So under that definition Ealing Common isn't an interchange, even if you can use it for changing lines.

It might be simpler to bring the Tubeblock definitions into line with the Trainblock definitions, although I'm not sure if anyone still wants to play Tubeblock anyway.

I quite like it, I just don't like in forum format. Rather sit down with someone and play. Or play via instant messaging.

Yes, that's how I imagined that some people would prefer to play it. I'd quite like the opportunity to sit and watch someone else's game though.