Introduction

Can you build the most successful airline? Compete to develop the most lucrative network by buying, selling, and trading the right to connect different airports. Create hubs that move large volumes of traffic by building your network through the same airport. Block out other airlines to form a monopoly. Collude with other airlines to strike advantageous deals. Lobby the government to create a friendly regulatory environment. Just remember the number one rule of business - don’t run out of money!

Gameplay Basics

The basic flow of the game is:

1. Each player starts with an endowment of cash, two gates, and a route.
2. Players compete to buy gates at airports via auctions. Gates are required to launch routes, and each gate carries a fixed cost per round.
3. Launch routes connecting different airports. Each route generates income as a function of the size of the airports it connects, the number of competitive routes, and the number of connecting routes for the same airline.
4. When airports are full, they can be expanded, increasing their size, and added additional gates.
5. Use your profits to re-invest in your airline, or to pay dividends.
6. The first player to pay 10 dividends wins.

The game takes place over a series of rounds. Each round has seven phases. Each player takes their turn during each phase before the game moves on to the next phase.

1. Airline Development: Acquire gates (via auction), launch/close routes, and make trades.
2. Airport Expansion: Expand eligible airports.
3. Airline Operations: Collect the income from your routes and pay the maintenance costs on your gates.
4. Regulatory Action: You didn't think the government would leave you alone, did you?
5. Taxes: Pay the taxman.
6. Capital Markets: Pay dividends.
7. Reset: Get ready for the next round!

Winning the Game

The first airline to pay out 10 dividends wins the game. Each dividend costs $15.

Number of Players

Fortress Hub supports 3-4 players, and is best played with 4.

Game Duration

A game takes 1.5 - 2 hours. Games persist across sessions, so you can put a game down and pick it back up later.

Online Play

Fortress Hub Online is a multi-player online implementation of the physical board game version of Fortress Hub. As such, it's designed to be a social experience, and we recommend that you have a video chat going alongside the game with all the players.

It's possible for multiple players to share the same computer. You can have multiple accounts logged into the same computer by using different browsers (e.g., Chrome and Safari, or Chrome and Edge) or using incognito mode. There is no hidden information in Fortress Hub.