How to Play Rolling Realms Promo: Brass Birmingham
By Stonemaier Games US & International Store | Published: 2026-10-28
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to play the Rolling Realms Promo: Brass Birmingham pack. This guide covers setup, the unique canal and rail phases, and scoring tips for the 6-card realm.
Quick answer
The Rolling Realms Promo: Brass Birmingham adds a 6-card realm inspired by the economic strategy game. You play through two phases—canal and rail—focusing on building networks and scoring from your industry tiles.
What makes the Brass Birmingham realm different
Unlike standard Rolling Realms realms, Brass Birmingham divides the game into two distinct eras: the canal phase and the rail phase. You'll build coal and iron networks in the first, then shift to rail connections in the second. This adds a layer of long-term planning not found in most other promo realms.
The realm also emphasizes adjacency scoring from industry tiles, rewarding players who cluster their buildings rather than spreading them out. If you enjoy the original Brass: Birmingham board game, you'll recognize the economic tension—but here it's condensed into a single realm.
How to play Rolling Realms Promo: Brass Birmingham
- Set up the realm: Shuffle the 6 Brass Birmingham cards and place them face up in a row. Each player takes a scorecard and the standard Rolling Realms dice. Common mistake: forgetting that this realm uses two phases—make sure you track which phase you're in on your scorecard. Mark the canal phase on your scorecard before rolling.
- Play the canal phase (rounds 1–3): During the first three rounds, focus on building coal and iron networks. On each roll, place dice in the canal zones to construct links between cities. Each link scores points based on the dice value. Common mistake: ignoring iron production early—it's needed for later rail upgrades. Prioritize iron links in the canal phase to set up rail connections.
- Transition to the rail phase (rounds 4–6): Starting round 4, the canal zones become inactive. Now use dice to build rail connections between the same cities. Rail links score double the dice value but require that you already have a canal link in that location. Common mistake: trying to build rail without a prior canal link—it's not allowed. Ensure each rail link has a matching canal link from the first three rounds.
- Score industry tiles: At the end of the game, count the number of industry tiles (coal, iron, cotton, etc.) you have placed in adjacent spaces. Each cluster of 2 or more tiles scores bonus points equal to the total dice values in that cluster. Common mistake: scattering tiles instead of grouping them—clusters multiply your score. Place industry tiles next to each other to maximize adjacency bonuses.
- Total your score: Add the points from canal links (rounds 1–3), rail links (rounds 4–6), and industry tile clusters. The player with the highest total wins. Common mistake: double-counting a link that was used in both phases—each link scores only once per phase. Double-check that you haven't added the same link twice.
What's in the pack
- Rolling Realms Promo: Brass Birmingham: This promo pack requires the Rolling Realms core game. You cannot play this realm standalone; you need the base game's dice and scorecards to use these 6 cards.
Rolling Realms Promo: Brass Birmingham
