THE PUFFING BILLY® TOURNAMENT

The Puffing Billy® Tournament (PBT), named after the first patented locomotive, is sanctioned by the Train Gamers Association (TGA), and these tournaments are held at gaming conventions all over the country. The goal of the tournament is to encourage the play of train games.

To qualify for the PBT, you simply have to play at least one train game. As you play additional train games throughout the weekend, we tabulate your results in each of the different categories into which these games have been divided. This is handled automatically. You can show up at Puffing Billy headquarters a few minutes before any scheduled slot, and you can always get into a train game. We'd also be glad to teach you a game if you've never played before. Your best score in each category will count toward your total Puffing Billy® score.

You do not need to be a member of the Train Gamers Association to participate in the Puffing Billy® Tournament, although we certainly encourage you to consider joining. TGA members receive special benefits for participating in PBTs around the country. If you are interested in joining, please ask at the PBT headquarters. You are not required to participate in the PBT in order to play a train game, or to win an individual train game tournament. But we hope the excitement of the PBT will add to your convention enjoyment!

Following is a brief explanation of the tournament scoring and categories. Good Luck!

GAME CATEGORIES

Category 1: Ticket to Ride (all versions)
Category 2: Union Pacific, Santa Fe, Streetcar, Metro, On the Underground, Transamerica & Railroad Tycoo;n
Category 3: 1830, 1825, 18AL, 18GA, and any other 4-hour or less 18XX game;
Category 4: 1856, 1870, 1835, and any other 4 hour or greater 18XX games;
Category 5: Empire Builder, Eurorails, Iron Dragon, & Lunar Rails;
Category 6: British Rails, Australian Rails, Nippon Rails, India Rails, Russian Rails & China Rails;
Category 7: Express, Freight Train, Station Master, & Hell Rails;
Category 8: Silverton, Rail Baron, & Age of Steam
Category 9: All other approved train games not listed above

PUFFING BILLY® POINTS

Your PBT score for an individual game is based on where you finish. First place receives a base of 3 points, second place gets 2 base points, third place gets 1 base point, and fourth place gets 0 base points. In addition, second through fourth place receives a bonus score based on how close they were to first place, and the winner receives a bonus based on the scores of all other players. The closer the game, the higher your bonus score. If you play more than one game in a category, your best score in that category will count for the PBT.

Only the first four positions on the board are awarded points (for purposes of qualification in a category). The maximum bonus for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places is 0.5. If you place in an individual tournament final, you will receive additional bonus points on top of your best score in the category based on your finishing position.

® The name Puffing Billy Tournament is owned by the Train Gamers Association

Please direct questions to the Puffing Billy Coordinator.