Mississippi Queen

Overview

Mississippi Queen is a racing game where players pilot paddle steamers down the Mississippi River, picking up passengers along the way. Players must manage their speed and coal supply as they navigate a modular river course that is revealed as the race progresses. The first player to cross the finish line with both required passengers aboard wins.

Components

• 6 paddle steamer playing pieces (with speed dials 1-6)
• 12 coal tokens (2 per player)
• River board tiles (modular hex sections)
• Passenger tokens
• Island hexes

Setup

1. Place the starting river tile with all steamers at the starting positions.
2. Each player takes a paddle steamer and sets its speed dial to 1.
3. Each player receives 6 coal tokens (varies by edition).
4. Place passenger tokens on designated landing spots on river tiles.
5. Prepare the remaining river tiles in a face-down stack.

Turn Structure

Players take turns in order determined by position (leader goes first). On your turn:

1. Adjust speed (optional): Increase or decrease speed by 1 for free. Additional speed changes cost 1 coal each.
2. Move: Move your steamer exactly the number of hexes shown on your speed dial.
3. Pick up passengers: If you end your move adjacent to a passenger dock at speed 1, you may pick up a passenger.

Actions

Speed Management

• Your speed dial shows your current speed (1-6).
• Each turn you may adjust speed by 1 for free (up or down).
• Each additional point of speed change costs 1 coal.
• You must always move exactly the number of hexes shown on your speed dial.

Movement

• Move in a straight line, but you may turn 60 degrees (one hex-face) during your move.
• The first turn per move is free. Additional turns cost 1 coal each.
• You cannot move through hexes containing other steamers or islands.
• You cannot move off the river (into non-water hexes).

Picking Up Passengers

• You must end your movement adjacent to a passenger dock.
• Your speed must be exactly 1 to pick up a passenger.
• Each player must pick up 2 passengers during the race.

Revealing New River Sections

• When a steamer enters the last row of the current river section, a new tile is drawn and placed to extend the course.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The first player to cross the finish line with both required passengers aboard wins. If multiple players cross in the same round, the player furthest past the finish line wins.

A player who runs out of coal can no longer change speed or make extra turns, but continues moving at their current speed.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Steamers cannot occupy the same hex.
• If you cannot complete your full movement (blocked), you must stop as far as possible.
• Running out of coal does not eliminate you, but severely limits maneuverability.
• River tiles create a unique course each game.
• In some editions, players need to pick up 1 passenger instead of 2.
• Speed can never go below 1 or above 6.

Player Reference

Turn: Adjust speed (free +/-1, extra costs coal) -> Move exactly speed value -> Pick up passenger (speed 1, adjacent to dock)

Turning: First 60-degree turn free; each additional turn = 1 coal

Win condition: First across finish line with required passengers

Coal uses: Extra speed changes (1 coal per point beyond the free +/-1) and extra turns during movement