Welcome to 18th-century Lancashire. The world is currently transforming from an almost medieval state to what is known as the Modern World. This transformation will go down in history as the Industrial Revolution, but it will be some time before historians adopt that term. Lancashire, England, was the center of the cotton industry during this period, thanks to the ingenuity of Crompton, Arkwright, Watt, and other inventors. Steam power was combined with new machines, cotton mills were built, and mines were driven to ever greater depths to secure the supply of coal for these energy-hungry technologies. Coal transport required canals, then railways, and so the carousel of innovation spun ever faster. Game Overview: Coal attempts to retell a small part of this history in game form. The game is divided into two periods: the canal period and the railway period. Use your hand of cards to build various industries and connect them with transport routes. Develop your technologies, sell cotton, and take out loans for future investments. Try to flip your industry markers over by performing these actions. This will immediately increase your income and earn you victory points at the end of each period. The player with the most victory points wins the game.