Ticket to Ride: India & Switzerland

1 Overview

This map pack includes two separate maps: India (2–5 players) and Switzerland (2–3 players). Both require train cars and cards from an existing Ticket to Ride game, they are expansion maps, not standalone games.

2 India Rules

India plays with standard Ticket to Ride rules, draw cards, claim routes, complete destination tickets, with one major addition: Mandala routes.

The map covers the Indian subcontinent from Karachi in the northwest to Colombo (Sri Lanka) in the south, with routes through major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and Hyderabad.

3 Mandala Routes

Some destination tickets in India show a circular route, these are Mandalas. To complete a Mandala ticket, you must build a continuous route that starts at one city and returns to the same city through a loop (without doubling back).

Completing a Mandala earns double the ticket's face value. A Mandala worth 15 points pays 30 if completed. This makes Mandala tickets extremely valuable, but also risky if opponents block key segments of your loop.

Mandalas are optional: if you can't complete a Mandala route as a loop, you still lose the face value (like a failed normal ticket). You cannot complete a Mandala by going straight from A to B, the loop must close.

4 Switzerland Rules

Switzerland is designed for 2–3 players only. The map covers Switzerland and surrounding alpine regions. Key differences from standard rules:

• Bordering country tickets: Some destination tickets connect Swiss cities to "any tunnel city" or "any border with France/Germany/Austria/Italy." These flexible endpoints make planning easier but scoring lower.
• Tunnel rules apply: Switzerland is dense with tunnel routes using the standard tunnel mechanics from Europe.
• Small, competitive map: Routes fill quickly even with 2 players. Claim aggressively.

5 Scoring

India: Standard route scoring + tickets at face value (or double for Mandala completions) + Longest Route bonus +10.

Switzerland: Standard route scoring + tickets at face value + Longest Route bonus +10.

6 Strategy

India: Target Mandalas Early

Mandala tickets double in value. If you draw one, plan your loop early, identify the 6–8 routes you need and claim the most vulnerable segments first. An unfinished Mandala is a heavy penalty.

India: Force Opponents Off Your Loop

Mandala loops require specific circular routes. Opponents who can predict your loop will try to block one segment. Don't telegraph your Mandala plans by claiming routes in an obvious circle, work inward from the less-contested ends.

Switzerland: Draw More Tickets

The flexible "border country" tickets are lower risk and easier to complete. Draw more tickets than you normally would, some will be easy completions that pad your score with minimal routing effort.