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Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
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I’ve gone a bit mad on expansions recently. Actually not recently I have always been a bit of an expansion fiend. I am trying to be more selective as not all expansions really add much to a game.
Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Secrets & Soirees Expansion
I really like the art in Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig and as it plays at higher player counts it’s a useful game. This expansion actually takes it to eight. I always find Stonemaier Games develop great expansions. This is no different. It has a Game Trayz that fits in the original box and lots of extra tiles for the base game. The new secret rooms are a great addition enabling you to nominate a room type. This is a mechanic I first saw in The Isle of Cats and works so well with tile laying.
It also introduces ballrooms which are scored based on the rooms in the castles either side (reminiscent of Draftosaurus):strip_icc()/pic6238929.jpg)
It also has a solo variant which I am looking forward to trying.
Cacao: Diamante
I have owned Cacao for years and always considered Cacao: Diamante the weaker of the two expansions but having been playing big games on Yucata I had to buy it. I particularly like the new worker tiles which enable you play big games and the emperor is a welcome edition. They new gem mines are great too. The tree of life tiles are my favourite. I like that you get to score something for not having a worker there. It’s a great mechanic.:strip_icc()/pic6238882.jpg)
Cartographers: Skills Mini Expansion
Skills are a must have for Cartographers for me. It improves the depth without adding any complexity. If you don’t already own this you need to get it. I believe there is also a second skills expansion./pic4989365.jpg)
Wingspan: Oceania Expansion
I wasn’t going to get the second expansion for Wingspan. The game has already for more than enough cards. However, I really like the new player mats. The new food resource of nectar is great but makes the game much less tight. Luck plays less of a role. I am not sure about habitat majority mechanic, but presumably the idea was to increase player interaction. The yellow end of game cards are very powerful.
The Isle of Cats: Late Arrivals
With a larger play group I finally succumbed to the 5 to 6 player expansion for The Isle of Cats. The artwork on the new tiles includes kittens. I’ll be interested to see how this plays at higher player counts.:strip_icc()/pic5457253.png)
Tapestry: Plans and Ploys
Tapestry: Plans and Ploys is another great expansion. Another more of the same expansion, I like the new buildings and that you get to start will a card that allows you (and only you) to build a building if you achieve certain objectives. The new civs are even more wilder and more whacky the the ones in the base game. I especially like the one which gives the buildings special powers. There are new tapestry cards which gives more variety and there are new traps. Like a lot of expansions that Stonemaier Games produce it introduces a little more interaction.:strip_icc()/pic6238885.jpg)
PARKS: Nightfall Expansion
This is a welcome edition to PARKS. The new parks are great as are the new objective cards which are much more interesting than the old ones. I can take or leave the new camping mechanic.:strip_icc()/pic5844626.jpg)
Draftosaurus: Marina
Draftosaurus is one of my favourite games and I was really looking forward to the expansions. Now that I own Draftosaurus: Marina I don’t think it really adds much and also the artwork doesn’t match. The new Plesiosaur dino Meeples are cute. I am in two minds whether to get Draftosaurus: Aerial Show.:strip_icc()/pic6238527.jpg)
The Dyslexic Gamer
A blog about Euro’s with wonderful art and components
Archive for Expansions
8
Comments
Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:11 pm
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Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
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Adding an expansion to a game doesn’t always improve it. But if you really like a game it’s tempting to want more content. I love Everdell it’s one of my favourite games. But I have never really wanted it to be more complex. Indeed I own Everdell: Spirecrest and it’s still in shrink. I think I will like the extra cards that Everdell: Newleaf adds.
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Sometimes with a card game all you want is more cards. I think the system in The Isle of Cats of having modules is really clever. Other games, like Everdell would really benefit from this approach. Sometimes if you just add more cards this dilutes the deck.
I would like more lesson modules for Isle of Cats but I think most of the five player stuff would be redundant for me. I get the cost economics of producing a game at four rather than five player. But for me I am unlikely to get an expansion that offers a fifth player unless there is substantial other content./pic5378140.jpg)
I think the different decks for Agricola is cool although a lots of cards have just variations on previous cards. I would love some new animals or ways to create a bread engine.:strip_icc()/pic3071408.jpg)
Agricola: Farmers of the Moor never really chimed with me. It was just creating more stuff you need to do although I did like the new major improvements.
Sometimes expansions feel like nothing expansions. Obsession: Wessex Expansion feels like this. Another family (which is cool) but otherwise just more rooms and guests.
Whereas Obsession: Upstairs, Downstairs feels almost like it was supposed to be there. It’s really well integrated into the game, adding another layer of strategy that enhances what you are doing.:strip_icc()/pic4882078.png)
Each time a new promo comes up for Carcassonne I die a little. They are just so crap (with the exception of the maps - but then who wants multiple maps?) I’d like an expansion that really messes with the game. Like an expansion that lets you buy extra tiles or overbuild tiles.
Some expansions like Oh My Goods!: Longsdale in Revolt change the whole way you play a game. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. I really disliked Isle of Skye: Journeyman which completely changed Isle of Skye but for me felt too complex and took away what I liked about the game.:strip_icc()/pic3816808.jpg)
Whereas Oh My Goods!: Longsdale in Revolt turned a great game into a brilliant game. I don’t really have any storytelling games.
Low Lands is a game I would like an expansion for. I really love the sense of escalation in this. An expansion would be amazing. I do own the promo.:strip_icc()/pic6046935.jpg)
Another game I would like one for is Warsaw: City of Ruins. I would just like more tiles. More milestones would be lovely too.
I’ll be interested in seeing what new expansion Viticulture Essential Edition gets. I must be the only person to sell my copy of Viticulture: Tuscany Essential Edition. I prefer the purity of the original game without the extra options. I am thinking of getting Viticulture: Visit from the Rhine Valley as apparently these cards offer more engine building possibilities.:strip_icc()/pic5493611.jpg)
Another game I would really like an expansion for is Little Town. I just love this game. Again I have the promo and coins.:strip_icc()/pic5336229.jpg)
Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:37 pm
- [+] Dice rolls
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Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
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Have you ever played a crazy big game where you are used all (or most) the expansions for a game? I first tried this in Carcassonne. I own most of the expansions for Carcassonne. Over 360 tiles.
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We played with the base game with both rivers, Carcassonne: Expansion 1 – Inns & Cathedrals, Carcassonne: Expansion 2 – Traders & Builders, Carcassonne: Expansion 5 – Abbey & Mayor and the tiles from Carcassonne: Expansion 6 – Count, King & Robber plus Carcassonne: Castles in Germany, Carcassonne: Die Belagerer and Carcassonne: The Festival. You don’t want a meeple tied up all game in a bid game. We also used my favourite expansion Carcassonne: The Phantom which doesn’t have any tiles. Usually we play with an extra meeple using something else as a scoring marker. Having a phantom also helps.:strip_icc()/pic1213886.jpg)
Of course a game like this takes ages and isn’t at all balanced. But fun nevertheless. I like using the extra large German castles which not only have beautiful art but I like the extra layer of strategy of having one tile from the beginning. It’s my favourite promo after the besieges.
We have also tend to play Carcassonne maps with several expansions. Indeed Carcassonne isn’t Carcassonne for me without the first two expansions.:strip_icc()/pic5923885.jpg)
Lately I’ve been on Yucata playing big games of Cacao. You never seem to just see invites for the base game. I have always enjoyed Cacao: Chocolatl which really adds to the strategy. It’s makes that dilemma of whether to sell you beans now of keep them even tricker. Now there’s the chance of converting them into chocolate but what if you can’t sell it?:strip_icc()/pic5924060.jpg)
Also I like the huts and the Emperor. And of course, best of all the new combinations of worker tiles.:strip_icc()/pic5924072.jpg)
Like most games, some expansions add some take that. I dislike the watering holes and the Cacao: Volcanoes. What I love about Cacao is the overbuilding. Why Carcassonne has never explored this is beyond me.
I am really looking forward to see what Phil Walker-Harding adds expansion wise to Fjords.:strip_icc()/pic5924146.jpg)
There is something really satisfying about owning all the expansions for a game, although it’s not something I often do.:strip_icc()/pic5924079.jpg)
The only other game I own with all the expansion is Keyflower. I have loads of hexes but you can only really play with one promo hex a game.:strip_icc()/pic3749626.jpg)
There are several games which come with big box versions, like Fresco: Big Box and Kingdom Builder: Big Box. I particularly like Istanbul: Big Box and I must confess I own most of the expansions if Istanbul. I like all the extra opportunities there are to collect gems. Big boxes are fantastic value if you know you definitely like the game.:strip_icc()/pic3597642.jpg)
So what crazy big games have you played?
Sun Jan 17, 2021 5:34 pm
- [+] Dice rolls
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Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
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I have a bit of an expansion addiction. I own over 25 major expansions. With a game collection of 94. I think it didn’t help that Carcassonne was my gateway game. I have nine big expansions for Carcassonne.
Expansions are designed to make the base game seem more appealing. More exciting even. Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh introduces Coffee and bribery! It peps up the bazaar. Designers can afford to take a few chances with an expansion. After all the fans of the game will buy it whatever.:strip_icc()/pic2586758.jpg)
Bärenpark: The Bad News Bears adds a monorail and grizzly bears!:strip_icc()/pic4836949.jpg)
Photosynthesis: Under the Moonlight adds really cute animals and makes the game feel less abstract.:strip_icc()/pic5640535.jpg)
Tapestry: Plans and Ploys had a tall skyscraper. It has funky civs which allow you to explore off the map or gives a function to buildings.:strip_icc()/pic5885295.jpg)
PARKS: Nightfall Expansion allows you to go camping. Personally I think it should have introduced a bear that eats hikers that hang back on the trail but still it’s quite fun.:strip_icc()/pic5844627.jpg)
Sometimes you get a feeling with some games that they kept some of the content back from the base game.
Viticulture: Tuscany Essential Edition adds a whole new board. I makes Viticulture a much more expansive game, with more actions. A lot more freedom. The original Tuscany expansion had a wealth of modules and tonnes of silk screened special workers. It even had the Mafia! It was streamlined into the current version with the help of Uwe Rosenberg. There was enough content in the original Tuscany for two or three expansions.:strip_icc()/pic2493616.jpg)
Obsession: Upstairs, Downstairs is a fantastic expansion that compliments the base game perfectly.:strip_icc()/pic5885334.jpg)
A common theme in Euro’s is that expansions add more player interaction. We have seen this with Wingspan
I often find balance goes out of the window. Expansions are quite swingy. Cacao has lots of expansions and mini expansions. Most of them are modular. But a lot of them, like the gem mines are a bit unbalanced. But they add fun. Chocolate and gems two of my favourite things.:strip_icc()/pic3596667.jpg)
Often an expansion doesn’t really make the base game better. Carcassonne is a good example of a fame that can be ruined by an expansion. Still it wins the prize for the most useless expansion Carcassonne: Expansion 7 – The Catapult.:strip_icc()/pic395187.jpg)
I love that someone took the time to film how inaccurate the catapult is
It really frustrating when you come across a game that has an expension or Kickstarter exclusive content that you can no longer obtain.
I was really frustrated when I bought Museum and I found the Kickstarter content included the solo components. That said I managed to get the Kickstarter content from the U.K. Games Expo. I was also lucky enough to get the new tenants pack for High Rise.
Games where I just haven’t been able to get the additional content include Tokaido: The New Encounters and Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King – Brettspiel Adventskalender 2015 Promo Tiles
Isle of Skye did a journey man expansion whereby you could move a meeple around your kingdom. It was quite good but a big departure from the base game and really upped the complexity. I sold it after one play.:strip_icc()/pic4311055.jpg)
There is a temptation with a new game to jump in and get the expansion content in case it’s no longer be ones available. But as I play mainly with newbies, it sometimes difficult to get this extra content to the table.
Well it’s now 2021 and my last post of the year! Happy New year and let’s hope we get some face to face gaming in.
Fri Jan 1, 2021 12:20 am
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Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
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I was reading a post about expansion boards and I started thinking about how expansions expand a game. A lot of my games are tile laying games. So they expand really easily just adding more tiles. Same with card games. (But it’s so annoying when the colours don’t match)
But some games have multiple smaller boards which creates a really cluttered table. I think my worse offender is Museum.:strip_icc()/pic4819765.jpg)
Whereas Viticulture: Tuscany Essential Edition has a whole new game board. No fiddly side boards, just a whole new board. But it’s quite a bit bigger than the original board.:strip_icc()/pic5324929.jpg)
The Viticulture Viticulture: Arboriculture Expansion expansion expanded the individual player mats. I can’t think of a game that has printed new player mats but I am sure there is one.
I think Agricola: Farmers of the Moor was inspired in the way it expanded the game. It adds tiles (forest and moor tiles) that you put on the play boards so each player board now has a random set up. Moreover in the first addition they generated a side board for the infirmary but now it has little beds you put your workers in which is much better than a side board. Agricola is one a the few games I have sold that I am tempted to reacquire.:strip_icc()/pic4405756.jpg)
I also think the jigsaw pieces that you use in Agricola (Revised Edition) to expand the game board for different player counts is great and is a system which could easily to used to add expansions to a game.
Village gets round the problem by creating boards that sit over the original board. They introduce new buildings. So for instance Village: Inn introduces the inn, brewery and of course beer. I think this is quite a neat solution.:strip_icc()/pic3563826.jpg)
Istanbul has a board made up of tiles so it’s easy just to add another row but it does make for a bigger board and a greater distance between locations. I like that they repurposed the Caravansary tile.:strip_icc()/pic3597642.jpg)
Everdell looks like it was designed with expansions in mind. The expansion boards seamlessly join up to the main board but it is a bit of a table hog.:strip_icc()/pic5427269.jpg)
I think it’s a shame they didn’t integrate the crossroad expansion into the larger main board when the did Tokaido Deluxe Edition:strip_icc()/pic2893754.jpg)
Wed Sep 23, 2020 9:30 pm
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Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
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I used to buy all the expansions for my favourite games. But the funny thing is they rarely add much to the game. Also as I am often teaching games to newbies so it’s not appropriate to add an expansion to a game from the off.
Some expansions just add unnecessary complexity. I think some of the Carcassonne ones are just awful like Carcassonne: Expansion 8 – Bridges, Castles and Bazaars.
But I still get excited when I see a favourite game launching an expansion.
The completionist in me raises it’s ugly head.
I particularly like when designers offer a solo expansion. I’ve been looking forward to the solo expansion for Keyper for ages. This is a difficult game to get to the table so it is always welcome to gave a solo expansion to get more use out of the game.
I recently got the solo expansion for Fields of Green Fields of Green: Grand Fair. This expansion just adds so much replayability to this game. Almost too much. It feels like they threw in every idea they ever had. Still nobody can argue this isn’t value for money.:strip_icc()/pic5667051.jpg)
The expansion for Oh My Goods Oh My Goods!: Longsdale in Revolt is quite interesting as it offers a story type element to the game. Which really changes up the game and gives it a whole new twist. It also gives it direction which I like.
I am looking forward to the new PARKS expansion PARKS: Nightfall Expansion.As well as more parks it introduces a new camping mechanic.:strip_icc()/pic5666997.jpg)
I recently bought Tapestry: Plans and Ploys which I think really adds to Tapestry. Its nice to have some new civs. I am looking forward to the civs which gives buildings special powers and the one that lets you build hexes. I think having a building that only you can build is a cool idea.
It’s a bit annoying when you sell a game and then they offer an expansion although I must say that expansion rarely fix problems with the base game.
I ditched Photosynthesis as every game played the same only for them to offer a new expansion which looks really cool adding critters.
Same with Tiny Towns: Fortune. This fixes the lack of control you have around the base game by introducing money. But I can’t see I will rebuy a game that I have let go of.
I was really looking forward to the Wingspan: European Expansion but actually the best bit was the new end of round goals. The teal end of round powers are OK but add more complexity. I do like having more recognisable birds. I don’t think I will get Wingspan: Oceania Expansion unless it really changes it up a lot.
I didn’t buy the recent expansion for Cat Lady Cat Lady: Box of Treats although I was tempted as it added solo rules but it annoyed me the the expansion wasn’t really compatible with the premium edition with the VP tokens being in cardboard.:strip_icc()/pic5667015.jpg)
One of my favourite games Era of Kingdoms is getting an expansion Era of Kingdoms: Inquisition. I do worry that in an attempt to add more interaction this will add take that. Sometimes an expansion takes away what you like about the base game.
Everdell is one of my favourite games. I have the Everdell: Bellfaire expansion which adds more of the same. I am waiting for the last kickstarter to decide whether to jump in to any of the other expansions. The thing with Everdell is that the expansions are a similar price to a new game.:strip_icc()/pic5301727.jpg)
I am of course super hyped that Draftosaurus is getting an expansion.:strip_icc()/pic5664565.jpg)
Sat Sep 19, 2020 5:01 am
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Caroline BlackUnited Kingdom
Braintree
Essex
Tigger playing Agricola. He lost!
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I have way too many expansions. In fact I have more expansions than games. I think in general most expansions are not required. There are however a few expansions that are really worth seeking out.
Expansions come in four main forms. Expansions that add a fifth or sixth player, expansions that add more of the same and expansions that add different mechanics and expansions that change the base game mechanics. Often they are modular and may include elements of each.
I use Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Secrets every game. It adds lots of new room tiles plus a swan set collection element to the game. It also adds moats which we occasionally use for a tighter more restricted game. With moats the larger rooms and round rooms are less appealing. We have not used the secret passages.:strip_icc()/pic3038030.jpg)
Another expansion which is pretty much required is Tokaido: Crossroads. It adds some much needed complexity to this game giving you two options for each stop on the trail.:strip_icc()/pic5533449.jpg)
Some expansions attempt to fix the base game. The first expansion of Carcassonne Carcassonne: Expansion 1 – Inns & Cathedrals tried to do this by introducing inns which made roads more valuable. It also introduces the concept of the big meeple which allows for easier city and road stealing. I also like the scoring tokens. Of course Carcassonne is the poster boy for expansion bloat.:strip_icc()/pic4666686.jpg)
Wingspan: European Expansion also tries to fix the base game adding new ways to score points that don’t involve just running your egg engine and birds that score at the end of each round. The new bonus tiles are the best bit and of course for us in Europe new and familiar birds including the option to put a bird card on it’s side to fill two/pic5533456.jpg)
spaces to get your engine running. I am not sure I will be in for the Wingspan: Oceania Expansion but we will see.Cacao: Chocolatl is a great expansion for one of my favourite games. Firstly it adds some of the best game wooden pieces ever; chocolate squares. (this was my first and last attempt at a “creative” game photo) It adds some real strategy deciding whether to convert your cocoa beans into chocolate so when you come to sell them they will be worth more but will you have time to convert them before the game ends? Chocolate and beans are worth nothing at the end!/pic5533458.jpg)
I think Cacao is such a great game. Really innovative. I really like the tile overbuilding as well. The expansion adds the ability to get contracts and end game scoring abilities as well as improving the options for drafting tiles. It’s one of those expansions where you decide which modules you are going to use.:strip_icc()/pic5533480.jpg)
Viticulture: Tuscany Essential Edition is often quoted as a must have expansion but I actually sold my copy. This gave a whole new board which made it impractical to take the game to board game club. It added an area control element with stars that made the game more complex as well as special workers. It also added a ‘sell wine’ action which I thought was really good and more general trade one for one which allows you to get rid of cards out of your hand. But all in all I just like the simplicity of the base game. Although I think it’s worth getting if you mainly play solo.:strip_icc()/pic3880910.jpg)
Such a cool image by Wizzy Parkerir
Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:21 am
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