by B Kunes
Last week I shared preliminary thoughts about my Gen Con Indy 2014 planning. Currently that involves collecting a list of games for my wife and I to whittle down to a prioritized list. Some of those games will be new and hot titles while others will be proven games. Some are convincing enough to buy while others are games we can try while at the show without the financial commitment. Lastly, there are those special releases that enhance games we already own and enjoy. Items affectionately known within the gaming community as EXPANSIONS.After a few weeks of flapping about apparently less interesting bits ( :D ) I return this week to another list: 7 Expansions Under Consideration.
:d10-1:Brügge: Die Stadt am Zwin
As a fan of designer, Stefan Feld, this recently announced expansion gets an automatic look. Furthermore, the base game, Bruges, was my top New To Me Game of 2013. Feld designs already present a bursting array of choices so does adding more to the mix make sense?
"The City on the Zwim" expansion adds an extension board placed at the base of the original one to provide a canal for a 5th player represented by complimentary black pieces. The box also adds two Statue chits for a +8VP and +9VP bonus to accommodate the increase in players. Will I play Bruges with 5p? Not very often, although I have been in a Game Night situation teaching this to two couples as an observer because it currently max's out at four.
The real draw for me are the other add-ons. The additional board also depicts a water inlet for Ships which placed by dice rolls of 3 and 4, and can be activated with the use of a matching color worker. Ships are flipped over to reveal a hidden, random bonus action.
But the gems of Bruges are the cards, the main engine of the game. Additional character cards including a new "travelers" guild and some of which interact with the discard pile will increase the mix for more game play. But there is more! There is a new sizeable deck of various "stock" cards which can be included in the game that introduces a new way to score VP, I'm assuming. There is also a nerfed Engraver card included for those who feel the original is too strong.
Yep, we'll probably buy this as soon as Z-Man brings it to the US some time 3Q14 (Gen Con would be nice. :ninja:).
:d10-2:Village Inn
Village was one of my favorite acquisitions of 2013. The more we play it the more balanced and competitive our plays become. If playing this as part of my 10x10 in 2014 continues to fuel excitement for this worker placement action selection game, then I expect this expansion will be a no-brainer purchase this summer.
:d10-3:Village Harbor
Speaking about expanding Village, I saw on the BGG forums this past week rumors of a second expansion introduced a the "Harbor". I don't know any information beyond that but if it is true I'll be considering what it has in store when information becomes available. Mercy! If there is a harbor then I'm guessing there will be some sort of trading either between players introducing player interaction, or something similar to the market action that would allow players to exchange or purchase new or additional goods? Perhaps it will introduce a new deck of cards like the Inn did and injecting more variable game options. This could get crazy, or crazy good.
:d10-4:&:d10-5:SotM: Rook City & Infernal Relics (Combo) Expansion
The more Sentinels reaches the table the more excited I am about it. The more I immerse myself in the story that unfolds with each play the more I enjoy it. But to be honest, it is still a challenge to get it to the table often enough to compete for regular attention compared with our other loved games.
But when I manage to convince other to play it is oh, so good. We gifted it to my brother in law for Christmas. He and his friends can't get enough. I'm hoping his enthusiasm bleeds over to his sister, my wife, so it gets more love in our house.
Although I feel there is still ample to learn and absorb from the base game, seeing the first two expansions being packaged in one box is a tempting lure--"two expansions in one!" IF I can build some regularity for Sentinels, this would be a great addition.
:d10-6:The Ladies of Troyes
Similar to Sentinels but with a bit more success, the base game of Troyes could use some added variety if it can establish sufficient momentum with my family and gaming group.
I relish in the various ways one can buy and manipulate dice to wield one's way to victory. I'll admit I haven't looked very closely at this expansion other than the scary price tag, but what I would look to the The Ladies to do is expand the games card variety. It is a bit disappointing to see so few cards come in the base game. Granted I don't feel the limited card mix feels redundant in our handful of plays thus far, but if it take off, I fear it might.
As I hinted to earlier, the one hesitation I would have about this expansion is its hefty price tag. I'll have to research what is included to substantiate such a cost.
:d10-7:Hive: The Pillbug
The last expansion currently on my list is the latest "official" bug for one of my favorite 2p abstract games, Hive. The Pillbug moves like the queen bee but can also move an adjacent, un-stacked piece on top of itself and then into an empty, adjacent space instead of moving.
There are additional restrictions regarding which pieces can or cannot be moved but ultimately you add a powerful bug and elevate the complexity for further exploration in tactics and strategy for heightened game play.
My wife gifted my original Standard Edition of the game to her brother and gave me the later released Pocket Edition which included the mosquito and lady bug expansion tiles. Hive: The Pillbug is offered with both editions included in one. So something additional for me, and another gift for my brother-in-law. We both win. That's my selling point to my wife, and I'm sticking to it.
What expansions are you considering as you look into your not too distant future in gaming? Any thoughts or comments regarding the ones I'm pondering? If so, please share.
:meeple: Keep playing (them expansions)...