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Schade Maghan (2 KP) rated Catan: explorers and pirates in Tabletop Games

Jul 24, 2019 (Updated Jul 24, 2019)  
Catan: explorers and pirates
Catan: explorers and pirates
2016 | Economic, Exploration, Game Expansion, Territory Building
Great for those who enjoy the scenarios included with the base game or seafarers expansion. (1 more)
Adds some new mechanics and deeper strategy.
True value in this is through the scenarios which not all players will enjoy. (0 more)
Scenario Lovers, Gamers Beware
  
Potion Explosion
Potion Explosion
2015 | Fantasy, Puzzle
Marbles and explosions (0 more)
Nothing (0 more)
Wow love it
This is a near perfect game.
You use marbles to build potions and each marble is name something cool .
The game is easy to put together.
I can't wait to see what happens with the expansion.
  
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
2014 | Bluff, Card Game, Deduction, Horror, Party Game
Quick to teach (5 more)
Amazing app assisted (free)
Huge replayability
Hidden roles with variable player powers
Light & original take on a party game
Plays best with 4-10 (using expansion)
Roles and powers can be confusing to remember (app fixes/helps resolve the issue) (0 more)
  
Monopoly Deal
Monopoly Deal
2014 | Card Game
Speed of the game (0 more)
No official expansion packs (0 more)
Massively under rated
This game is so under rated. It's easy to learn, takes around 4 or 5 games to get the hang of. Each game lasts around 15 mins to 30 mins. All of the cards are nicely made and it's suited to 2 to 5 players. I have played this at the pub with friends as it's easy to carry around. All it needs is a couple of fun expansion packs. There are unofficial fan made ones but I didn't want to try them. All in all a great addictive game to play.
  
Fort: Cats and Dogs Expansion
Fort: Cats and Dogs Expansion
2021 | Card Game
In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.

This breakdown is for the expansion for the hit game Fort, and this expansion titled Fort: Cats & Dogs Expansion.

This expansion adds a bunch of Dog cards, some Cat cards, and four Doghouse tiles. The Dog and Cat components belong to their respective modules, and the expansion can be played with either module or both simultaneously.

The Dogs module will add Dogs to players’ starting decks. When a Dog is played, their need (the text immediately below their picture) must be fulfilled before their special action is completed. They may also be used as their normal icon to be played with the base game actions. Most Dog cards are then discarded to the players’ Doghouse. However, if Dogs end up in a player’s Yard, at the beginning of their turn they must discard the Dog to the neighbor’s Doghouse. The player with the most Dogs in their Doghouse at the end of the game scores a cool seven points!


Cats, however, are little terrors and have no loyalty to their owner and their special abilities may be lent to whomever currently controls the Cat card. Cats are attracted to certain players based on which cards are present in their Yard at the end of their turn. It is then that the Cat card moves to the player’s tableau and can offer ongoing effects. The other players may then attempt to lure the Cat card to their own Yards at the end of their turns as well. Players score more points at the end of the game for having more Cats attracted to their Yard.
In my opinion Fort did not need any expansions that change the game. However, after adding Cats & Dogs to my game I found that another level of attention must be paid to each turn if you wish to score these extra bonus points. For example, should a player monopolize all the Cats and also have the most Dogs, that will score them 17 bonus points at the end of the game! That is certainly nothing to sniff at. The cards feature great art, again by Kyle Ferrin, and the Doghouses are nice cardboard tiles. I still most certainly enjoy playing vanilla Fort, but I think that with other gamers who are familiar with the base game I will almost always include both Cats & Dogs modules in my games.

Official recommendation: If you are a fan of Fort, as we all are, then adding in Cats & Dogs may spice up your game for you. However, if you are a fan of Fort as is, then this is certainly not a must-have. I thoroughly enjoy this expansion, and like I mentioned – will probably always be adding it into my games, but Fort definitely stands on its own. It is a luxury expansion, yes, but it is also very affordable. So pick it up the next time you are filling your board game carts. I recommend it highly, and the value added far outweighs the cost for this reviewer. MORE FORT!!
  
Mystic Vale: Vale of Magic
Mystic Vale: Vale of Magic
2016 | Card Game, Fantasy, Game Expansion
Vale of Magic is an expansion to Mystic Vale that adds cards that take effect when bought and a stronger focus on guardian cards. Compared to the other expansions it's relatively boring, but the variety is needed for the base game and guardian combos can be powerful.
  
Xanathar's Guide to Everything (Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition)
Xanathar's Guide to Everything (Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition)
2017 | Fantasy, Roleplaying
Expanded spell list is extremely useful (1 more)
Expanded character options add a lot
The names lists are lacking (0 more)
Great addition to 5e
This expansion is a perfect example of how to make an tabletop expansion. It takes the great system that was already established in the PHB and adds multiple extra layers of goodness to the game. The spells list is really great. It has a lot of super unique and versitile spells. Personally I find the names list to be kind of dull and not very impressive, but it's a small nitpick that takes very little away from the overall great quality of the book.
  
Betrayal at House on the Hill
Betrayal at House on the Hill
2004 | Adventure, Exploration, Horror, Miniatures
Many hours of fun (2 more)
game play changes each game
cooperative till the haunt
lengthy (2 more)
lots of pieces
long set of instructions
Great game
this is a great game. We love playing it. Unfortunately it is the kind of game you need to assign a dedicated night to, as when the haunt is triggered the is a lot of time needed for figuring out what you are doing and strategics. Unfortunately, only really playable with 6 players. The expansion adds to the game, as it stops you being stuck in the basement. With the expansion, both official and unofficial, there are almost 200 haunts which can happen
  
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The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) Jul 28, 2018

Nice. Keep them coming and tell me when you do. I have kudos to give

Dice Town: Cowboys
Dice Town: Cowboys
2017 | American West, Dice Game
In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.

This breakdown is for the push-your-luck dice and take-that game Dice Town’s expansion Cowboys.


This expansion adds a new board overlay to placed between Town Hall and Doc Badluck, 21 cow minis, some General Store cards to be shuffled with the base game, 12 Cowboy card, and four Rodeo cards. The Rodeo cards are 10 VP cards that are earned once a player owns a Cowboy card in each suit. Cowboy cards are recruited by the player who rolls the most Aces. They have the choice of recruiting a Cowboy or Stealing Cows (first from the new Prairie Board overlay, but if empty, then from other players). Cowboy cards can offer various abilities to be used or can be saved to earn a Rodeo VP card. Cow minis can be kept in a loose herd in front of the player or can be added on top of a Deed card in order to keep the Deed card and cows from being stolen by other players. If a Deed card shows, for example, a value of 4 then four cows will need to be added to the Deed card. Once the Deed card has its herd of cows upon it, the card is now worth an extra VP. Also at game end the player with the largest herd of cows will earn 10 additional bonus VP. Yee haw!
So here’s the thing: I love Dice Town as is. But adding in this expansion just adds another layer of strategic complexity and increases the enjoyment for me by tons. Having little cows in my play area and using them to graze upon my land deeds is quite satisfying. Being able to sprinkle in some of the Cowboy cards and hopefully earn a Rodeo card as well just boosts the ol’ final score by a significant amount. So the addition of this expansion is all about those VP gainz.

Official recommendation: I think any gamer who owns and enjoys Dice Town should definitely pick up the Cowboys expansion. It adds very important components to the base game and offers more choices for great rolls. And what gamer doesn’t appreciate more choices? This is a definite must-buy for me, but I wouldn’t turn down a chance to play just the base game either.
  
Unmatched: Deadpool Expansion
Unmatched: Deadpool Expansion
2021 | Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures
In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.

This breakdown is for the expansion for the hit game, and Golden Feather Award-winning, Unmatched system entitled Unmatched: Deadpool.

This expansion adds the amazing Marvel character Deadpool to the game system, to expand any standalone set. It ships with a great DP mini, his HP dial, and a deck of 31 hilarious and ridiculous cards. It cannot be played without a base set, and I have used him with both Cobble & Fog as well as the Battle of Legends, Volume 1 sets.


DISCLAIMER: We were provided a prototype copy of this game expansion for the purposes of this review. You are invited to pre-order from the Mondo website or purchase from any retailers stocking it once released. -T
Does this expansion add a lot to the gameplay of original Unmatched? I very much think so. If you have yet to play any version of Unmatched, please do yourself a favor and remedy this at once. When you have played it, come back to finish the review.

What Deadpool lacks in full game components, it sure makes up for in uniqueness of character play. No more will the player need to strategize and synergize throughout the game. In fact, the Deadpool player now has access to so many crazy cards that really break the rules and make him so much harder to overcome. Deadpool has several healing cards in his deck, but also has a special healing ability that triggers every turn he attacks. I suppose now I realize why DP has an HP dial with a max HP of 10. I really do not want to spoil too much about what can be found in the Deadpool deck, but just know there are many chimichangas, many healing, and many rulebreaking possibilities.

Is it absolutely necessary to invest in the Deadpool expansion to enjoy Unmatched? No, but if you are a fan of Marvel or the character, it is a must-buy. However, if you (or the people with whom you play) are prudish sticks in the mud, then totally pass on it. That leaves more for the rest of us.

Official recommendation: I cannot say enough great things about Unmatched and every character I have played with it. Each character is certainly unique, but I will venture to say that you will be hard pressed to find a character even more unique than Deadpool. He offers such hilarity that I want to use him nearly every game. Now, knowing all the cards that come in his deck can tempt his players to manipulate the environment before starting the game, so do take care if you attempt to play AGAINST a Deadpool player. That’s the warning I will give, but I officially (and highly) recommend all fans of Marvel, Deadpool, and the Unmatched system to grab a copy of this small expansion.