But, as we said, the added-complication levels are kept blissfully minimal, so unlike Root, it does not feel like each player must master their own game-within-a-game.Įverything is complementary to the experience, clicking neatly into the existing mechanisms while remaining sensitive to the central theme. To some degree, this introduces the asymmetry of a game like Root for example, the Explorer has echoes of Root’s Vagabond, being a single character who darts around the board on her own (her moves fuelled by snack tokens). Now, instead of simply choosing a colour and starting with the same hand as all the other players, you can choose one of six characters, who come with their own, unique starting hand, along with a distinctive player board and a special ability that involves its own components. Well, as the title suggests, Expedition Leaders addresses that (little) criticism. Each player simply chose a colour, and it was left to their imagination to fill in the blanks of who exactly those fedora-hatted meeples represented, and what was driving themq to risk life and limb on a monster-infested isle. But if we had a criticism, just a small one, it would be that, for all its colourful and impressive illustration, it lacked a little character. A competitive adventure game of mysterious island exploration that channelled Jules Verne and Indiana Jones, it blended worker placement and deckbuilding so smoothly and intuitively that it played like a dream. ![]() Min and Elwin’s Lost Ruins of Arnak was a major hit that has deserved every ounce of love and appreciation sent its way, including its Kennerspiel des Jahres nomination earlier this year. Expedition Leaders is, thankfully, just such an expansion. But every now and again, an expansion comes along that hits the sweet spot in the middle, neither feeling like it’s plugging a deliberately left hole, nor creating unwanted extra crunch. Others can feel superfluous, or like they’re adding unnecessary complication to a rule set you’ve happily got your head around. Some feel like they’re offering content that should have been in the base game and only exist to burn a hole in your pocket. ![]() ![]() Game expansions are always a tricky prospect. Pick up the latest issue of the UK's fastest-growing gaming magazine in print or digital here or subscribe to make sure you never miss another issue. This article originally appeared in issue 62 of Tabletop Gaming.
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