Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The third expansion to the Game of Thrones Board Game empire brings two things to the base game but still leaves something out. The most important element it leaves out is pieces to play the game with. You are required to have the main Game of Thrones set to play this expansion. For what its worth, the base set is worth having if you are a fan of strategy and military games like Risk and Diplomacy. That said, the things it does bring are fantastic!
Most importantly, this set brings a stand alone board that can be played with the pieces from the main set. The rules for the new board are the same as that of the main set with a few new additions. The board is focused on the riverlands of Westeros (the world the stories and game takes place) during the rainstorms that flooded the region in the novel of the same name. The storm marker changes the travel paths and adds a new dimension to the overall play as players are forced to adapt to routes that may be there one turn and gone the next.
The set introduces one new game mechanic in strategy cards that are selected and played during the opening phase of your turn. Strategy cards have a number of effects that range from one time claims to give you points towards your victory condition, forge alliances, rescue hostages, and more. The addition of strategy cards adds a dimension to the game that forces players to fight. The victory conditions set forth by the cards are often only resolved by some form of conflict (rescue mission, victory point cards, assault, etc).
This set also brings allies (played using the Tyrell pieces since the player set caps at four [Stark, Greyjoy, Lannister, and Barratheon]) to the fold. Alliances can be forged between the mercenaries, Frey, and Arryn by playing certain strategy cards during the opening phase of your turn. The prior set (A Clash of Kings) supplied generals that could take to the field. This set allows the generals to be captured and even executed. Once a general has been sentenced to die, their card is removed from the generals deck, reducing yout opponents combat effectiveness. Players also have the option of negotiating for their release or even staging a rescue mission via specific strategy card.
As with Clash of Kings, this set's components can be added to the base set (execution cards, new generals, alternate wildling deck, etc) in any combination, completely, or not at all. If this review were just on what it brings to the base game, the score would be half of what it is but since it comes with a completely new board game the score is what you see here. I strongly reccommend this set for fans of the game but, for those that have never played the original, you must still start there before playing this one.
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A Storm of Swords is the second expansion to A Game of Thrones: The Board Game!
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