Top 10 Expansions We Own: #2

It’s the game that I describe as D&D meets Dominion.  Well, now with the Numenera universe combined, there’s more RPG aspects than ever mixed into Thunderstone.  Coming in on our #2 spot is Thunderstone Advance: Numenera.  Anyone who plays Thunderstone knows that even though there are standalone versions, nearly every version released is interwoven in such a way that you can utilize the cards with each release of the game.  Thunderstone Numenera follows this same concept.  It is a standalone game, but it is also an expansion.  As far as the Thunderstone series goes, this is a very different approach in a way that no other Thunderstone game has been implemented.  Like all of it’s predecessors, it still maintains a fantasy theme, but now with the implementation of the Numenera universe, we’re combining a lot more science fiction and technology into Thunderstone.

Top 10 Expansions We Own: #4

Everyone loves that tantalizing sound of money in their hands.  Realizing that you’ve prospered from those days when you toiled in the fields wearing your straw hat just struggling to make ends meet.  Now, after years of hard work, you’ve risen to great heights and you’re moving forward to conquer a world that you once feared, but now envy’s you.  Coming in at our number 4 expansion is Dominion: Prosperity.  This is the 4th expansion to the deck-building game, Dominion.  It adds 25 new Kingdom cards to the game, plus 1 new base Treasure card, and 1 new Victory Point card, both of which allow you to build above Gold and Province.  Your central theme is wealth.  There are treasures with abilities, cards that interact with treasures, and powerful expensive cards.  Read on to see more. 

Top 10 Expansions We Own: #6

The newly discovered outer worlds, with their rich, untapped resources, are tempting targets for those seeking to expand their power.  Now, the scramble for control of these unclaimed territories begins.  Will you outwit your opponents and claim victory in the Colony Wars, or fail and see your Star Realm lost?  Coming in at #6 is Star Realms: Colony Wars.  Everyone that knows about this game, understands that the expansions are typically small, including 12 new cards in each expansion.  Colony Wars is a full standalone/expansion for Star Realms and this is one of the primary reasons we have placed it in our number 6 spot.  There are a lot more cards in this expansion so read on to get a brief rundown on the game.

Chain of Ghouls

 

For this weeks segment we’re battling against vampires and lycans in order to survive the night in the grisly deck-building game known as Nightfall.  Have you ever seen 30 Days of Night, or Underworld?  This game is a collaboration of those two films.  The vampires look very similar to the ones in 30 Days of Night, and the game actually takes place over the course of a couple weeks in darkness so that’s fitting with consideration to the film.  If you’ve ever seen Underworld you know that it’s all about vampires versus werewolves which is also the case in this game.  In this deck-builder you and your opponent/s will face off to attack each other giving as many wounds to each other as possible.  Once by the end of the game, whoever has the least amount of wounds is declared the strongest player and the winner.  The howling werewolves and the shrill screaming vampires echo over the land.  Venture forward and read about this horrific deck building game of survival through the night. 

Ales & Vales

Today we return to Heady Hollow Brewing Company in Fishers to review the 2 - 4 player card crafting game known as Mystic Vale.  Claire enjoyed the New Day South Cider and I had my usual 60 Horses Scotch Ale, both of which we highly recommend.  Before we played Mystic Vale, we had never heard of the Card Crafting mechanic before.  This game introduced us to a whole new approach of card games.  The idea of card-in-hand modification had never entered my mind before.  Through the use of clear plastic sleeves, you can place other transparent cards within cards to stack abilities.  Even though we already reviewed this game in our Gen Con segment, we take a closer look now at how the game is laid out and executed.  Follow us into the land of Gaia as we forge our strengths to heal and restore the land.

Boards & Brews at Home: Marvel Legendary

For today’s at home segment, we find ourselves playing the ever popular Marvel Legendary while drinking our favorite adult beverage, Man o’ War.  For those that are unaware of this drink, it contains bourbon, cointreau, sweet vermouth, and lemon juice.  We used Crown Royal Reserve in place of the bourbon, and typically use lime juice in place of the lemon, but either way, it makes for a powerful, citrusy cocktail that ended up being very fitting for this weeks game.  This 1 - 5 player, cooperative deck-building game is one of the greats, so read on to learn more.

Don't Flip Your Lid

On this spring day we find ourselves returning to Sure Shot Coffee in downtown Fishers.  They have expanded their menu to include a variety of delicious loose leaf tea, served in nifty self-flitering cups. While the tables are small, this is a great place to relax with a great drink and your favorite small box game. This week, we brought the 1-4 player microdeckbuilder, Flip City.  Since the cards are double-sided, it takes up far less space than a traditional deck-builder, but still offers good variety in the game play. 

Boards & Brews at Home: L.O.T.R. The Deck-Building Game

Today's at home segment is a review that even non-tabletop gamers can still relate to.  Lord of the Rings the deck-building game is a 2 - 5 player deck-building game which integrates strategy and an easy-to-understand approach to deck-builders.  While I am a big fan of Lord of the Rings, my appreciation can't hold a candle to the level of Claire's admiration that she has always had for this fantasy world of mystic and wonder.  For today we are just covering The Fellowship of the Ring, but would be willing to discuss the other versions in the comments section if you want to learn about the other versions.  If you're looking for a more straight forward and easily executed fantasy deck-building game, you should read on.

Boards & Brews at Home: Thunderstone

Today for Boards and Brews it has been one month since our first at home segment, which means it’s time for our next at home segment.  Tonight we played a more advanced deck builder, Thunderstone.  Claire and I really love this game and understandably so.  The best way to describe Thunderstone is D&D meets Dominion.  For our previous at home segment we did it on Dominion and it’s crazy how much this game is like Dominion.  We don’t own as many expansions of Thunderstone because it seems Dominion has always been the bigger hit within most gaming groups.  This segment will just be us playing the original base game of Thunderstone.  

Boards & Brews at Home: Dominion

This is the first segment we are doing at home.  The idea behind doing this is that it's easier to play and review big box games from home.  Typically we play smaller games in public places for the convenience and security of limited components.  However, the segments at home will allow us to demonstrate our larger games for the blog.  For this first segment at home we're playing the deck-building game that started it all known as Dominion.  

Sci-Fi Sunday at Noble Coffee & Tea

Today on Boards & Brews, Claire and I prepare for our first official review!  We've made it a Sci-Fi Sunday and played Star Realms.  Star Realms is a fast-paced, in-depth, yet easy to learn Sci-Fi deck building game.  As usual, our location was the delightful Noble Coffee & Tea in downtown Noblesville.  The game is based around three primary resources, health, damage and currency which in this game are referred to as authority, combat, and trade.  The end goal in this game is that you are attempting to reduce your opponents authority points to zero.  Trust me, you'll want to read more to learn about this game and prepare for awesomeness...