Originally Posted at http://gameswithtwo.blogspot.com/2012/08/expanding-with-exce...
A Critical Look at Expansions - Part 4
When a band first starts out things can be rough. They are trying to find their sound and what works and doesn't work. It usually takes a few years before they hit their stride. They may have a good song here and there, but for the most part it is hit or miss. Then eventually the band gives up on their dream and the band falls into obsecurity or they are never heard from again. However, good band tend to keep getting better and better and better. Their sound progresses and matures. One example of this is The Beatles. Their music was always good, but then it just got better and better. Eventually they reached a point where they had accomplished just about everything and done just about everything that you can do as a band. They eventually called it quits and went their separate ways.
The same can be said about board games. Some games never get past the garage band stage. Others are a smash hit a convention, but then fade into obsecurity. However, there are those games that are just amazing. Then they make an expansion for the game and it becomes that much better. Some games over saturate the market with their expansions, but through all of it their are a couple good ones. Here are a couple of my favorite expansions. I know they are not universal hits, but not everyone cares for The Beatles either.
Pandemic On the Brink
This is one that we have discussed a little bit so far in this series, but it needs some proper exposure. On the Brink, is a box full of goodies and variations on the original game. There are rules for adding an additonal player. You can have someone play with the board. You can up the difficulty by adding another disease (enemy), and finally, there are a slue of new player roles. This is the best part in my opinion. Instead of just a handful of player abilites you know have about 10 different ones to choose from. The next best thing is that you can implement as many or as few of these new rules as you would like. You can add the new rules, add the mutant disease, and have a bio terrorist, or you can simply add a fifth player. The simplisty and complexity of the expansion allows for new players to jump right in, but players who have grown tired of the base game have whole new worlds to explore. On the Brink is a shining example of what a good expansion includes. Lots of extras without adding complexity, unless you want it and you are up for the challenge.
Carcassonne Inns and Cathedrals
I know the Carcassonne expansion market is saturated to the core. Some of them are good and others, not so much. However, their first full expansion was always the best. Inns and Cathedrals gives you pieces to be able to play with six players, and adds a little complexity by giving you some more point options with the bigger meeple and the complete it or lose it point system with the Inns and Cathedrals. I usually throw this one in even when playing with new people. If anything though the game is worth it just to be able to play with six. I know that not everyone will agree and say that Carcassonne is better in that 2-4 player range. However, it's great when you are teaching new people and introducing them to the hobby. Personally, I like just playing this one with Mrs. Games with Two, but it is still fun to break out on a couples night and watch the couples fight each other for cities, roads, and cloisters.
Making a great expansion is a wonderful way to sustain a games popularity and thus sustain sales over a long period of time, but it needs to have a leg to stand on. Otherwise, the audience gets wise to your schemes and will decide to pick up someone else's game or record.
See more at www.gameswithtwo.com
A Critical Look at Expansions - Part 4
When a band first starts out things can be rough. They are trying to find their sound and what works and doesn't work. It usually takes a few years before they hit their stride. They may have a good song here and there, but for the most part it is hit or miss. Then eventually the band gives up on their dream and the band falls into obsecurity or they are never heard from again. However, good band tend to keep getting better and better and better. Their sound progresses and matures. One example of this is The Beatles. Their music was always good, but then it just got better and better. Eventually they reached a point where they had accomplished just about everything and done just about everything that you can do as a band. They eventually called it quits and went their separate ways.
The same can be said about board games. Some games never get past the garage band stage. Others are a smash hit a convention, but then fade into obsecurity. However, there are those games that are just amazing. Then they make an expansion for the game and it becomes that much better. Some games over saturate the market with their expansions, but through all of it their are a couple good ones. Here are a couple of my favorite expansions. I know they are not universal hits, but not everyone cares for The Beatles either.
Pandemic On the Brink
This is one that we have discussed a little bit so far in this series, but it needs some proper exposure. On the Brink, is a box full of goodies and variations on the original game. There are rules for adding an additonal player. You can have someone play with the board. You can up the difficulty by adding another disease (enemy), and finally, there are a slue of new player roles. This is the best part in my opinion. Instead of just a handful of player abilites you know have about 10 different ones to choose from. The next best thing is that you can implement as many or as few of these new rules as you would like. You can add the new rules, add the mutant disease, and have a bio terrorist, or you can simply add a fifth player. The simplisty and complexity of the expansion allows for new players to jump right in, but players who have grown tired of the base game have whole new worlds to explore. On the Brink is a shining example of what a good expansion includes. Lots of extras without adding complexity, unless you want it and you are up for the challenge.
Carcassonne Inns and Cathedrals
I know the Carcassonne expansion market is saturated to the core. Some of them are good and others, not so much. However, their first full expansion was always the best. Inns and Cathedrals gives you pieces to be able to play with six players, and adds a little complexity by giving you some more point options with the bigger meeple and the complete it or lose it point system with the Inns and Cathedrals. I usually throw this one in even when playing with new people. If anything though the game is worth it just to be able to play with six. I know that not everyone will agree and say that Carcassonne is better in that 2-4 player range. However, it's great when you are teaching new people and introducing them to the hobby. Personally, I like just playing this one with Mrs. Games with Two, but it is still fun to break out on a couples night and watch the couples fight each other for cities, roads, and cloisters.
Making a great expansion is a wonderful way to sustain a games popularity and thus sustain sales over a long period of time, but it needs to have a leg to stand on. Otherwise, the audience gets wise to your schemes and will decide to pick up someone else's game or record.
See more at www.gameswithtwo.com