The game ends when a certain number of rounds have been played or somebody reaches the corruption limit. Collect Tactics: The player collects a number of Tactic tiles equal to the total number of Tactic icons shown on their Earning card row. A player can only collect a total of six at a time. After they collect their Tactics, new Tactic tiles are drawn to bring the total number available for the next player to six. You may also wish to help the Fomori spread, especially to an area occupied by your opponents. One tile is placed in a new area that is directly connected to an existing Fomori encampment. Shields can also be deployed as an action, protecting everyone in that province. Shields must be removed before Fomori can advance and each region has a printed number that is the maximum number of shields that may be placed there.

The game summarized above is considered the “basic game”. An advanced version is also available for those seeking a more complex gaming experience. To play the advanced version, flip the Tribe Leader cards over. Described on the card is an action that only the owning player can take.

Games

Treasure cards can also gift players the most rare and friendliest cat of all. Not only are these rare, Oshax cats larger, they are also used to represent any species of cat. This is super handy when you need a particular colour of cat to add to a family. After the tile is removed, the player immediately earns any noted Honor and Corruption Points on the tile. New boats are included to make this possible along with more fish, more cat tiles, more treasure tiles and a wooden Oshax figure. New Feline Friends The first and probably most important part of this expansion is the fact that it adds in the 5th and 6th players to the game. This is obviously very important if your gaming group exceeds 4. It’s also just really fun to play with more players. In my opinion the game works at all player counts. Ahhh, mythology. I love it. Man did those Greek gods know how to party! And fight. And do a lot of other things that we won’t be discussing in this review. The Roman deities were similar (unsurprisingly given the level of rank plagiarism of their Greek counterparts!) As for Egypt, well they’re almost the originals and are also well represented in board games with Kemet: Blood And Sand. Of course in recent years Norse mythology has been getting a good airing, especially in video games with God Of War, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and God Of War Ragnarok.

This isn’t a huge expansion where game play is significantly altered forever. I for one am glad of that because I enjoy The Isle of Cats as it is. It adds (as well as the additional players) the ability to extend the life of the game play. Keeping things fresh and fun whilst preventing predictability. Once each player has selected and placed an Earning card, the process is repeated three more times, giving each player a chance to select a total of four Earning cards that are placed face-down in front of them. Cards should be placed in a row with the left-most card being the first the player selected followed to the right with the next card and so on. If at any time one of the three piles of Earning cards is exhausted, all of the discarded Earning cards are shuffled with any remaining Earning cards not yet drawn. Then three new piles of roughly the same number of Earning cards is created. Each Player becomes a Tribe Leader trying to gain control over the mythical island of Erin while simultaneously fighting off the relentless demon like Fomori. If the player has no collected Fomori left or is not able to place them (due to not having enough to complete the Spread action in any province), they can pass. The player can then select three resources (Building, Sword, or Shield in any combination) and place them on their Tribe Leader card. Only three resources can be held at a time. These resources can be used by the player during the next round of the game.This adds extra layers of strategy and tactics to the game. Lessons also enforce the opportunity for players to change their initial plans and take risks! Collect Shields: The player collects a number of Shield discs equal to the total number of Shield icons shown on their Earning card row. What’s more, The Isle of Cats is a well-rounded game that both inexperienced and veteran gamers can enjoy. Overall, a very recommendable game bursting with high-quality and fun gameplay!

What is the cause for collecting these cats you ask? The home of the magnificent cats is under threat. The looming evil of Vesh Darkhand is spreading, a familiar enemy to those who have played The City of Kings. Although protecting the island itself is out of your hands, there is still time to save the island’s inhabitants. Cats can also be used to catch the pesky rats aboard the boats, allowing players to avoid minus points. Minus points can also be avoided by efficiently placing the cats into the different rooms on the boat. The less empty rooms on your boat, the less minus points!The players face a dilemma: Do they spread across the island aggressively at the risk of growing more corrupt and strengthening the power of the Fomori, or do they proceed more carefully, potentially losing ground to the Fomori and the other Tribes. Anytime cards have various effects that can be played, anytime. Examples being, draw extra cards, gain extra fish per treasure on your boat, or rescue two cats instead of one. Anytime cards are a fun way to spice up the game. Components

The player takes one of their collected Building discs and places it on the Map creating a new fortified location or strengthening an already claimed location. Players can place a Building disc on a location connected via a “road” that is connected to a previously placed Building token they own. The player can also place a Building token on any available Port space if they have a previously placed Building disc on a Port space, too.There are additional discovery cards that are only used when playing with 5 or 6 players. However, the lesson modules can be used with any number of players. Passing immediately ends the player’s turn for this round. They cannot take a second action or any free actions if their first action was to pass. The value in red indicates the total number of Sword discs that must be spent and returned to the general supply if the player hopes to remove the Fomori (or the Balor’s Castle) from the Map. Removed Fomori are returned to the general supply, but Balor’s Castles are kept by the player who defeated it. When attempting to take out the castle, the player must first remove the Fomori that occupies it. Good game? You bet. Great game? Afraid not. It still did well enough to earn everyone’s respect, from the Child Geeks to the Gamer Geeks and everyone in between. That is, by far, the real story here. The game satisfied everyone who pushed away from the table. Do give it a try when the opportunity presents itself to see if The Arrival leaves you feeling like you have landed on something worthwhile or you eagerly begin looking for the next opportunity to leave.