(This review assumes that you already know how to play Warriors)
If you've read my review of Warriors, you'll know that I detest the game, because it's a mixture of random combat and random set collection which equals a random mess. I hoped that Dragon Hordes: Warriors Expansion # 1 (Face 2 Face Games, 2005 - Richard Borg and Alan Moon) would fix the problems and make the game more enjoyable. Sadly, however, the expansion, while adding some interesting elements, simply didn't do anything for the game - putting a heavy emphasis on dragons, and that's about it.
Some comments on the game…
1.) Dragons: The biggest change to the game was the addition of fifteen dragon cards, twenty flame cards, and sixteen more attack cards (eight of them dragon-only attacks, the other eight mercenary or dragon attacks). Each dragon that a player puts in their forces counts as a separate nation. Flame cards are placed with dragons and act as sort of "hit points." Dragons always roll two dice when attacking and defending, and add one to both die rolls. Dragons can attack pretty much anyone and can be attacked by anyone. When a Dragon is "hit", they lose one flame card; if they have no flame cards, the dragon is destroyed.
2.) Powerful dragons: Dragons are more powerful than anything else in the game, which is good and bad. The good outlook is that now players have something that they can attack other players' powerful armies with. The bad news (in my opinion) is that Dragons can wreak havoc and not much can stop them. I don't know what the point of setting up large, balanced armies is, when the opponent can come sweeping in with dragons, decimating your forces. Yes, most dragon attacks happen after the regular attacks, but the only reason to attack a dragon is to keep it from attacking you, which isn't much of a reason. Dragon flames aren't worth any victory points, so attacking a dragon "might" get you two victory points.
3.) Dragon points: Whoever has the most dragons at the end of the game gets twelve points. This is interesting, but usually has the effect of all players getting in a dragon race. You can try to avoid this "nuclear arms" race by not placing dragons; but there are so many in the deck, and they are so powerful I don't know how one can successfully avoid using them. In every game I've played, the player with the most dragons won the game.
4.) Catapults: Four more catapults are added in this version, and catapults can also take down dragons! However, they can only hit on a "6"; but upon hitting, they totally destroy the dragon, regardless of flames. Take a wild guess of what all the catapults in the game target? If you said dragons, you win!
5.) Attacks: One of my main complaints about Warriors was that there were very few attacks, thus rendering the main feature of the game fairly useless. Dragon Hordes fixes this to a degree, adding more attack cards. However, the new attack cards are mostly dragon attacks with some mercenary attacks, which are useless in my opinion.
6.) Focus: The main difference that Dragon Hordes adds to the game is dragons - surprising, huh? But instead of adding a major element to the game, Dragon Hordes makes dragons the focus of the game - and so much the focus that there isn't really much point to doing anything with the armies any more. Any army that looks powerful is going to be attacked by dragons - so why try? Hooray, dragons were added and overpowered everything else in the game!
7.) Players: Now that more cards are added to the game, up to six players can play the game. Also, players get more cards in a four player game - which is nicer, I'll admit, as it gives them more options. A six player game is awful, though, especially if you get no attack cards and watch as everyone uses their dragons to destroy your nations.
I don't like the basic game, and I don't like the expansion. I think they have the kernel of good ideas in them, but it isn't realized. The Dragon Horde expansion might satisfy those for whom attacking with dragons is a desired trait in game. For me, however, the game with an expansion just didn't do anything, not enough to play again. If you like the original, then you might like the expansion; but be warned, it changes the balance of power in the game (towards dragons) drastically.
Tom Vasel
"Real men play board games."
www.tomvasel.com
