(I assume that readers of this review already know how to play Memoir '44)
This review will be short, simply because the expansion Memoir '44: Winter/Desert Board (Days of Wonder, 2005 - Richard Borg) is simply a new board for the game.
Now, that's not saying anything negative about the board; it's a beautiful double-sided game board, of the same quality as the original Memoir board, with a sandy desert on one side, and a wintry plain on the other. The artwork is excellent; it's not simply just a large desert - but you can see small skeletons, etc., adding a bit of "flavor" to the overall picture.
Buying this board almost requires a player to get the Eastern Front expansion (winter terrain tiles) and/or the Terrain Pack expansion (desert tiles). I mean - you were going to do that anyway, right? I think the reason Days of Wonder packaged them separately was so that players who didn't want a new board could simply use the original one. But for aesthetic reasons, I think it's worth it to get the new board - especially since it looks so good.
The game also includes some simplified campaign rules, which allow players to string several battles together into a larger campaign. These are nice but simplistic (as the name implies). I would use them if I wanted to play a larger campaign, but one of the reasons I like Memoir is the fact that I can simply pick it up and play any battle I choose, and have it end in an hour or so. Blitz rules (also in expansion # 2) are also included, to make the Axis tanks a little more powerful; and these rules are used in many of the scenarios.
Bottom line? If you want a beautiful winter/desert board, then get this expansion. It's that simple.
Tom Vasel
"Real men play board games"
www.tomvasel.com
