Spiel ’13: Expansions I would like to own, but how much do they add to the base game??

Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar – Tribes & Prophecies

In Tribes and Prophecies, each player now becomes the leader of a particular tribe, each of which has a special ability that only that player can use.
With this expansion, the game of Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar is also influenced by three prophecies that are revealed ahead of time and fulfilled when the time is right. These prophecies give players other opportunities to score points, but they can also lose points if they don’t prepare themselves for the prophecy effects. 

This expansion also has new buildings and components that allow up to five players to compete.

Well, I’m not interested in the fifth player, four players are more than enough. Variable player powers, yes, I do like that idea. Most of the time that means variability, a higher replay-value and a more strategic game. 

I’m not sure what to think of the prophecies. A calamity during the day after the Food Day (you have to pay extra corn if you want something for instance) and then a reward (or sometimes punishment) when that day is over. The calamity and the reward always have something to do with each other. So if you are willing to take a ‘risk’, you will be rewarded. I’ll have to see and/or play with the prophecies to know if they are a nice addition to the game. 

Lastly, more buildings. That’s are always nice. If you don’t like them, don’t play with them.

Among the Stars: the Ambassadors

In order to assist in the construction of their space stations, each race has formed a team of ambassadors to visit other space stations in need. These ambassadors are willing to offer their services and strengthen the bonds of the newly-formed alliance.
These ambassadors are introduced in the game with the addition of a fourth action that allows the players to invite them to their station and make them part of their Council. Each ambassador comes with a different ability, based on his race’s strengths and capabilities. However, there is limited space in each player’s Council so they have to choose wisely who they are going to invite.

The Ambassadors expansion contains more than 150 new cards. Apart from the Ambassador cards, it includes more than twenty different new Locations, new Objectives, and a new Alien race.

This expansion looks like it is more of something good. More choices, more paths to victory. The ambassadors themselves are all about timing and watching your opponent (maybe she wants to invite him too), that a nice addition. Again stunning artwork. More objectives, more locations and a whole new race. Nice, nice, nice!

I would have liked more card that can be placed in another players station or cards that interact more with other stations. Something like that.

Mage Knight: the Board Game: Krang Character Expansion

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