I am a Lost Ruins of Arnak fan and own the core game as well as the first expansion (Expedition Leaders). This expansion has components to add to standard gameplay, two new expedition leaders, and a six-chapter campaign game that can be played solo or cooperatively with two players. I recently played the first chapter of the campaign with two players, and here are my observations about and experience with this expansion:
Expanding the Standard Game: Use the basic expansion manual to acquaint yourself with what is included and the specific information about the two new expedition leaders. If you just want to use the additional components to give your standard game more rewards and variety, add the 21 new item cards and 13 artifacts cards into your card decks, as well as the 4 new assistants and 8 idols. Also included are four level 1 and one level 2 excavation sites and three guardians, which should only be used in the standard (not campaign) game. There is a new two-sided research board that is used in the campaign but can also be used in a standard game. If you have played with the first expansion (Expedition Leaders), you are already acquainted with how they work, and any of those leaders can be played in the campaign.
The Campaign: Start with the dedicated campaign manual for specific setups for each campaign. There is a deck of cards in chapter order that contains the cards used for each chapter. The main goal of each story/chapter is to complete the mission to win that chapter’s goal and record a score. Although it is your choice to go to the next chapter with a loss, no points are awarded for losses. Besides the main goal, each chapter includes achievements that furnish new cards to be used in the campaign. When exploring sites, encounter cards give players a choice between an immediate reward or a reward to use in the future as well as a symbol for these rewards (hearts, paw prints, coins, etc.), which are marked off on “story paths” on your campaign score sheet. As symbols are marked off, plot points are reached that furnish additional points and card rewards.
In playing the first chapter of this campaign, I was able to quickly integrate the new goal/rewards structure and how they work with the mechanics of the standard game. Chapter overview cards are kept handy to help remind you of the main mission goal and other achievements, such as how they are earned and what the rewards are. I love the flexibility of this expansion to bring new resources and tools into the standard game and easily switch between standard and campaign modes. I also like the tie-in with the first expansion (Expedition Leaders) with expanding choices for leaders in both the campaign and standard game. The new research track is used in some campaign chapters and can be used in the original game. There is so much adventure in this little box, and I hope to continue this campaign as time allows.
Please see the links on this page to the game manuals for more details. The core game of Lost Ruins of Arnak is required to play this expansion, and I recommend several plays of the standard game before adding any expansion. For 1-4 players (standard game) or 1-2 players (campaign mode). Each campaign chapter plays in 30+ minutes depending on whether solo or co-op and the experience levels of players. Requires Lost Ruins of Arnak core game to play. ~ Marsha