At the Helm: Port Amalga

If you're already sailing with At the Helm, get ready for a strategic pit stop at Port Amalga! This tiny but mighty expansion brings only three cards, but it shifts the dynamics of how you prepare for your expeditions. The highlight here is the introduction of the Location card, which stays beside your play area, acting as a support hub that can provide valuable bonuses or, perhaps, introduce unexpected complications to your voyage.

Port Amalga serves as that necessary breather between trips. It's the perfect spot to relax, sell off your fouled gear, and organize the logistics for your next adventure. Additionally, the expansion introduces the Shipyard mechanic. If you need something specific, you can purchase cards from the Shipyard for 2 gold coins. If funds are tight, there's an alternative: you can discard a card from your hand and pay only 1 gold coin to get what you need.

It's the perfect dose of extra complexity for those who feel they've mastered the base game and want new layers of decision-making. Typical of Button Shy, efficiency is the name of the game: very little material, but plenty of strategy. Remember that, due to the compact nature of the game, resource management becomes even more critical, as every gold coin spent at the port is one less resource to face the dangers of the ocean. If you enjoy the feeling of progression and want to optimize your crew before setting sail, Port Amalga is a mandatory stop for your ship.