# Awaken the Ancients: Blight and Bother

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2024
- **BGG Rating**: 5.8
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1 (Best with: 1)
- **Duration**: 15-30 min
- **Weight**: 1.00 / 5
- **Designers**: Gregg Jewell
- **Publishers**: (Web published)
- **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Print & Play
- **Mechanics**: Mancala

## Verdict
Fans of light or intense challenges will love this expansion that adds new creatures and strategies to the forest.Variety of enemiesDifficulty customizationMancala mechanicPrint & Play formatDifficulty can increaseRequires printing componentsHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
In 2024, the expansion *Awaken the Ancients: Blight and Bother* injects new life into the serene forest of the base game. If you’re already familiar with the challenge of performing awakening rituals, get ready: *Blightbloom* flowers begin to sprout, making seed collection more difficult. Seed Stalkers scurry around, trying to snatch essential grains, while Thornweavers block paths with sharp thorns. To keep things balanced, a loyal Sentinel Owl has been called to patrol the area, helping contain the smaller creatures. As the Grove Warden, your goal remains the same: protect the harmony of the environment and ensure the rituals are successfully completed. The expansion offers flexibility: you can choose to play with just one of the new creatures or combine all of them, adjusting the difficulty. Additionally, you can vary the number of *Blightbloom* in play or use only one Seed Stalker or Thornweaver instead of two. This customization lets you craft gameplay experiences that match your style, whether you’re seeking a lighter challenge or an intense battle. The design keeps the *Mancala* mechanic at its core, where counting and distributing pieces is central, but now with an added layer of visitor management and natural obstacles. The expansion also fits the *Print & Play* format, allowing you to print and assemble components at home, which makes experimentation easy without investing in physical pieces. In short, *Awaken the Ancients: Blight and Bother* is a fun addition that expands the forest narrative, introduces new strategies, and offers a customizable gameplay experience for fans of challenge and personalization.

## FAQ
### How many players can participate in the expansion?
The expansion is designed for 1 player, maintaining the solo experience of the base game.

### What is the average playtime with the expansion?
Playtime ranges from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the chosen creature combination and difficulty level.

### Does the expansion increase the game difficulty? How?
Yes, adding *Blightbloom*, *Seed Stalkers*, and *Thornweavers* creates more obstacles and collection challenges, demanding greater strategy and planning.

### What components are included in the expansion?
The expansion includes *Blightbloom* pieces, *Seed Stalkers* and *Thornweavers* cards, and print‑and‑play assembly instructions.

### Who is the expansion best suited for?
It’s ideal for players who enjoy resource management challenges and want to customize their gameplay experience.

### How does the gameplay mode work with the new creatures?
Each creature has a specific behavior: *Blightbloom* blocks areas, *Seed Stalkers* steal seeds, and *Thornweavers* block paths. You use the Sentinel Owl to patrol and mitigate these effects.

### Can I use only one of the new creatures?
Yes, the expansion allows you to play with just one or combine all, adjusting difficulty to your preference.