# Barrage: The Leeghwater Project ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2019 - **BGG Rating**: 8.3 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 60-120 min - **Weight**: 4.08 / 5 - **Designers**: Simone Luciani, Tommaso Battista - **Artists**: Antonio De Luca, Mauro Alocci, Roman Roland Kuteynikov - **Publishers**: Cranio Creations, CrowD Games, Delta Vision Publishing, Feuerland Spiele, Galápagos Jogos, Game Harbor, Intrafin Games, Korea Boardgames, Maldito Games, Portal Games, sternenschimmermeer, テンデイズゲームズ (TendaysGames), TLAMA games - **Categories**: Economic, Environmental, Expansion for Base-game, Industry / Manufacturing - **Mechanics**: Action Queue, Network and Route Building, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement ## Verdict Perfect for those who have mastered the base game and crave more strategic layers and customization. The main draw is the added tactical depth.New faction with unique powersRisky and fun sacrifice mechanicPersonal buildings add great asymmetryDeepens the base game experienceIncreases complexity and playtimeRequires full mastery of basic rulesRECOMMENDED ## Description If you thought Barrage was already a brain-burner, get ready, because The Leeghwater Project is here to raise the bar (or rather, the dam)! This expansion isn't just window dressing; it injects strategic layers that fundamentally change how you handle water and construction. First up, we have the addition of the Netherlands faction. Inspired by the expertise of Jan Leeghwater, this faction brings Dutch water management mastery to the table, allowing you to manipulate water flow in ways that will leave your opponents scrambling. The real game-changer, however, is the External Works mechanic. A new action space now allows you to acquire incredibly powerful tiles. But there's a catch: to unlock these powers, you don't just assign your Concrete Mixers and Excavators to the Construction Wheel; you have to 'burn' them. It's a high-stakes gamble: sacrificing a unit for a massive long-term benefit. Is it worth it? That depends on your risk appetite! Furthermore, the expansion introduces Personal Building mechanics. Imagine having a combination of five unique building tiles, each with potent effects that your engineers can activate. This creates a much more personalized and dynamic engine. To tie everything together, the expansion provides two new Executive Officers specifically designed to enhance these new mechanics, along with three Advanced Technology tiles for those who want to push their personal buildings to the limit. Ultimately, The Leeghwater Project turns the struggle for water into an even more intense game of hydraulic chess. If you love optimizing every single move and aren't afraid to sacrifice resources to dominate the board, this expansion is a must-have. It's more depth, more options, and of course, more opportunities to flood your friends' plans. ## How to Play Objective of the Game Barrage: The Leeghwater Project is an expansion for the base game Barrage, adding new strategic elements like private buildings and external works. Players take on the role of entrepreneurs managing hydroelectric power infrastructure, competing to generate the most energy and score the most victory points (VP) by constructing buildings, completing contracts, and optimizing water flow. Preparation (Setup) To set up the game with this expansion: Place the expansion board under the advanced technologies to form a single board. Shuffle the 10 private building tiles, randomly draw 5, and place them on the expansion board. Separate the external works tiles by their backs, shuffle each pile, and place them face down on the expansion board. Add the 2 new scoring tiles to the basic game's tiles and randomly select 5 to use. Shuffle the advanced technology tiles (including 3 new ones), remove one from each pile, and place the rest as per the base game rules. Add the Netherlands company board (if selected) and its orange components. Each player receives their company board extension, 5 building pieces, and a fifth technology tile (Private Building). Consult the manual for details on this section. Game Flow The game follows the base Barrage structure with additional actions: Action Phase: Players take turns placing engineers to perform actions, including building private buildings or completing external works. Production Phase: Players generate energy and fulfill contracts. Income Phase: Players receive income based on their infrastructure. Consult the manual for details on this section. Actions and How to Play Private Buildings Players can construct private buildings by: Placing engineers on their company board and paying the required resources. Each building has two action spaces (cheaper and more expensive), usable once per round. Buildings provide no immediate bonus but grant VP at game end. See Appendix 4 for building effects. External Works To perform external works: Place two engineers on an external works space and pay the required resources (from your supply, not the construction wheel). Immediately take the reward and place the tile face down next to your board. Netherlands Special Ability When producing energy, you may place a water token directly on another dam (not the one used for production). End of Game and Scoring The game ends as per the base rules. Final scoring includes: VP from built private buildings (shown on their tiles). Points from contracts, energy production, and other scoring tiles. The player with the most VP wins. Tips for Winning Prioritize Private Buildings: They offer unique actions and end-game VP. Use External Works Wisely: They provide powerful rewards but permanently remove resources. Leverage the Netherlands' Ability: Optimize water placement for efficient energy production. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes, this is an expansion. You must own Barrage to use this content. ### Does it make the game much harder? The complexity increases slightly due to the sacrifice and personal building mechanics, but an experienced player will pick it up quickly. ### Is the Netherlands faction overpowered? They are strong in water management, but since everyone gets new tools with the expansion, the balance remains intact. ### How much longer do games take? Expect a slight increase in playtime, as there are more action options and decisions to make. ### Who would you recommend this expansion to? To those who love heavy Euro games, tight resource management, and want more variety in their sessions. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 37.87 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3433670&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/30649/barrage-the-leeghwater-project?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com