# Caverna: The Forgotten Folk ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2018 - **BGG Rating**: 8.2 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-7 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 30-210 min - **Weight**: 3.79 / 5 - **Designers**: Alex Wilber, Uwe Rosenberg - **Artists**: Javier González Cava, Klemens Franz - **Publishers**: Lookout Games, Galápagos Jogos, Hobby Japan, Korea Boardgames, Lacerta - **Categories**: Animals, Economic, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy, Farming - **Mechanics**: Tile Placement, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement ## Verdict A must-have for base game owners looking to boost strategic variety. The asymmetry changes everything!Huge variety with eight racesAsymmetry refreshes every sessionNew resources add depthSeamless integration with base gameRequires base game to playIncreases analysis complexityHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Ever played that game where you manage your own cave, plant crops, and raise animals, but felt like everyone was doing the exact same thing? Well, Caverna: The Forgotten Folk is here to break that monotony. The most curious part is that this expansion started as a fan project on BoardGameGeek that was so well-received that Lookout Games and Uwe Rosenberg himself decided to officialize it and release it for everyone. The core idea is simple but completely shifts the dynamic: instead of everyone playing as dwarves, you can now choose from eight different species. We've got elves, trolls, dark elves, and several other races, each with its own 'vibe'. This means you'll have exclusive advantages and, in some cases, even disadvantages that force you to rethink your strategy. Some species even introduce brand new resources to the table, adding layers of complexity that weren't present in the base game. But it's not just about who you are. Each race comes with four unique rooms. These rooms replace some of the original ones, creating an interesting interaction: depending on which race is in the game, other players might end up benefiting from these special room powers. It's the kind of expansion that doesn't rewrite the basic rules but expands the tactical possibilities, making every session unique. If you already enjoy the tight management of Caverna, this addition brings the variety needed for repetitive sessions, turning the competition into something much more strategic and diverse. It's your chance to stop being just another miner and become a master of underground farming with the race that best fits your playstyle. ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Caverna: The Forgotten Peoples, players control different peoples (such as dwarves, goblins, or dark elves) competing for limited resources to build their communities. The objective is to develop your civilization, explore territories, and accumulate victory points (VP) through construction, farming, and other strategic actions. The game ends after a specific number of rounds (consult the manual for details on this section), and the player with the most VP wins. Setup Consult the manual for details on this section. The provided context does not describe the complete setup, but mentions components such as: 8 People Boards (each with unique abilities) 32 Furniture Pieces (replacing base game pieces) Mushroom, Jewel-Fruit, and Goblin Tokens Additional Gold Coins Gameplay Flow The game is divided into rounds with specific phases (consult the manual for the complete structure). Some mentioned elements include: Worker/Goblin Allocation: Goblins are allocated after the other players, in increasing order of weapon strength. Harvest Phase: Occurs at the start of each harvest, with specific effects for some peoples. Expeditions: Some peoples have access to alternative loot items. Actions and How to Play Each people has exclusive actions. Here are some highlighted in the context: Goblin Actions Lazy: They allocate last, based on weapon strength. Clumsy: When taking cumulative goods, they return 1 good to the reserve. Incompetent: Weapons cost +2 ore (e.g., 3 ore = strength 1). Goblin Housing: Costs 2 wood + 1 stone; the Goblin counts as an adult person. Dark Elf Actions Limited to a total of 6 People. Deep Mines: Gain 1 ruby when placing a mine in a normal tunnel. Do not score VP for housing in the scoring. General Actions Mushroom Farming: Only in empty caverns. Piece Projection: Some peoples gain goods by placing pieces "outside" the board. End of Game and Scoring The game ends after a defined number of rounds (consult the manual). In the point count: Some peoples ignore penalties for unused spaces (e.g., Disinterest in Nature). Dark Elves do not score VP for housing. Goblins suffer specific restrictions in weapon manufacturing. The player with the most VP wins. In case of a tie, consult the manual. Tips for Winning Explore your people's unique abilities: For example, Goblins can expand quickly with cheap housing, while Dark Elves focus on ruby mining. Manage resources carefully: Goblins must plan for the extra cost of weapons, and peoples with Master Crafters can substitute wood for stone/ore. Take advantage of piece projections: Peoples like Mountain Dwarves gain gold when placing pieces outside the mountain. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes, this is an expansion. You need Caverna to use these new folk. ### Does the game become much harder? The basic complexity is the same, but analysis increases because each race plays differently. ### How many new races are included? There are eight different species, including elves and trolls. ### Does this significantly change the game time? Not drastically, but the planning phase might take a bit longer due to the new powers. ### Who do you recommend this expansion for? For those who have mastered Caverna and want more variety and strategic depth. ### Are the races balanced? Yes, each race has its own pros and cons to keep the competition fair. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 23.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6922528&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 29.05 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1311337&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 31.78 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2092577&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 31.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4885627&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 31.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4807315&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 31.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1161164&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 32.98 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3916693&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 34.16 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1434191&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 35.31 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6719536&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 35.66 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6075796&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/26020/caverna-the-forgotten-folk?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com