Dark Venture: Battle of the Ancients – Beasts and Eggmen

Gilded Skull Games · Board game · 2022
— Ludopedia 7.8 BGG 1–6 Solo 20–120 min
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— rating Ludopedia
7.8 rating BGG
Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS

If you love expanding your games with more factions and challenges, this Dark Venture expansion is for you! It adds units with unique mechanics and a game-changing merchant.

Highlights
  • New factions with unique abilities
  • Merchant adds extra strategy
  • More scenarios and replayability
  • Quality thematic components
Keep in mind
  • Requires the base game
  • Can increase complexity
  • Unit draw can be frustrating
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready to expand the battlefield of Dark Venture: Battle of the Ancients with the new BEAST and EGGMEN factions! This expansion introduces wild creatures and psychically linked soldiers, each with their own tactics and challenges. The BEASTS are an unpredictable bunch, with powerful units whose strength and defense attributes fluctuate with each combat. They are limited in number on the map, and their units are drawn from a special bag, adding an element of surprise to every play. Meanwhile, the EGGMEN come in 'formations,' moving in groups and led by a Wizard capable of casting devastating spells and supporting their allies. To top it off, the wandering merchant Darvin arrives with magical items, skills, and powerful mercenaries, accepting victory points and traded items as payment. The expansion also includes auto-enemy decks for the new factions, new map boards featuring castles and turrets, a scenario book with a branching, replayable adventure, and more item and action cards. It's your chance to give your battles a complete overhaul and face new dangers in an action-packed science fiction universe!

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–6 players
1 OK
2 OK
3 OK
4 OK
5 OK
6 OK

Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Publisher Gilded Skull Games
Designer Rob Lemon
Artist Rob Lemon

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

260owners
15wishlist
12want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
Do I need the base game 'Dark Venture: Battle of the Ancients' to play?
Yes, absolutely! This is an expansion, so the base game is essential to use the new factions and components.
How many players does this expansion support?
The expansion maintains the player count of the base game, which is for 1 to 6 players.
Are the new factions very difficult to control?
Each faction has its own quirks. The Beasts are more volatile and focused on powerful units, while the Eggmen excel in group movement and magic. Both add an interesting level of challenge, but they aren't prohibitive.
What exactly does the merchant Darvin do?
Darvin is a neutral character who sells magical items, skills, and even mercenaries to any player. He accepts Victory Points and items as payment, which can create very interesting strategies.
Does the expansion add many new rules?
It introduces the specific rules for the Beast and Eggmen factions, as well as how the merchant works and the new scenarios. The core gameplay remains, but there's an added layer of complexity to learn.
Is it worth it for those who already own the base game?
If you enjoy varying your games, trying new strategies, and like science fiction and combat themes, then yes! The new factions bring a welcome freshness.

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