Imperial Settlers: Atlanteans

If you're already a fan of Imperial Settlers, the Atlanteans expansion provides the perfect upgrade for your empire. First off, it solves the 'more players' dilemma, increasing the player count to up to five. But the real star of the show is the new faction: the Atlanteans. They don't play by the usual rules; while everyone else is stacking buildings to score, the Atlanteans face the irony that their constructions sink at the end of the game. That means: zero points for buildings at the finish line! This forces players to find creative and alternative ways to score, making the gameplay much more dynamic.

Beyond the new faction, the expansion introduces the Technology concept. These technology tokens act as keys that unlock special abilities on faction cards, transforming ordinary buildings into powerful allies. And don't think this is just for the Atlanteans; the expansion includes new cards for all original factions, allowing them to also benefit from some of this technological knowledge, albeit in a more limited way. It's as if the other civilizations are trying to 'hack' Atlantean tech to improve their own settlements.

Ultimately, Atlanteans isn't just 'more cards,' but a layer of strategic complexity that shifts the game's economy and how you plan your victory. If you enjoy varying your strategy every game and want to see how ancient technology can change the course of war, this expansion is the way to go. Just remember that, as with any expansion, you'll need the base game to set up the table and start ruling.