# Kemet: Blood and Sand – Book of the Dead ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2021 - **BGG Rating**: 7.5 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 3, 4) - **Duration**: 90-120 min - **Weight**: 3.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Guillaume Montiage, Jacques Bariot - **Artists**: Pascal Quidault, Pierre Santamaria - **Publishers**: Matagot, Conclave Editora, CrowD Games, Delta Vision Publishing, Fox in the Box, Frosted Games, Galakta, Kolossal Games, Korea Boardgames, Maldito Games, Pegasus Spiele, Pendragon Game Studio, Surfin' Meeple China - **Categories**: Ancient, Expansion for Base-game, Fighting, Miniatures, Mythology - **Mechanics**: Action Points, Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Card Play Conflict Resolution, Hand Management, Open Drafting ## Verdict Perfect for those who already love the base game and want more strategic depth with high stakes. The sacrifice system adds a tense 'all or nothing' layer.Devastating and impactful powersVery immersive underworld themeComplex new tactical choicesHigh-quality miniatures and componentsHigh cost in victory pointsIncreases overall game complexityRECOMMENDED ## Description If you thought the war between gods in Kemet: Blood and Sand was already intense, get ready to descend into the underworld. The 'Book of the Dead' expansion brings that touch of forbidden danger that every strategic gamer loves. The premise is simple: you crave power, but this power comes with a steep price. To access the most devastating abilities in the game, you'll need to consult obscure knowledge and make real sacrifices. The heart of this expansion lies in the new power tiles, which are, without exaggeration, some of the strongest in the entire Kemet: Blood and Sand ecosystem. But don't think it's all gain. To summon these forces, you must feed the Beyond by sacrificing your own units. The result? You begin to 'putrefy'. In practical terms, this means losing prestige in the eyes of your opponents and, even worse, giving up precious victory points. It's the classic risk-reward dilemma: are you willing to lose your honor and points now to have an army capable of crushing everything in its path? Among the new additions, you can try to bend the will of the all-knowing Thoth or, if you're really feeling the adrenaline, summon the monstrous Apophis, the embodiment of pure evil dwelling in the depths of the Underworld. It's the perfect choice for those who enjoy combat games where resource management goes beyond the board, requiring you to decide exactly how much of your own glory you're willing to burn in exchange for overwhelming power. If you enjoy the 'high risk, high reward' vibe and want to add layers of strategic and thematic depth to your base game, the Book of the Dead is the way to go. ## How to Play Objective of the Game In Kemet: Blood and Sand – The Book of the Dead, players take on the roles of ancient Egyptian gods using dark powers from the Underworld to dominate the land. By accessing the Emerald Power tiles, players gain formidable abilities but must sacrifice Units and lose Honor Points, which can reduce their Fame Points (FP). The goal is to strategically balance power and corruption to achieve victory through FP accumulation, with the expansion introducing new mechanics like Divinities and Sacrificed Units. Preparation (Setup) To set up the game with The Book of the Dead expansion: Add the Emerald Power tiles to the base game, ensuring they are one of the selected colors during setup. Place the Underworld board next to the Score board. Set each player’s Honor marker on the "9" space of their Honor track. Each player receives: 1 Emerald pyramid top 1 Emerald "Acquire" token Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Flow of the Game The game follows the base rules of Kemet: Blood and Sand, with these additions: Honor Points track corruption: Losing Honor increases Putrefaction level, which may permanently reduce FP. Sacrificed Units are placed on the Underworld board and can be retrieved for a cost. Divinities (Thoth and Apophis) can be summoned using Gold Action tokens and have unique battle rules. Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Actions and How to Play Honor and Putrefaction Each time you lose 1 Honor Point, move your marker right on the Honor track. At 0 Honor, further losses deduct FP. Gaining Honor reverses this. Your Putrefaction level (based on Honor) determines FP loss and limits (e.g., max Worshipers per Divinity). Sacrificing Units Some Emerald Power tiles require sacrificing a Unit: Lose 1 Honor Point. Move 1 Unit from your Troop/supply to the Underworld board. Recruiting Sacrificed Units During Recruit actions, spend 1 PP per Sacrificed Unit to return them to your supply or add them to a Divinity’s Troop (up to your Putrefaction level). Divinities Thoth and Apophis are summoned via Gold Action tokens. They act as Troops with Life Points and Strength but cannot teleport or exceed Worshiper limits. In battle: Worshipers add +1 Strength. Damage is applied to Worshipers first, then the Divinity. Emerald Power Tile Examples Dark Cult: Gain +1 Land move and +1 Strength for tied Troops. Death Ritual: In battle, sacrifice 1 Unit to boost Damage by your Putrefaction level. Putrid Power: Summon Apophis with free Worshipers (based on Putrefaction). End of Game and Scoring The game ends when a player reaches the FP threshold (as per base rules). FP can be lost permanently due to low Honor, but regained by improving Honor. Divinities and Emerald Power tiles provide FP bonuses (e.g., Act of God grants Divine FP). Tips to Win Balance Sacrifice and Honor: Use Emerald Power tiles strategically—overusing sacrifices risks FP loss. Leverage Divinities: Summon Apophis or Thoth early to dominate battles, but manage Worshipers carefully. Timing Matters: Save Gold Action tokens for powerful Summoning effects or late-game FP boosts. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes, this is an expansion. You need Kemet: Blood and Sand to use this new content. ### Does the game become much harder? Complexity increases slightly due to the new sacrifice and putrefaction rules, but nothing a Kemet player can't master quickly. ### Is it worth it for low player counts? Yes, the new abilities work well with any player count, adding new tactical options regardless of the group size. ### What happens when I sacrifice units? You gain absurd powers, but you lose prestige and victory points, making the race for victory riskier. ### How long does a game take with the expansion? Playtime stays in the 90-120 min range, but the depth of decisions can make the game feel more cerebral. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 34.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6964440&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/37232/kemet-blood-and-sand-book-of-the-dead?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com