# Merlin: Queenie 1 – Treasures of the Environs ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2017 - **BGG Rating**: 7.6 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 75 min - **Weight**: 3.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Michael Rieneck, Stefan Feld - **Artists**: Dennis Lohausen - **Publishers**: Calamity Games, Queen Games - **Categories**: Dice, Expansion for Base-game, Medieval - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Dice Rolling, Roll / Spin and Move, Set Collection, Worker Placement ## Verdict If you enjoy Merlin and want to add an extra strategic touch to your games, this mini-expansion is a cool addition! It brings more options without overcomplicating things.New tactical actions on tilesExpands base game strategySmooth and easy integrationQuality componentsRequires the base game MerlinSmall addition, doesn't change everythingFOR GENRE FANS ## Description Hey there, board game enthusiasts! I've got a little something for those of you who already enjoy Merlin and are looking to add a bit more spice to your game nights: Queen Games released the 'Treasures of the Environs' mini-expansion, which originally came from Kickstarter. Check this out: it replaces the 15 terrain tiles without a tower from the base game with new cards, each featuring a special action you can use when you build a manor there. It's like finding a secret shortcut on the map! This expansion adds an extra layer of strategy without overcomplicating things, you know? You'll need to think carefully about where to place your manors to make the most of these new actions. It's a great addition for those who feel Merlin base is already on point and want more tactical options. The components are high quality, as usual, and integrating it with the main game is super smooth. If you enjoy Merlin and like having more choices to plan your strategy, this expansion is for you. It doesn't turn the game upside down, but it adds that little touch that makes a difference in your games, bringing more variety and scoring opportunities. It's one of those worthwhile upgrades for players who want to explore all facets of this cool medieval game. ## How to Play Objective of the Game In Merlin: Queenie 1 - Treasures of the Environs, players are trying to gain advantages by building manors on new terrain tiles. The Queenie integrates with the basic game of Merlin, and its rules remain unchanged except as described in this supplement. The ultimate goal is to earn victory points, which are detailed in the basic game rules, with additional scoring opportunities provided by the Queenie. Preparation (Setup) To set up Merlin: Queenie 1 - Treasures of the Environs, follow these steps: Before starting the basic game setup, take all terrain tiles without a tower from the basic game and place them back into the box. Replace these tiles with the 15 new terrain tiles from this Queenie. These include 5x mountain, 5x wood, and 5x lake tiles. Place the 2 Neutral Merlin’s Staffs next to the assembled environs. The rest of the game setup follows the rules of the basic game. Flow of the Game The flow of the game remains largely unchanged from the basic game of Merlin. The new rules introduced by Queenie 1 primarily affect actions taken when building manors on the new terrain tiles. Players will continue to take turns as described in the basic game rules. Actions and How to Play The core gameplay actions are from the basic game. However, every time a player builds a manor on one of the new terrain tiles from this Queenie, they can use a special action granted by that tile. Here are the explanations of the different special actions: Excalibur: The player takes Excalibur, either from the game board or from a player that currently possesses it, and places it near their castle board. They then choose and discard one of their traitors. Holy Grail: The player takes the Holy Grail, either from the game board or from a player that currently possesses it, and places it near their castle board. They then take an apple token from the supply. Victory Point & Apple: The player immediately gains the victory points depicted on the tile, and takes an apple from the supply, placing it on their castle board. Influence: The player chooses one principality where they have at least one influence counter, and takes from it the two rewards depicted on the terrain tile. Example: The red player builds a manor on the influence terrain tile and decides to get the construction material and the shield from the black principality. Discard: Each other player must choose and discard one of the items shown on the terrain tile. Shields, flags, and building materials are returned to the appropriate space on the game board. Influence counters are returned from the game board to the players’ castle boards. If a player doesn’t currently have any of the depicted items, they are not required to discard anything. Example: The red player builds a manor on the discard terrain tile, forcing the other players to discard their choice of a flag or a shield. The yellow player discards a shield, the green player a flag. The blue player does not have a flag or a shield, so he discards nothing. Merlin staff: The player takes one of the neutral Merlin’s staffs and places it on their castle board. This staff can be used like the normal Merlin’s staffs. End of Game and Pontuação The end of the game is triggered and scored according to the rules of the basic game. However, Merlin: Queenie 1 - Treasures of the Environs introduces an additional scoring criterion: Each unused Neutral Merlin’s Staff is worth 2 victory points at the end of the game. All other scoring criteria are determined by the basic game rules. Dicas para Vencer Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game Merlin to play this expansion? Absolutely! This is a mini-expansion that replaces components from the base game, so you need to own the original Merlin to use it. ### Does this expansion add many new rules? No, the expansion is quite straightforward. It replaces the tower-less terrains with ones that have special actions, adding another layer of tactical decision-making without introducing a lot of new rules. ### What is the impact of this expansion on game time? The impact is minimal. The expansion adds a bit more depth to choices, but the game time remains very close to the base game, perhaps just slightly longer depending on your analysis of the new actions. ### Is this an expansion that radically changes the game? No, it's a mini-expansion. The focus is on providing more variety and tactical options, enhancing the Merlin experience without altering its core. ### Who is this expansion recommended for? It's ideal for players who already enjoy Merlin and want to explore more strategic possibilities, adding a bit more complexity and variety to their games. ### How many players does this expansion support? The expansion maintains the same player count as the base game, which is for 2 to 4 players.