# Niagara: Diamond Joe ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2005 - **BGG Rating**: 6.3 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 3-5 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 45 min - **Weight**: 1.77 / 5 - **Designers**: Thomas Liesching - **Artists**: Victor Boden - **Publishers**: Rio Grande Games, Zoch Verlag - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Exploration - **Mechanics**: Set Collection, Simultaneous Action Selection ## Verdict Enjoyed Niagara and want more? This Diamond Joe expansion adds a shrewd trader who might give you that missing gem, but watch out for those trades!More interaction and bargainingHarder-to-reach gemsSmall yet impactful expansionKeeps game simplicityNegotiations can be unfairRelies on Joe's luckFOR GENRE FANS ## Description Get ready to ride the Niagara river with an extra dose of excitement and business opportunities! Niagara: Diamond Joe is an expansion that introduces a new character to stir things up: Diamond Joe. He's not just any boatman; he's a shrewd negotiator who cruises down the river, often carrying those harder-to-reach gems – the ones you've been eyeing from afar. And the best part? He's willing to trade with you! Just don't expect him to be fair. Diamond Joe might make offers that seem too good to be true (for him, of course), but who are we to judge a good deal, right? This expansion comes in a charming little cotton bag, along with the rules and the boat Joe uses for his travels. If you already enjoy the hustle of Niagara and want to add an extra layer of interaction and tactical decisions, this one's for you. It doesn't radically change the game, but it adds that spice that makes all the difference, especially when you desperately need that specific gem and Diamond Joe shows up like a savior (or an opportunist!). It's a small addition, but with a noticeable impact on the game dynamics, encouraging new strategies and unexpected bargaining moments. Perfect for those who want more Niagara without overcomplicating the rules. ## How to Play Game Objective The game Niagara: Diamond Joe is an expansion that adds the character Diamond Joe, a cautious and clever old man who loves to admire the beautiful things found in the Niagara River. Although the main objective of the base game is not detailed here, the expansion introduces interactions with Diamond Joe, who collects gems and can trade with players. The specific victory condition for this expansion is not provided in the context. Preparation (Setup) Take Diamond Joe's canoe (light brown). Place Diamond Joe's canoe on the first river space, next to the beaches. If playing with fewer than 5 players, you can use an unused canoe as Diamond Joe's canoe. Game Flow Diamond Joe interacts with the game at specific moments during the turn: After Moving the River After the river moves, if Diamond Joe is in a space with gems, he loads one into his canoe. He always loads a gem of the same color as its discovery spot. If there are only gems of other colors, he loads none. If he is not in a gem space, or there are no gems in the spot, or if he already has a gem in his canoe, nothing happens. Diamond Joe never unloads a gem on dry land or in gem discovery spaces. Moving Diamond Joe After Diamond Joe has loaded a gem, he moves upstream the number of spaces indicated by the paddle token of the starting player of the newly played turn (the starting player is the one with the life vest). If the starting player has played the Cloud, Diamond Joe does not move. Initially, Diamond Joe moves upstream. If he reaches the beginning of the river (next to the beaches) and there are still movement points, he changes direction and moves downstream. If Diamond Joe reaches the river fork, he always chooses the right bank of the river. He never places his canoe on dry land (on the beaches). If Diamond Joe falls down the waterfall, at the beginning of the next turn, he must be placed back on the first river space (next to the beaches). If he had any gem, this gem is returned to its respective color's spot. Actions and How to Play River Encounters with Diamond Joe If on your TURN, at the beginning or end of your movement, you have a canoe in the same space as Diamond Joe, he can be generous. It is possible to trade with him, and these are voluntary actions that do not cost paddle points. You can: If your canoe is empty, Diamond Joe gives you a gem, if he has any. If your canoe has a gem, you can trade it with Diamond Joe's gem, if he has any. If Diamond Joe has no gems, you can give him a gem, if you have one in your canoe. You cannot trade with Diamond Joe by passing him with your canoe. You must start or end a canoe's movement in the same space as Diamond Joe's canoe to perform an action with him. Actions with Diamond Joe are voluntary, meaning you perform them if you wish. End of Game and Scoring Refer to the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning Pay attention to Diamond Joe's position on the river, as he can be a source of gems or an opportunity to trade yours. Plan your movements so that your canoe starts or ends in the same space as Diamond Joe, allowing for voluntary trades without costing paddle points. ## FAQ ### Does this expansion significantly change the base Niagara game? No, it adds a new layer of interaction with Diamond Joe and his trades, but keeps the main structure of the base game intact. ### How many players can use this expansion? Just like the base game, the expansion is for 3 to 5 players. ### Is Diamond Joe controlled by a player or an AI? Diamond Joe is a neutral character, controlled by the expansion's rules, who appears on the river to trade with all players. ### Are trades with Diamond Joe always more advantageous for him? Generally yes, he tends to make trades that benefit him more, but depending on the situation and available gems, there can be opportunities for players too. ### Do I need to have played Niagara before to understand this expansion? Absolutely! This expansion is meant to be used with the base game Niagara. It adds elements but doesn't replace the core rules. ### What is the estimated playtime with this expansion? The playtime remains similar to the base game, around 45 minutes, as the expansion adds interactions without drastically extending the rounds.