# Star Wars: Imperial Assault – Return to Hoth ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2015 - **BGG Rating**: 8.4 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 5) - **Duration**: 90-120 min - **Weight**: 3.06 / 5 - **Designers**: Jonathan Ying, Justin Kemppainen, Paul Winchester, Samuel Bailey, Todd Michlitsch - **Artists**: Henning Ludvigsen - **Publishers**: Fantasy Flight Games, Asterion Press, Edge Entertainment, Galakta, Heidelberger Spieleverlag - **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Exploration, Fighting, Miniatures, Movies / TV / Radio theme, Science Fiction, Wargame - **Mechanics**: Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Role Playing, Team-Based Game ## Verdict If you're an 'Imperial Assault' fan craving more tactical combat and immersive Star Wars narrative, 'Return to Hoth' is a must-have!New epic campaignMore awesome miniaturesModular Hoth terrain4-player battlesVast contentRequires base gameLanguage dependentLarge expansionHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to relive the frosty action of Hoth, but with a twist! The Rebel base has been discovered by the Empire, and as the fearsome AT-ATs descend and the last transports attempt to escape, a few Rebel heroes step up to protect a colony of refugees. Little do they know that this heroic journey will lead them back to the icy planet they tried to leave behind. 'Return to Hoth' is a robust expansion for 'Star Wars: Imperial Assault', bringing a ton of new content for both campaign and skirmish modes. You'll dive into an all-new, full-length campaign where Rebel heroes continue their saga right after the events of the Battle of Hoth. And if you're into bigger brawls, new rules for four-player skirmishes allow for massive, multi-front battles. With thirty-seven double-sided terrain tiles depicting the icy landscapes of Hoth, sixteen sculpted plastic figures to bolster your forces, and an arsenal of cards for both campaigns and skirmishes, 'Return to Hoth' promises to transform your 'Imperial Assault' sessions forever! ## How to Play Game Objective The objective of the game is to accumulate victory points (VPs) to surpass opponents. The Imperial player wins by reaching 40 VPs or eliminating three players. Rebel players can also win if they eliminate all Imperial players. Each mission and action contributes to the score, with specific rewards mentioned in the manual. Setup To set up the game, follow these steps: Punch out the tokens and card maps to separate the pieces. Add the Agenda, Command, Side Mission, and Skirmish Mission cards to their respective decks. Include the Condition, Class, Deployment, Item, Reward, and Supply cards in their decks. Add the hero sheets, plastic figures, tokens, and maps from the expansion to the game. Separate the new story and threat missions for the "Return to Hoth" campaign. Note: In campaigns, the Imperial player is limited to three regular Snowtroopers and three elite ones. Game Flow The game progresses in turns, with specific phases: Activation Phase: Players activate groups in clockwise order. In four-player skirmishes, the order is determined by the initiative token. Status Phase: All players prepare their Deployment cards. The player with the initiative token passes it to the left. Resolution Phase: Actions and effects are resolved according to the mission or skirmish rules. In four-player skirmishes, special rules apply, such as resolving conflicts in mission order, effects of the player with initiative, and interactions between teams in collective battles. Actions and How to Play Players can perform actions such as: Attack: Use weapons or abilities to attack hostile figures. Some actions, like "Close Quarters," allow using the attack type of a defeated enemy figure. Use Cards: Deployment, Agenda, and Reward cards have specific effects. For example, "Exposed to the Elements" forces attribute tests in hostile environments. Manage Conditions: Conditions like "Weakened" or "Harmful" affect actions. Some cards allow discarding or resetting conditions. Activate Abilities: Heroes and figures with specific abilities (like "Duck and Weave") gain bonuses during defense. Note: In four-player skirmishes, effects that claim the initiative token have specific rules to avoid conflicts. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when: An Imperial player reaches 40 VPs. Three players are eliminated (when there are no more active figures). Scoring is calculated as follows: 5 VPs for each controlled terminal in an enemy deployment zone. Specific rewards, such as "Invigorated by Success" or "Battle Vision," grant additional VPs. In four-player skirmishes, VPs are awarded for defeated groups, with bonuses for "Attachment" cards. Tips for Winning Use "Close Quarters" strategically: Interrupt enemy attacks to gain accuracy and damage bonuses. Generate VPs with terminals: Control terminals in enemy zones to accumulate points quickly. Manage conditions: Cards like "Exposed to the Elements" can force enemies to fail tests, creating opportunities. Consult the manual for details on this section. ## FAQ ### Do I need the 'Star Wars: Imperial Assault' base game to play 'Return to Hoth'? Yes, this is an expansion and requires the 'Star Wars: Imperial Assault' base game to be played. It adds content and is not a standalone game. ### How many players can participate with this expansion? The expansion supports 2 to 5 players, just like the base game, and introduces new rules for four-player skirmishes, which is great for those who enjoy larger battles. ### What is the average playtime for a game or campaign session with 'Return to Hoth'? A game session, whether campaign or skirmish, typically takes between 90 and 120 minutes. Campaigns, being long-form narratives, will be divided into multiple sessions. ### Does the expansion add new characters or units? Absolutely! 'Return to Hoth' brings 16 new plastic miniatures, including new Rebel heroes, Imperial villains, and units for both sides, expanding your tactical options. ### How complex is this expansion compared to the base game? The expansion maintains the complexity of the base game, which is considered medium weight (3.0588/5 on BGG). It adds new rules and elements, but if you've mastered the base game, you won't face major difficulties. ### Is this expansion highly language dependent? Yes, 'Return to Hoth' is quite language dependent, with many cards and narrative texts. 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