Hand Management

Niagara is set in the not particularly safe world of rushing waterfalls. In the late 18th Century, the Shawnee and Iroquois Indians pointed white Desperadoes, Mercenaries and Adventurers in the direction of hidden caches of valuable jewels, in the hopes of turning them against one another and away from their territorial expansion ambitions. Players play as some of those Adventurers.

The first player to be able to claim ownership of five jewels is the winner. But the chase after the riches has some snags. The speed of the river is always changing, since the speed depends on the decisions of the players and the changeable weather. And once a canoe goes over the falls, it's a hefty investment to replace it. And there are also the Desperadoes to contend with, who aren't above trying to plunder the riches from Adventurers returning home. Niagara is distinguished by an innovative movement mechanic as well as a beautiful three-dimensional rendering of the waterfall setting.

Expanded by:

Niagara: Diamond Joe
The Spirits of Niagara

In Dragon's Gold, each player controls a team of dragon hunters (two knights, a thief, and a wizard). Like all dragon hunters, they have only one goal: gold, silver, jewels and magic objects. As for actually killing a dragon? It's a piece of cake. But the most difficult part comes after the dragon is dead: the adventuring party has to figure out how to share the spoils.

As soon as a dragon is overpowered, then some additional gems are revealed, and the players who had participated in that hunting party start a negotiation over how to divvy up the gems. If the sixty-second sand timer runs out, then no one gets treasure. When all of the dragons have been slain and the treasure claimed or discarded, the game ends and players score for their holdings, with silver and magic objects worth 1 point each, gold worth 3, the Black Diamond worth 7, and the colored gems scoring 10-15 points for those players who hold more than everyone else. (In the Advanced game, the colored gems score 8-12 points in addition to a variety bonus of 5 points for each set of different colored gems a player holds. The Black Diamond is worth 19 points [in the 2011 edition], but negates a player's score for all colored gems.)

From the publisher's blog:

This will be our first two Specialist packs: a Dwarven Battalion and a Goblin Skirmishers set. These packs introduce new units to the game, along with the Specialist and Weapon summary cards necessary to field them. For now, let’s just say that they will significantly alter your game.

Contents:

4 Iron Dwarf Bagpipers
8 Iron Dwarf Spear Bearers (16 more are found in BattleLore: Scottish Wars)
8 Iron Dwarf Axe Swingers (8 more are found in BattleLore: Bearded Brave)
14 banners
2×1 Green Bagpiper
2×1 Blue Bagpiper
2×1 Red Bagpiper
2×2 Axe Swingers
2×2 Spear Bearers

4-page Rules booklet with 2 new adventures
3 Specialist cards (Iron Dwarves Axe Swingers, Bagpipers, Spear Bearers)
3 Weapon Summary cards (Bagpiper, Battle Axe, Spear Bearer)

Expands:

BattleLore

The second of two specialist pack releases. Each Specialist Pack introduces 20 new figures and each unit type has new Specialist and Weapon summary cards that detail the fighting capabilities for these forces on the battlefield. Each pack also adds 2 new Adventures that feature the new figures, as well as additional Banners to deploy them within either camp.

Contents:

20 figures
1 Goblin Band Leader (also in BattleLore: Goblin Marauders Specialist Pack)
3 Goblin Drummers (also in BattleLore: Goblin Marauders Specialist Pack)
8 Hobgoblin Spear Bearers
8 Goblin Slingers

10 banners
2×1 Band
2×2 Slingers
2×2 Spear Bearer

4-page Rules Booklet with 2 new adventures
4 Specialist cards (Goblin Band, Goblin Drummers, Goblin Slingers, Hobgoblin Spear Bearers)
4 Weapon Summary cards (Bass Drum, Goblin Drum, Sling, Spear Bearer)

Expands:

BattleLore

The third specialist pack release (and 2nd expansion for goblins) for BattleLore. This Specialist Pack introduces new figures and each unit type has new Specialist and Weapon summary cards that detail the fighting capabilities for these forces on the battlefield. Each pack also adds additional Banners to deploy them within either camp.

The Goblin Marauders pack features 16 figures including the Goblin Band and mounted Hobgoblins - the Hyena Riders and Ostrich Riders, plus 2 new Adventures.

Contents:

16 figures:
1 Goblin Band Leader (also in BattleLore: Goblin Skirmishers Specialist Pack)
3 Goblin Drummers (also in BattleLore: Goblin Skirmishers Specialist Pack)
6 Hobgoblin Hyena Riders
6 Hobgoblin Ostrich Riders

10 banners (5 for each camp)
2×1 Band
2×2 Green Reflex Bow
2×2 Blue Reflex Bow

4-page Rules Booklet, including 2 new adventures
4 Specialist cards (Goblin Band, Goblin Drummers, Goblin Marauders (2))
3 Weapon Summary cards (Bass Drum, Goblin Drum, Reflex Bow)
1 Unit Summary card (Hyena Riders)

Expands:

BattleLore