Corps of Discovery: Vameter Expansion Review
Information:
Player Age: 8+
Game Designer: Jay Cormier, Sen-Foong Lim
Introduction:
The Vameter expansion focuses on a scenario that is about the hunt for Vameter. This will incorporate the crew from the base game.
Unlike the other scenarios, players are actually moving their crew around the board on the explored location to hunt down Vameter and a new monster type, cyclops. To win the game the player must shoot the Vameter five times depleting it's health, each time a crew shoots they are placed on the day/night section and get returned to the supply at the start of a new day phase.
When the Vameter has no health if it is surrounded by explored tokens/edge of map the players win.
New Content:
Like all the expansions there is content exclusive to this scenario, the player aid, challenges, threats and destiny cards.
There is also a new character and two new gears added.
New Free Actions:
Placing Crew:
When exploring, before resolving the location. A crew member from the players supply can be placed. The reason players want to place the crew members is after the Vameter is moved if the crew member is in range via a straight line (range is determined by the value of the crew member). They will shoot either Vameter or the Cyclops if they are within the range of the crew members. Remember a crew member is removed until the next round after they shoot.
Sacrificing Fezron:
Fezron is a new token that when explored does not enter your inventory but enters the player's supply. A Fezron can be sacrificed to activate a crew member to shoot either Vameter or a cyclops if they are in range. Removing the crew member to the next day.
New Monsters:
Vameter:
When the first fezron camp is explored Vameter will be added to the peak location. After this any time the players reveal a water through exploring, the Vameter will move. A Vameter token (four tokens counting one to four) will be revealed then the Vameter will move that amount of unexplored location, if it reaches the edge of the map his token will rotate 90 degrees and keep moving in the new direction. After he is finished moving he will first eliminate any crew in any of the eight spaces around him. Then the crew will shoot him if they are within range.
Cyclops:
The cyclops work like the mosquito and cost the players one resource or water to explore any space surrounding them. The cyclops will also move after every challenge is done. Going to the nearest unexplored space, exploring that space but not granting the players the revealed resource.
Final Thoughts:
- Every scenario is as easy to teach as any other but feels very different.
- Another character and two gears to add the variability of all scenarios.
- Great use of the crew.
- Cyclops revealing locations gives a good mix of working as a timer while making the puzzle both harder and easier.
After playing four scenarios, two in the base game and two expansions. Corpse of Discovery has risen to be an even more enjoyable game for me. Each scenario is vastly different, this game has been developed as an endlessly adaptable engine. The replayability for this game is spectacular. Vameter in particular is a spatial challenge instead of a resource puzzle, players have to plan their crew efficiently to shoot him down. They can even control Vameter's flight path by exploring certain tiles and choosing when to reveal water. This may actually be my favourite scenario. I cannot recommend Corps of Discovery enough and I hope they keep working on new scenarios.
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