Splendor with the Strongholds expansion adds a strategic twist to the beloved gem-collecting board game. The base game of Splendor involves players acting as Renaissance merchants, using gem tokens to purchase development cards, which grant prestige points and gem bonuses. The aim is to attract noble patrons by acquiring a certain number of prestige points.

This expansion includes 3 Stronghold pieces per player, matching the players’ colors. This is how pay works with the Stronghold expansion. For setup, along with the standard setup of Splendor, each player receives three Stronghold tokens. The play is the same, except after buying a development card, a player may place a Stronghold on any available card on the table.

There are a few different ways these strongholds can be used: Blocking, fortifying strongholds and moving strongholds. A card with a Stronghold cannot be purchased or reserved by other players, effectively blocking them until the owner decides to purchase or remove the Stronghold. Placing all three of one’s Strongholds gets you the card. When a player purchases a card with one or more of their Strongholds, they can then move these Strongholds to new cards, continuing to strategize their placement.

The Strongholds add a layer of direct interaction and strategic blocking, where players can stall others’ progress or protect key cards for their own strategy. The ability to reduce a card’s cost with three Strongholds adds a planning element, encouraging players to think several moves ahead.

In a game turn, you might decide to buy a development card that you previously placed one of your Strongholds on. After purchasing, you choose to move your Stronghold to a new, high-level card to start setting up for a future purchase. Meanwhile, another player might be eyeing that card, but now they must wait or find a way around your Stronghold.

The Strongholds expansion for Splendor introduces a dynamic component that heightens player interaction and strategic depth. It turns what is predominantly a game of individual strategy into one with a slight competitive edge, as players can interfere with each other’s plans more directly. The tactical use of Strongholds—whether to block opponents or to save on a card’s cost—makes each choice more impactful. The box with the expansion comes with three different expansions, and it does require the Splendor base game.

This expansion revitalizes the core experience of Splendor, making it feel fresh even for seasoned players. It’s a welcome addition for those who might find the base game becoming predictable, as it forces players to think on their feet and adapt their strategies based on others’ actions. Overall, Splendor with the Strongholds expansion becomes a more engaging and interactive game, making it an excellent choice for game nights that call for quick-thinking and tactical decision-making.

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