I just recently bought the Talisman core set (current FFG edition) and have played it several times. The game is fun but I have yet to play it to it's conclusion. I have considered expanding the game and was wondering if someone could tell me if all of the expansions can be played together or piecemeal?
Thanks
This is the eternal question around here.
Technically, and it is written, all expansions can be played together or separately as you wish ; ie; using some but not all, so how about the Firelands and Frostmarch creating a flame vs ice theme?
But in reality many of us may only favor some/most with individual caveats and also some serious house rules....
especially for the Dragon Expansion, since it presents a more deliberate new scenario. Many players either avoid it, or piecemeal it. Including me.
I mostly try to 'delay' the flood of Dragon scales that the expansion brings. But 7 out of 10, I will use the inlay board, along with the other components.
I think one expansion in particular will allow individual games more options to deal with the Dragon, possibly other expansions:
Blood Moon, with its Day/Night scenario could allow a game where scales are only drawn during day or night, if you wish, we've done that, but it is important to remember to stop or begin pulling scales when the day or night change, so some people might not like that.
Yes, all expansions can be played simultaneously.
The characters and endings of The Dragon expansion can be mixed with the rest of your collection.
You'll need to play specific endings to use the other parts of The Dragon, as outlined here:
http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/111758-a-few-questions/
(I explained it a few posts down.)
The rest of the expansions and all their components can be used at all times.
Recently asked and answered just 2 weeks ago or less:
http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/112284-expansions/
http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/111758-a-few-questions/
BTW, I discovered and played Talisman in the Air Force myself around 1986 or 87 at Grand Forks AFB ND.
BTW, I discovered and played Talisman in the Air Force myself around 1986 or 87 at Grand Forks AFB ND.
Oh my gorsh! You're almost as old as me! Well, maybe within 10 years of me.
Well the 4 corner expansions should all work together. I'm sure gonna try the moment i get my hand on the woodlands expansion.
Well the 4 corner expansions should all work together. I'm sure gonna try the moment i get my hand on the woodlands expansion.
Same here!!!
It's been said before (and I agree) that the more small-box expansions you include, the more 'watered-down' they all become.
I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it's definitely a thing. In my house we like to feel the full flavour of an expansion, so we only add one small-boxer at a time these days.
The big-box corner board expansions of course have their own adventure decks, so they can be thrown in as desired without becoming diluted.
Short answer: yes, you can! Find out what works good for you, then come back and tell us!
Well, it is fantasy, so it can be anything, I suppose.
But I approach Talisman as a real world kind of thing. The world just doesn't have a couple of things that define or is its' essence.
I like a fantasy game that has demons, undead, fairies, werewolves, goblins, and.everything.else.
I don't recall that the grand daddy of all fantasy games, D and D, sequestered or segregated its "world". I remember that a Vampire could be in one chamber and then a Dark Elf Queen in another, for example.
And I only play a 2 player game and I've never felt that I was cheated because hardly/no Frostmarch cards, or whatever, were not more represented (due to shuffling,etc)
In fact quite the opposite. If you only play one, or a small amount of these sets, wouldn't the sense of expectation diminish, because you knew, for example that most likely your next encounter would be
1) an Ifrit
2) an undead
3) an opportunity for a Quest.
Rather than really knowing what lurked around the next bend. I think that is exactly why Talisman is meant/can be played with all sets.
Edited by 0beronI agree 0beron, I prefer a game where it is unpredictable and anything can happen. I think there are cards we have yet to play!
Perhaps because Talisman is so random, some people like to limit that randomness with less expansions, and prepare for what they know is coming. But definitely not me and my group!
Hi, Eighth Air Force. Thanks for your service!
Talisman excels as a game when players interact. Too few players and too many additional regions (i.e., corners) and the interaction drains away (unless you houserule -- e.g., limit the number of talismans). In some cases it can almost become a solitary and not very interesting game, especially if you die late on. Admittedly, too many players can lead to a lot of down time between turns. So 4-5 players seems to be the sweetspot; other posters may disagree.
As previous comments suggest, the small boxes are more thematic. It's probably worth starting out playing one and then experimenting with combinations. The Reaper is a fun expansion and definitely worth a look.
You've picked a good time to start playing! It's taken FFG a couple of years to reach the point when all the corners are (almost) available -- but once you start acquiring the big expansions, the completist temptation takes hold!
I disagree, we always play with all expansions, and we often have fair amount of player interaction. Lately we have had most and sometimes all players in the same region. Especially once I shared with everyone the idea of going to Highlands 1st in low levels, then to the city to spend the money you earned there.
Hi, Eighth Air Force. Thanks for your service!
Too few players and too many additional regions (i.e., corners) and the interaction drains away (unless you houserule -- e.g., limit the number of talismans).
I snipped some of this, but this speaks to my experience. I will probably only ever play with 1 other person. Our games tend to be our own separate explorations. My co player doesn't care to interact with me as a character, but rather plunder and hoard to her heart's content. She also doesn't want to send the Reaper or the Werewolf after me, and tries to guilt me to do the same.
I may be playing the most dysfunctional Talisman ever, but its what I got, so there is that. Having said that I love playing with her and every game is always different. Very different in fact.
I like different. I would never be interested in making the game more predictable by limiting the cards I would encounter.
And as two players, we can tear through quite a bit of the Adventure deck, so I never feel that I didn't get the object or encounter that I wanted, theres always something NEW. Like Doma says there are cards he has not played yet in any game.
That's like life to me. Some people never have serious love in their lives. Some people never have all the money they want, in their lives. Some people never get to meet the special persons who can change their lives.
Life is a box of chocolates. Talisman is a treasure chest of chocolates. You never know what you'll get.
Edited by 0beronThat's like life to me. Some people never have serious love in their lives. Some people never have all the money they want, in their lives. Some people never get to meet the special persons who can change their lives.
Trying to figure out if you're telling me that, because I like the expansions to have real presence and flavour, I'm lonely, poor, and living a dead-end life.
I was using real life things as a metaphor for the Talisman experience.
Life isn't one flavor at all - - unless you try to segregate yourself from all it can offer.
Having said that, I tend to believe that unless you are well connected, rich, or at least upper middle class
we're all in some dead-end life. I don't want to get political, but at my age, I've never seen the world so concentrated - one way or the other - into haves and have nots.
"You're never alone with a schizophrenic" - - Ian Hunter (to which I can add, OR HANGING AROUND ON THE TALISMAN THREAD)
I find that the dragon expansion and Firelands work great together since they share a theme, but that is the only one I'd combine with the dragon expansion. I avoid expansions that extend the board since the main board is big enough already. When I play a game, I wanna be able to see the entire board clearly from one spot, not have to stretch and move to get to a far corner. That said, you can probably combine all the expansions, but then card decks become huge, gold cards get watered down, and there will be some mechanics that you will forget to do every turn.
I actually bought two base games and combine half the expansions in one and half in the other.
Edited by John SteedUnfortunately, Talisman isn't the best for a consistent theme. Even in the base game a blizzard could occur in the desert.
Runebound is an excellent game for concentrated theme and landscapes.
Even in the base game a blizzard could occur in the desert.
Its sorta a Eurocentric, or whatever to assume or deny that Desert areas do indeed have winter. Maybe not blizzard winter, but as the Blizzard has struck for me, in the Desert I just deal with it.
Is the Blizzard a one turn delay or three? You couldn't always house rule that Desert Blizzards only last 1 turn, if it says 3 on the actual card.
a blizzard in a desert in real life:
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-desert-blizzard-saija-lehtonen.html
http://protechrvtravel.blogspot.com/2007/01/desert-blizzard.html
Edited by DomaGBBasically,
We expect the unusual in Talisman. And we get it.
A true blast from the past.
Now I want "Talisman - The Inquisition" A NPC type game where a traveling circus of wing nuts goes around judging everyone - but with real bite - "I'm not a Witch" < imagine high pitched Monty Pythonish voice>
I'll throw in my two cents, for whatever it's worth.
We currently have all of the expansions except for The Firelands (I just learned of its existence and my wife has said I will get it for my birthday in September) and The Nether Realm (honestly, I'm not interested in this one). We play all expansions with every game.
Part of this is because once you combine all of the Adventure Cards together it's time consuming to separate them out again.
Part of this is because if I took the time (and money) to get all of the expansions, I want to play all of the expansions, and we really don't play all that often.
Part of this is because the Talisman world is awesome with all of the pieces in play. It takes an expert in the game to keep everything in order and make sure all of the different nuances are followed.
I have found that with everything in play, we oftentimes forget about moving the Reaper and the Werewolf. Meh. No big deal.
When it comes to the Dragon expansion, I agree that the board can get overrun with scales very quickly. Our house rule is that each Dragon Lord must collect six scales before being crowned king instead of three. That helps to stem the tide. I like the idea of drawing them only during the day or only during the night. I might try that.
We've had it happen where players ignore each other, and we've had it happen where players interact. Usually if the players ignore each other then all of the extra maps get played. If players interact then one or more of the extra maps gets ignored. It just depends on what's happening, what gets drawn, and the mood of the players in that particular game.
I'm really looking forward to The Woodland coming out. If it's out by Christmas then that's going to be my Christmas present. (Hey, FFG: Did you hear that? BEFORE CHRISTMAS would be a great release goal!)
On a personal note, my older brother introduced me to the 2nd edition of Talisman when I was only 7 years old, back in 1987. I've loved it ever since.
