So after reading than quite a lot of people complained about the dragons, I've waited quite long to purchase the expansion (I try to buy a new one every 4 months or so, and we still miss 3 or 4 of them).

We did our first game today, me, 40, my daughter 10, and my son 8. Firstly, I thought the rules would be insanely difficult, but it turned out it's quite easy, no problem at all. Then we did like I've read in one thread: one player take care of all the dragons scale for evrybody and the dragons, so we almostdidn't lose any time. Then the new decks are quite cool, looooot of dragons. The new characters are also cool and somehow powerful.

Normally I always take one character randomly and let my children chose the one they want, but this time, I wanted to try the conjurer. My daughter took the drigon rider and my son the dragon hunter.

It turned out that with all the dragons the game"only" took three hours, instead of 6 to 10. We all boosted quite fast, and took the two cards when you can end directly at the CoC. My daughter got there first. One turn after, I went there. My son tried to get there too with one of the two cards. My daughter took the last life of the dragon. But we decided before than after killing the dragon, we take an ending card randomly. She took the THieve's guild. We almost rob all objects of my son, and finally he arrived also at the CoC. Then we count all objects and gold. I won! (yeahhh).

So we all have a good time and agreed that the dragon expension is really good and a must have. Next time I'll copy one face of the two-sided board, and if we have to go directly to the CoC, we will go the the middle of the first side and then have to climb the tower to really get to the CoC.

Oh, and my daughter had a little green bag with dragons that matched just perfectly for the pool of tokens!

I don't understand all the complaints, really it's great. Ok, too much talking now, let's go.

I think The Dragon is quite underrated. The scales management turns people off, I suppose.

But I am very glad to hear you leveled up fast. That's one of the great aspects of The Dragon expansion. It boosts leveling, provides ample ways to gain both Strength and Craft. The three decks are designed around S/C quite well, and the way the scales work ensures you're prepared for any Dragon King.

I'm glad you like it! It's my favorite expansion.

I don't level. I die. I die a lot. I die miserably.

I agree that the complexity or hassle of scales is over-rated - though long time readers here know I house rule to delay and minor-ly limit deployment. But we only play a 2 player game, perhaps in a larger game we might use other techniques as mentioned.

I love the Dragon loot!

We have played at least three players or more overtime we have done the Dragons and the scales don't really bother us. We liked the Dragons so much, we are planning on doing three new kings,although I have to admit, the kings WE are making will be somewhat stronger than the ones in the game!

I love the objects and followers in the Dragon decks, but their enemies tend to come into play too early when your characters are still pretty weak in the canon rules (and Dragon Rage is just upsetting). Think of your poor Troll or Sprite, they are going to get messed up. So I think its better to work in some house rule to 'activate' the dragon decks later in the game. I've made my own pretty expansive solution, but you probably want a simpler one.

I agree with DomaGB though, The Dragon expansion can really raise your mortality rate

One 'Dragon Lord' I thought up would have an interesting Lore: The Mother of Varthrax, Cadorus and Grilipus. Perhaps she is the Mother of all Dragons. (I kind of think the originals are BEAST enough, though).