Grading the Alhambra Expansions (5)

 Bazaars

When you gain these tiles you receive bonus points for points each round if any of the surrounding buildings match the 3 colors. 

This expansion is a MUST

LOVED this expansion! It actually won me the game because I got so good at placement. Smoked everyone else who had them too. Really good module that makes you constantly aware of what colors can go where while you're playing the game. Good stuff!

New Score Cards

Randomly select 3 scores tiles before each game, changing the value of each building each round. 

This expansion is a MUST

I LOVE this idea! Players do have a tendency to go for the higher value buildings. This expansions throws that strategy out the door, forcing players to adjust to the ever changing scoring each round can represent. Really good expansion that should be used on ever expansion. 

Power of Sultan

Shuffle these cards in the deck and whenever they're chosen you roll a die and place a black cube matching the color of the result. Later on in the game, claim a tile of the matching color on the card. 

This expansion is a PASS

Random luck. That's all it is. And really does nothing but give someone an extra tile with zero effort on their own. I didn't like this one at all and thought the die was just something they forced into the game because they thought "Why not?" Boo. 

Caravanserai

When you gain one of these cards from the deck (max 2) place a cube at the bottom of it's unique track. Every turn you move that marker up or over and anytime you wish to play it for money of that color, drop it back to the bottom. 

This expansion is a PASS

I thought it was a neat idea at first but it's really just a bother trying to remember to push it up the track each turn. And even though we all got one in the game, I was the only one who ever bothers to cash it in, making it more of a waste of time rather than a game-changer like the creators hoped it would be. 

I'll be back tomorrow with 4 more!