*Fighting does not happen very often. It's so hard to set up a battle. In our first game, there were 0 combats. Me and another player set up a cold war scenario where neither player wanted to attack. Finally, I was able to squeak out a 2nd metropolis on a turn in which I made the attack impossible. Everyone else wasn't too amused.
*Some of the creatures are way more powerful than the rest. The Pegasus is a bit unfair imo.
*I'm not a huge fan of the fact that you can't attack someone if they're down to one island.
*I'm not a very big fan of the Zeus power cycling through the creature pile.

1. How often does Hades come up? It sounds like Hades will allow for people to set up ships AND attack in the same turn? That right there would probably solve the combat problem my group had with the original if he is available enough.

2. Are the heroes an issue at all? I initially had this on my wishlist until I saw the hero that let's you hide a metropolis... it doesn't seem fair for someone to have a metropolis that cannot be taken. What's to stop that player from winning at that point? After reading it again, it almost sounds like you can only sacrifice her AS you build the metropolis, which adds difficult timing. Maybe I'm reading that wrong though.

3. Also, a lot of the hero powers allow for an instant metropolis, catapulting someone near their first metropolis suddenly into a game winner. The only saving factor is that you have a one turn warning before they may sacrifice him. Maybe that's enough time to try killing him?

I would probably say no, if you don't like Cyclades you are not going to like it w/expansion.

That being said, why don't you like Cyclades again? First off, it sounds like you are playing it as a 2 player game. While it is an okay 2 player game, the game is much better 3 player+. 3 and 5 players are optimal imo. You mentioned lack of combat and that might just be the people you play with. We played last week and there was a battle every turn; now that's atypical for us but still. (the only reasons for battle are to gain income or take over buildings/metropolis so usually you are only setting up 2-4 crucial battles throughout the game and everything else is defence). Usually you have people going for metropoli via other means while having to watch their back for the Ares player, don't forget sea battles as well.

Also, keep in mind you can't attack the last person's island UNLESS it wins you the game, that is a very important if to consider (besides, most times you do not want to get someone down to their last island anyway as it becomes a huge advantage for them).

The creature powers are powerful, in fact they are game changers, but this makes it more tense... the first god gets first choice at the creatures which makes the bidding more interesting. Our last game I came across a situation where all three of the creatures were bad for me - I could either bid low on a later god and hope no one would buy them or bid high on the first god and only afford 2 of the 3. I did the later and got smashed by the 3rd creature that I couldn't afford.

And the Zues Cycling ability is an intereting way to "sneak" in a win. These elements are what make this game one of my favorites so if you don't like them, they are still all going to be present with the expansion.

Plus it remains to be seen whether the new adds will help to balance any current game issues and make other strategies viable or whether in fact it will simply throw everything out of balance.

Our only games (2) were 5 player. The problem we have with combat is the system itself. It's a 2 step system. First you have to move your ships, then you have to move your figures. To add to this problem, only one of the actions can be picked per turn per player. If you see someone wants to attack you, a wise player will bid up ares and make the other player give up or end up spending so much money that they have nothing left on troops. Also, through Posidon/creatures, you can destroy the ship link before they have a chance to get Ares and then it's back to square one. I think a second option for attacking will spice things up enough though. Especially since it will change this to a 1 step system. I have a feeling Hades will be expensive in our games.

Our game probably sounded like a 2 player game because usually only 1 player is in a position to attack your metropolis island.

To be clear, we enjoyed the game but it was a letdown for us. Everything about the game sounded great, but it didn't work very well due to way combat is.

By the way, I ended up pre-ordering this. Thanks for the information everyone. I'm hoping that Hades will increase the amount of battles enough to make it more fun for my group.

Now I just have to wait...

I have just read about hte expansion and was very interested - until I saw the price, £33. Gutted as this is way more than i can justify on the contents. If anyone picks it up and hates it, get in touch, I'll buy it off you!

By the way, I ended up pre-ordering this. Thanks for the information everyone. I'm hoping that Hades will increase the amount of battles enough to make it more fun for my group.

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In case you don't have the game subscribed, my review is up.

http://boardgamegeek.com/article/8686768