In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to one’s collection.
This review is a breakdown of the Fiends & Familiars expansion for the game Roll Player. Pictured below are some of the new components introduced in this expansion. Setup for a game is very similar to the setup for the base game, with a few additions. Split Dice are added to the dice bag and count as both of its colors throughout the game during character creation. A deck of Minion cards is assembled with which characters can fight to earn XP, trophies, and Honor. A ‘final boss’ Monster with corresponding Adventure cards is selected for the characters to square off against at the end of the game. The basic setup for players’ character sheets and the Market are essentially the same as in the base game, with this addition. Each player receives 2 Familiar boards, and selects one with which to play the game. Shuffle the deck of Fiend cards and draw/place a card on each Initiative Card with a Fiend slot. A starting player is selected, and the game is ready to begin!
The basic gameplay for the Fiends & Familiars expansion is actually almost identical to that of the Monsters & Minions expansion. Instead of rehashing that entire post, I will go ahead and link it here: Roll Player: Monsters & Minions Expansion
Now onto the specific changes for Fiends & Familiars. In the starting rounds of the game, each Initiative Card has 2 dice placed on it, instead of just one. That means that in these early rounds, all players will be placing both dice onto their Character Sheet each time. Even though you place 2 dice, you will only take 1 Attribute Action each round. Eventually, the Call to Adventure card will be revealed in the Market, and from that point on each Initiative Card only gets 1 die each round.
If you select an Initiative Card that has a Fiend attached to it, you take that into your play area. Fiends are cards that give restrictions to the player who collected it. For example, a Fiend may cause you to pay extra for Market cards. A Fiend stays in play until you banish it – by spending 1 Charisma token or 5 gold. Once the game moves to the final Boss Monster battle, Fiends cannot be banished, so make sure you strategize on when to get rid of those pesky creatures! Each player has a Familiar board that counts as part of their Character Sheet. When you place a die on your Familiar board, you may be able to use its unique action to your benefit. Filling the Familiar board slots can also provide you with extra Reputation Stars for the end of the game!
Again, when talking about components, the production quality of Fiends & Familiars is top notch. Sturdy cardboard, thick cards, excellent and chunky dice, and nice artwork. No complaints from me. If you checked out my Monsters & Minions review, you’ll remember I mentioned that having sooooo many components makes setup a little difficult, as you have to assemble the correct decks, tokens, etc. The same can be said for Fiends & Familiars, but then again, if you remember my previous recommendation, you’ll see why that’s not too much of a problem for me anymore.
Official recommendation: Adding the Fiends & Familiars expansion to Roll Player is an absolute necessity, if you ask me. As I mentioned with the Monsters & Minions expansion, the new content gives you the opportunity to do something with the character you have just created. The addition of a Familiar to each character is a neat element that can give you unique abilities during the game. The pesky Fiends that latch onto you really enhance the gameplay by adding another element of which you need to keep track. There are more strategic options to consider, and the gameplay/theme feels more immersive with the added expansion content. These expansions really do elevate the gameplay and experience, and are more than just added components. I don’t think I’ll ever play just the base game by itself again – I think I’ll always add both expansions to my plays. Both expansions really mesh well with the base game and with each other, and they make for a great overall gaming experience.
