Finally! It took me long enough, but I finally earned the top title with this impressive play. Empty spaces dotted the countryside, and a stand of forest stretched north to south.
A pair of large villages helped, as did the placement of farms on ruins. I made use of some skills here and there, too, trying to spend just enough gold while still saving some!
The ambush cards weren’t all that bad this time, and I even got to discard a couple with how filled in this map was.
Plenty of fun! I felt ready to tackle a few new rules and finally move onto a map pack for the first time: Nebblis!
The Plane of Flame
Watch out for the magma! The first map pack takes place in Nebblis, where this minor detail is around… You know, just your everyday volcano that regularly spews lava. Ha ha!
New cards mean that the lava flows at an unpredictable rate, but my volcano was fairly active. I liked the way I had to leave some open space, or risk destroying nearby squares.
My skills remained intact, despite the heat. My highest score showed up thanks to some long-term strategizing.
Although my final maps all looked pretty similar, I never felt like gameplay was boring. I just kept on playing!
Legendary Lava Town
My final score wasn’t as impressive, but this play stood out for the clever way the lava flowed. It went everywhere! I had to keep an eye on my scoring goals and chose small shapes.
The best moment came shortly after the giant trolls arrived in the southeast, promptly waltzing right up to the edge of the lava. With a little luck, I just needed the 1×3 lava card…
And the explore deck delivered! With a great crash, the lava expanded across the terrain claimed by the giant troll.
Wait a second. Is that simply one single troll?! Apparently one is enough to cause havoc, or be havocked upon? Ha!
Affril and Knowledge
Content with my time in Nebblis, I vowed to try out another map pack before I called this session complete. Up next was Affril, which seemed to allude to a plane of knowledge.
Well, it was technically correct: I played a multiplayer session recently with this map pack, so I was prepared!
But not prepared enough to win. It became very difficult to manage everything when there were endless ambushes.
I was only lucky the solo scoring criteria didn’t subtract too much from my measly final score! A little more work was in order to call myself mildly knowledgeable about Affril. Ha!
Session Overview
Play Number: 3-10
Main Expansion 1: Affril: Plane of Knowledge
Main Expansion 2: Nebblis: Plane of Flame
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Maps A, B, C, D, N1, N2, A1, & A2
Outcome: 113, 85, 74, 120, 127, 112 (4 Wins & 4 Losses)
Much better! With a little luck and a lot more focus, the final winter season in Affril resulted in an excellent score. I had some very balanced islands, and almost avoided monsters entirely. Lots more map packs to try out down the line, and this one remains a very calm and fun sort of experience!
Scoring and Ratings
Affordability (Price & Value): 10/10
Functionality (Challenges & Mechanics): 10/10
Originality (Design & Theme): 10/10
Quality (Components & Rules): 10/10
Reusability (Achievement & Enjoyment): 7/10
Variability (Distinctness & Randomness): 8/10
+ Pros (Positives)
- Every card flip is an exciting moment, as each play feels balanced between the good and bad possibilities.
- The rules are easy to learn and remember, and the special map pack restrictions make sense with minimal effort.
- Filling in a map may be done in a number of different ways, which can make the experience relaxing or tense.
- Plenty of variety exists in a single game, yet the map packs add on new challenges to keep the system fresh.
- Random scoring goals offer interesting ways to plan how to build out the areas of a map, and what shapes to choose.
- Mini-expansions add small twists without overcomplicating the core loop.
- The solo mode feels complete and not just a tacked-on feature.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Play time can stretch significantly if you enjoy detailed coloring or overthinking placements.
- Some may find the map drawing aspect too slow compared to faster engine-building games.
- Ambush cards can sometimes feel punishing depending on when they appear.
- Requires a decent amount of table space for larger maps.
Final Thoughts
Cartographers Heroes offers a unique blend of strategy and creativity that feels both engaging and peaceful. While the game can take longer if you choose to add artistic details, that extra time is part of the charm for those who enjoy the process. The mix of heroes and monsters keeps the gameplay dynamic, ensuring that no two maps ever feel exactly the same. Whether you are looking for a quick session or a long, relaxing evening of map-making, this game provides a wonderful escape into a world of imagination. The addition of map packs like Nebblis and Affril keeps the experience fresh, offering new challenges and themes to explore. It is a game that rewards patience and planning, but also allows for moments of pure creative joy. For anyone looking to unwind with a thoughtful, solo-friendly board game, Cartographers Heroes is a fantastic choice that continues to deliver enjoyment long after the first play.
