Talisman Alliances: Fate Beckons Board Game, Talisman Expansion (Requires Talisman 5th Edition to Play) - English Version

Excellent addition to the base game. Look forward to more...

The co op mode isn’t the best, but adds cards and characters so will play them all once and then add these cards to the base game. If you only want to play talisman as a solo/co op game it’s a no brainer, otherwise you may want to pass. But I love any extra stuff.

Got this without realising it needed the base game, so I feel really bad but we got all the pieces out before realising it needs the original.

Like many boys of a certain age, I spent an orc sized chunk of my youth rolling dice, swinging swords, and battling dragons. I also liked to play board games, such as Talisman and Hero Quest. I never owned my own copy of Talisman until 2024, when I decided to buy the Fifth edition and pull the kids into the world of magic.As fans will know, previous editions of Talisman featured a wide array of expansions to take your adventuring to the next level, and Fate Beckons is the first of those for the Fifth Edition. What is notable about this set is that it is the first dedicated co-op expansion - hence Alliances.Presentation wise it looks good, fitting with the art style of the Fifth Edition main game and features mini boxes inside like a Legacy game. These boxes you can't open until you complete a specific mission or objective, which does have the slight drawback of meaning there's no surprise the next time around. These boxes contain additional characters which can be absorbed back into the main game (and presumably future expansions), and there are also additional fate tokens, adventure cards, spell cards, and all the assorted gubbins you would expect.I've only completed the first mission so far - essentially the core gameplay is the same - roll dice, go around the board to strengthen your character so it has enough power to complete the objective, except now you have a team-mate to work with rather than against. It works well, combining with the original board and aided by the doom tracker which introduces villains to fight against, as well as adding some much needed stress as you race against the clock before your characters become overrun/too weak to win.The variety of new cards is wide - the spells designed to enhance co-op play by allowing you to help one another or even sacrifice someone for the greater good. The villains which join the game are equally varied yet feel at home in the Talisman world. The rulebook is simple to follow, largely reminding players how the main game works and how this expansion differs, including the specific setup required (certain cards from the main game need to be removed for example), and how the doom tracker works.There are five missions included - I can't imagine there being a huge amount of replay value for experienced players once you've been through them, but as with any version of Talisman you can replay by tweaking the rules and making up your own scenarios. It took us a few games to actually win the first mission, once you understand the best strategies to adopt (and the players on your team to ignore).I look forward to further expansions for the Fifth Edition, and hopefully more under this Alliances umbrella.

I previously owned the second edition of Talisman & all but one of its expansions. Those were all limited to extra characters & an extra board to play on (e.g. the crypt & the warp) so really did just expend the game. Alliances, however, transforms it. not only does it change the base game to a co-op, it also provides a campaign of sorts. For held within are 5 separate missions, each of which is a game in & of itself. Aside from the first one, they come in sealed envelopes too, to keep you in suspense. Each one introduces a new character, too (maybe a villain, maybe not) and the miniatures for these even come in their own small boxes to ensure there are no spoilers.This is the most engaging expansion I have come across, which will keep even experienced Talisman players intrigued. Frankly, I always found Talisman somewhat boring, as it could drag on for a long time (aside from the Arkham Asylum version) & often felt like I was just going round the same section of the board in circles (I suppose I actually was!). But this made for a more pleasant game experience somehow - because we had a joint mission, there was more discussion & more of a sense of us interacting instead of putting our blinkers on & focussing on our own objective. And it's surprisingly exciting to open a new envelope to see what you're up against next.The only (minor) downside is that there's a bit of prep - cards which need to be shuffled into the main deck, while others are taken out but the the rulebook guides you through all this clearly. Compared to what this box brings, this is a minor issue. Highly recommended.

This is a great expansion pack. Adds a lot to the normal game and makes it feel fresh if you have been playing a while.All the cards and components are nicely made and feel worth the money.So long as you have the game you should buy this as eventually you will want to use it

Talisman Alliances: Fate Beckons is a fantastic addition to the Talisman universe! This expansion brings an exciting new cooperative element, which adds a fresh twist to the game. Instead of competing alone for the Crown of Command, players now band together to tackle five unique and challenging Trials, which require strategy, teamwork, and a bit of luck to conquer.The mystery figures and cards add a sense of anticipation and excitement as each Trial unlocks something new, keeping the gameplay dynamic and engaging. The 50 beautifully illustrated game cards also bring in fresh elements with new enemies, magical objects, and locations that keep each game session unpredictable and immersive.The cooperative play really shines, as it encourages teamwork and resource-sharing, making it a great choice for group game nights. It’s wonderful to strategize with friends and experience a new level of depth in the Talisman world. Highly recommend this expansion to anyone who enjoys Talisman and wants to experience it in a whole new way!