Jamaica: The Crew Review with the Game Boy Geek

[@PlumpyThimble]

Oh man, I'm in. This seems like such a good little expansion that adds without changing game play too drastically. I love that you can explain the special powers when they come up. Thanks for the review, Dan!

[@theboardgamebandit6598]

Great review. Just to clarify, in the original game, the treasure cards that provide navigation or combat bonuses are played face up, so you always know that players have them. Only treasure cards are placed face down. Your point still stands - if it isn't one of those cards but the card appears to be confusing, it means it is a cursed treasure

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Thanks for the clarification. Forgot those went face up!

[@NingenExp]

Definitely getting this one. My sisters love this game. Pretty easy to explain and now better.

[@JoachimErdtman]

Terrific review. I too would've loved to fit this in the original box, but the expansion insert looks fun to use during play, so I'll likely keep it around.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Exactly Why I kept the box!

[@amusement420]

You made good points in the Final Thoughts how the expansion can add interest to the game not just more of it. They released a new smaller box but this insert is cool and functional.

[@gregwilkinson8127]

lol I'm totally gonna buy a mini bottle of Captain Morgans and see if it fits in the box/use it to replace the rum bottle token, hey its glass its nicer and its thematic!!

[@rjkral]

Greg Wilkinson it might fit upside down?!

[@Lurk3r1870]

Really excited for this expansion, Jamaica is such a breezy fun game and my only issue is that it can go a bit long for not too many decisions so this should help a lot with that!

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Yes it should!

[@Yeetman13]

Hey Dan, great review as always. Just one thing i wanted to point out. You were saying about how in the base game that people would have to look up on those special treasures always. In fact, the special treasures have to be shown face up and not hidden so it shouldnt be an issue as everyone knows the special ones you have

[@guillermoz4914]

I wouldn't want to throw this box away anyways, it's like throwing art way haha. This is a must buy! Thanx

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Well to be more clear, I usually cut the front of the box off and keep it for the art, then toss the rest :)

[@TeamEpicMeow]

The expansion totally enhances the game. If you buy the base game you have to pick this up too. Great video!

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Thanks!

[@azzy2001]

Me and my girlfriend have been having great fun playing with a variation we thought up, where in a 2 player game you change the rules of the ghost ship and add "Battleship" rules instead... Each take a photo of the board and mark 4 trap spaces of the map (Not treasure spaces) with the edit photo feature on your phone and use the draw tool to mark them on the picture. Now when your opponent lands on one of your trap spaces, bring in the ghost ship and attack them as usual. Only move the ship when a trap is triggered. It gives lots more combat opportunities and removes all of the tedious ghost ship movement while adding so much more fun with the traps and bluffing people into them. We also remove all of the overpowered treasure cards and most curse cards too, just keep the extra "Hold" and all of the highest scoring "Victory Point" treasures thereafter. If playing with the expansion (which I do not own yet) I will probably just put all the highest victory point treasures in to the 2 player games and that way it makes it way more worthwhile to stop rather than just rushing to the finish. Honestly, try this out. You will not be disappointed. I could really do with printing out some board cards and then if laminated you could use a marker or maybe even print it on metal and use magnetic X's to mark the spots... Enjoy ;-)

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

This sounds cool!

[@azzy2001]

@@TheGameBoyGeeks It really is. I uploaded this description to BGG and a bunch of places, because I really want people to see that by using these rules, Jamaica is a fantastic 2 player game. I love your videos, keep up the good work and thank you so much for all the great content 👍

[@azzy2001]

@@TheGameBoyGeeks I just cleaned up and updated these rules to make them a bit clearer boardgamegeek.com/thread/2450647/2-player-battleship-variant

[@entrecruzado]

Great review Dan! And very quick! I would like the insert to work with sleeved cards... It seems these crew members can get marked.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Thanks!

[@mihancic]

I love Jamaica and I am soooo excited for this!! Thanks for the review.

[@mihancic]

Is the box size similar to the original box size (lenght and width)?

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Yes I think the same size length and width.

[@tristanwhitley]

I'm so glad to hear this is a good expansion. I love the sound of the character abilities. Can't wait to try this out :-)

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Awesome!

[@brucekaplan5544]

To all you saying that keeping both boxes is a bummer; get over it. Either get the expansion or don't (or throw out both inerts). For me, the insert was done so well on the base game, I love to show it off to new players. I wiil find the shelf space. I pre-ordered the expansion today from CSI.

[@dancheston5786]

I don't agree that the expansion removed "hard to explain" treasure cards. They merely replaced most with crew cards, then added other powers similar in difficulty level to those removed. I will still pick this up, but I'm disappointed with their choice to remove the original treasure cards. I might have to homebrew a hybrid that uses crew with abilities new to the game and keep the original cards.

[@coreyhendon]

With the treasure cards, you have to explain all of the special ability cards up front (sure I think there are only four), but then they are drawn secretly throughout the game. The point is that whenever someone draws one of them, they can't just ask what it does because it's supposed to be a secret. I like that with this expansion you just explain three face-up crew members, and anyone can ask what they do at any point. Then when more are turned over you just explain them at that point. It's not supposed to be kept a secret. However, I don't see why you couldn't keep the original secret power treasure cards in addition to the crew members if that's something you wanted to do. I don't think it would be a good idea to do that with new players, though.

[@Strausburg]

In the base game, the only treasures you keep secret are the point-based ones (otherwise how would you be expected to do the power without revealing the card that allows you to do so?). Just tell your new players "If it has a +/- number on it, keep it secret, if not flip it up and we will explain the power." I'm also considering a house rule to keep the original cards (but I haven't tried my copy of the expansion yet, so I may end up liking it better).

[@yogibbear]

I have funnily enough explained the base game to my family about 3 times now (don't ask they're all wasted when we play) and every single time we'll get to the end of the game and one of them will always still have the extra hold space or the canon +dmg or whatever in their secret treasure pile the whole game!!!!! It's infuriating! Absolutely brilliant fix for the audience.

[@stefanocappelli]

The same thing happens to me when I explain the game to new players. I know it seems like a very simple concept to reveal the cards that are not +/- but some people just don't pick up on all the rules. It is much easier to just explain the rules as you play. People have a better understanding of the game at that point and it's easier to learn.

[@jgodfrey1984]

I'm with you man, bin the expansion boxes! I don't understand why people want to devote so much shelf space to the same game.

[@CollectionTHX1138]

Cool. Been waiting to see how this integrated with the game.

[@mellophonium1]

Maybe the Broken Token or another company will make a box that holds both inserts!

[@smolle8906]

bummer fro the extra box but still a cool addition. ( i also trow away expansion boxes as they take up way to much space)

[@dustinboatman6134]

You still can just trash the insert.

[@smolle8906]

im thinking about it ;)

[@ektopia]

Nice review. Thanks. Any idea for a release date?

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Not sure, but I'm guessing in about a month or so since they flew these in.

[@ricke1732]

No saxophone serenade?

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

I don't typically do Sax Serenades for Expansions since I never not keep them :)

[@ProfMoose123]

It may be just me, but he SO reminds me of a Jim Henson Muppet character! Its the eyes!

[@spwhatmeworry]

Hi Dan.. this vid is not listed on BGG

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Thanks I just listed it

[@Citandsu]

Nice Review. Love the base game. Are you ok? You look very tired?

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Well working 40 hours day job and 30 hours a week for 2 years will do that to you! Hoping to get enough Kicktsarter backer support to do this full time next year! Also I filmed this the day after getting back from Gencon which as you can imagine was exhausting! But I wanted to get you all info quick!

[@Citandsu]

Thank you for what are you doing. You are really a great person. But take care of yourself.

[@worldrecipeoflife3806]

Is this good for two players?

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

It uses a "ghost ship". It's ok, but better with more.

[@kavispires]

I have and like Jamaica, but far from loving it. But this expansion seems so fun! Already on my wishlist

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Cool!

[@marknic]

Eesh... an expansion that doesn't fit in the base box? Nope. Pass. Glad it doesn't look like it adds anything interesting to me.

[@dustinboatman6134]

Looks like it adds tons of.intetestubg things. How can you not like special powers?

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

It does make it much more fun in my opinion. Luckily the exp box depth is very small.