7 Wonders Expansions: An Overview [Gateway Game Series]

7 Wonders is a board game that is always full of strategy, giving you the satisfaction you seek when playing board games. Also, it appeals to newbies because it is simple enough and easily accessible. The game features a couple of expansions, making it even better, giving it depth and longevity.

But are the 7 Wonders expansions worth the shot? Are they all equal? Which expansion should you start with? This article will give an overview of each of the 7 Wonders expansions and let you know our opinion on them.

7 Wonders Expansions: Cities

Black Cards

This is a feature that will thrill you. Shuffled together into age decks, the black cards allow you to play eight cards each round instead of seven therefore adding draft into every round played. Also, black cards are imperative because, just like purple guild cards, they are adjustable in each game. Awesome, right?

Diplomacy

Having a diplomacy token, given by a variety of black cards and a specific wonder, allows you to go through the military category at the end of the age. This is music to ear especially if you do not like the hustle of hunting for military cards. Consider this, your military cards are not valued even if you gather more than your neighbors. Do you really need to chase after the cards? Not really. Diplomacy will help you worry less about the military and allow you to also use it as an aggressive move against your neighbors.

New Wonders

Are you looking for an expansion that adds diversity to your wonder count? Cities provide you with Petra, also known as the temple of the Holy Grail in Indiana, and Byzantium. Petra will make you rich as you build up (coin-based) while Byzantium puts more attention to Diplomacy.

Eight Player Support

This is the wow factor of this extension. During each round, the black cards add an extra draft which in turn extends to eight the player count. Now, isn’t this spectacular for you and your group of friends? Unlike the cliché player count in most games, this expansion right here allows you to accommodate 8 players.

Theme: Longevity, Depth, and Diplomacy

Are you looking for an expansion that will make playing the 7 wonders game better? Then this is the right expansion for you. Launched in 2012, this expansion comes with a new card, 3 new guilds cards, 6 new leader cards, and 2 new wonders. Also, it allows you to have rules for team games and add support if you have an 8th player. Remember, black cards add diversity to each round while allowing you to play more.

7 Wonders Expansions: Leaders

Leader Cards

The leader expansion is a fan favorite because it allows a player to collect 4 leader cards from a drafting system before a game begins. Most of the cards are not too different from a normal card only that they give you some sort of bonus. So if you are looking for an expansion that gives you a game plan beforehand, then this is it.

New Wonder

Leaders feature a new wonder into the game, Rome. What about Rome? Well, the idea behind the majestic Rome is that it graced quite a number of legendary leaders. Also, wonder bonuses are drawn from this idea. Kindly note that Rome can only be played using leader cards which in turn allow you to play more of the leaders.

Theme: Strategy

Looking for that extra element into the game? Look no further, Leaders expansion adds more coins, 4 new guild cards and a new wonder. Besides the normal cards, every player has 4 leader cards before the start of each game. The players pass all cards, apart from one, to the players on their right. This is done continuously until each player drafts 4 leaders.

After this is done the game starts normally, but each player has to play the leader cards on their hands at the start of each age. Leaders will cost you money to recruit and when used well they will give you bonuses.

7 Wonders Expansions: Wonder Pack

The Great Wall of China

This expansion features a flexible wonder that can be built in any order that you like. One side of the expansion comprises mechanics from 7 Wonders: Cities.

Stonehenge

The expansion allows you to score 2 VP for every stone produced on side A and 1 coin and 1 VP per stone, on side B, for cards of specific colors built by your neighbor. For instance, if you build a wonder with a red card, and your opponent on the left has 3 red cards and the other one on your right has 4 red cards, you will earn a score of 7 points. Spectacular!

Manneken Pis

The Manneken is a statue of a boy peeing that allows you to copy some of your neighbor’s wonders or side B. This will most definitely cost you all your resources but earn you 7 VP, 7 coins and a Shield.

Abu Simbel

Another cool addition to this expansion is Abu Simbel, a wonder for the Leaders expansion that will allow you to “bury” your leaders at the end of the age for VP.

Theme: Wonders

Is simplicity your thing? Then this expansion is a perfect fit. It features a rule sheet and 4 new wonders. This is a concrete addition to your board game, more Wonders, isn’t this just amazing? Also, it is imperative to note that you need Cities and Leaders in order to achieve the most out of this expansion.

7 Wonders Expansions: Babel

The Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel is a unit that is put at the center of the board. When starting the game, each player has three “Babel” tiles. The tiles are played by using the card that is already in your hand. The “tower” in the middle is built by tiles and it contains a universal rule that applies to all.

This can either be a positive to you as a player, certain color of cards being affordable, or being blocked from using certain resources. Whether you choose to block people or help them, the decision lies squarely on you. Working together can help cover Babel tiles if you build enough, therefore, switching them with a new law.

Great Projects

This expansion will allow you to have a central project at the center of the game board where players can work together to build a certain type of building. Once the project is done, all players who contributed earn a certain bonus. Also, if the project is incomplete at the end of the age, then players who did not contribute are penalized. Talk of the benefits of teamwork!

Theme: Projects and Interaction

The 7 Wonders Babel expansion puts much of its focus on player interaction. The base game limits your interaction to resource purchasing and comparing totals for your military. To further aid player interaction, your actions on the table can allow you to block your opponents or alter the scales to favor you. The expansion comes with two modules that can be used in the game when playing individually or together.

7 Wonders Expansions: Armada

Dockyard Board

This is an addition that allows you to receive a dockyard board that is placed next to your wonder. You have an opportunity, during the course of an age, to advance a ship of the same color after paying the rate on the dockyard board, anytime you play a building card.

Ships to Discover Islands

The expansion features new Armada cards that will allow you to receive a fleet of ships for battle, discover trading routes and move the ships freely in the dockyard. Also, you can acquire island cards and also fight other players that are far from you.

Naval Battles

Points are awarded at the end of every age with regard to naval strength. This happens after a naval battle ensues immediately after the ground battle.

Island Cards

The cards can be earned by either drafting cards or activated by advancing ships on the track. This enhances independent awards for you as a player. Also, the cards will allow you to attack other players instead of going into battle with your neighbors. Remember, you will earn an extra card after each age.

Theme: Naval Combat and Exploration

Does complexity thrill you? If yes then this latest expansion to the 7 Wonders game is a must-play and have for you. The expansion allows you to add exploration and marine combat to the game. This feature allows you to add ships to your civilization as you build up. With the ships, you can battle other navies, access new courses, and find new islands.

Final Thoughts on the 7 Wonders Expansions

The 7 Wonders expansions are top-notch products that make this game a clear favorite among many players. Purchasing any of the expansions will surely add more thrill and fun to your game. With that said, it is my opinion that Cities is the best 7 Wonders expansion because it adds more to the game without changing it. Most players love expansions that don’t alter the game’s fundamental nature.

Leaders and Babel are great expansions too. However, they change the overall nature of the game. Babel makes the game more interactive and hostile while Leaders makes it tactical.

But like I said, Cities is the go-to expansion that will add a freshness to the original game, yet without changing the fundamental feel of the game.