Ahoy: Rivals & Renegades
Has anyone seen a jumping turtle?
Ahoy! is back on the wide, asymmetrical waters, showering us with two new expansions. In my opinion, it’s a great area-control game that’s perfect for a restless evening for two.
The Rivals & Renegades set introduces two new factions that can replace the Sharks and Molluscs from the base game of this maritime Root.
The Orcas from Mallorca like to travel in groups. Their movement, however, requires careful planning and the proper transportation of the herd. It’s a bit like being on a tour, dropping tourists off at hotels. Similar to the finned Sharks, they have more dice to place per round and can destroy rival units. Their charge ability is especially powerful, and once „Willy” is unleashed, it can wreak havoc among the Turtles and Molluscs.
The Turtles like to spread across the islands and they are pretty Fly. These reptiles launch their companions from catapults, hoping for a solid landing with a telemark. Their faction focuses on strategically positioning catapults to take control of the islands. Special cards help them do this. They might not be as strong as their yellow cousins from the base game, but they have a few ways to remove unwanted fins.
Both factions have interesting and unique mechanisms that bring a lot of variety to the gameplay. However, they are more advanced than those in the base version of the game. They definitely require knowledge of the rules and playing with them at least a few times to know how to operate effectively on these warring waters.
Although, in my opinion, the Orcas promise a stronger punch. Their ability to move the herd and their charge literally nullify what the Turtles can do. After a few games, I’ve concluded that I definitely prefer playing with these aggressive mammals.
Additionally, Rivals & Renegades introduces a team mode to Ahoy!. If we want to play a bigger war, working together, we get a nice twist. One side of the conflict consists of the Sharks and Orcas, and the other side is the Molluscs and Turtles. These factions work well together and can even use their abilities to move their teammates’ components.
The team gameplay was great, but as I mentioned, the Orcas literally crushed the Molluscs’ shells without any problem. I’m keen to play again, but on the other side of the conflict. We’ll see if I find „Willy” then.
Summary
Leder Games did a great job of adding Orcas and Turtles to the game. I still think Ahoy! is a fantastic game for two people, and thanks to these new sides of the conflict, my home duels have become more varied. I’ll always be happy to shout a loud: Ahoy!
Final verdict: The Orcas put on a solid Mordor, and Sean Bean came back on a shell.
[Współpraca reklamowa z Leder Games]
