Better together?
Fallout Atomic Bonds is the small expansion for the Fallout board Game also known as the cooperative upgrade pack. It is like the basic game distributed by Fantasy Flight Games.
Content
In this expansion you will find 14 mutation cards, 14 modification cards, 1 assist die, 12 goal cards, 8 activation cards, 12 workshop upgrade cards, 1 double-sided power token, 8 C.A.M.P tokens and 5 double-sided scenario sheets. No new tiles, no new enemies or playable characters.
Changes
First major change, is that players must choose a loyal faction during setup by choosing one of the factions from the scenario from the base game. Once the faction is decided the matching scenario from the expansion is then used placing the chosen faction face up and the power token of the opposite faction face up at the top of the scenario sheet. Players are each issued a mutation card and it is placed face down on the right side of the player board. Mutations remains hidden until it is activated. 4 goal card are revealed and are the current objectives. This expansion is based on a win for all or not, to achieve the win, the players must complete the victory conditions on the scenario sheet.
Is more better?
The basic game can be replayed quite often without having the same results over and over. The addition of the New California expansion made the maps bigger and more characters, while keeping the basic rules of the game. This expansion does introduce more elements that are present in the video game franchise, don’t get me wrong, but it does take away the competitiveness of the basic game and that who can you trust question. Yes, the assist die allows another player to help in the game, but by choosing to do so, they may also take some damages, therefore will they, there is nowhere in the rules that states they have to help.
Final note
Fallout Atomic Bonds is WARM and is definitely the last expansion I would add to the game. But if you are tired of competitive games and enjoy the post-apocalyptic universe of Fallout this one is for you.