Quick Answer
To get the most out of Cloudspire Volume 2: Ankar's Plunder, start by integrating its new scenarios and skirmishes into your existing campaign or standalone games, focusing on the new faction dynamics and resource objectives introduced by Horizon's Wrath and The Uprising.
What Ankar's Plunder Adds to Your Game
This expansion introduces a new rival faction, Horizon's Wrath, which contests control of the skies and resources on the isles. The scenarios and skirmishes are designed to create conflicts over natural resources, benefiting factions with martial talents and resilience. The Uprising faction also plays a larger role, offering new strategic depth for players who enjoy asymmetric warfare.
Key Differences from Base Game Scenarios
Unlike the base game's standard scenarios, Ankar's Plunder focuses on resource control and skirmishes over specific territories. The new claimant factions change the victory conditions, often requiring you to secure and hold resource nodes rather than simply eliminating opponents. This shift rewards tactical positioning and long-term planning over brute force.
How to Set Up and Play Ankar's Plunder Scenarios
- 1. Choose Your Scenario and Factions: Select one of the new scenarios from the rulebook. Determine which factions are involved, including the new Horizon's Wrath and The Uprising. Ensure each player has the correct faction mats and units. Common mistake: Trying to use base game faction rules without checking for scenario-specific updates. Always review the scenario card for special rules.
- 2. Set Up the Resource Nodes: Place the resource tokens and objective markers on the map as indicated by the scenario setup. These are the key victory points in Ankar's Plunder. Pay attention to the starting positions of neutral units or structures. Checkpoint: Confirm that resource nodes are placed exactly as shown. Misplacing them can unbalance the scenario.
- 3. Understand the New Victory Conditions: Read the scenario's victory conditions carefully. Most Ankar's Plunder scenarios require you to control a certain number of resource nodes for a set number of rounds, rather than destroying the enemy base. Common mistake: Focusing on eliminating enemy units instead of capturing and holding resource nodes. This can lead to losing the scenario even if you win battles.
- 4. Deploy Your Forces with Resource Control in Mind: During the deployment phase, position your units to contest key resource nodes. Use fast-moving units to capture distant nodes and durable units to defend those you already control. Checkpoint: Plan your deployment to secure at least two resource nodes in the first few rounds. A slow start can be hard to recover from.
- 5. Play Through the Skirmish Rounds: Follow the standard Cloudspire round structure, but prioritize actions that capture or defend resource nodes. Use skirmish cards that provide bonuses for controlling territories. Common mistake: Forgetting that some skirmish cards have effects based on the number of resource nodes you control. Check your hand before committing to a plan.
- 6. Adapt to Horizon's Wrath's Unique Abilities: If playing against Horizon's Wrath, learn their faction abilities. They often have aerial units that can bypass ground defenses, making them strong at capturing undefended nodes. Checkpoint: If you are playing as Horizon's Wrath, use your mobility to harass enemy resource nodes. If playing against them, invest in anti-air defenses.
Product Facts
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Cloudspire, Volume 2: Ankar's Plunder Scenarios and Skirmishes: A rival of the heirs descends into the Joining War as Horizon’s Wrath makes landfall on the isles. The almlew are contesting control of Ankar’s skies! And, of course, with any major conflict, there is profit to enjoy for any blessed with martial talents and thick-skinned enough to endure hardship. That’s why The Uprising has flourished. This means the expansion introduces a new major faction and a focus on resource-based skirmishes, changing how you approach objective completion compared to base game scenarios.
Cloudspire, Volume 2: Ankar's Plunder Scenarios and Skirmishes
