3000 Scoundrels Double or Nothing Expansion

• Designer: Corey Konieczka
• Publisher: Unexpected Games
• Players: 1-4
• Age: 12+
• Time: 90 minutes
• Played with preview copy provided by Asmodee USA

The base game of 3000 Scoundrels came out in 2022. In this game, players assume the roles of rival leaders attempting to steal precious technology left behind by the Traveler.   “The Traveler brought much change to our small frontier town in the last five years. He showed us marvels beyond imagination and taught us how to use his strange machines. Now that the Traveler has vanished, a storm is coming. Who will control the destiny of the American Frontier?”

Our review of the original game published last October

This is a new expansion coming out this month for 3000 Scoundrels.  There are a number of additions to the basic mechanisms in the game…

Double the Scoundrels – New job and trait cards offer new abilities and double the number of possible scoundrels to 6,000!  Double or Nothing also introduces a brand new type of scoundrel: the Maverick! Mavericks shake up 3000 Scoundrels as they activate during your opponents’ turns, forcing you to keep a keen eye on every move your rivals make.

Advanced Technologies – Technologies now grant unique abilities to give you an edge over your rivals both during the game and at the end of it. Clear mod cards provide even more variability to 3000 Scoundrels, ensuring endless ways to employ a winning strategy!

Debts – Players can gain a debt for a quick infusion of cash, but must be careful as unpaid debts could cost precious tech points.

New Locations –  Visit the Newspaper for a leg up on leads for valuable tech, or stop by the Loan Office to rid yourself of dangerous debts.

Extended Leader Boards – Players can now hold two additional scoundrels for bigger posses and even bigger combo opportunities. If the original game didn’t have enough to keep you interested, these modules can all be added in alone or in combination to increase the decision making in your games of 3000 Scoundrels.  In fact with the new cards, the game should now be called 6000 Scoundrels!

For many people, the biggest addition will be the inclusion of rules for a solo game.

Robust Solo Mode – Double or Nothing offers a dedicated solo mode, with four unique leaders to square off against. Each enemy requires a different strategy to defeat, keeping your approach to victory fluid and varied. Enemies also offer an expert side, increasing their difficulty when you’re ready for a new challenge!

I wasn’t sure how the solo game was going to work – because the original game is all about bluffing.  So much so that it kinda missed the mark for me.  But, how do you include bluffing in a game you’re playing by yourself?  The automa rules nicely check particular spaces for a card, and if there is one there, a henchman is placed on the spot… So, the game has figured out a way to prevent you from bluffing all the time!  It’s not perfect, but it’s enough that it kept me honest in the card playing phase.

There is a lot more information out there from Unexpected Games – you can read the four parts of their previews here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

The expansion is set to release in the very near future, so you should be able to pick it up very soon!

Until your next appointment.

The Gaming Doctor