Cutthroat Caverns is a game in which players travel into the depths of a dungeon, fighting monsters together, and backstabbing each other, since only one can win the game! With variable monsters, expansions for this type of game are inevitable, and Cutthroat Caverns: Deeper & Darker (Smirk & Dagger Games, 2007 - Curt Covert) is the first. The expansion is fairly small but does add a significant change to the original game, helping differentiate slightly between the characters.

I love the original game but really looked for something to make the thief different from the archer, from the warrior, etc. This expansion allows that by including one special character ability card for each of the six classes in the original game. The abilities are:

Vasha: Can play two attacks, which are uncounterable the first six rounds.

Edaiyn: Can attack without being attacked back for one Encounter.

Nephiedra: Can draw up to nine cards at any point in time.

Talon: Can block an attack on another player, taking half damage and immediately attack.

Orn: Can block an attack, doing double damage back to the creature.

Nyx: Can steal one card from all players, keeping two of them.
These cards can only be used once a game, are fairly powerful, and help add a bit of flavor to the classes of the game. Some of them certainly seem more powerful than others (I've seen Edaiyn's win the game, and Talon's certainly can take out an enemy at an opportune moment). With more play, I'll be able to playtest them more thoroughly, but every group I've tried it with has demanded that we use them, because it gives more flavor to the characters.

Fifteen monsters are also included with the game, which add not only variety but also add to the game's challenge. Examples of the new monsters include:

Arshtongue the Cruel: Hits all players except one with fifteen points of damage, has a ton of hit points, and adds to its damage if players use too many action cards.

Cursed Goblin: Every other attack heals the goblin rather than hurting it.

Psy-Pod: Draws three cards - players who have played matching cards are hit for fifteen points.

Ogre's Challenge: Allows players to play a bit of a card game (poker-blackjack style) to avoid damage.
Of course I like the extra variety, and having forty different enemies really ups the variety of games that are played.

One enemy that is included is the Obsidian Gate, which allows players to pick any Encounter they want to fight and can be used to utilize encounters that have been downloaded off the 'net.

And that's pretty much the whole expansion, which fits in the original box with plastic insert (barely). Not a lot here, but I'll always use it, if only to have a greater variety of monsters and to give more flavor to the characters. If you enjoy Cutthroat Caverns, this is an easy choice - just to keep your games different.

Tom Vasel
"Real men play board games"
www.thedicetower.com