Two killer problems with this expansion: * It uses the already janky and often unintuitive logistics system from the base game and makes detailed understanding and minute control over it critical. It's rough edges really shine through here. You need to wait two turns until a new shipping line is established: First you need to have a randomly generated stratagem card, the next turn you can select from a few randomly selected target locations (although existing owned ports will always be listed), and then the turn after that the transport line will exist. Then you can use the "Makeshift Port" card (taking another turn to apply) to make it somewhat usable. Once you've got that going you'll be fiddling with SHQ and zone settings to get your units to actually receive supplies across the sea and not starve. Have 100 logistics points transport capacity, but your infantry unit has 104 weight? Tough luck, it can't be transported. You can manually create custom battlegroups to shift the elements around and make it fit in the logistics limit, but that's fiddly micro work. And, despite reminders at the start of the turn, you often forget to renew transport contracts, leaving your units or island zones high & dry. * You don't actually get to build ships and naval units, or fight on water. Maritime Trade Houses (MTH) are simulated to do that in the background, and you can use stratagem cards to influence them and rent their transport capacity. The MTH control and influence mechanics work okay, but aren't great either. If they decide to go to war with another, you can't do much about it. I believe the developer statement towards naval units and combat is "maybe someday". As for positive things, the water map types and alien aquatic critters are kinda neat. I considered leaving a two star review, but decided on one since my conclusion came to be "the game is better without it". Play the base game and skip on this expansion. All it really adds is frustrating logistics micro.
