Back in November, I picked up an almost fully expanded copy of the third edition of Games Workshop’s Talisman: The Magical Quest Game (1994). I’ve never played Talisman, because it looks like a lot, even without the expansions. With the expansions, I can feel myself aging at the thought of just setting it up. Still, I have always admired this edition’s art and the roughly seven million miniatures. Honestly, the mystique of the aesthetic is so delicious, I don’t really want to spoil it by playing the game and potentially being frustrated by it.

I mean, look at that board! And the expansion boards! The art is so good, detailed but still bright and cartoony. I love the topsy-turvy treatment of space, how the city board is both flat and three dimensional, or how the dungeon twists in on itself. And the miniatures! What a weird selection of creeps and weirdos. This isn’t even all of them (I am missing a couple, but even then, I just couldn’t fit them all in the photos). What is up with that chaos dwarf? How much has that hobbit had to drink? Why is everyone raising their weapons in the air? Why do all the miniatures seem like they are shouting? So many cool varieties of magic user type folks too. Ugh, I love it.

Anyway, the main game is the big board. City of Adventure (1994) added to of the L’s – the city and the forest, which slide onto the corners of the main board. Dungeon of Doom (1994) added two more – the dungeon and the mountain. And the final expansion, Dragon’s Tower (1995), replaces the central area of the main board and introduces a new end game.

So you tell me, should I break this out at my board game night and risk it driving me crazy/imperiling my friendships? Or am I a fool for letting it sit on the shelf?