I was thinking of getting rid of Runebound now that I have Prophecy (which I finally played and enjoyed yesterday) but you've sold me on keeping it and picking up Sands of Al-Kalim.

Of course it would help matters to be able to keep Runebound set up so it can be played over a series of evenings. Sadly I don't have that luxury. Does Sand of Al-Kalim speed up the game play?

Susan,

Martin Wallace answered your opening question a in the Westpark Gamers' Essen 2005 report

http://www.westpark-gamers.de/index.html?/Reviews/bericht83_1.html

""I hate the fantasy genre" he told me, "I just developed the basic mechanics and let Fantasy Flight create the story and the world""

It's no little irony that the royalties from Runebound and its expansions provided the financial security that allowed Martin to become a full-time designer.

Hi,
We've been on vacation which is why I'm so late in answering your comments. Sorry!

Iain - I don't think Sands really speeds up the play although it is hard for me to tell, given the leisurely way we play it. Each player is going to add significant time so I would only ever play with 2 or 3. I like Prophecy a lot as well and it is definitely quicker if you play with the shorter variant (collecting two artifacts). The big open map of Runebound appeals to me more over the elegant circular track and movement of Prophecy, even if the movement dice are a little clunky and annoying.

Andy - that's interesting. I had a hunch that Martin W. didn't have a whole lot to do with the game. It's too bad he doesn't care for fantasy. I bet he could come up with some cool games.