Yes, It's expensive. Yes, it's complex. But what it also is is one of the most interesting games you're likely to play. It combines the best elements of Settlers of Catan with the complexity of Stone age yet eliminates almost all of the randomness and luck. Incredibly high replay value as the character tables change every game (kind of similar to the way the board does in settlers). On top of that the game itself is simply beautiful. The pieces themselves are sturdy and just fun to play with and help create a great sense of space in the game. This will quickly become a favourite in your collection if you love complex games.