With simple rules and stunning artwork, Celestia offers a unique and exciting experience for players of all ages. There are special power cards to understand, a different and sometimes challenging semicooperative flow to consider, and deeper gameplay decisions. However, it is important for them to maintain a balance and not let their habits get in the way of their studies and professional careers. If the captain can't overcome the challenge, though, everyone comes crashing down empty-handed and you'll need to begin a new trip with all passengers on board.

The treasure cards matching each island are shuffled and placed next to each island, and a hand of six equipment cards is dealt to each player. Those that disembark can pick up a treasure card, but the highest scoring loot is reserved for the furthest islands, so players have to engage in an uneasy alliance to get as far as possible. Each player takes turns acting as the ship's captain, navigating the clouds and being the one responsible for fending off what the world is throwing at the ship. Said player rolls a number of ‘challenge’ dice equivalent to the difficulty of reaching the next island on the journey.Each player chooses an "Adven- turer" tile (he keeps it in front of him) and places the "Adventurer" pawn of the same color in the aircraft. If the Captain fails the ship crashes, everyone still on the ship misses out on any Treasure this journey.

At that point, you can assure the other players you have cards with symbols matching the dice rolled. The only really mean part of the game is the “hard blow” card, which forces the captain to roll for additional hazards, but playing that card has always resulted in laughs in my plays. If the passenger feels that the captain will not be able to overcome the challenges shown by the dice, he declares « I will leave ». Normally special action cards like this would dilute the experience for me, but there are few enough of them in the deck that I don’t mind them.Every player that is still in the airship decides, clockwise from the captain, whether they will remain in the ship or jump out, claiming a treasure card from the island where the airship currently is. During the journey, each adventurer can try to pull out of the game with fabulous objects (a jetpack, astronomy glasses, etc. Once all players have chosen, the captain plays the cards required to continue , or if they cannot, all remaining passengers go down with the ship.

It looks wonderful on the table and comes with a three dimensional boat to place all the players pieces in. These dice may show some of the troubles that the captain has to fend off from his hand of cards or they may come up all blank, in which case it's plain sailing to the next island. We could have struggled along with the French rules, but it was much better for us to get the English language rules. David Norris on Air Land and Sea expands its battle lines with Spies, Lies and Supplies – Review Great to hear, I'm a big fan as well.You board an aircraft with a team of adventurers to perform many trips through the cities of Celestia and recover their wonderful treasures. The captain rolls the included custom dice, each of which is blank on two sides and shows one of the four danger symbols on the other sides. Your journey will not be safe, but you will attempt to be the richest adventurer by collecting the most precious treasures!

That can have an effect on future turns… But as these cards are played so infrequently, the Captain just gets on with it and doesn’t bother waiting. The further along the island chain the greater the reward, but also the greater the risk and Celestia is all about balancing your chances of getting to the next island against grabbing the treasure where you are. The journey can be perilous, but the rewards are quite lucrative for enterprising pleasure-seekers like yourself.If the captain can’t overcome the challenge, though, everyone comes crashing down empty-handed and you’ll need to begin a new trip with all passengers on board!