Chip Theory Games Base Games vs Expansions: Where to Start

Quick answer

Start with a base game, not an expansion. Base games are self-contained and teach the core systems, while expansions assume you already own and enjoy that base game. If you want competitive area control, choose Cloudspire; if you want solo or co-op gladiator combat, choose Hoplomachus Remastered. Add expansions only after you have played the base game enough to know it will stay on your table.

Chip Theory Games sells two kinds of boxes that look similar on a shelf: base games and expansions. They are not interchangeable. A base game gives you the rules, components, and scenarios needed to play from scratch. An expansion assumes you already own that base game and want more characters, cards, or options. Buying in the wrong order is the most common way to end up with a box you cannot use.

This guide gives you decision rules for choosing a first purchase and for deciding when an expansion is worth adding. It uses real catalog facts from Chip Theory Games products, including Cloudspire, Hoplomachus Remastered, and a Too Many Bones expansion, so you can match the box to the way you actually play.

Why base games come first

A base game is a complete product. Cloudspire is a base game about the floating isles of Ankar, where a resource called Source is running out and islands are crashing into one another, pushing formerly peaceful factions into war. That setting, plus the rules and components in the box, is the full experience. You do not need anything else to play it.

Hoplomachus Remastered is also a base game. It puts the best warriors of seven nations into gladiatorial arenas while the minions of Pluto roam the earth, and the gladiators must build strength to stave off supernatural forces. Again, the box stands alone. When you buy a base game first, you learn the core system before you decide whether you want more of it.

• Check the category label: Base Game means self-contained; Expansion means it requires a base game.
• Read the catalog facts for theme and player role, not just the price.

What expansions actually add

Expansions are for players who already own and enjoy a base game. Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist) is an expansion, not a standalone game. It adds a Gearloc who wields metal orbs and uses radiation and trepanation to direct those orbs around the battlefield. The catalog facts list classic Gearloc components such as a character mat, Gearloc chip, and skill set, which tells you it slots into the Too Many Bones system you already have.

The practical trade-off is simple. An expansion gives you more variety inside a game you already like, usually at a lower price than a base game. But it gives you nothing to play if you do not own the matching base game. Buying an expansion first is the fastest way to own a box that sits unopened.

• Confirm you own the exact base game named by the expansion before buying.
• Buy an expansion when you want a new character or scenario, not when you want a new game.

Match the base game to your table

Cloudspire and Hoplomachus Remastered are both base games, but they ask different things of a group. Cloudspire is built around conflict between factions over a limited resource, so it suits players who enjoy competitive area control and direct confrontation. Hoplomachus Remastered is built around gladiators facing supernatural forces, so it suits players who want combat against an external threat rather than only each other.

Neither approach is better. The right pick depends on whether your group prefers fighting one another or fighting the scenario. If your group is split, choose the theme that gets the most players excited, because a base game only earns its shelf space when it actually reaches the table.

• Competitive group: lean toward Cloudspire and its faction conflict.
• Co-op or solo leaning group: lean toward Hoplomachus Remastered and its fight against Pluto's forces.

When to add accessories and collectibles

Accessories and collectibles are not base games or expansions, and they should not be your first purchase unless you already own the matching game. The Too Many Bones Collapsible Dice Tower is an accessory that solves a specific problem: dice flying off the table during a roll. It has a red-on-black finish, magnetic flaps, and bonded leather. It is useful only if you already play a game with dice.

Collectibles are about identity more than play. The Too Many Bones Baddies Coasters are novelty items made from the same plastic and high-quality stickers, with a matte finish and a fun-sized Battle Mat. The Too Many Bones Enamel Pin (Boomer) is sized to wear on a backpack or clothing. Buy these after the game, not instead of it.

• Accessory rule: buy it to fix a real table problem you have already experienced.
• Collectible rule: buy it to show fandom, not to unlock gameplay.

Decision rules for your first Chip Theory Games purchase

• Rule 1: If you own no Chip Theory Games products, buy a base game: Base games such as Cloudspire and Hoplomachus Remastered are self-contained. Expansions such as Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist) require a matching base game you do not yet own. Checkpoint: can you play this box tonight with nothing else? If no, it is not your starting point.
• Rule 2: Choose competitive conflict or external threat: Cloudspire centers on factions fighting over limited Source as islands collide. Hoplomachus Remastered centers on gladiators building strength against the minions of Pluto. Pick the base game whose conflict matches what your group already enjoys.
• Rule 3: Add expansions only after the base game has hit the table repeatedly: An expansion adds variety inside a system you already like. Too Many Bones: Polaris adds a Gearloc with character mat, Gearloc chip, and skill set, which only matters if Too Many Bones is already in your collection. If the base game has not been played enough to know it will stay, wait on the expansion.
• Rule 4: Treat accessories and collectibles as later purchases: The Too Many Bones Collapsible Dice Tower fixes a real table problem, and the Too Many Bones Baddies Coasters and Too Many Bones Enamel Pin (Boomer) express fandom. None of them replace a base game. Buy these after you have a game to use them with.

Catalog facts that affect your decision

• Cloudspire: The floating isles of Ankar are kept afloat by a mysterious energy known as Source, but when it becomes clear this resource is not limitless, tensions rise. They deteriorate further when the islands begin crashing into one another, bringing nation-states into direct conflict. This is a complete base game with a competitive faction conflict built into its premise, so it is a strong first purchase for groups that enjoy area control and direct player conflict.
• Hoplomachus Remastered: The best warriors of seven nations hone their skills in gladiatorial arenas as the minions of Pluto roam the earth. With the threat of Armageddon looming, the gladiators must build their strength and stave off the supernatural forces from the underworld. This base game frames combat as a fight against an external threat, so it fits players who want gladiator combat and scenario-driven opposition rather than only fighting each other.
• Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist): Wielding an arsenal of metal orbs, Polaris is well-positioned to sling iron, nickel, and cobalt around the battlefield. She rocks out to the classic Gearloc accoutrement—character mat, Gearloc chip, skill set. This is an expansion, so it requires the Too Many Bones base game. It adds a new Gearloc and components rather than a standalone game, which makes it a later purchase, not a starting point.
• Too Many Bones Collapsible Dice Tower: The Too Many Bones collapsible dice tower exudes class and distinction. Red-on-black finish, magnetic flaps, bonded leather. This is an accessory that solves dice flying off the table. It is a sensible add-on once you already play a dice-heavy game, but it is not a substitute for a base game.

Who this buying path fits

Best for

• New players who want one complete box they can play immediately
• Groups that already know whether they prefer competitive conflict or fighting a scenario
• Players who plan to expand a game only after confirming it stays in rotation

Not for

• Shoppers looking for a single cheap gift with no game to attach it to
• Players who already own the matching base game and specifically want new characters or components
• Collectors who only want display items such as coasters or enamel pins

Start with a base game, learn whether it fits your group, then expand. Cloudspire and Hoplomachus Remastered are complete starting points; Too Many Bones: Polaris (The Geologist) and the Too Many Bones accessories are rewards for a collection you already play.