Hey there,
Last time, I shared the story behind Alaska & Yukon. Today, I want to show you something that changed the entire feel of Photo Tour — something I started dreaming about back when I was hiking remote trails with a camera slung over my shoulder.
It’s called Photo Tour: Expeditions. And honestly, it turned out even better than I imagined.
How It Plays (and Why It Clicks)
The concept was simple: give players a chance to step off the main board and chase a different kind of photography challenge.
You collect gear tokens — compass, tent, sleeping bag, map — from cities on the main map. Each expedition needs specific gear. Mountain photography requires different prep than wetland exploration. We even designed the gear board to look like a real hiking pack, with pockets for each token type. It just feels right.
Once you’re packed, you leave the main board behind and head to one of five expedition sites. Here’s where the game changes pace. You move one space per turn and draw from a special expedition deck, assembling photo sets that match the site’s goals.
Here’s the clever twist: your photo equipment tokens — the ones you’ve been collecting all game — suddenly matter a lot. The more relevant photo gear you’ve packed in your journal, the more expedition cards you draw each turn. Better prep means more choices… which means better odds of finding what you need.
And every expedition card has an immediate bonus. When you return to the main board, you’re not the same — you’ve got new abilities, special actions, and bonus points. It creates this satisfying loop where expedition success transforms the rest of your game.
What surprised me most was how meaningful the choices became. You’re not just thinking about sets — you’re weighing tradeoffs. Do you grab the card that completes your expedition goal… or the one with the bonus you really need back on the main board?
It’s that kind of decision — the one that makes you pause, rethink, and smile — that tells me we landed on something special.
What It Feels Like
The moment you head out on expedition, the tempo shifts.
The bustling main board quiets down. You’re not just collecting — you’re hunting. Planning. Adjusting. Hoping.
When you return to the main board, everything connects now. Your movement isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about setting yourself up. You’re thinking about which gear to collect, which expeditions to target, and how your photo journal shapes your odds.
When we combined Expeditions with Alaska & Yukon, it all clicked. What began as a light, family-friendly game turned into a genuine mid-weight strategy experience, without losing its easy pace or clean rules.
Now you can:
- Optimize gear for perfect expeditions
- Head north for layered dice-rolling challenges
- Or just enjoy the classic base game
All of it works. And it’s opened the game up to players who want more depth, without slowing things down.
The Reaction That Keeps Us Going
We’ve now passed 100 ratings on BGG, and the reviews say it better than I ever could.
“I backed this game from the day it was announced and wow am I glad that I did! It’s an amazing game! As a landscape and wildlife photographer, I’ve always wanted a board game that I could play that matched my passion. This hits perfectly!”
“Great game, especially with the expansions. really glad I backed it. We have playes about a dozen games with different playercounts 2-5 and the game plays smoothly.”
Reading these is the best part of my week. Because every single one is proof that someone, somewhere, felt what we felt when we played those early prototypes.
That connection never gets old.
What Happens Next
In just three weeks, you’ll be able to back both expansions together on Kickstarter, plus a reprint of the core game for anyone who missed the original campaign.
I’m excited. Not just about the launch, but about what this next chapter represents — games that respect the player’s intelligence and the spirit of the theme. Games that let you slow down and find something meaningful.
🎁 Haven’t reserved your free promo cards yet?
Reserve them here
And hey — if this sparked something in you…
If you can picture yourself planning that perfect expedition, or laying out those layered wilderness photos…
Tell a friend who’d love it too.
That’s how this dream grows.
Thanks for believing in what we’re building.
Update: The Comic That Got Away
A quick note — I realized after publishing that I forgot to include this week’s Foxed Up comic. Sometimes even when you’re focused on expedition planning, you miss the basics.
Here’s what Finn, Moss, and Grizz were up to while I was writing about gear tokens:
The irony isn’t lost on me. Write about careful preparation, forget the comic. Classic.
If you’re reading this on the website, you’re getting the complete version. If you got the newsletter in your inbox, well — now you know why there might be a follow-up email coming.
These small oversights remind me why we build review processes into game production. One missed component, one forgotten element, and the whole experience changes. Good thing, comics are easier to fix than printed game boxes.
Take care,
— Eugene
Founder, Timashov Publishing
timashov.games
P.S. Free promo cards are still available — but not for long. Grab yours here.
