Aldarra (and expansion) - Review

About Aldarra, from BoardGameGeek:

In Aldarra, you play as one of four mighty factions, warring for control of this long lost nation. Each Faction has its strengths, and its history, within the lore of Bordair. 3-4 players will select their faction and take as many paths as they can to emerge the new rulers of Aldarra. Use your fleets to exterminate your opponents. Complete secondary objectives and build up victory points as you venture forth from your stronghold to explore new territories, expand your control. Manage and extract the resources and Sordalite crystals you need to grow, replenish, and upgrade your forces. Strategically use the unique abilities of your faction to out maneuver your opponents, and gain control of this magical land. Aldarra, once a grand empire of Sordane, was located along the West coast of Bordair, one of Sordane's largest and most prosperous continents. Aldarra was a culture-rich nation that shone as a beacon of prosperity. It took great pride in its art and education, but also boasted immense military power. Laid low by one of the most cataclysmic convergence storms that Sordane had ever witnessed, the entire nation was ravaged and destroyed in a brutal barrage of magical lightning and energy powered by the planet's core. For centuries, the land was uninhabitable for anything but creatures with the strongest resistance to magical effects. Within the last decade, there have been signs that the magical radiation has slowly subsided, and the chaotic magical energies have been returning back into the planet's core. Expedition after expedition is making wild claims that Aldarra is once again within the world's reach, resulting in many nations, corporations, and crime lords setting their greedy eyes on its lost riches.... Aldarra is a fast-paced 4x combat focused strategy game. 152 massive and finely detailed miniatures will be your tools to ensure your opponents' destruction. You play as a faction vying to exert dominance over the region. Clash with other factions to control the most profitable Territories, claim Crystals, and grow your fleet. Box Contains 1 Rulebook 152 Plastic Miniatures 49 Territory Tiles 49 Explored Tokens 68 Coin Tokens 25 Plastic Crystals 22 Custom 8-sided Dice 75 Exploration Cards 60 Secondary Objective Cards 64 Discovery Mini Cards 1 Victory Point & Turn Order Track 28 Unit Cards 4 Stronghold Tiles 4 Player Dashboards 24 Player Tokens 4 Player Trays for Easy Storage