This is really one of my favorite boards - it takes some getting used in terms of managing your resources, but once you get it there's so many options for different strategies.
I think the best way to describe this board is to say, "It's like Antastic, but with more complexity and strategy that make it much more fun." I might be biased by the fact that I won the first game I played here. Still, I was impressed by the balance of this board. The fact that you see other castles (once you own one) gives you a little idea of what's going elsewhere. This makes it a board that is much more about strategy than about good dice. However, you don't see too much. Fun back-story, too. Great board!
Just noticed what looks like a bug in the board, but not sure where to post it. You can fortify from the Blue Castle to one of the Pink Gems. It's a great map, despite the fact that I've done poorly on it every game I've played, except the current one.
Thanks
John