The board is great. It's covered in tear resistant material like the original board that will ensure it lasts far beyond the first couple dozen games. One side is covered in a snowy back ground and the other is desert. While it's not nessessary to play, this board will make the game seem a bit better put together. Playing a desert battle in lush green fields is a bit distracting. All in all, even though it's more of an accessory than a expansion, it's exactly the kind of quality work I have come to expect from Days of wonder.