Yeah it feels like the big box is probably the way to go as some of the content feels borderline essential (at least for my liking) but it’s so expensive that it’s difficult to justify without having played the base game. Holding off but might put it on my wishlist in case someone in my family wants to surprise me.
Same reason I haven’t bought Trailblazers! Too many options for purchasing where I feel like I’m missing out if I don’t spend more money than I’d like.
I can help with Trailblazers: I have everything, all the modules. And I have used some of the modules some of the time–they are not bad. But… mostly I play the base game. It’s on BGA, the implementation is well done. If I could do it over I’d get the travel edition in the small “box” that you can just throw into your bag and nothing happens to it. I have played the game quite a bit and if I didn’t have any modules, I wouldn’t miss anything at all. Caveat: I solo this mostly. But I have played a multiplayer and it was good fun. The different goals provide enough variation to last a while.
Ah but I’d want the ability to play with >4 which means then I’d need the larger box version, and then if you get the regular edition you don’t get the travel pouch, so then I’d be looking at the deluxe version to get the player count + the pouch… and then is that worth it or should I just let go of playing with more people? Or let go of the pouch? At this point I usually decide not to bother!