Mayfair Games has announced a May 9th release date for The Pillars of the Earth Expansion Set (MSRP $29.00), a useful, multi-faceted addition to the popular medieval cathedral-building board game based on the novel by Ken Follett and winner of the 2007 Deutsche Spiel Preis as well as the 2007 'Game of the Year' (Juego del Ano) award in Spain.  Both the original The Pillars of the Earth game and the Expansion Set were designed by Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler.

The expansion adds new characters from Follett's novel including the unscrupulous William Hanleigh, the scheming Bishop Waleran, and the talented Sally and allows players to send workers to France for inspiration and instruction, to take on the role of tax collector, or to volunteer works to assist in the Crusades. 

The Pillars of the Earth Expansion Set includes a stunning new game board (a half board extension with art by Michael Menzel), 7 master builder figures, 36 cards (including new event and privilege cards), 16 worker figures, 10 building material cubes, 4 indicator pieces, and one set of game rules.