Sunday 3 November 2013

Legends of Andor

Introduction/Theme 
In Legends of Andor two to four heroes (consisting of Warrior, Dwarf, Archer, Wizard - male or female options!) work together to succeed in five different challenging scenarios (= legends). On their way defending a castle from lots and lots of monsters many exciting quests have to solved.

Components 
The box comes with lots of high-quality material. Beside a two-sided huge board, lots (!) of tokens and cards are included. Also cardboard miniatures and an awesome fire breathing dragon are part of the game. The beautiful artwork supports the theme in a great way, and ensures a great atmospheric experience. 

Gameplay 
Each legend starts with a different setup and with different objectives to complete. You have to decide carefully which hero does which tasks, taking care of individual abilities and available time. Each hero has a little board to track abilities, money and possessions. Combat is resolved quickly and simple, by rolling dice according to respective willpower value and defining strength value of attacker and defender with the roll. There are time tracks for the heroes and the legend, and you have to watch it carefully as especially when a monster has been killed the legend time track moves forward. The more you kill, the faster... So tough decisions have to be taken.

Conclusion 
The game (or better the narrative?) is awesome fun! It's pretty easy to get into the game, as the rules are mostly taught by playing. You start with simple rules, and then get the information and further rules you need to master the actual legend. Complexity grows as you move on to the next scenarios. There is a huge focus on story telling and experiencing great adventures, and the gameplay integrates seamlessly into the narrative. Also the mechanics of cooperation are very well designed and keep the game exciting, you really feel to be in the story. I can't wait to experience more legends soon, and the good news is that first expansions (e.g. The Star Shield) are already available.



From the producer: Legends of Andor is a cooperative adventure board game for two to four players in which a band of heroes must work together to defend a fantasy realm from invading hordes. To secure Andor's borders, the heroes will embark on dangerous quests over the course of five unique scenarios (as well as a final scenario created by the players themselves). But as the clever game system keeps monsters on the march toward the castle, the players must balance their priorities carefully.

At the heart of Legends of Andor is its unique narrative, the linked scenarios of which tell an overarching story as the players successfully complete objectives. For each scenario, or "Legend", a legend deck conveys the plot of an ever-unfolding tale...one in which the players are the protagonists. A wooden marker moves along the board's legend track at key points during each scenario, triggering the draw of a new legend card, the introduction of new game-altering effects, and the advancement of the story's plot. In the end, the players must endeavor to guide the fate of Andor through their heroic actions, bringing a happy ending to their epic fantasy tale.

Will their heroes roam the land completing quests in the name of glory, or devote themselves to the defense of the realm? Uncover epic tales of glory as you live the Legends of Andor!



2-4 players, 75 min
Designer: Michael Menzel
Published by: KosmosFantasy Flight Games 
Category: Fantasy, Adventure, Cooperative, Area Movement 

Legends of Andor has won the "Kennerspiel des Jahres 2013" award.

Legends of Andor @ boardgamegeek.com

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