Gildeklassiker #2 - Die Legenden von Andor


Recently we finally made it - the final boss of the fifth legend has been defeated and soon we'll be heading north. While reading the accompanying booklet, I noticed that the first publication of the Legends of Andor was actually 14 years ago. The game was also voted Connoisseur Game of the Year in 2013. Reason enough to include it in the Guild Classics series, in which we focus on board games that were released more than ten years ago. But what is Andor actually about? The cooperative game takes two to four heroes to the legendary kingdom of Andor. The land is exposed to numerous dangers that the brave heroes must face. Our heroes have different abilities and can be strengthened with various pieces of equipment as the game progresses. The game board shows the land of Andor on one side and the mine of the shield dwarves on the other. The stories, events and game objectives are controlled by the legend cards. The box contains a total of five legends, with the first legend introducing the group to the game and gradually explaining all the game elements.

The start of the adventure...

... is quick and easy thanks to the instructions. A few components need to be placed on the game board, the heroes chosen and the legend cards laid out. Then you're ready to go. The first legend card is turned over and catapults us straight into the world of Andor. In addition to the story, the objectives for each legend are explained on the cards.

The game has a day and night cycle. During the day, players take turns performing actions. Each action advances the respective player marker on the hour track by one space. After the seventh hour, the marker is placed back on the sunrise space. Each player therefore has seven actions. Overtime (maximum of three) can be "bought" for two willpower points. Players can use the following actions:

  • Move - by one space on the game board
  • Fight
  • Move Prince (if Prince Thorvald is in play)
  • Pass

The Fight action can be played as a joint action. This is often necessary during the course of the game, as many enemies cannot be defeated by one hero alone. Creatures that are not defeated in combat also recover completely. In some rounds, players also receive active support from Prince Thorald, who can be controlled by anyone. There are also actions during which the hour marker is not advanced:

  • Activate fog tiles
  • Empty the well
  • Collect, discard or swap gold or items
  • Use items
  • Buy strength points and items from a merchant

Gors and Skrale strike back

After the heroes have performed all their actions, the night phase begins. Everything that happens during the night phase can be seen on the sunrise space. First, an event card is drawn and resolved. Then the Gors, Skrale, Trolls and Wardraks move along the arrows towards the castle. The creatures skip spaces that are already occupied by creatures. Finally, the wells are refreshed and the narrator is moved one space further along the legend track. This triggers various events - in most cases, the story progresses. A new story card is read.

The long road together

Legends of Andor was one of the first games to start with a tutorial, saving the players from having to read the instructions first. Once set up, you can really start playing straight away. Thanks to the great illustrations and the coherent story, the game has an immersive feel - just right for a cold, dark winter evening at the cozy game table with the family. Broken down to its mechanics, Andor can best be described as a tactical puzzle game. The scripted gameplay may seem a little old-fashioned for frequent players, but the various legends offer plenty of variety and all play differently.

Despite the easy start, you shouldn't expect to complete the individual legends the first time, as the level of difficulty is quite high. It is impossible to achieve the legend objectives without precise coordination - the game forces you to work together. As soon as you fail a legend (which is part of the game), you gain enough tactical experience to achieve the objectives the next time. It's not always "just" a matter of eliminating all your opponents, and that's the shared gaming experience that makes Andor so special.

There is a lot of game in the box but, as expected, the replay value decreases after all the legends have been played through. Then you have to get creative yourself. In the original box, the sixth legend was delivered as a set of blank legend cards so that players can create their own legends. The author has provided a Developer Guide on the game website. However, if you don't feel like getting creative, you can start directly with the second part The Journey to the North. All in all, Legends of Andor is a beautiful immersive family game at a high level that has aged surprisingly well.

*We bought "Legends of Andor" ourselves. This has no influence on our rating

Spieleranzahl: 2-4 | Alter: 10+ | Spieldauer: 60-90 Minuten | Erscheinungsjahr: 2013
Autor: Michael Menzel | Illustration: Michael Menzel | Verlag: Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG
Weitere Informationen: kosmos.de/de/die-legenden-von-andor_1691745_4002051691745

  • 1 beidseitig illustrierter Spielplan
  • 72 Legenden- und 66 Spielkarten
  • 41 illustrierte Spielfiguren
  • 1 Erzähler-Figur
  • 20 Würfel
  • über 100 Kartonplättchen
  • 14 Anzeigesteine aus Holz
  • 1 Losspiel-Anleitung
  • 1 Begleitheft

The Land of Andor is in danger. From the mountains and forests, enemies are advancing toward the castle of old King Brandur. Only your small band of heroes stands in their way. Will you succeed in defending the castle and protecting Andor?

Legends of Andor is a cooperative board game for two to four heroes. Live the legendary tales as you unite to battle ever-encroaching enemy forces.

After the first Legend, more fantastic adventures ensue. You must find the witch and obtain a medicinal herb to cure the sick king. Help the prince repel the evil powers of the dark mage. In the ancient mines, you seek out precious gemstones — and uncover grave dangers. And finally, you must pit your skills against the mighty dragon, awakened from an age-old slumber. Can you triumph against these challenges? Only if you work together will you have the strength to be the true heroes of Andor.

cooperative Story-Driven Fantasy Analog Games
12.01.2024 - user://Stefan

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