NORD erwind is one of the games where an original and impressive presentation makes immediate desire to risk a round. Finally, each player has a beautifully cooked, fully three-dimensional model of his ship in front of him, on which merchandise, crew and additional equipment can be placed. Although you are only this ship model before him and does not move in the game (NORD erwind plays with cards and has no game plan) it just looks nice and makes the same for an appropriate atmosphere.
After the model is assembled, you can set sail together and this shows then how does NORD erwind.
In many respects the basic mechanics a bit reminiscent of games like "Galaxy Trucker (however ohen the this game indwelling rush) to the three ports of call include decks, which have been gradually work off, as you approach the target. Each card defines an event, . may, for example, a wreck, which brings gold to the captain of it examined, a store where you buy goods or (at a profit, of course) to sell or a pirate attack Once the target has been reached the deck is reshuffled, meaning: while one at the beginning of each batch can only explore, you can play progresses the individual stacks (ie overseas) Select more selective: gradually setting you which cards in which stacks are, and can plan his route accordingly A good memory is worth. at NORD erwind definitely. The winner is the first could einheimsen a number of victory points. For this purpose it is necessary to fulfill orders in the destination ports, so in their scope and sequence permanently prescribed combinations of commercial goods to deliver there.
In principle, NORD erwind plays fast and easy to understand the very beautiful components ensure appropriate atmosphere, the rules are straightforward and clear, and any lack of clarity will not occur. NORD erwind is not too heavy and usually a game, in which young and old can quickly enter.
However, it appeared during the game, unfortunately, that NORD erwind has three distinct shortcomings, without which it would be much better (!): First is quickly obvious that there is quite a lack of options big decisions you have not really meet. Second, the player interaction is very small, really not another one plays this game really, and the actions of other players affect the own actions rarely and rather indirectly. Third, just adds that North erwind is often very dominated by chance.
As for the missing options: making decisions is the player taken off in most cases. The ships can be upgraded in one direction, you have to actually take any considerations - none of the "upgrades" has any drawbacks. Team members who give to certain actions a bonus, you can only once on board (and a disadvantage and their presence does not), the cargo space is the same at each player and can not be expanded, and is in the number of guns simply "the more the better. So you can hardly individualize or try different configurations, but simply buy a few for all players exactly the same and exactly the same expensive Boni his ship.
The same principle applies actually for the actions, which in the deck lurking unlike in the case already mentioned Galaxy Trucker you have rarely here to consider whether an action is now making or not, the choice is actually always pretty obvious. What makes a game often thrilling, namely making decisions (pronounced "tactics"), rather fall by the wayside.
The second shortcoming is the lack of interaction, suggests for me also a negative effect: NORD erwind plays basically every man for himself. You can hardly interact and neither cooperate nor get in the way, and at an even significantly lower in guiding players can be done hardly anything. Ultimately, there are only few moments when the players can do anything on the train of another, mainly when they also can goods from a vendor with the use of a "trading letter, with just traded the active player.
The third shortcoming of NORD erwind, namely of the system's inherent randomness is finally not to be denied, but still bearable. Miunter generated NORD erwind somewhat frustrating situations and depends often times from pure happiness from - in conjunction with the lack of options (see above) is also hereby finding a functioning tactics rather secondary.
Bottom line makes me NORD erwind assessing not easy to be at the game can not help feeling that there could actually be a very nice and atmospheric game, if it were just a bit more sophisticated and if you would have done it a little bit more complex. NORD erwind makes the impression that it would have been very, designed to "play it safe", the rules and game mechanics are contained solid and well thought out, but one misses simply good stuff.
That there are few options and the player interaction is often minimal dampen the fun appreciably. I am sure that this game worlds would be better if you could do more with one another (eg with each act, attacking each other, may also cooperate against common opponents as pirates) and of course, when decisions need to be better balanced (eg the expansion of the vessel ), could therefore also examine more different strategies. All these elements could be, as evidenced by other games, yes, quite installed without from NORD erwind would a Regelmonstrum.
On the positive side, of course, the solid game plan to name as such, and of course the very beautiful presentation. For an entertaining round is good NORD erwind all times, and it's just the beginning definitely fun.
My judgment I must therefore differentiate something: for high volume players and strategy friends I would rather give 2 stars, even relatively for a family game provides NORD erwind given the great competition simply too little and would be with a few improvements immediately more interesting. Casual gamers and families can NORD erwind other hand, in principle certainly be recommended, the game plays out for everyone afloat, looks beautiful and not degenerates into great work, here I would give 4 stars.
Overall, I land so players in mediating 3 stars NORD erwind is by no means a bad game, but falls short of options.
