Basics:
The game is for 2-4 players. Lt. Package specification, it is from 10 years playable, according to our experience, I would also recommend that from 10-12 years.
Layout:
North Erwind wins apart through the varied gameplay especially by the beautifully crafted and atmospheric imaging equipment. The little game plan is simple and gives the different tasks and objectives. Here, the victory points are set and thus made the scoring. The game chip and the raw materials are made of thick cardboard and stable. However, the standout is the view of the ships and make them something special from the game. These are assembled ahead of the game and are also made of sturdy cardboard, for any player a ship is included in the package. After the match, the ships can cope reassembled packaged. The ships included slots for the team, the raw materials and prisoners. Furthermore there is a mast which can be removed, so that extends the reach of the ships.
Gameplay:
The aim of the game is to place all own victory points on the board. Who will this be the first, is the winner of the game. Victory points are given for the fulfillment of various tasks, such as:
- A cash payment,
- Delivery of various commodities,
- Capture of a pirate,
- Combinations of the options outlined above.
These tasks can be fulfilled in each of the three cities. At the beginning of a round you opt for a city. Before each city is a stack of cards on which various events or actions are displayed. A card containing the appropriate city itself. A task can only be fulfilled if one possesses the necessary goods etc. and the selected city map draws. With each new game the cards are redistributed so that the tension and play options are always varied slightly. After choosing a city, the player's ship begins to sail, at the beginning of a range of "four cards", which means you may draw up to four cards. This can be increased later by extension of the mast. With the action / event cards can be
- Upgrading the ship,
- Hire team, which opens up additional options,
- Purchase goods,
- Goods for sale,
- Receive gold
- Pirates fight.
Through clever buying and selling a surplus can generate, which can be invested in the expansion of the ship or new goods. The possibilities are manageable and therefore not too complex or complicated. Nevertheless, the own action is good to think and plan: I invest only in expanding my ship or I purchase many goods, which I can then deliver and sell. It should be noted, however, like to set up other players and on what goals they are working towards. The tasks of the three cities have to be done in a specific order. If one adjusts to the performance of a task and has acquired the relevant goods, another player can also accomplish this task,
- When it is his turn,
- Fulfills the requirements and
- The objective card of the city attracts.
The victory point is then set by the opponent. In this case, the goods for their own players are not lost, but can be used or sold again if, for example, the price is favorable for other tasks. Because you never know what cards you draw, and whether you can reach a city and thus accomplish a task, you should buy flexible and prepare for different possibilities.
Learnability:
The gameplay of North Erwind is simple and easy to learn the game. However, we read in the first round, the instructions in sections and try to understand the gameplay so. It is not right all relationships have developed and the meaning of certain actions could not be detected. I therefore recommend the manual - at least roughly - to completely read in order to understand the meaning and the goal of the game to some extent. Then the entry falls a little easier.
Conclusion:
After learning the game is to survey quickly and offers a varied gameplay. The variations by different cards and the tasks to make the game interesting. The running time of 40-50 minutes is just right for a quick game or a full game night. However, it should be mentioned that the gameplay is not innovative. In a similar way the game elements in various other games are already available. But especially want to mention the beautiful game material and the idea with the big 3D ships.
