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A Look at FFG’s Legends of Andor

Fantasy Flight Games has a new fantasy co-op game on the horizon designed for two to four players. Details are a bit light but from a first read through of the available info it sounds a bit along the lines of Defenders of the Realm. FFG’s Legends of Andor should be available later this year.

From FFG:

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. 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!

Legends of Andor includes:

  • 1 Game Board, 1 Quick-Start Rules Booklet, and 1 Reference Booklet
  • 4 Double-Sided Hero Boards and 1 Merchant Inventory/Battle Sequence Board
  • 138 Cards
  • 179 Cardboard Tiles, Tokens, and Markers
  • 14 Wooden Cubes and Disks, and 1 Cardboard Tower
  • 41 Plastic Stands and 20 Six-Sided Dice

Live the Legend with Story-Based Gameplay

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. Ultimately, the players must guide the fate of Andor through their heroic actions, aspiring to achieve a happy ending to their epic fantasy tale.

A Vibrant Fantasy Realm with Myriad Choices

The debut design by the accomplished artist Michael Menzel, Legends of Andor presents a rich and vibrant fantasy realm filled with mountains, rivers, farmlands, and forests…and overseeing it all is the castle, a bastion of safety and order across the land. But now, barbaric Gors, agile Skrals, hulking Trolls, and demonic Wardraks have begun their relentless assault on Andor’s capital, and if enough vile monsters lay siege to the castle, the entire realm will be cast into eternal darkness.

Standing against them are a band of heroes, each from one of four unique classes. The Warrior of the Reeded Lands boasts an unwavering will and can quickly recuperate after a difficult fight, while the Wizard of the North can alter the very fabric of reality to turn defeat into victory. Meanwhile, the Dwarf of the Deep Mines possesses a mastery of hammer and anvil that allows him to gain strength from the mines of his home, and the Archer of the Watchful Forest can attack his foes before they even see him.

Each hero is represented by a hero board, with which players have the ability to customize their in-game personas to their specific needs or preferences. A player might seek artifacts and other helpful items like the shield, bow, falcon, or helm. He might bolster his hero’s strength points, increasing the combat dice modifier and making his attacks all the more potent. Or, he might increase his hero’s willpower points, a measure of both stamina and the likelihood of successfully striking monsters. The straightforward system of hero selection thrusts players into the action quickly, while still leaving room for compelling character progression throughout the story.

Begin Your Tale Immediately

The linked scenarios in Legends of Andor are designed to teach the fundamentals of the game as the players experience it, obviating the need for a lengthy rulebook. Indeed, armed with nothing but a four-page Quick-Start Rules guide, players can dive into the world of Andor within a few minutes of first opening the box. The introductory legend, entitled “The Heroes Arrive,” acquaints players with the key components, mechanics, and challenges found in the game, all while laying a narrative foundation one would expect in the prologue of an epic fantasy novel.

Most noteworthy is that this is accomplished as the story unfolds, all through the use of the legend deck. The game itself teaches each core mechanic only as needed, so new players learn while they play! Of course, more experienced players can skip directly to the legend entitled “Long Live the King.” In this tale, King Brandur of Andor is ill, and only the healing brew of an enigmatic witch can save him. Unfortunately, an arcane fog has descended upon the forest, and the heroes must scour the area if they hope to find her in time to save the life of their lord. Compounding the challenge, a horde of monsters is taking advantage of Brandur’s weakened state and has launched an assault on the castle. The heroes must find the witch and recover her brew, all while thwarting a siege by bloodthirsty foes!

With six legends and countless combinations of outcomes, Andor’s fate stands ready to unfold again and again. What tale will you tell? Gather your party and prepare to live the Legends of Andor!

Jeff McAleer

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