Fantasy Flight Games

The Adventure Continues With a Kennerspiel des Jahres Award!

Published 10 July 2013 |

The Adventure Continues With a Kennerspiel des Jahres Award!

A Spotlight on Legends of Andor with Designer Michael Menzel

Each year, the German Spiel des Jahres and Kennerspiel des Jahres are awarded with the intention of promoting board gaming as a cultural asset.This year, Legends of Andor, designed by Michael Menzel, received the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres!

The Spiel des Jahres is 'Game of the Year', and the Kennerspiel des Jahres, formalized in 2011 is an award for the 'expert's' or 'connoisseur's' Game of the Year. The awards are determined by the Spiel des Jahres jury, which consists of journalists who specialize in reviewing games.

Let’s take a look at Legends of Andor, 2013's Kennerspiel des Jahres winner!

Immerse Yourself in the Legends

Brave King Brandur and his son, Prince Thorald, grow worried. Andor has long been a place of peace, but now, vicious monsters – skrals, gors, and the like, have appeared once more in the countryside, making their way toward the castle. Though both King and Prince are great fighters, they know they will not be able to defend Reitburg Castle alone. Prince Thorald rides out to seek help from Andor’s bravest heroes…

In Legends of Andor, two to four players each take the role of a powerful hero as they attempt to save the land of Andor from a horde of evil creatures. The game features beautiful original art, and a special deck of cards that allow you to learn the rules as you play the game.

You take the role of a Wizard, a Warrior, an Archer, or a Dwarf. Each use their unique ability to fight for Andor and for its king. Each character’s hero board can be customized throughout the game as you gain strength, willpower, and various assets, like shields, bows, or falcons.

Once formed, your band of heroes must embark on a series of dangerous quests through the lands of Andor. You’ll confront the deadly foes who threaten the King, and you’ll quest to accomplish objectives which will help make Andor a safe and peaceful land once more.

Travel through dark and dangerous mines, and foggy forests as you and your fellow heroes follow the orders of your King. But hurry! Each hero only has seven hours of daylight each day during which to carry out his tasks. Once these hours are used up, you may work into the night, for a penalty, or begin a new day, which advances the legend even further.

At the heart of Legends of Andor is its unique narrative, the linked scenarios that tell an overarching story as the you successfully complete objectives. For each scenario, or “Legend,” a legend deck conveys the ever-unfolding plot…one in which the you are the protagonist.

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, you must guide the fate of Andor through your heroic actions, aspiring to bring a happy ending to your epic fantasy tale. Legends of Andor features five playable legends, as well as a sixth that allows you to create your own unique adventures.

For more on Legends of Andor, check out our previews of the game’s heroes, monsters, and turn sequence.

A Few Questions for Michael Menzel

Legends of Andor designer Michael Menzel took the time to share his thoughts about the reception of the game, and the Kennerspiel des Jahres.

Last time we chatted with you was about six months ago, before Legends of Andor was released. Have you been pleased with the reception?

I am very happy with the way Andor has been accepted. It's always risky to try something new, like we did with the quick-start rules and the tutorial-concept. It really paid off, because without them, we would not have reached the casual players like we did. Though people want to play a game in a fantasy setting, if it has more than four pages of rules, it seems more like work than fun to them. With Andor, they have the chance to enter a fantasy world after only two pages of rules. What has been your favorite part of this experience thus far?

The most impressive moment for me, was when I first saw how well experienced gamers played Andor. It was comparable to a music composer, who has to imagine how his music will sound in a full orchestra version. When he writes it, he hasn't got an orchestra nearby. When I saw those gamers playing the game, searching and finding the right solutions, nearly failing and then winning in the end – it was just amazing.

Typically, the Spiel des Jahres recognizes Game of the Year for families, while the Kennerspiel des Jahres recognizes Game of the Year for more experienced gamers. Legends of Andor, with its quick-start rules, and learn-as-you-play style is great for families, and was designed with your son in mind, as a way to find a cooperative fantasy game that was family friendly. That said, it is a great game for more experienced gamers as well, so how do you feel about winning the Connoisseur's category?

I think it is very easy to enter Andor (even for less experienced players) but the deeper you get into it, the more challenging it becomes. It is comparable to a computer game, which no one would rank after playing the tutorial, so it is hard to categorize Andor. But I think all the material in the box and the playing time make it more appropriate for a "Kennerspiel des Jahres”. Thanks Michael!

For bonus content for Legends of Andor, head to our support page, where you'll find the Wolf Warrior bonus character (pdf, 1.2 MB UPDATED)! Or, head to your local retailer to purchase your copy of Legends of Andor today!

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Live a Legend, Stave Off the Monstrous Horde

Published 20 December 2012 |

Live a Legend, Stave Off the Monstrous Horde

Legends of Andor Is Available Now

Legends of Andor is available now at your local retailer and on our webstore!

Gather your allies and save the land of Andor in this cooperative adventure board game for two to four players. In Legends of Andor, a band of heroes must work together to repel an invading horde of monsters. To secure Andor’s borders, the heroes will embark on dangerous quests in five unique scenarios (as well as a final scenario created by the players themselves).

Begin Your Adventure Today

Legends of Andor is a pick-up-and-play experience that teaches players the rules and mechanics of the game as they embark upon their grand adventure. With the Legend Track and a deck of Legend Cards, each phase of your quest introduces you to new concepts by using gameplay to teach each idea. Previously, we interviewed the creator of the game, Michael Menzel, about his process in approaching the design of Legends of Andor.

The Legend Track advances with the dawning of each new day, and we’ve taken an in-depth look at how the heroes will need to manage their priorities as they devote their time to battling monsters or seeking out powerful items. The hours in each day can be spent battling monsters, seeking out treasure, or simply traversing the vast landscape.

Players will need to collaborate to save the realm, determining best course of action for each hero. Who will work to gather the powerful runes, who will clash in combat with the monsters, and who will venture into the fog of the forest in search of the witch and her brew? Deciding how to spend each day during your quest to save Andor is vital, as the monsters move closer to the castle with each passing day.

Powerful Heroes in Legendary Battles

The heroes bring great skill and courage to the battle for Andor, and it will take their combined strength and iron will to protect King Brandur’s castle. We discussed in detail how each hero can reinforce his individual might with equipment, items, and training. Take your heroics to new heights by building up your character before trying to take down the most powerful foes that threaten the land!

Battling the invading creatures is a tall order, and the terrible monsters must be fought and stopped before they overrun the castle of King Brandur. We examined how the heroes must face these fell foes in combat, and we explored the dire consequences of the champions’ defeat in a previous article. Fight as a unified force to better your chances at success, and live out a your legend as you struggle to save the realm of Andor.

Excitement awaits in this learn-as-you-play adventure, so head to your local retailer and pick up Legends of Andor today!

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Repel the Monster Horde

Published 4 December 2012 |

Repel the Monster Horde

Combating Creatures and Defending the Castle in Legends of Andor

The battle for the safety of the land of Andor and King Brandur rages across the entire realm. The mighty heroes must face and defeat the horde of trolls, gors, skrals, and wardraks before these creatures invade the castle and destroy the kingdom.

Legends of Andor will be on sale in just over two weeks! In our other previews, we looked at the process of journeying through the realm of Andor and the powerful heroes of the kingdom and their equipment. We also heard from the game’s designer, Michael Menzel, for a look into the process of creating Legends of Andor. In this preview, we’ll examine the mechanics of combat as the heroes attempt to rid the land of the foul invaders!

Joining the Battle for Andor

The monsters have one goal: get to the castle. These foul creatures don’t consider the humans of Andor to be a real threat to their march, and they won’t initiate combat as they make their way toward their final goal. It’s up to the heroes to attack the beasts that threaten their homeland and defeat them before they can make their assault on the castle.

A hero in the same space as a monster can initiate combat, and since the brave hero takes the initiative, he always gets to strike first. The attacking player rolls a number of dice as determined by the hero’s willpower score. The higher a hero’s willpower, the more dice he can roll for his attack score. The player rolls his dice, and then he picks the one with highest value to add to his hero’s strength value to determine his battle value

Each monster’s attributes and the rewards for defeating it are indicated by its picture next to values on the monster display. This is an example of a battle setup for a gor.

Once the battle has begun, a monster will take proper notice of its assailant. The monster’s number of dice, willpower, and strength values are printed on a section of the game board, and the monster’s battle value is determined the same way as the hero’s. So, in the example above, you can see that the gor has a strength value of two, and starts the battle with four willpower points. This starting willpower means the gor will roll two dice. The reward for defeating a gor is either two willpower points, two gold, or one of each.

The creatures assaulting the kingdom are superhuman in their strength, and even the weakest among them can rend the average person to bits. When a monster rolls two dice that result in the same value, then those two values are combined for a massive strike at your hero. The higher value determines the winner of the round of combat, and the difference between the two scores is dealt as damage to the loser’s willpower.

The heroes can increase their chances of destroying these creatures by investing in their equipment. As we saw in another preview, the merchants of Andor offer an array of items that can give a hero an edge when facing the creatures in the countryside.

The first combatant to have his willpower reduced to zero loses the battle. If the vile beast is killed, the legend marker moves forward one space on the legend track, and the hero also wins the rewards printed under the monster’s icon on the monster display.

If the battle takes a bad turn for the intrepid adventurers, then your hero may suffer enough damage to his willpower to be defeated. Falling in battle weakens a hero, and he loses a point of strength in order to regain a three points of willpower.

In the above example, Thorn has won the combat round, and the gor takes four points of damage to its willpower (the difference in Battle Values).

Each round of combat takes an hour from the hero’s time track. If your hero isn’t brimming over with strength, it may not be a good idea to begin a battle late in the day. If there aren’t many hours remaining before nightfall, your hero will have fewer chances to wear down the monster’s willpower and all the resilient creatures regain their full willpower if they are not defeated.

Allies in Battle

Some of the foes that plague the land of Andor are too mighty to be felled by a single hero. These battles are better fought with your allies at your side. There is truly strength in numbers, and any heroes occupying the same space can engage in a team battle if they come up against a particularly tough enemy. In a team battle, the strength values of all of the participating heroes is combined. Each player rolls his dice and picks the highest value, just as in normal combat.

The combined efforts of the heroes have a much better chance of overwhelming a mighty beast. The values of each hero’s combat roll are added to the combined heroes’ strength to get the team battle value. This battle value is compared to the monster’s, and victory and damage are determined just as in normal battle.

The warrior Thorn and the archer Chada team up with Prince Thorald to take on a troll

An advantage in numbers comes with a risk, however. A particularly powerful monster may still defeat the team of heroes, dealing the difference in the two battle values as damage to each participating hero individually! If, on the other hand, the combined power and coordinated efforts of your heroes eventually defeats the creature, then the spoils of victory are divided amongst the heroes at the discretion of the players.

The heroes may be the kingdom’s best hope, but they are not alone in facing the vicious horde of monsters. The brave son of King Brandur, Prince Thorald, has set out into the land to lend his aid to the adventurers. In some of the legends, the mighty Shield Dwarves may also bring their axes to bear against the invasion. If either of these powerful allies are in a space with a monster under attack by a hero, then players add four to the final battle value versus that creature. Utilizing the might of these helpful friends may spell the difference between victory and defeat in a difficult battle.

Monsters in the Castle

Should any of the monsters manage to evade the heroes and make their way to the castle, King Brandur’s guards must hold the line. The castle’s forces can only handle a few of the foul beasts. If too many creatures make it to the castle, then it will be overrun...and the kingdom will be lost.

In this three-player game, one skral has made it into the castle, and the heroes have brought one farmer for reinforcements.

The number of monsters that the guards can fend off is represented by golden shields on the board. Each time a monster enters the castle, its marker is placed on an empty golden shield, and it can no longer be attacked by the heroes. If a monster makes its way to the castle and all the golden shields are already occupied by the foul invaders, then the kingdom is lost!

Fortunately, the common folk of Andor are always willing to help king and country in a time of need. But while the farmers in the countryside will gladly take up arms to defend their king, they can’t make it to the castle alone. If a hero comes across a farmer in his travels, he can choose to escort him.

While the farmers can’t help the hero in battle, once they are brought to the castle and properly outfitted, they will take up arms to help reinforce the castle against any invaders. When the heroes bring a farmer to the castle, an extra golden shield is added, making it harder for the monsters to conquer the kingdom. On each turn, therefore, a player must decide whether his time would be better spent offensively by fighting monsters, defensively by bolstering the militia at the castle, or in some combination of the two. After all, the extra defense provided by the escorted farmers may make all the difference as they fight to save the land of Andor!

Engage the terrible invaders in combat in order to keep them away from the castle, and bring reinforcements to King Brandur’s guard. In Legends of Andor, the land is threatened by all manner of evils, and it’s up to the brave heroes and their allies to save the kingdom. Legends of Andor will be on sale in just over two weeks, so prepare yourself to defend the kingdom soon!

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A Look Inside the Legends

Published 26 November 2012 |

A Look Inside the Legends

An Interview With Michael Menzel, Designer of Legends of Andor

In Legends of Andor, 2-4 players each take on the role of one of four powerful heroes as they attempt to save the land of Andor from a horde of evil creatures. The game features beautiful original art, and a unique method of teaching players its rules while they play using a special deck of cards. Michael Menzel, creator of Legends of Andor, answered some questions for FFG about his creative process.

How did you enter the industry, then how did you come to design Legends of Andor?

Before I started to illustrate board games, I worked for a computer game development studio where I met Peter Neugebauer, a member of TM-Spiele. Years later, when the studio went into insolvency, I met Peter again, and he gave me the chance to make some sketches for a card game called Manga Manga.

It was difficult, because I hadn't drawn anything in a Manga-style before, and I had only one weekend (with lots of "how to draw Manga"-books from the library) to make sketches that would hopefully convince the publisher. Fortunately they did!

When I began creating Legends of Andor, it wasn't my intention to become a game designer. My son was nine when we were looking for a fantasy game that wasn’t too complex and without too many rules. We also didn’t want it to be too abstract. When we couldn't find something along those lines, we started to draw our own heroes, items, and game board. The project was just for fun, and was an especially nice way for me to be creative with my son.

Did you create the artwork before the game, or did you design the game before the artwork?

I would say both started at the same time. The whole game is designed from the illustrator’s perspective. For example, look at the Witch’s Brew.

The reason the potion can only be used twice is inherent in the artwork. The potion-token shows the full bottle on the frontside. When you use it once, you turn it onto its backside, where the bottle is shown half-empty. If you use it again, it's empty and the token will be put away. The Witch’s Brew can only be used twice as an effect of its design.

Many things in the game work that way. In my opinion, rules that reflect the design make a game much easier to learn and easier to remember when you haven’t played it for a while.

What other board games, if any, inspired your design of Legends of Andor?

It’s a pity, but I actually don't know very many games. Within the fantasy genre, I like The Lord of the Rings by Reiner Knizia very much.

I have read that some people are comparing Legends of Andor with Defenders of the Realm, Talisman, or Castle Panic. I didn't play them. As I mentioned before, Legends of Andor has been developed primarily myself and my son in mind. Everything was designed according to the story elements. For example: Legends of Andor has cooperative elements because of its theme. The land Andor is in danger and is not far off from being destroyed by bad creatures, so it's only natural that the heroes work together.

What other artwork, if any, influenced that of Legends of Andor?

I'm a great fan of John Howe. His work influences me in general, not only with respect to Legends of Andor. It's the way he handles light and color. He is just amazing.

Legends of Andor is unique in that there is no rulebook. Rather, players learn as they experience the game. Was this your goal from the beginning? How did this approach develop, or why did you choose this unique path?

As an illustrator I had suggested this way of learning rules a few times for other games, but no one was interested or believed that this approach could work. My experiences with computer games made me think it would be possible. When the publisher and I decided that there would be multiple legends (in the prototype there was only one adventure) I thought to make the first legend very easy, like a tutorial in computer games, and increase the level of complexity with each new legend.

Of course, this required a lot of extra effort, because the editor Wolfgang Lüdtke and I did quite a lot of tests on just the rules, rather than the game itself. We watched people play the game, and then wrote down when there was a gap in the rules or something they didn't understand.

I'm very thankful that the publisher agreed to this unusual method. In the end I'm very satisfied with it. The heroes in Legends of Andor begin their adventure immediately after the two pages of Quick-Start rules have been read, and then have to fulfill their first (and of course easy) tasks. When playing a computer game, you wouldn't say the game is too easy after playing the tutorial. Similarly, in Legends of Andor the challenges increase alongside your number of options. This concept really pulls you into the land of Andor.

What is your favorite aspect of Legends of Andor? What do you think players will enjoy most about it?

I like the atmosphere very much. The story unfolds through the Legend cards which tell gripping tale with a huge arc of suspense. The Legend cards are triggered by the Legend marker. The Legend marker moves when all heroes have spent their hours or when a hero has defeated a creature. Very often, when the Legend marker advances because of a successful fight, this triggers another Legend card which brings out more creatures and adds tasks for the heroes. This gives the story’s progression a very dramatic and cinematic feeling. There is no rest for heroes in Legends of Andor.

Is there any other feature of the game or piece of the process that you'd especially like to point out to potential players that we didn't discuss?

A potentially interesting aspect for players is Legend six, which has yet to be written. There are a number of blank cards included in the box that invite creative minds to use the game system (movement of creatures, items, Legend track and Legend marker) to include new ideas and to invent even more epic tales in Legends of Andor.

The Legends Begins Soon

Thanks very much to Michael Menzel for taking the time to answer our questions about his process in crafting the world of Legends of Andor. Legends of Andor comes out early next month, so prepare yourself to fight the monster horde in next week’s review of the combat system!

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Meet the Heroes of Andor

Published 13 November 2012 |

Meet the Heroes of Andor

A Preview of the Characters and Treasure in Legends of Andor

In our last preview of Legends of Andor, a cooperative adventure board game for two to four players, we examined how the heroes and monsters of the realm traverse the land of Andor. In this preview, we’ll take a look at the heroes that will work to save the day and the treasures and tools they’ll use to fend off the monsters!

Becoming a Hero of Legend

As the heroes traverse the land of Andor, defeating monsters and exploring the foggy forest, they will need to be ready to face whatever challenges come their way. An adventurer needs a strong arm and an iron will in order to save the kingdom.

Whether a hero’s power lies in potent spells or a sturdy sword-arm, a character’s strength points factor directly into the outcome of combat. We’ll look at combat in depth in our next preview, but be assured that a higher strength value means a better chance to best foul beasts.

Strength isn’t everything in the quest to save the realm, and the success of the heroes’ quests may depend on sheer force of will. A character’s willpower points serve two purposes, willpower represents the health of your character and can be worn down by losing combat or continuing your turn after nightfall. A character with a strong will also gains more dice to use in combat. While each hero begins the game with one strength point and seven willpower points, heroes can increase these values to become stronger and more durable.

The warrior “Thorn” with his starting willpower and strength values. Note the empty spaces on the character portrait for equipping new items.

Heroes refresh and reinforce their spirits by stopping in a space with a well and partaking of the cool, clear well water. A single use empties a well, and gives your character an additional three willpower points, up to a maximum of twenty. Wells refresh at the start of each new day, so a wise adventurer will drink up when he gets the chance.

The archer empties a well, granting her three additional willpower points. The well will not become active again until the next day dawns.

If a hero wishes to increase a his strength, he must find one of the few merchants that remain in the wilds of Andor during this time of trouble. The merchants of Andor can sell a hero a combat training regimen that will increase his strength by one point for two gold. Players should take care to spend their money wisely, however. Merchants offer a whole host of goods other than a bit of extra muscle.

Players may spend two gold to acquire any equipment or items that the merchant offers. Grab a wineskin to move without spending an hour, equip a bow to gain the ability to attack monsters in adjacent spaces, or purchase a falcon to carry helpful items to your fellow adventurers.

Exploring the Realm of Andor

Merchants are not the only way that heroes can acquire items to boost their chances of defeating the monster horde. The foggy forests of Andor hide all manner of surprises. The brave adventurer who ventures into the mist may find himself face to face with a gor, forcing him to engage the beast. The forest, however, is not filled with threats alone. Players may find rewards in the form of gold, extra strength points, a spare wineskin, or a boost to a hero’s willpower.

The heroes are not alone in the mysterious and misty woods. The elusive witch wanders the woods, collecting ingredients for her potent witch’s brew! If the heroes find the witch, they can purchase her potent potion. The mystical concoction doubles the result of one die when a hero takes a sip, giving the character a big boost in combat.

Ancient artifacts scattered throughout the realm also lend their power to the heroes. In some legends, the heroes can seek out and gather various colored rune stones. If a player collects three different-colored rune stones, then he may roll the powerful black die in place of one of his usual dice. As we’ll see in our next preview, the black die has much higher number values on it, giving a hero the upper hand in battle.

Unique Heroes Create Many Ways to Play

An adventurer can collect and use any of these treasures, but no two heroes are created equal. Each character comes with his or her own special ability, allowing players to contribute to the quest using different skills.

Thorn, the Warrior of the Reeded Lands, is a resilient fighter and gains five willpower points, rather than three, from emptying wells. Kram the Dwarf receives a discount on strength points if he’s purchasing them from the merchant that has set up shop in the entrance to the underground labyrinth of his homeland in the mines. The wizard Eara has spent long years in study of arcane forces, and her incredible focus increases her chance of striking an enemy with her powerful spells. During battle, Eara may flip any one of her dice over and use the value on the opposite side of the die to determine her combat value. This allows Eara to turn a roll of one to a six or a two to a five, for example. Finally, Chada, the Archer of the Watchful Forest, will always receive a discount on the witch’s brew, and can use her bow to attack monsters in adjacent spaces!

Each hero has a crucial role in the struggle to save Andor from the monsters swarming toward the castle! In our next preview, we’ll present the particulars of combat and talk about what it takes to win the day in Legends of Andor!

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Set Out On Your Quest

Published 12 November 2012 |

Set Out On Your Quest

A Preview of Legends of Andor, the Upcoming Cooperative Board Game

In August, we announced that Legends of Andor is coming later this year, and the land of Andor is in dire need of heroes. Monsters stalk the plains and forests, and King Brandur is under siege in his castle, trying desperately to fend off the crowd of creatures.

Legends of Andor is a cooperative adventure board game for two to four players in which a band of heroes must work together to repel invading hordes. To secure Andor’s borders, the heroes will embark on dangerous quests in one 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? In this preview, we’ll examine how the heroes can spend their hours of daylight to accomplish their quest.

Traversing the Land of Andor

Andor is a vast realm filled with foggy forests, sweeping plains, majestic mountains, and rushing rivers. Your heroes will have to cover a lot of ground if they want to save the castle from the encroaching monsters. When exploring Andor, a player can move or attack on each turn, but he cannot do both.

There is only so much time in a day for our busy and besieged heroes. Each player must manage how his character spends the hours allotted to him within the span of a day in the game. Work with your fellow adventurers to determine the best course of action in order to save the realm. Who will gather the powerful runes, who will clash in combat with the monsters, and who will venture into the fog of the forest in search of the witch and her brew?

The wizard Liphardus (who has a purple base and marker) has spent three hours by moving three spaces, while the warrior Thorn (who has a blue base and marker) has chosen to remain in his current place and spent an hour on combat with the gor (red base).

The heroes each have a total of ten hours to work with, and each time a character moves to a new space or makes an attack against an enemy, one hour passes on the time track.

The first seven of these hours take place during the relative safety of daytime. The night brings its own perils, and there is a price for pursuing your goals past the seventh hour of the day. If you choose to continue moving about the map or fighting, your heroes steadily weaken. Players spend their hours until they choose to end the hero’s day, and their time track marker returns to the sunrise box. When all heroes have ended their day, night falls and the monsters roam ever closer to the castle.

A New Day Dawns

When the heroes have all decided to set up camp for the night and all players have returned their markers to the sunrise box, then players must resolve the steps depicted along the bottom edge of the sunrise box.

The player with the purple token, the wizard, was the first to end his day. This means his token goes in the rooster space, and he takes his turn first when the new day dawns.

The heroes must first contend with whatever surprises lurk in the shadows. Players draw an event card from the top of the event deck, and be they good tidings or bad, the effects are resolved as the first step of nightfall.

Once the event card has been dealt with, the monsters begin their dreaded march on the castle. While the hero characters can move freely about the board from space to space, the monsters move one space in the direction of the arrows printed on the board. Thus, with the passing of each day, the monsters move inexorably onward toward the castle. Monsters move in the order depicted in the sunrise box, and a wise hero would do well to note that the sleek and deadly wardrak gets to move twice during each night!

The gor follows the arrows on his path that will inevitably lead to the gates of King Brandur's castle.

When all the monsters have completed their movement, the players refresh any drained wells on the board. Finally, players advance the legend marker one space on the legend track, and the story of your heroic struggle continues!

The Legend Proceeds Apace

In lieu of providing players with a rulebook, Legends of Andor plunges you directly into the action. The legend track lets you learn as you go through the game’s objectives. It consists of spaces along the far right side of the board labeled with letters from A through N.

Each legend tells an exciting tale of heroism through its own deck of cards, and these cards are marked with the same letters found on the track. Star tokens signify when the next card in the legend deck should be revealed. So, your story begins when the legend marker is first placed on the A space, and the first step in your quest is revealed. Players advance the legend marker as the last step of each day. The story of the heroes’ quest to save Andor continues as the monster horde moves closer to the castle and the days pass.

In the above image, the legend marker has just moved to the C space, and the players will now turn over the C card to reveal the next step in the adventure.

The first legend of the game is specially designed to teach the basics. While there is no full rulebook, Legends of Andor does make use of a set of Quick-Start Rules the first time you venture into the kingdom. These Quick-Start Rules work in conjunction with the cards in the first legend to assist chiefly in setting up the board, and help players get into the game as quickly as possible.

Backing up a few rounds from the example seen above, the players begin the game by turning over the first two legend cards, labeled A1 and A2. These cards give your heroes their first set of tasks to complete, and give players a direct reference to the Quick-Start Rules (pdf, 1.6MB). The heroes immediately set out on these four quests. These objectives put the heroes on the road to glory and teach the players the rules of the game as they go.

In this way, Legends of Andor introduces players to new gameplay concepts alongside the narrative, developing the story and your skills right alongside one another. Grow in knowledge of the land of Andor as your characters build up their strength in defense of the kingdom.

The hero’s path is never easy, and in our next preview, we’ll take a close look at our heroes themselves and the various equipment they can use to aid them in their quest to save the kingdom in Legends of Andor!

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Live the Legend

Published 22 August 2012 |

Live the Legend

Announcing Legends of Andor, an Adventure Game by Michael Menzel

The land of Andor is in danger. From the forests and mountains, King Brandur’s enemies have mobilized their forces and begun their march toward the castle. Only your band of heroes stands in their way. Can you prevent the monsters from overrunning the realm?

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Legends of Andor, a cooperative adventure board game for two to four players! Revealed last week at Gen Con Indy 2012, Legends of Andor is a unique scenario-based board game by the accomplished artist Michael Menzel. In it, a band of heroes must work together to defend the fantasy realm of Andor from invading hordes.

To secure Andor’s borders, the heroes will embark on dangerous quests in one 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?

What Tale Will You Tell?

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.

Visit our website for Legends of Andor to learn more, and check back over the coming weeks as we present in-depth previews. Then, later this year, prepare to live the legend!

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