Our review

The Wild Cliffs of Andor

Die Legenden von Andor

Chada & Thorn

Arrow-maid Chada and Thorn, the Warrior, got shipwrecked on the shore of the mysterious, curse ridden Island of Silverland. Where once pirates roamed, the two heroes now must find a way to the southern coast. There, they hope, an allied Dwarf people will help them. Because, as the narrative of Legends of Andor goes, Chada and Thorn want to go to the main continent of Andor to help in the fight for liberty, peace, free admission to museums and other sublime goals.

Like the original game "The Legends of Andor", published by Michael Menzel in 2012, "Chada & Thorn" created by Gerhard Hecht is a cooperative game for two players in the World of Andor. Either the archer and the fighter reach their destination together (and more or less at the same time), or both lose.

Included in the game are the character playing pieces (made of cardboard) and the spooky Curse playing piece (cardboard as well). Once summoned by a legendary king to fend off the pirate captain Callem, this Curse still haunts all strangers who disembark on the island without invitation. Furthermore, there are 36 "Adventure Cards", 60 playing cards and 20 Will points and 3 campfire markers. There is yet another character pawn (Stinner, the Corsair) in the box. Gerhard Hecht uploaded additional one-player rules for him on the internet: legenden-von-andor.de/bonus-material/stinner-solo-variante-fuer-chada-thorn/

"Adventure Cards" serve as the variable game board. For each of the four scenarios provided there is a Starting card, an End card and up to six in-between Trail cards. An entry scenario, the "Get-Started-Adventure" for testing purposes of the game’s mechanisms, is printed directly in the rulebook; there are no "Adventure Cards" for this. To lay out the playing area, a Starting card and an End card are placed face up and between them two Trail cards (face down at the start of the scenario). The scenario’s flavor text (the chapter of this particular Legend of Andor) as well as additional rules and special cards to be used in that scenario are explained on two additional Adventure Cards, very much alike to the scenarios in the original board game.

The character pieces and the "curse" are being placed on their respective starting spaces. How far they may move depends on your action cards. These are laid out in three rows, according to the three different character cards for Chada and Thorn, respectively. Moreover, Chada’s and Thorn’s cards show varying possibilities for action in sunshine or in rain (front side – back side). These weather conditions as well as other action cards may affect the heroes’ movement. At the beginning of the scenario, the heroine and hero each have three "Curse Cards" (one for each row of character cards; face down until put into action for the first time). In addition, they may also have "Friend Cards" (only up to one per row of cards). Some scenarios provide Chada and Thorn with additional equipment or Non Player Characters. During the scenario you will inevitably acquire more action cards (called "Mist [Fog?] Cards"). You will have to include them into the currently active row. These often represent opponents that you have to defeat in battle (simply compare combat values; tied or higher score mean the heroes win) or neutralize by performing certain tasks (printed on the card). Only the first card in a row may be the active card. After being activated, put it at the end of the row (or return them to the deck or take them out of the game, whatever is required).

Character cards offer three options: movement (usually three modes of speed at different costs, e. g. lose / spend Will Points or move the Curse piece forward), combat (against opponents being the uppermost card in your other rows, sometimes even in support of the other character, provided that that character pawn is on a neighboring space) or the character’s special ability (for example, get a Will Point). By activating a “Curse Card”, you will have to either move the Curse pawn, receive a (further) Mist (Fog) Card or lose one or more Will Points. Pretty unpleasant moves, but you can hardly avoid them. Mist (Fog) Cards, equipment cards and Non-Player-Character-Cards must be integrated into the card rows accordingly. This usually means a limitation of possibilities for actions of the characters.

All pawns, character and Curse pieces alike, move along the trail routes on “Adventure Cards”. Character pawns have to pay for movement in movement points (or other, even more unpleasant requirements as may be printed on the trails and stops). The common goal is thus to rapidly reach the end-space of the "Adventure Card" and in the long run the end-space of the scenario’s final “Adventure Card”. Players may, indeed, have to discuss their tactics, cooperate and assist each other. It is important as well to slow down the movement of the Curse figure, because if the Curse reaches or overtakes one of the characters, Chada and Thorn lose immediately.

Almost like the basic game, this two-player variant is extremely challenging and rather difficult to get to the end space successfully. Chances are pretty slim for the heroes, even when employing the game rule variants (for example, starting with the help of all the "Friend Cards"). Even the “Get-Started-Adventure” is a bit misleading, since only very few action cards are used therein, e. g., not one of the Mist [Fog] Cards comes into play.

The rules booklet is rather well written and relatively well structured and therefore easy to understand.

Whoever feels at home in the world of Andor and is well versed in its background stories, will certainly like this two-player version and may regard it as an interesting challenge and entertaining supplement. Even incorporating the two new characters into the board game might represent no problem for Andorians. As an introductory game into the world of Michael Menzel’s fantasy adventures or as a stand-alone game, "The Legends of Andor. Chada & Thorn" is not suitable, though, even if text printed on the game box ("This game ... expands ... the Legends of Andor. However, it is not necessary to know the board game.") suggests otherwise.

Martina & Martin Lhotzky

Players: 2

Age: 10+

Time: 60+

Designer: Gerhard Hecht

Artist: Michael Menzel, Michaela Kienle

Price: ca. 19 Euro

Publisher: Kosmos 2015

Web: www.kosmos.de

Genre: Cooperative, 2 players

Users: For experts

Special: 1 player

Special: 2 players

Special: Many players

Version: de

Rules: de

In-game text: yes

Comments:

Good rules

Familiarity with the board game is an advantage

No game for beginners, gaming experience is essential

Introductory game does not mirror the standard

Compares to:

Kashgar for the card mechanism, Die Legenden von Andor

Other editions:

Currently none

My rating: 3

Martin & Martina:

Finally there is a Two-Player-Version for fans of “Legends of Andor”. All those who are rather less enthusiastic about “Andor” should pass on the adventures of “Chada & Thorn” as well, though. These scenarios are even more trying.

Chance (pink): 1

Tactic (turquoise): 3

Strategy (blue): 3

Creativity (dark blue): 0

Knowledge (yellow): 0

Memory (orange): 0

Communication (red): 3

Interaction (brown): 3

Dexterity (green): 0

Action (dark green): 0