About 1200 years ago, Vikings were beginning to set sail in their magnificent longships, exploring, raiding, and trading beyond the comfort of their Scandinavian homeland. Due to the unique geography of the Norwegian fjords, they were expert ship builders and navigators. Using these skills, they colonized most of the North Atlantic before venturing further south in search of loot. These fierce crews collected plunder and trade goods along the way as they began to venture past their native lands. They reached Southern Europe, North Africa, and even set foot on North America far before any other European crews. By the end of the 1100s they had retreated to Norway and the culture had shifted. While the days of raiding the Northern Seas were over, their legacy was not forgotten. The North Sea Saga, by Shem Phillips, follows the history of the Vikings as they create their ships, raid surrounding territories, and explore new lands. This trilogy received recognition this year as Raiders of the North Sea was nominated for the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres. Each game is entirely unique and beautifully illustrated, opening a window to this intriguing world. Shipwrights of the North Sea The first installment of this series, Shipwrights of the North Sea, involves creating the Viking fleet through a familiar card-drafting and resource collection mechanic. Players will accumulate the material, craftsmen, and tools necessary to construct enough boats to trigger the end of the game. The Townsfolk expansion, originally offered as a print-and-play, is now included in the box and allows players to choose from a larger variety of actions, including protecting their ships from sabotage and their workers from assassination. This beautiful introduction to the setting fits nicely within the series as an historical first step in the early years of the Viking era. Raiders of the North Sea Raiders of the North Sea depicts the history of the middle years of the Viking reign and is thematically sound. During this time period, these Scandinavian pirates were venturing out to collect goods, but were still based in the homeland. The best known of the trilogy and nominee for the Kennerspiel des Jahres, Raiders of the North Sea is an incredibly unique worker-placement game. Each round, players begin with just a single worker, either black, grey, or white. Placing this worker on an empty space on the board provides an action that can vary from playing cards, collecting resources, or making an offering. Once this first action has been taken, the player then removes a worker from the board, also performing the action of this new space. Such a simple concept allows for deep choices. Many of the action spaces are only available to certain color workers, and as the game progresses some workers are left behind in raids while other are collected. Once a worker has been left in a raiding spot it can never be returned, meaning that the available workers shift during the game. It’s very satisfying to collect all the resources and finally have the correct colored worker and enough armor to raid the more difficult fortresses at the top of the board. There’s quite a bit of meat to this game while the rules are still very straightforward. Two new expansions, Hall of Heroes and Fields of Fame, add an extra player and even more depth to the game. Explorers of the North Sea During the final years of the Viking Age, they began to travel well past their comfortable homes. Colonizing the North Atlantic and beyond was a natural progression as their seafaring technology increased and they searched for new opportunities. In Explorers of the North Sea, you’ll uncover new territories by placing tiles on the board, creating a new world each time you play. Controlling these discovered islands and collecting the resources from them will grant you victory, but you must also avoid the dangerous rouge ships and other players along the way. This is one of the best gateway games I have played, as it introduces a variety of game mechanics with stunning artwork and lovely components (the animal meeples are quite adorable). As with the other games in the series, it draws the players in with a clear theme and fits historically with the rest of the series. Whether you’re drawn to the history, the incredibly illustrations, or the well thought-out mechanics, this trilogy will deliver an exceptional experience. For those that are ready to dive in completely, The North Sea: Runesaga is a campaign expansion that connects all three games and turns them into an epic quest. So gather your warriors, it’s raiding season!
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