Image Courtesy of UnknownParkerBrother
This review continues my series of detailed reviews that attempt to be part review, part resource for anyone not totally familiar with the game. For this reason I expect readers to skip to the sections that are of most interest.
If you liked the review please thumb the top of the article so others have a better chance of seeing it and I know you stopped by. If you thumb the bottom as well, I consider that a bonus. Thanks for reading.
Summary
Game Type – Strategy (Euro) Game
Play Time: 45-60 minutes
Number of Players: 2-4 (Best 3+)
Mechanics – Auction\Bidding, Rondel, Tile Placement
Difficulty – Pick-Up & Play (Can be learned in about 30 minutes)
Components – Excellent
Artist – <PERSON>, <PERSON>
Release – 2007
Designer – <PERSON> Steps, Adventure Land, All things Azul, Artus, Asara, Australia, Coal Baron, Cuzco, Heaven & Ale, Java, Linko, Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India, Mexica, Nauticus, The Palaces of Carrara, Porta Nigra, Peublo, Reworld, Riverboat, That's Life!, Tikal, Torres)
Overview and Theme
Ah Vikings, historically incorrect horned helmets, raiding, sacking, pillaging and looting! If you want all that then go and play something else because these Vikings just want to explore islands and find new homes!
That's right folks. Long before <PERSON> gold with the Azulseries, he created a Euro Viking game in the form of...err...Vikings! A game that focused on the less sexy aspects of Viking life such as scouting and being a boatsman, goldsmith or a fisherman. Throw in a Rondel and a set of interlocking mechanisms and you have a strategy game that was well respected back in the day and I guess it continues to be so, with a rating that stands 12-13 years old and sits at 7.3 on BGG. Whilst that isn't shooting the lights out, it is certainly on the better side of good.
But how good? And have people rightfully moved on from this one or should we be sparing a thought and return to a game such as this with its Meeple-y goodness?
Pass me that tile will you, I need to go club a fish. Hmm, on second thoughts I might need something bigger. Ah yes, hand me that rondel, that'll do the trick! (How do we not have a viking emoticon by now?!)
The Components
There have been a couple of productions of Vikings over the years, or at the very least two Publisher names appear on boxfronts - and . 470
I am not sure if there is any difference between the two, but this section will look at the components as found in the Rio Grande Games edition.
Board – The board is illustrated byMichael <PERSON>, who for the younger amongst us, was the of his time. <PERSON> made a name for himself by designing luscious boards with artwork that depicted sweeping scenes ( and being two I recall fondly).
All that said, Vikings is not really a stand-out for the board artwork but rather for the visual splendor of the rondel in all its Nordic glory.
The board itself is a small to mid sized rectangular affair and apart from the rondel, a few tile silhouettes and an illustration of the Viking Meeple sequence, there isn't much more to talk about.
The board is surrounded by a 50-point score track that again features Norse stone and runes.
The rondel is circular and consists of 12 segments, each with a value of 0-11. It is designed to line up with a Tile-silhouette and a smaller imprint (where a Viking Meeple will be placed). In doing so each segment of the wheel can line up with one of these offerings and an associated cost is assigned to that offering. Physically, the rondel is constructed so it can spin.
There is also an additional row of 4 Tile Silhouettes beneath the 6 Round-Boxes. These are used if playing the Progress Version of the game (more on that later).
The board is well done and the green colouring is striking. But that said it is more functional than it is beautiful. The reverse side of the board is where <PERSON> his mark with the depiction of a full colour Viking vessel. It's a shame it is rarely seen as even the board folds to hide this image when returned to the box.
Image Courtesy of Alice87
Base Templates (Homeland Tiles) – The game comes with blue, L-shaped Templates, which are nice and thick. 92