Endeavor (2009) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Endeavor is a board game that was released in 2009 by designers Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray. The game is published by Z-Man Games and falls into the categories of Exploration, Nautical, and Renaissance. It is designed for 3-5 players with a recommended age of 12 and up.

Game Components of Endeavor

Game board featuring a map of Europe and six global regions (Far East, India, North and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean).

Five large player mats for tracking player’s holdings and development.

Asset Cards, which include two types: a clean European deck and a slavery deck.

Trade Tokens placed on the board and used for various actions.

Building Tiles for constructing buildings on the player mats.

Population markers and other tokens for tracking Industry, Culture, Finance, and Politics.

How To Setup Endeavor

To set up Endeavor, place the game board in the middle of the table and randomly distribute the Trade Tokens across the board, ensuring each Shipping Track space, City, and Connection has a token. Separate the Asset Cards by type and stack them face-up in their designated areas on the board. Each stack should be ordered from 5 to 1, followed by the Governor card. Arrange the stacks of matching levels together in a stockpile near the board for easy access. Each player receives a player mat and starts with initial resources based on their Culture and Finance tracks.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: The goal is to earn the most Glory points by the end of the seventh round.

Industry Track: Allows players to build new buildings based on their current level.

Culture Track: Provides population markers necessary for actions.

Finance Track: Enables players to retrieve used population markers from buildings.

Politics Track: Determines the maximum hand limit for holding Asset Cards.

Actions:

Ship: Open new regions for Occupation and Drawing, gaining Trade Tokens.

Occupy: Control cities and connections between cities, earning Glory points and Trade Tokens.

Attack: Steal cities from other players, potentially claiming connections.

Payment: Recover used population markers from buildings.

Draw: Obtain Asset Cards from regions based on the player’s Politics track.

Player Experience

Endeavor offers a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience where players manage the growth of their empire across various regions of the world. The game accelerates from simple actions in the early rounds to complex strategies by the final round, keeping players engaged and making every decision feel critical. However, managing the extensive information, especially in games with four or five players, can be challenging due to the spread of player boards across the table.

Pros

Engaging Strategy: The game builds tension and complexity over its seven rounds, making every decision impactful.

Variety of Actions: Multiple actions and strategies available, including shipping, occupation, and card management.

Balanced Mechanics: Players must balance short-term goals with long-term strategies to achieve glory.

Cons

Information Overload: Tracking other players’ progress, especially in larger games, can be daunting due to the spread of player boards.

Complex Setup: Initial setup can be time-consuming due to the distribution of tokens and cards.

Personal Thoughts on Endeavor

Endeavor is ideal for fans of strategic and thematic games who appreciate the challenge of managing multiple aspects of an empire. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy area control and tableau building mechanics. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those who prefer simpler, quicker games. The game’s depth and complexity make it a great choice for game nights with experienced players looking to engage in a meaningful and rewarding gaming experience.

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