Longships (2009) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Longships is a board game released in 2009, designed by Harald Enoksson. The game is set in a medieval Viking era, where players take on the role of Viking chieftains competing to build the most successful trading fleet. The game combines elements of fighting, transportation, and commodity speculation, making for an exciting and strategic gameplay experience.

Game Components of Longships

Game board featuring the North Sea and surrounding countries (Denmark, etc.)

Longship game pieces for each player

Resource and trading cards

Country boards

Plunder and trading tokens

How To Setup Longships

To set up **Longships**, each player starts with an empty Longship in the North Sea. The game board is laid out to show the North Sea and the four surrounding countries. Players receive their starting resources and Longship tokens. The country boards are placed according to the game’s grid system, which helps in speeding up the movement phase of the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Competitive, plunder/trading game

Mechanics:

Grid Movement: Players move their Longships across a grid system.

Combat: A combat system is in place for resolving battles between players or against other game elements.

Resource Management: Players manage resources for trading and plundering.

Area Control: Players aim to control areas around the North Sea for better trading and plundering opportunities.

Game Objective: The objective is to accumulate the most wealth through trading and plundering, while navigating the challenges of the North Sea.

Player Experience

Playing **Longships** involves a mix of strategic movement, resource management, and tactical combat. The grid system simplifies movement, making the game more fluid. Players need to balance their resources to trade effectively and engage in combat when necessary. The game requires a blend of short-term tactics and long-term strategy to emerge victorious.

Pros

Fast Movement: The grid system speeds up the game, reducing downtime.

Strategic Depth: The game offers a good balance of resource management, trading, and combat.

Thematic Engagement: The Viking theme adds a layer of immersion and excitement.

Cons

Limited Designer Information: The lack of information about the game’s designers might be a drawback for some enthusiasts.

Combat Complexity: The combat system, while engaging, can be complex and may require some time to learn.

Personal Thoughts on Longships

**Longships** is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of strategy and thematic engagement. It is suitable for those interested in plunder and trading games, and who appreciate the historical context of Viking-era exploration and combat. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking extremely complex or deeply abstract gameplay, as it balances simplicity with strategic depth.

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