Renegade Game Studios 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - Raiders of The North Sea - Conquest, 26 x 19 inches, Features Art from The Critically Acclaimed Board Game, Raiders of The North Sea, Age 10 & Up

Good ideas, mediocre implementation.It is good game, but I can think of many other better worker placement games. The problem that I had was that it felt very repetitive and tiring after a while. I felt your actions/accomplishments in the end will be the same you did in the beginning. I really wanted to love the game, I do love the theme and the art, but they could have added some escalation mechanism to make the game more interesting as it progresses. Good, not great.

Great Game!!! The first time I played it was probably about a 30-40 min. long explanation of the rules and terms of play, though it was rather distracted explanation and I would guess that if you less of a board game novice as my friends and I you would be able to explain it rather quickly. After 1.5 rounds of play or so the game just took off and the rules were barely glanced at after. The second time I played was with someone who had never played before. This time I explained the game in its entirety in about 15, though the player did have some previous knowledge with games of a similar sort. We were able to make it through the game with minimal mistakes and improper actions. The game is super well balanced with many different ways to gain the victory points (the games main scoring value). As you raid there can be a lot of thought an strategy that goes into your decisions. There a few low armor level towns people are that could be great to have in the beginning of the game, but by the end you’d probably want to sacrifice them to a Valkyrie if you get the chance. Both times I’ve played have been pretty relaxed I’d say, but we still had multiple times where a player would sit for 10min. trying to figure whether they should work or raid, or whether they should drop a worker at the Town Hall first or at the Gate House. This game has a very simple design which makes it enjoyable to a wide age range, but if intense strategy and mind melting planning is your cup of tea this game could be for you as well. One thing that I believe the game could use more player verses player involvement. As is there is only a small hint of sabotage that can be passed around. But I’m a big fan of setbacks and backstabbing I’m board games. (It lets you know who your real friends are). I’m primarily of something similar to the Thief in Catan some that sets multiple people back but is not in use all that often. I don’t know for sure. Anyway great game lots of fun would recommend for everyone.

Who does not love a Viking theme:) The artwork is beautiful. The components are of a good quality. I like the metal coins! Packed out on the table it looks inviting! It is easy to setup and to learn. And its a wonderful game to play because its so immersive. Its enjoyable from start to finish and every time you play it. Every game I played was nail biting and every time I brought it to the table the crowd loved it. Works well as as a 2 and as a 4 player game. Dont hesitate, go get a copy and start raiding the North Sea!

We received this game less than a week ago, and my tweens and I have played several times already. It is thematic in the sense that youre a captain/leader of a Viking ship, who must recruit a crew, lead it on raids and manage its resources. Not all of your crew will make it back home -- some will die in battle and earn their way to Valhalla. The board isnt cluttered, and the artwork reminds you to have some fun. The game also gets kudos for having an appropriately sized box. So much game in a medium sized box. The game moves quickly. If youve enjoy a smattering of worker placement/action selection, engine building and resource management, this may be a good game for you.

I got into the trilogy of games and theyre super fun, good game play, have enjoyable artwork, and while they have a very slight learning curve once youve got it youll really enjoy!

Love this game! Great quality cards and pieces! The metal coins feel great in your hand! Bought both exspansions as well!

OVERVIEW: Raiders of the North Sea is a worker placement game with a simple rule set, strategic depth, and good variation from game to game. The basic concept of RotNS is that on their turn players will place a worker onto a space on the board, taking the associated action for that space; then pull up a worker from a different space on the board, taking a second action for that space. You may either take actions in town to replenish your supplies and recruit raiders, or you may go out raiding the countryside to plunder resources and gain valor (victory points). AUDIENCE: Among my friends, RotNS has been well received by tabletop hobbyists and casual board gamers alike. This game is very comparable to Stone Age in length, basic mechanics, weight, and especially audience. GAMEPLAY PROS: This game shines in the way the board opens up to new choices as the game goes on. As you raid more powerful settlements, you gain more powerful workers, who will in turn allow you to raid even more powerful settlements. The game is also very well balanced; there are multiple ways to score victory points (or valor points), and though you must almost certainly score points multiple ways to win, those who push on to raid the daunting fortress settlements will usually have an edge if the other players do not keep up. Variation from game to game keeps each session fresh. The way resources are distributed randomly on the board during setup gives each game its own twist, and makes some settlements more desirable than others to raid. Players will acquire raiders from a deck of cards throughout the game, and each raider has unique abilities which heavily impact strategy. There are enough different raiders that the cards each player acquires from game to game will vary. GAMEPLAY CONS: Game sessions can drag on to well beyond the box time if players take too long to make decisions. This will probably be an issue the first couple times you play as everyone figures out the game, but once all players have a thorough knowledge of the rules and a good grasp of the strategy, this isnt as much of an issue, especially because... ...Some reviewers have complained that RotNS does not offer enough choices. It does seem to dictate your actions somewhat at the beginning of the game, but the board opens up very quickly to more choices. You should not expect a buffet of choices at any point in the game, but this is not a problem for three reasons: 1. It keeps the game moving at a fast pace with little down time, 2. Limited options drives up tension and player interaction with multiple players trying to get the same thing, and 3. Though RotNS is a worker placement game, many do not realize just how much the raider abilities (cards) impact the game. Players may recruit raiders for their passive ability, or discard them for an instant benefit. These cards add another layer to the game that is easy to miss at first. But once you realize their impact, deck-digging becomes its own effective strategy, and you may even start to think youre playing a game of Imperial Settlers. It should be said that this just isnt that complicated of a game, and it never claimed to be. Where people seem to get hung up the most is when the two cons Ive listed here affect the same session: I spent two hours playing that? Keep your games moving, and it wont be an issue. Let them drag on, and youll probably get bored. COMPONENTS: These are some great components. The coins are metal, the cards are nicely finished, and there is a bag full of little wooden pieces unique to the game series, (never mind that the Valkyrie skulls look like snowmen heads when you turn them upside down). Best of all the artwork is amazing. Youll find yourself studying the picture on a card before you read the cards text. SUMMARY: Raiders of the North Sea is a solid worker placement game with layers of strategy hidden behind simple gameplay. It can drag on a bit if players are unengaged, but with this artwork and these components you wont be looking anywhere else. The element of cards lifts gameplay from good to great, and the board provides plenty of tension without making you sweat. Those expecting a complicated worker placement game with endless choices will be disappointed, but that is not the game it claims to be. Raiders of the North Sea is good fun for casual gamers and hobbyists alike!

One my favorite games. It looks a bit daunting at first with the many different pieces, but its quick to pick up. The quality is above average and the metal coins add a substantial feel to the game. Looking forward to trying out the expansions.

Yet another multi-player solitaire game. Not my cup of meade.

It takes a while to figure out but it’s a great strategy game!