Orléans: Stories
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Orléans Stories is based on the bag-building mechanism known from Orléans¸ with this mechanisms having been further developed into a storytelling experience in which players go through different eras and face different challenges. Broadly speaking¸ instead of focusing on the city of Orléans and trade with the surrounding villages¸ player are now settling the Loire Valley. Players must farm and produce¸ found villages¸ and build fortresses and churches. They will experience times of prosperity and success¸ but also times of deprivation; they must defy hunger and plague¸ fight for their land¸ and perhaps conquer foreign lands to secure the lives of their settlers. In the end¸ however¸ there is peace and the joint administration of territories and villages.
The game includes two stories: The First Kingdom and The King"s Favor. The First Kingdom is an epic story that spans eight so-called eras¸ and each era features different conditions and emphases. Sometimes knights settle down¸ with whose help you can conquer foreign territories¸ sometimes the plague threatens to decimate the population of settlers unless all have worked together to develop medicine.
The King"s Favor is shorter¸ simpler¸ and more suitable as an introduction to the game. Over five eras¸ certain tasks have to be fulfilled by the end of each era¸ and those who fail to do so will drop out mercilessly. The threat of having to end the game prematurely provides a constant thrill¸ but all tasks are achievable¸ so that (usually) all players experience the end of the fifth era - but those who have concentrated only on the tasks will be punished because at this point everyone"s achievements will be compared in the king"s castle¸ and you will receive victory points for territory size¸ buildings¸ goods¸ and coins.
The different eras affect the parameters of play as well as the rules of the game¸ creating new strategic possibilities. This challenges players to constantly adapt to current conditions¸ giving you the impression of experiencing a story¸ but unlike in legacy games¸ these stories can be repeated as often as you like. The changes from era to era require a new way of looking at things from a distance¸ but this is made easier for players by a story booklet in which players will find not only all relevant information and rule peculiarities¸ but also hints of how to prepare for the upcoming game in the form of a narrated story.
Für 2 bis 4 Spieler ab 12 Jahren
Spieldauer: 60 bis 180 Minuten