Endeavour - 17 April

After its inclusion in the Rivals collective games cupboard in 2009 (Xmas present from Orhan to Adrian), we played Endeavour three times in 2010 (in January and September), leaving it a mere two and half years before getting it out again for a 5 player session at Adrian's.  As we found before, Endeavour is a taut game played over 7 short rounds that has a lot going for it.  There is a fair amount of luck and no obviously winning strategy, although the common denominator in the two games we played was acquiring high value buildings as soon as possible.  With voyaging, fighting and slavery aplenty, all interests are catered for.  Game one: David 57, Orhan and Kieron 50, James 40 and Adrian 33; Game two: James 60, Orhan 57, David 48, Adrian 38 and Kieron 30.  Good fun.

Endeavour, 15 September

With Deej substituted for Orhan, we got out Endeavour for a return match (before we all forgot the rules again). And once more it played very well, giving the impression that it would be over all too swiftly but allowing for some in-depth play by the end game. The game was much more balanced this time round with more combat and the subtleties of getting the tempo when opening up new zones brought home to us (especially to Kieron who lost out a couple of times). By skilful use of cards and actions Stu got into a commanding lead and pretty much held it for the whole game. The key question was how the rest of us would stack up. The answer? Stu 58, Deej 53, Adrian and James 51, Kieron 40. Plus there was time for a second game…

Endeavour, 8 September

Five Rivals this week at Adrian’s and we decided on Endeavour, Adrian’s Xmas present from Orhan (the one described on Boardgamegeek as ‘the perfect Euro Game’). The game seems like it should be quick to play, with only 7 turns each of 4 phases. In reality the fourth phase of each turn gets longer as the game plays through so it would probably be possible to finish in between 60 and 90 minutes. At any rate, since nobody knew (or could remember) the best strategy or tactics we all embarked on various approaches with Orhan and me opting for lots of shipping to explore unknown regions, James and Kieron going for colonizing cities and Stu going for the offensive option and waging war on the lot of us. At the end of the evening (an early end to the evening allowing us a final cup of tea and chat session) the scores were: Orhan 53; Stu 51; James 46; Kieron 44; Adrian 38. We all thought that this was a ‘good’un’ and merited further plays.

Endeavour and Bang, 27 January 2010

From thinking that we might have seven players this week, we were, on the day, down to four - so time for an outing of Endeavour (or rather Endeavor), a new game that Orhan got me for Xmas.

This is a very tightly optimised game - I think I read on Boardgamegeek it described by one poster as "the perfect Eurogame". The setting is 17th and 18th century expansion, exploration and colonisation. There are only seven rounds, each one allowing players quite limited numbers of actions. You build buildings, gain workers, activate them, explore, attack or draw cards - all aiming to raise your stats on your home board allowing you to do more of whatever stat it is next turn. Many of the mechanisms are familiar (eg worker activation of buildings) but this game has more interaction as the players vie for advantage (and victory points) on the main game board.

This was very much a learning game for all of us. The rules were simple, but optimising (even for the Great Optimiser Deej) was tricky and we all made some silly mistakes. As it was, and despite some asymmetric play, the final scores were pretty close: Adrian 52, Deej 51, James 49 and Kieron 42. A jolly good game which can probably be played in 90 mins, even with five players. Eurotastic.

We then had a go at 'Bang' - a rapid play card game. At least it would have been rapid a second time. Good fun Sheriff versus the Outlaws versus each other versus the Renegade. Adrian managed to be the last man standing.