Entry 53: Week 8- Windward (Cooperative Mode)

        This week we just focus on one game and within the game just the cooperative mode. Our first introduction to El Dorado Games was the game The Island of El Dorado have it and all the expansions. The publisher did do a Kickstarter for Windward but we decided not to back the project at the time because we had a bunch of other campaigns we were backing at the same time. Because we did back The Age of Atlantis Kickstarter (which should be shipping soon) we decided to pick up a retail copy of Windward to try it out. 

BGG Description 

        You are a captain flying your Ship on the skies of the gaseous planet Celus. Gain the most notoriety by sailing the skies, hunting cresters, fighting opponents. Whichever player has the most notoriety points at the end of the game is the winner. To gain notoriety, you can trade in Crester teeth and gas at the trading post. Players take turns to move their ships, take actions, use supply cards, and battle other players. 

Weight 2.29/5 

What we like about the game 

 *** Just to remind you, this review was for the cooperative mode that we played. We have not done a regular game in which you can fight each other.***

        The overall looks of the game is pretty cool. The board in six wedges is neat and the miniatures definitely give it a floating out-of-this-world alien creature hunt vibe. Having the multiple levels of “cloud” was cool because you need to fully use your smaller longboats to get the creatures on the lower level. 

        We did like that there is two sections of actions “At Port” and “At Sky” that you can perform based on where your main ship is at. 

What we don’t like about the game 

        We felt that the cooperative mode was basically set up for you to fail (at least at two players). At the end of your turn you have to move the White Crester X amount of spaces (depending what level of difficulty you play) towards you which can make things really difficult if your partners ship is in the area. 

        We also did not like that you have to discard a Supply Card or loose a morale level, both of which are difficult to get and/or maintain. If your morale goes to zero then your ship becomes “lost” and then you have to follow another set of rules ending your turn. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

        This is a game that is an acquired taste which for us, is leaving a bad one in our mouths. Yes, we only played one game and only in the cooperative mode so our judgment is limited to what we have experienced. Will the bad taste go away once we play the regular game mode? Maybe, maybe not; we are not in any rush to try it again anytime soon. 

        Next weekend we are on our annual family “mini-vacation” up to the mountains of Washington State (specifically to our favorite Bavarian town, Leavenworth). So I will be packing a few games with me and will do my best to have the blog up on Sunday like normal.