Steeped in epic Nordic and Celtic myths and sagas, Trudvang Legends places players in the roles of legendary heroes who make their mark on a dynamic, everchanging fantasy world. Final Score: 2 Stars – Bland and underwhelming game mechanics surround an interesting collection of ideas and an engaging narrative. Using the Book of Sagas and the Legends System, players select an epic quest and must decide how best to go about completing it, looking to achieve the most heroic outcome possible. As players move around the board, travelling to the different regions of Trudvang, they will have encounters and learn about the status of the world. Then, itis up to them to decide how they want to continue along. Challenges are resolved using a player’s runes. Each player has a bag filled with different runes, which are drawn from the bag, with players looking to find certain ones while avoiding others. If they can draw the correct runes, they are successful. Otherwise, they fail, which might have lasting consequences on the game. I was enthralled by the art and the lore pulled me in. But after a handful of plays, I realized I might as well just be reading a choose-your-own-adventure story and skip all the mechanics which weren’t engaging. And it bothers me to write it, and not just because Tony gets to gloat (but that too), it’s because a group of people spent a lot of effort on something and, in my opinion, it just doesn’t work. CMON bought the Trudvang IP from Riotminds so this seems to be something they’re investing in. And while I like it more than NFT’s, that’s a pretty low bar to clear. Trudvang Legends comes filled with beautiful miniatures to represent both the heroes and their adversaries, with artwork by legendary artist Paul Bonner.

Players’ characters earn experience by exploring and fighting monsters. The equipment, upgrade and powers they buy are based on the world’s different elements and guide each character down one of several ‘legendary paths’ that culminate in a particular ending for the character based on their decisions. While characters can essentially retire as ‘legends’ during a campaign, players can have the option to play as their descendants, starting with different benefits as the result of their previous actions. The classes are based on the tabletop RPG. There are two main types of activities that you’ll do throughout the game. The first is a Test. These will show one of the runes and then a number indicating you need that many successes. Then you draw seven runes and see if you succeed. Event cards will give you something to do when there’s not a location card on the map space you’re occupying. Change in Trudvang Legends manifests physically, as parts of the board actually change, making the actions of previous hero generations affect future sagas. However, the changes are only as permanent as long as history remembers them, which makes the game endlessly replayable, and even playing the same Adventure Book repeatedly will have a completely different feeling, because the world itself has changed. Heroes, following a path of destiny, will even become historical fixtures as they become Kings, Guildmasters or even Gods! The world of Trudvang presents us with an exciting opportunity to create a really innovative game based on the cycles of history and legend," said Lang. "We're looking to push some boundaries with this game, and really commit to the concept of a living world."It’s a hinterland, a wild land, not an enemy to mortalkind, but no friend either for travellers unprepared for its challenges. The Darkwoods does not suffer fools, no matter how kindly intentioned. The Darkwoods watches. A squirrel might run from the Great Iron Tooth to Icepeak Mountain leaping from branch to branch, never touching the ground below.

Trudvang Legends: Darkwoods is an expansion that features a brand-new campaign that brings players a branching story inside the large and eerie Darkwoods Forest, a majestic albeit sinister woods where darkness broods. The Darkwoods is not unknowable, but it holds its secrets dear. Even seasoned Elven rangers with centuries behind them will speak of forgotten wonders and unknown horrors concealed in the stillness. It’s a hinterland, a wild land, not an enemy to mortalkind, but no friend either for travelers unprepared for its challenges. The Darkwoods does not suffer fools, no matter how kindly intentioned. The Darkwoods watches. Continuing along in their campaign, the choices that they make are recorded on the board. Sleeves on the game board itself hold cards that show the path the players have gone down as they continue their adventure. There are no easy answers, and the group’s decisions may have unintended consequences far down the line. But with careful planning, good can triumph over evil. Rumours have it that a demon has taken refuge in its depths, twisting and manipulating creatures, terrorising all who come near it. It’s up to you to investigate the source of this rumours, and to try and survive the expedition itself! In addition, features a brand new playable Class, the Demon Hunter, who masters the dark forces and twists the limits between good and bad.A new board game wants to recreate the endless cycle of history and give players the chance to have their legendary deeds echo through the ages. Among the game’s most ambitious elements is a dynamic living world that aims to simulate the distant repercussions of events that happened generations ago. Players’ actions will be able to physically and permanently change the game’s board, with future playthroughs taking place in the ever-changing setting. We, at RiotMinds, could not ask for a better partner than CMON to elevate the Trudvang franchise.” says Theodore Bergquist, co-founder of RiotMinds. “The work we’ve seen so far is absolutely stunning and all the Trudvang fans out there will see the world come to life for sure.” The Darkwoods is not unknowable, but it holds its secrets dear. Even seasoned Elven rangers with centuries behind them will speak of forgotten wonders and unknown horrors concealed in the stillness.