AGE OF EXPLORATION

By:  Greg J .Schloesser

Age of Exploration by TimJim and Prism Games is a game of the
exploration and discovery of the New World and its related secrets.  2 -
6 Players must race to make as many discoveries as possible and be the
first to publish their findings and reach a set number of victory points
(15 in the campaign game). The game is played on a small board (too
small - things get a bit crowded) and uses a card system to determine
events and the success or failure of certain actions and movement.  It
bears many similarities with the system used by the old Avalon Hill
title Source of the Nile.

The game is fairly easy.  First, players are dealt six 'Outfitting
Cards' and must outfit and equip their initial expedition.  Depending
upon the cards they were dealt, they can purchase additional ships (to a
limit), supplies, soldiers, cannons, trading goods, missionaries, etc.
They must also decide to use Carracks or Caravels and to have their
expedition led by an explorer or a conquistador.  Each has its
advantages and disadvantages.

Once the outfitting is completed, players set sail.  The board has
different paths that can be followed, each leading to different areas.
Cards are drawn from one of three stacks - Sea, Land or Civilization
Encounters - depending upon the player's location.   The cards determine
the success of a movement as well as any random events which occur
(storms, scurvy, encounters, etc.).  Players can stop along the way at
known islands for supplies and/or repairs.  This takes time, however,
and swiftness counts in this game.

Players can concentrate on making discoveries at sea (land sightings,
rivers, channels, bays, etc.) or choose to land and make inland
discoveries (gold, gems, pearls, civilizations).  Each has its own
rewards and/or perils.  There are also Voyages of Discovery that can be
taken (Northwest Passage, Mississippi River, Circumnavigation of the
Globe, etc.).  Players can also attempt to engage and defeat the mighty
Aztec and Incan empires.

With six players playing the 15 point 'campaign' match, , the game is
going to last from six-to-eight hours.  Movement from space to space is
agonizingly slow and dependent upon the luck of the draw.  Even with the
swiftest ships and hurricane force winds backing you, two spaces is the
maximum progress that can be made at sea, and that's only if you happen
to draw the correct card.  Progress along the coast or inland is even
slower - limited to a maximum (card permitting) of one space per turn.
With six players, this makes for a VERY slow moving game.

Several of our players have commented that the game is basically a
solitaire one.  Each player does 'his own thing' with no interference
from the other players.  The only encounter that can occur is if two
players meet on land, in which case one can attempt to take over the
other's pieces.  There is no combat between the players and no 'dirty
tricks' that can be pulled upon one another.  Thus, there is little, if
any, player interaction.  About the only thing that a player can do to
thwart another's plans is to reach a discovery before he does and race
back to Europe or a New World base and beat him to the 'publishing'
punch.

Another comment is the game is very dependent upon luck.  The success or
failure of most actions is dependent upon the draw of a card or the roll
of dice.  Other than deciding upon how to outfit one's expedition and
which way to sail, there seems to be little strategy involved.  Perhaps
further playings will dispel (or confirm) these initial feelings.

I have corresponded and spoken with others - whose opinions I generally
respect - who profess to enjoy this game.  They praise the game's
'historical' feel.  I can agree with that. The game does give a nice
historical feel for the period, and there is a certain sense of
accomplishment and exhilaration when one completes the Northwest Passage
or successfully floats down the Mississippi River.  However, my
enthusiasm for the game ends there.  The game is slow moving, heavily
dependent upon luck and has little, if any, player interaction.  I also
do not like the "turn over a card and see what happens" method.
Unfortunately, Age of Exploration is a disappointment.

GSCHLOESSR@aol.com

Westbank Gamers
http://members.aol.com/GSCHLOESSR/index.html