20 Strong Review - A Premium Chip Theory Experience At An Affordable Price

BoardGameCo Patreon (Exclusive Content) - bit.ly/3sKcAYf
KZbin Camp_Coop - bit.ly/3XHiCa6
Twitch: Camp_Coop - bit.ly/3l7nJ14
Devon Talks Tabletop - bit.ly/36HAr3l
Professor Meg - bit.ly/3XKR1ol
Daily Pictures & Stuff! - bit.ly/39GvjNH
--------------------------------------------
20 Strong is a new deck-based game system from Chip Theory Games, capable of being played in about 30 minutes or less. We say “game system” because the idea behind 20 Strong is a small nucleus of simple, adaptable rules that can then be applied to a variety of unique decks, each with their own set of mechanics. We are launching 20 Strong with three such decks - one set in the world of Too Many Bones, one set in Hoplomachus: Victorum, and one in the new universe of the space-faring Solar Sentinels. We have more decks in development and plan to release them regularly if our customers are excited by them. For now, 20 Strong is a solo-only game, but even that could differ in future decks using the ruleset.
The object of a game of 20 Strong is to progress through a shuffled deck of cards, each card bearing a unique challenge. This challenge could be in the form of an enemy, a unique scenario, or some other requirement (for example, players of the Too Many Bones deck might expect to see a Lockpicking challenge or two). Challenges usually require a certain number of successes to complete, which you earn by rolling a set of 17 dice with different odds for a hit (these dice, along with three adjustable stat dice, make up the “20” in 20 Strong).
If you roll enough successes, you complete a card’s challenge and gain its rewards. If you don’t, you take damage and move on to the next card - unless, of course, your HP stat is reduced to 0, costing you the game. If you manage to make it through an entire deck, you take on one of the deck’s final bosses, attempting to score enough hits against this powerful enemy to claim ultimate victory.
Of course, it’s never so easy that you’d want to spend all of your dice on a single card. In addition to your HP Stat, you’re also keeping track of your Strategy (which controls how many rerolls and items you have) and your Recovery, which controls how many dice return to your pool after taking on a challenge. If you roll more dice than your Recovery, those dice are exhausted, lowering your pool for your subsequent challenges. It’s a game of pressing your luck, strategic decision-making, and resource management. We think you’re going to love it!
BGG Link - boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...
TimeStamps:
0:00:00 - Overview
0:07:34 - Ease of Play
0:09:20 - What I Like
0:12:13 - What I Don’t Like
0:14:20 - What I Can See Others Not Liking
0:14:59 - Final Thoughts
0:16:55 - Recommendations
5.0 - My absolutely favorite games. You can pry them out of my cold dead hands.
4.5 - Love this game! At the same time missing something that would make it a 5. Could be hard to table, lacking variability, a little light, etc.
4.0 - Really great game, almost always keeping, although has meaningful complaints as to what takes away from the experience.
3.5 - Really enjoyed, don't love it, may lose out to better games but the idea of never playing again is a bit sad.
3.0 - A good game, would play and suggest with the right people, if I never played it again wouldn't lose any sleep.
2.5 - A game I'd play again , but will never suggest it myself
2.0 - A game I don't want to play again
1.5 - A game I can't find any reason to recommend
1.0 - A game that is just bad.
My Game Table (Non Referral)
bit.ly/3aYUdpp
Upgrade Your Game At Top Shelf Gamer (Referral Link)
bit.ly/3siD0PL
For media inquiries, please email [e-mail]
For Gamefound inquiries, please email me at [e-mail]

[@HansJoachimMaier]

You have my favorite review method on KZbin with „What I like, what I don’t like“ scheme.

[@jardex2275]

I'm always looking for solo games, so I picked this up on a whim. I've played a few rounds and liked what I saw. There were a few times where I remembered a rule I missed and would scrub the game and reset. The rule books do have a section reminding players of the phase order, which I found helpful. I'll also add that the inside of the core box is felt lined, so it makes a good dice tray, if you don't have your own. One improvement I'd like to see is a larger box that can hold multiple decks. Making the box slightly wider or taller would make this possible. Maybe that'll happen when the next set of decks come out.

[@taylorkowbel7078]

The more I have watched gameplay of this game and just how it works, the more i'm convinced CTG accidentally made a roguelike.

[@nigeltinning8713]

Another excellent video. Appreciated.

[@lonniestewart8428]

Thanks for reviewing this. I understand the Solar Sentinals deck so much better after watching this along with your playthrough. I’m very excited for this experience. I also cannot wait for the Tanglewoods decks since my kids will gravitate to the theme a little better than these.

[@Sweetmoney55]

SWEET! I am waiting for my copies of this game to arrive soon!

[@Allatir]

CTG does not produce copies, only originals!

[@CamObscura88]

This feels like fancy One Deck Dungeon. I bounced off that one a bit, but think this one will be much better.

[@mvenini]

I was just about to comment that and I read your comment. To me, it just looks like an upscaled One Deck dungeon.

[@DireMcCann]

This looks great! BTW, where can I get that shirt?

[@Lindraden]

I backed this but have no idea when its coming! Seeing as there's a few reviewers putting out videos I'm hoping its soon!

[@MidwestJedi]

The August 11th update predicted copies would begin to reach backers, "in roughly one month-ish." So, hopefully, we're looking at some time in September.

[@qxwmrfz]

How much table space does it take up? Would it be feasible to play on a tray table while traveling?

[@G0F15H]

He literally has everything on the table in the video. At an absolute minimum, you need space for 9 cards. While that could fit on a tray, I'm not sure how you'd roll the dice and prevent them from falling on the floor

[@jardex2275]

@@G0F15H You can use the lid of the core box as a dice tray, and keep that in your lap. The other half of the box can be used for unused components and expended dice. It'd still be a tight fit for an airplane tray table, but possible.

[@DigitalAwakening]

You started fiddling with the chip but you never talked about it. Is it used for anything in these 3 decks? Still waiting for my copy 😊

[@G0F15H]

It's a Tracker. For example, in SS some missions have objectives that need to be performed multiple times, so you can use the chip to keep count. TMB will likely use it to track which day you're on

[@jardex2275]

It's used to keep track of mission objectives in Solar, is used to keep track of your place in Victorum, and is used as a day counter in Bones.

[@williamskogen9895]

Happy to hear you liked this as I am awaiting my all-in pledge to arrive!

[@Kamunchu]

me too

[@ralder1]

Love that shirt 😂

[@warpo007]

damn it... Add to cart! lol

[@icymallard3]

You've just sold me on this one. Preordered! Do you think the average gamer would be satisfied with just the core box with solar?

[@jardex2275]

Solar is a pretty good game on its own and pairs well with the core rules. Just playing that deck alone would be fine. Think of the other decks in terms of how other games treat expansions. Is Catan a good game, even without Seafarers? Is Carcassonne good without its expansions? If you play enough Solar to get board of it, you can pick up another deck then. I suppose the only people that lose are the ones that want to start with Bones or Victorum, and avoid Solar, since that's the game packed in with the current core box.

[@boardgameaddict4262]

I thought it was called 20 strong because they have plans to release 20 different decks but i could be wrong

[@seansmith2650]

There's 20 dice is why

[@wishmeheaven]

I enjoyed your Worms playthrough and wanted to share a friend. Did you completely vanish this video from your channel? How come?