ISS Vanguard Play-Through

[@k.p.636]

This game looks so imaginative. Finally sci-fi game worth exploring. Will back it on Gamefound for sure !

[@anthearobertson6857]

I already knew I wanted to play this game but now I WANT TO PLAY IT RIGHT AWAY!

[@brianmyers13]

Ok the marker on the dice to show which symbol has more sides...great detail.

[@sebastienvivas9319]

So pumped for ISS Vanguard!

[@familymeeple]

Cheers for sharing guys - absolutely loved watching this play through ❤👍😁

[@kennythegreatbear]

I don't know how people can keep up with these mega story game releases. I'm still only halfway through Tainted Grail Fall of Avalon

[@kennythegreatbear]

@SeventySilk I think a lot of people do own all of these games and they often sit unplayed in shelves for ages. There's no way with the number of backers AR pulls that they aren't getting a massive number of repeat customers. I appreciate that solo players can consume these games fast, but I always play with my girlfriend. I guess my pocket is thankful for that.

[@aylonewolf69]

@@kennythegreatbear I'm one of the few minority... Backed all in for The Great Wall, Nemesis and Nemesis Lockdown, Etherfields and now ISS Vanguard... :)

[@9291slet]

I have the same problem all ready having some backlog and still backed some long campaign games on KS and probably going to back this one as well. But sadly I don't have enough time to play them all so some might be collecting dust for a while but they will be played eventually. That's why I think it's funny that people are still asking about replayability. I'm like how the heck do they have the time to play a 50 hrs campaign game multiple times 😅..

[@aylonewolf69]

@SeventySilk LOL - Not intentionally... :) I just came onto the Kickstarter crazy around September 2020 of this year due to COVID lockdown and these were the games that were still open as late pledges...!!

[@Ultr4l0f]

Haha. True. I bought Tainted Grail. Started playing it about 4 or 5 weeks ago and have played 3 sessions... And there is ALOT to cover. I love the look and theme of Etherfields and this game, but I wont buy or back them. Would LOVE to play them, but as a working family man its hard to squeeze in

[@riloh58]

Brilliant! Love the play through. It was like the boardgame equivalent of Galaxy Quest (which, in case it was unclear, I love).

[@drsnova7313]

The theme of this game is amazing, and just perfect for me. Problem is - when I watch this video and see how it seems to be little morsels of story inbetween dice roling, dice rolling and more dice rolling...I don't think this is for me or the people I would usually play with. We're just all much more into narrative play than into things with such huge amaount of gamist elements. It's really a pity - I would gladly pay the $99 for a "ship crew explores strange planets and uncovers mysteries" game.

[@mydemon]

You should look into straight-up RPGs. A lot more story, less dice rolling (comparatively of course).

[@Marco48375]

Dice rolling in context is narrative. Rolling three times when landing isn't just rolling dice: it's dodging debris, with a risk of damaging or killing your crew. Shooting isn't just rolling dice, it's seeing if you hit or miss if the threat will be neutralised yes or no. You create the narrative and the actions scenes.

[@marioduran9623]

I started this video and checked a text. Thought I clicked a Jelle’s marble runs by mistake cause of the intro music 😝.

[@FatManWalking18]

not there is nothing wrong with that

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

If anyone's wondering what nationality the name Galit Yadin is, I think it's Israeli. (If I've got my Hebrew grammar right, which is, shall we say, in the realm of possibility, the 'I's in her name would be pronounced as in the word "it" and the 'A's would be pronounced as in "Ma." So it's Gah-lit Yah-din, with the accent on the second syllable both times. Also, while I'm not sure the character's image immediately identifies her as female, Galit is a female name.)

[@Frankie-the-Tankie]

What are people's thoughts after watching this on it being a "true" four player game? My group is a consistent four and the last two AR games we played (Tainted Grail and Etherfields) my group essentially felt it was a solo / partner game and they didn't want to continue playing. My group LOVED Gloomhaven, and other co-op games but I just want to make sure this game is more in line of a "true" four player game and not a game that can play four players, but really shouldn't (for whatever reason but mostly downtime). Thank you

[@ericwollaston5654]

My thought is with the section specialties and proper planning, having four players each focused on those sections' responsibilities will have good synergy together in a playthrough.

[@AndyP998]

I think this game could be more suited soloplaying, there are some group games like Gloomhaven and stuff where all people can be verymuch involved. This more seems to be take it slow and enjoy journey

[@jaroslawlajkosz1500]

Wow there is so much setup before you even begin the scenario. Hope they make it more streamlined before the end.

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

1:13:04 I thought "The thing is, no one can stop Roy. If he decides..." was going to be about playing the whole campaign. :)

[@fastpoose]

Sheesh I don't know about this one. Tainted Grail has been sort of hit and miss for me. I loved gamebooks back in my youth and have found that these new games centered around choose your own adventure play style can just bog down a good story with frustrating mechanics... I can definitely see how many will love this direction in board gaming, but these games just make me want to go back to my Fighting Fantasy books or the many other types I own....

[@bernardorippe7024]

Looks like the same thing here

[@Warchoon]

Tainted Grail had the best writing in Board Game history. ISS looks to rival that. Fighting Fantasy books are pretty mediocre on that front. Easier and faster to dive in, but too generic. Remove nostalgia from them, and you wouldn't want to play one after reading some acclaimed fantasy/sci-fi books. So if game mechanics are more important to you, I can see you skipping the game, and that's fine. But for me writing is essential; and this looks like it would have the same sci-fi feel as original Mass Effect had.

[@bernardorippe7024]

@@Warchoon I agree, Tainted grail has a lot of innovation, the resolution system if amazing. I'm not totally sure about ISS vanguard mechanics I didn't see as many innovations compared to Tainted Grail. Awaken put all his efforts in making pieces of art, and they do it very well.

[@fastpoose]

@@Warchoon I re read my game books all the time, the writing is streets ahead of Tainted Grail.... I read tons of 'acclaimed' sci fi and fantasy novels which are obviously way ahead of the game books, your condescension is nauseating.

[@Warchoon]

@@fastpoose don't you try to coin "streets ahead" phrase (c) Maybe I'm wrong, and read different Fighting Fantasy, but the dozen I had were all very generic "you're in a tomb/overrun city/gauntlet, there are traps, deal with them". The story is basically non-existent, it's just like a cheesy movie. I mean, Warlock of the Firetop Mountain, Forest of Doom, City of Thieves, Deathtrap Dungeon are all generic fantasy tropefest. They are nice as games, but not good books.

[@KingAm0]

Wait a minute...I think I heard Ezreal's voice actor during that narration at 11 minutes in? Funny how well that fits.

[@cyberleish]

I think once you get to know the game then it was obvious you needed out of there before the death event. But so many questions, why did characters at the lander not escape? When you store this planet state for next return how does the volcano store, is it done? Is it reset but visible? Is it hidden again? Also if you escape with the behemoth alive will he still be there upon return?

[@aylonewolf69]

Since you *ASKED* for feedback regarding the APP/Voice acting!!! :) I'll just put in my two cents here!!! :) I love the APP and I've been advocating this type of APP for all of my games ever since Foreteller was introduced to me for Gloomhaven!!! Bardsung has it now too and AR is bundling this with their ISS Vanguard campaign, I'm swooning!!!

[@janbeck7641]

This was fun to watch but I am no longer sure if my gamegroup and me realy want to play this. So probaly going to cancle my pledge.

[@GameWeekendChalbie]

😂😂 when Mike took the accidental roll on the danger die. That absolutely counts in a coop game Mike. I agree.

[@robertsilver6181]

little did we know this game is actually the prequel to nemesis

[@mrdreadful5567]

Ive kept meaning to watch this. is that a ferret or an otter?

[@DJ-mz7td]

Nice play thru! Really looked like you guys had actual fun! Big question 🤔, why don't you guys use a small blue custom Dice Tower dice tray?

[@ExBeeOne]

1:00:19 "I feel like being able to slay the Behemoth on an alien world seems worth it thou. The stories we could tell, in the brig? Or in the.. ehh... I.. in the ship!"

[@EpicGamingNight]

🤫 lol

[@kellychoi6326]

I think the guy in the green shirt (Roy?) failed his first move, everyone got distracted with a false alarm punctured suit and then moved again to a second sector.

[@oneanotherstudios]

Theme and artwork remind me heavily of Unsettled by Orange Nebula.

[@RunawayWindmill]

Agreed. Also likely why I don't back this; I already backed that.

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

34:40 I would suspect that that card doesn't work in this situation, but I'd have to read the rules to know.

[@verathomsen2124]

I was puzzled by the name of the lander, 'Faustschlag', which is German for 'Fist Punch'... After googling it I'm wondering if it's a WW1 reference...

[@mydemon]

Yeah its a reference to a German WW1 offensive/operation

[@Conny-tk8md]

My husband wants this game so bad! We both love SciFi and we both enjoy Tainted Grail. ISS Vanguard certainly looks stunning - but after watching you guys play... I don't know... It seems fiddly and it looks like you have to keep a dozen balls in the air at all times (which reminds me too much of my job). The constant need to talk about dice rolls would disrupt the thematic immersion for me. But my husband wants this game... *sighs*

[@table_topping4395]

Looks great.

[@racer7174]

I'm all in.

[@MerrillWhiteKalEl]

Completely different than BoardgameCo and Quackalope. They destroyed an entire species.

[@jessesamuelanderson9587]

Quack

[@cyberleish]

they also started off with significantly more cards and dice and advance knowledge (and 4 player v 2 player) so shows a different stage of play for sure, deffo on easy mode.

[@gamegraves]

almost a good job guys

[@mrdreadful5567]

Cant believe Roy was the traitor again.

[@FatManWalking18]

raised almost 700 grand in less than 2 hours

[@Mark-OutWest]

Doesn't mean it's good.

[@cyberleish]

This confused me as the rules seemed very different from the quack playthrough of the same planet. The low gravity recover a die rule for one. Also does rolling an X mean the whole roll fail or just that one die.

[@MaveriJediC]

If the roll needs AAB results and u get AAX then the roll fails. You might have rolled more dice, then the one X would just cancel the die, not the roll.

[@cyberleish]

@@MaveriJediC that makes sense, so rolling extra dice makes a success more likely, as I was hearing on early play rolling dice would have made an X more likely too which is ok if it just fails the single dice.

[@MaveriJediC]

@@cyberleish aye. But also rolling more means you need to rest earlier-> loose resources to regain the dice.

[@ben59320]

What will be the price point for this game? I never bought Awaken Realm's games, but I already own huge ones like TMB, so I'm not (so) afraid :D

[@Sam-vk8xd]

Save up a good $250+, you know you’ll want the core game and the million and one expansions it comes with.

[@thorstenschleer8593]

99$ Base game afaik

[@Ultr4l0f]

Game found already has a draft of the crowdsource up. 99$ is correct. And they will ofc add a ton of free extra stuff for backers. So you can stop there and get enormous amounts of content. Or you CAN pay like 250 or whatever it will be for the all-in with extra plastic, extra missions, sleeves, play mat etc etc.

[@Caidezes]

@@Ultr4l0f Honestly, most people should be fine with just the base game. Looks like it's packed with content as is. No real need to pay $200+ unless you've got money to burn.

[@michaelritter1722]

I’ve seen reviews of Tainted Grail and Etherfields (reviewers were in the UK) that said after 10 hours these games just became too tedious to enjoy (whether getting food or other items inTG or items for going into the next dream in EF). Both reviewers quit the game and commented that the developers seemed to be intentionally adding time wasting aspects to make it take longer and had tons of content presumably to get your money. I can see getting just the base game of Vanguard if I am ok with $100 for 10 hours of play in case I find that this is their cookie-cutter formula to making games. Since I’m not, I won’t.

[@mydemon]

7th Citadel removed the hunting for food element that was in 7th Continent, I'm excited to try it.

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

When they destroyed the guardian, did Mike illegally take 3 actions that turn (move, attack, attack)?

[@thomasromanelli2561]

Uh, the final resolution of this playthrough... kinda sucks. Now I'm having second thoughts about backing this... 😵 How disappointing that all achievements, discoveries & crew is destroyed, with a failed mission and negative effects on morale during the subsequent ship phase. After that, I might just shelve the game and go back to Dune: Imperium or hop on TTS for TI4/PoK.

[@Ultr4l0f]

Well... Im guessing you have be prepared for failure. Its a part of the narrative But yeah. If half an evenings achivements are destroyed due to death it sucks. But here atleast discoveres etc are saved.

[@thomasromanelli2561]

@@Ultr4l0f You make a good point about failure preparation, but in this scenario they got nothing as the landing craft was destroyed as well. No discoveries were saved.

[@supasnake8138]

It's yet another attempt by Awaken Realms to chase that KDM style of hardcore gameplay. Personally, I think ultra punishment in a board game is unneeded stress. But clearly, people like this stuff because they keep selling for millions.

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

What's PoK?

[@thomasromanelli2561]

@@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous Prophecy of Kings- the recently delivered (and much anticipated) expansion for Twilight Imperium 4th Edition.

[@icewendigo2320]

Spoiler: They land on a planet where an ancient civilization was destroyed by an unlucky dice roll.

[@CopperLontra]

Spoilers for stream. What happened to kill everyone on the planet? Was that a random event? What could the players have done to avoid that?

[@Hieronymus-Pseudonymous]

They could've evacuated as they were told to.

[@Mark-OutWest]

I'm having a hard time seeing the fun here. Great idea for a game and great looking game, but the play/game itself blows.

[@daedalus25]

Agreed. I had to stop and start this video 3 times in the first hour to take a break from watching it. I didn't bother finishing the last 20 minutes. It's so mindnumbingly boring. Nice quality components for sure, and very interesting concept. But it's just neverending dice slogging and card drawing with very little in the way of tactical decisions. Way too many components for setup and breakdown, and they do nothing except slow down gameplay without adding anything mechanically. I'm not even sure why they needed to make miniatures for this game. I'm not making the same mistake I made on my last few Kickstarter games that went straight to my storage closet. I'm passing on this.

[@heatshell2141]

@@daedalus25 Which KS games went to your closet?

[@israel-ch8jd]

same looked like a chore to play. not worth the money imo

[@mydemon]

Its mostly a storytelling game with some mechanics thrown in. Personally that's what I'm looking for. But its not for everyone.

[@JerreMuesli]

I love co-op and I love epic space exploration games but c'mon. This looks like a one in a dozen crowdfunding game. WAY too much stuff for a board game, way too expensive, and unfortunately not very fun to play in the end..

[@supasnake8138]

yet...people continue to buy it.

[@benvaughn7482]

@@supasnake8138 it's almost as if enough people think it's interesting and want to see it happen

[@madquest8]

Game is boring to be honest. Very disappointed. Also games that use App's have to be a hard pass.

[@thecrabbydice]

This will be great for ppl who like nemesis ... a cinematic game driven by lackluster gameplay

[@bernardorippe7024]

Nemesis was dissapointing

[@davidgulyas9509]

@@bernardorippe7024 For you, for others not.. there is a reason for it's following

[@bernardorippe7024]

@@davidgulyas9509 I totally respect that, and I see interesting mechanics in Nemesis, the game manage to capture pretty well the feeling of the mov..... sorry, the theme. Hidden objectives are awesome but.... IMHO combat is lackluster exploration is horrible....

[@davidgulyas9509]

@@bernardorippe7024 Combat should be the way it is, you have some chance against the adults/larger ones, but if you are weaker character most of the you should run..what do you mean by horrible exploration? interested in your view :)

[@bernardorippe7024]

@@davidgulyas9509 Well I understand that point about weaker or stronger combat oriented players, that's over is part of the original fil..... sorry, theme. Your actions are mostly limited in an unknown ship? Why in hell didn't you remember the modules? in a sci fi world where you can access a panel and introduce commands to the ship's computer.... why everything is facedown?. About combat things are more disappointing...... they had the chance to create unique tactical features for teamwork and, equipment, something that lies on player's decision. I like so many aspects about the game, but for me too much theme and low in mechanics.

[@kellinwinslow1988]

It would be interesting to see you guys play the Horizon Zero Dawn board game. Good 4 player co op. Really feels like the game.

[@Goodanhigh]

I've only heard bad things about HZD. What do you like about it?

[@kellinwinslow1988]

@@Goodanhigh I haven't gone into it in depth yet but I like the working together, hunting to achieve goals. Maybe my opinion will change with more time spent on it but it captures the tone and theme of the video game and frankly there aren't many good board game based off of games like that. Both versions of Doom maybe but not many more. Maybe the Darkest Dungeon board game will be good. I've seen a bunch of good reviews of it as well as bad so overall it's decent. There are far worse games that came out this year.

[@denisloebner4882]

no pun included made a thorough review for it. worth a watch maybe: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYXWgKVohZuXq6s

[@johnsonnavinr2522]

I typically read this as ISIS vanguard

[@atonaltensor]

Super cool theme and concept ruined by lazy design. “Roll a die to resolve everything”. I could design a game about literally anything if “anything” is synonymous with “roll a die”. I thought we would’ve moved past this unthematic mechanism by now, especially when it pervades nearly every aspect of the game.

[@IdlestHands]

It's absurdly reductionist to boil the game down to "Roll a die to resolve everything"

[@Vascariz]

@@Ironhawx Too Many Bones, Dice Forge, Tekhenu, Teotihuacan, etc so many games that have evolved the way to use dice to replace or supplement simple dice rolling.

[@bernardorippe7024]

@@Ironhawx easy, make games with less content and with more meaninful descitions

[@veggieh8r]

I bought every game Awaken Realms made up until Etherfields. The only one that "hit" was Lords of Hellas. Nemesis, Tainted Grail and Etherfields just felt like form over function. As pretty as Vanguard looks I can't abide anymore blah gameplay.

[@corvus418]

Hmm, seems like a random "everyone dies." Not a good first impression.

[@mydemon]

Yeah that was a bit weird. However, since you can recruit more people, maybe that's how the game is meant to be played - disposable characters (kind of a cynical/satirical flair)

[@corvus418]

@@mydemon Maybe we missed something about the story or subtext here. I don't know.

[@ericfinley220]

Awaken Realms is just a miniature company. Their board game rules range between garbage and Meh.

[@Dthamilaye]

Nemesis is probably best board game I have ever played (Rising Sun, Death may die and Eclipse are up there as well). Tainted grail I probably play through in "story mode", at least now I'm not that interested in the card-fights. No interest in Etherfields. ISS Vanguard looks cool, but I probably would never get it on the table. But Nemesis is just so awesome. Like SUSD says, you sometimes need to be able to sacrifice your win for the story, but oh those stories It gives :). The rules are just right for the traitor mechanic, you can do whatever without raising suspicions. We have had a game where all four players just helped each other and everyone got out alive with mission accomplished. We have had a game where people helped each other until two of four players were in cryosleep and Convict put his plans in motion and tried to kill the Bounty hunter (because it was the character he was supposed to get killed) and adding a self-destruct event there with two persons already in cryosleep and bounty hunter trying to get the self destruct off and convict harassing him was hair rising. I have never had a bad nemesis game :).

[@AngryCheezburger303]

Tainted grail (while being very dependent on the amount of players) is by far, without a doubt, the best two-player coop game I have ever played. Even my girlfriend who had no experience with boardgames and had trouble getting around the mechanics completely turned around and loved everything about it by our third game. In any case, if Awaken Realms was just a miniature company you'd think they added more than some 8 miniatures to this game, but they don't, because they're not. If you can't even see the difference between CMON and Awaken Realms I probably shouldn't even bother trying to explain this to you.

[@ryanbrown9102]

So... Will you play ISS VANGUARD..?

[@madquest8]

Game uses an App? Hard pass. No exceptions.

[@WuschelofDespair]

You can also read everything yourself in the book, nobody forces you to use the app but I think the voice overs add to the atmosphere and mood of the game