ISS Vanguard Review

ISS Vanguard board game lets you discover new planets and technologies, and most of all.. roll some dice for checks... and then roll some more... Watch our review of ISS Vanguard from Awaken Realms.
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In this video:
0:00 Intro
0:20 Rules
3:16 For Who?
4:29 Top 3 Things
8:01 Not for you?
12:20 Honeymoon
13:01 Alternative
13:57 Final Rating
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#ISSVanguard #BoardGameHangover #awakenrealms

[@michaldurovic]

This ISS officially my favourite channel. 😂🔥😎

[@coltainward3511]

I binge-watched a lot of videos on your channel a while ago, I have watched this a few times because it's very much in my niche of gameplay. I finally decided to drop the ball and buy-in on the 2nd wave getting all the content they have. Even though I don't have it yet, thank you for getting me addicted to this game!

[@hismonkeybusiness6763]

The ISS joke with the straight face after the intro, so funny. It's why I'm subbed

[@viesturskokarevics2427]

Must have for me. Excited about upcomming 2 expansions in second wave. Story is amazing, same as Tainted grail. And I like this ship book and dice mechanic, I hope they will use it in some of upcomming games.

[@MyAlex528]

The ship book looks great, really suitable for collection. And your format of review is really enjoyable!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Ship book is awesome! Glad you enjoy the videos :)

[@chrisdotter5127]

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL

[@IlmoOtt]

“And enjoyed” made me laugh 😂

[@alastairbishop2450]

Great video as always. Looking forward to my single-wave shipping.

[@ewok-breath]

Thanks guys for making me laugh first thing in the morning 😃. Love you guys!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Our pleasure Susan!

[@cardiner-lv]

Cool review :) With some of the things i totally agree, what I would have added is solo and group experience differences, because yes, when it comes to some of the bookkeeping it is definitely better solo, but the story and mystery is so cool to experience with others that it is not worth not sharing, the conversations this game sparked was incredible, also when you play solo dice main game loop gets boring quickly, but when you are playing with a group it actually is nice that it is simple enough so it does not get in a way.

[@BoardGameHangover]

That's a really good point! Different parts of the games feels better at different player count for sure

[@wishmeheaven]

Cool review format! Only found out about you now. Like the honesty, sooo... Subscribed!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Welcome aboard! Glad to have you!

[@Madgaar]

105% agree with everything you said. Only point to add: don't get the minis unless you want them to paint. Value is just not there otherwise. You use then so seldom

[@BoardGameHangover]

Minis are great looking, but there's not much use for them.

[@dannynorbury7261]

Nice job guys. Love the format.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@vladimirshlapakov8033]

Almost finished campaign - one of the best adventure board games for me! Dice system is simple, but not bad. Maybe, if it would be more complicated mechanic - game will be overwhelming and too long (for now each session is about 3 hours). And still, AR can improve it in upcoming expansions.

[@beaglegod1]

One of THE best gaming channels. You guys Rock

[@eastargamemanufacturing6914]

Thanks for sharing! All the questions are useful.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AoiSyuuto]

Great Light as always btw guys!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Warms JT's heart that you like it! Was worth putting all that effort into it :)

[@iansutton7416]

Many thanks for the review. I ended up backing it, but haven't yet tabled it. You've certainly picked out the two areas that I spent most time concerned about, before eventually (late) pledging: - Dice rolling / mitigation / management. Whilst I rather enjoy 'playing the odds', enjoying probability as much as pure logic, I was concerned whether this mechanism would hold my interest. I don't yet know the answer. - Ship book. In the original campaign, this absolutely felt like a solo experience, perhaps best suited to those that love character building in D&D etc. That was a problem for me, as I much prefer gaming with others, as I find solo feels uncomfortably inconsequential. The changes after the campaign, including the ditching of the visually appealing ship dials, came out of playtester feedback, and for me at least, those changes feel very good indeed (and a friend who is already well into the game, thinks this is done exceptionally well). With this War of Mine being the game I'm most glad I own (and I know you like it as well), I smiled at the reference to Awaken Realms and the way their games emphasise players having to survive challenges where luck can play a strong part. I'm absolutely cool with this, and indeed believe it was a brilliant decision to make This War of Mine so brutally and haphazardly punishing. That and putting the 'based on first hand accounts' narrative to the fore (yet choosing a fictional setting) worked so wonderfully IMO. Compared to that, I'm expecting ISS Vanguard to feel just 'slightly' dangerous. Unsettled certainly seems like a good alternative, and one that might appeal a little more to a euro/puzzle style gamer, but also those with a wry / anarchic style of humour.

[@BoardGameHangover]

We've come to a conclusion that the dice management is simple, yet it really depends on the player. Some really enjoy the simplicity and the manipulation options provided are enough for them. Also there's so much around it (the story, ship book etc.) that will help keep you invested. This War of Mine unforgiving nature just feels perfect for the theme, you're right!

[@RvLeshrac]

I decided to back ISS Vanguard after my time with Roll Player Adventures, and I couldn't be less happy. I've been told that Awaken Realms designs all their games like this, and I can't understand how anyone could ever be giving them good reviews based on their gameplay. It isn't merely "punishing," but it will punish you out of nowhere for no clear reason, and not give you a chance to react to it or even recover.

[@freek204]

"Where is the keeping of the book?!" hahaha xD

[@krisjaniszviedrans9871]

The "Iss" is so good!

[@algernonftw42]

With my experience thus far, I don't really have complaints about the dice mechanics. There are lots of ways to modify your outcomes - from teammate assistance, to equipment, to dice combo effects on your section cards, or even your crew abilities. I think they give you a fair chance at success with the dice mechanic, without making it *too* easy.

[@YoSo14]

I am guessing you guys really do love campaign games. All of the latest reviews are in the fantastic realm.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Just a bit of a coincidence that we got to play such big campaign games back to back. No more for a while... We promise! :D

[@RamyASMR]

Lol got the laugh within first 2 seconds hahaha

[@BoardGameHangover]

Will be tough too beat that one, but we're always up for challanges...

[@writerian]

Love your hat!

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks.

[@AoiSyuuto]

Just backed this on late pledge! Im waiting for it in spanish so i can have the best space adventure

[@BoardGameHangover]

Native language for this game is a great treat! You'll love it!

[@sebastianmarrano5608]

The premise sounds kind of like a hitchhikers guide to the galaxy

[@Dwigii]

Can you run multiple campaigns at the same time with different groups/solo players with just one copy? Or there is a lot of organizational admin work over the components that does not allow for that?

[@BoardGameHangover]

No, we'd say it's impossible

[@TheMelon9106]

If you guys or someone knows Tainted Grail really well (Finished it at least) Does this game has the issues as that one?

[@simonh2011]

I need some help! Im really torn between this and Oathsworn. I know they're different types of games! My favourite games right now are Gloomhaven, Nemesis and Mage Knight. Something about this makes me want it but Oathsworn looks awesome too! Help!!😂 I also only play solo as I have no friends if that makes any difference!

[@k.p.636]

I had Sleeping Gods but sold it. I found it boring and did not really like the art too much. I totally love this one :) I like the dice puzzle. If the dice puzzle would be too brain burny the game would suffer imo. Unsettled looks good too. Great review.

[@BoardGameHangover]

Thanks so much.

[@freezebanana1865]

is This possible to have a upgrade machanic gameplay in the future? I already Buy it All in and I hear some say AW company once have one bad game before and they redesign all of that game rule so game become fun to play now. will i be happen with this game in the future too? I just hope that when i come to me on august I will have It in the better design version without all of the complain right now.

[@KPiccolo89]

I've never played a campaign board game before. Although this looks interesting i think I would get Sleeping Gods as it seems more for me and my girlfriend.

[@BoardGameHangover]

We truly love Sleeping Gods, if the theme fits you - you won't be dissapointed. We have a review on it if you're interested - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6DEgqhmYs9gm5Y

[@KPiccolo89]

@@BoardGameHangover Thanks but I watched all your videos already. 🙂 I will probably get Sleeping Gods at the end of the month, for Black Friday.

[@amethyst3126]

If playing solo, can you play just 1 character? Or do you need to play multiple characters?

[@viesturskokarevics2427]

2 chars minimum. Game rule.

[@BoardGameHangover]

What Viesturs said!

[@Juice8767]

I’m so torn on grabbing this for myself. I’m sure I could poke at my wife to join me for a bit but I’d want to play it long term and I don’t think she’d have the patience.

[@ragingpiano9887]

This game looks like it does not have the legs to be fun for 40 hours. The thought of rolling dice for 40 hours is pure cringe. Great video guys as always. Keep up the great work

[@Christian-cy2pn]

That may depends of the player. I'm pretty new to board gaming as a hobby and i recently finished Roll player adventures in like 40hours. I loved it to the very end,even you throw dices the entire game. If you are an experienced player who have played all there is, i can see this can become a bit repetitive.

[@BoardGameHangover]

We've played with people who really enjoyed it and names it as one of their favorite things. So it really depends on your likings and preferences

[@andrisvaldmanis9923]

I'm embarrassed about myself, that I laughed about every ISS joke ...

[@krisjaniszviedrans9871]

Murderbot the baord game?

[@BoardGameHangover]

That's the Awaken Realms recipe

[@rileynorton1097]

First :)

[@JTilaks]

Second!

[@gruntsudens]

Third!

[@rileynorton1097]

Really great review guys! I'm sad to hear that so much of the game is dice rolling. Seems like a really cool (and well-made) story, but it's hard to sign up for hours and hours of low-interaction mechanics.

[@BoardGameHangover]

The good things is that there's so much goodness around it (the story, ship book etc.) that will help keep you invested. For us it outweights the simple dice system, yet would wish it would be much more engaging.

[@troy6795]

Seems like you have overly simplified the dice management and possibly missed out on a lot of brain burning fun. The complexity/fun of the dice management totally depends on cards players have in hand to play to manipulate the dice, and how many of those players characters are in the same sector, plus character abilities on top of that. So the decisions you make outside the dice chucking part, for example deck construction and character movement, greatly impact what you are able to do with dice management. So if dice management is the least fun part of the game for you, you need to look at how your building your section card decks and make sure you have characters ready to assist active player.

[@BoardGameHangover]

I thought so too at first and I've kept experimenting with different decks and equipment cards and so on... but still the tests feel underwhelming for me. Feels like a thing I just have to do, but it might be just me /JT

[@hariszark7396]

The modern board game designers think that a good game is a HUGE game with tones of tokens, big character sheets with a lot of dice or tokens areas with all kinds of upgrades, with complex mechanisms and rule books about 50 pages that feels like giving an exam at college or something, with a bunch of plastic minis, and need about 3-6 hours (or more) to play, coming in a HUGE box you need a dedicated place to store and about 3-4 expansions that adds to all that pile of plastic and paper...... NO! That is NOT what a good game needs. We NEED less tokens, less rules, less complexity, less set up and put in time, smaller boxes that can be stored easily, smaller rule books that we can learn faster, smaller games that we don't have to spend a whole night playing, smaller maps to take less area on the table because we don't have a palace to live in., and lower prices because not everyone in the world makes a $$$$$ every month. And we need more story, more immersion, more atmosphere and theme. More random events to make the games more repayable. Do not base your games in the components but in the feeling of the game. The story and the events. It's like playing a pen and paper RPG. You don't need a bunch of pieces and components. You just need interesting story and events for the people that adventure in your game world. Take a look at Star Trek TOS. So simple and basic in most episodes. Just the story and the events. It's not the "how you did it" more important in the series but "Why you do it".

[@jasonc2784]

Sooo... Read a great sci-fi book instead and keep notes in a ledger?