Moonrakers Review - with Tom Vasel

[@JacobPorterLadder]

Actually, the medal coins are part of the base package, only the metal ships and dice are premium.

[@Drewkas0]

There’s an official mod for this on Tabletop simulator. My friends and I have had a great time with it. Fun stuff!

[@wdavid4]

Having done 2 and 3-person games, you're spot on that 3 is where the game really starts being great. 2 is doable, and still fun, but lacks the depth of negotiations.

[@Nayr090]

IV Games did a great job with their first game. Easy enough to understand, enough going on to warrant more plays, good amount of player interaction. Pretty solid, I enjoy it!

[@christianrodriguez1527]

Thanks Tom for this review. I have a game session with a player that is hosting a game session on TTS, so now I have a good reference of what to expect for this board game.

[@IndianaGeologist]

I like how Tom moves the cards out of the way of the gavel. It happens so rarely and that is the true review of this game. Lol

[@jaslygod]

Sounds pretty interesting, and the unique point is good. I also find the artwork and the whole design very attractive.

[@depth386]

I am intrigued by the design and concepts but I’m having a hard time with one thing: I am trying to imagine how the end game for this works. Suppose everyone has 9 prestige and the next successful mission with 1 or more prestige points in the reward will end the game. Why would anyone agree to go on any mission? Does someone just end up flying solo due to the upgrades and crew cards making them powerful enough? Do people start using their turns changing what missions are available?

[@leroy7647]

I understand your reference to Cosmic Encounter and the similarities, but do realize that in CE you're negotiating an assault on some player, while in Moonrakers you're negotiating a cooperative mission. That is a small but crucial difference and for me will probably make me like Moonrakers way more than Cosmic Encounter. If only for the fact I don't have to worry some people getting upset by being targeted 'all the time'. Add to that the customization of the ship and crew, which I have been looking for for quite some time in a relatively lightweight space-game (most games that have this tend to be quite heavy and lenghty), and for me this might be an absolute winner.

[@PatrickBrophy]

Really happy with my Kickstarter copy. Just waiting to play it with friends!

[@Peter_Scholtz]

Hi all, whats the name of the white bix game on the shelf, the one with a guy holding axe on cover?

[@lucypatton42]

Looks like it’s “The Shining: Escape From Overlook Hotel”

[@blacksheep9950]

Deckbuilding and negotiation, you say? Interesting...

[@EBHawellsGames]

Beautiful game! However, I can think of many beautiful card games that don't cost $65 for the basic version and $90 for the one shown here, plus expansions it becomes $100 quickly.

[@noxskuses]

would love to pick this game up, but at $78 (65 game + 13 shipping) it's a little too rich for basically a card game. metal coins look cool, but I am sure added to the cost plus the weight of the game.

[@timespiraled]

Same, the cost is the only thing keeping me from getting it.

[@Wylie288]

Its a publishing company. Everything is high quality. Thats what they do, the games they make aren't going to use economical materials. There exists an official moonrakers dlc on TTS workshop. Completely free.

[@amunt3r]

There are so many better games at that price point. All that design doesn't make up for a game design that doesn't really create much buzz around the table.

[@amyfilak5818]

Love the tie!

[@adriang6259]

Damn, now I want it. Can't find it on Amazon.

[@claumoe]

The publisher sells it on their website. Only place to find it basically.

[@pilotvc]

I am going to check out Cosmic Encounters now

[@mikebiff]

Which one do you like more and why

[@amunt3r]

Cosmic is WAAAAY more fun. Every player is a different alien that can bend the rules of the game in bizarre and often hilarious ways. Highly recommend.

[@fabionadaline7832]

Was looking forward to this one :)

[@sm5574]

"This page intentionally left blank."

[@gs24-xor]

0:45 "you should know this doesn't affect me at all" and at the same time: It's a Deck Building, Tom we know you love deck building, who are you trying to fool, of course it affects you

[@_Cervantez]

He was just talking about the paid preview he did

[@gs24-xor]

@@_Cervantez I know but he described what he likes in games, deck building and negotiation, so I found it hilarious. Tom is awesome, so dont take my comment as a negative one, but a funny positive one

[@somanygamessolittletimesmg7725]

Afternova is another game that has the same main mechanic.

[@marcodavinci3150]

Love deck builders but the art on the cards is way too minimalistic and dull for me. I know that's probably the point but I need more pretty pictures to enjoy my games

[@amunt3r]

It's actually a pretty slow, dull game. "Completing missions" might sound exciting, but in reality it's just playing a certain number of cards in sequence based on simple rules. When buying cards, the text/iconography is too small to see without picking them up, which you then forget by the time you are ready to buy them, so you have to pick them up again... It's way too long for the very thin gameplay underneath it all.

[@marktaylor4962]

Does this game suffer from when one player is close to winning no one wants to go on missions with them and they can't win?

[@calebfrazier3978]

My experience is that once you are at the 8+ points you should have a deck capable of handling 2 hazard contracts. you can also pay to discard and replace a contract. so it may stall for a moment, while you wait for a soloable contract to come up. Once that happens there's nothing anyone can do to stop you.. Objectives can help wrap up the game bear the end, and there's a crew card that can dish out a point, for rolling an extra hazard.

[@brandonblair6529]

Ive soloed 2 or the 4-6 end game missions. So its totally doable decks get OP fast.

[@Morcarag]

You can accomplish 1 or 2 point missions solo, as well as complete (some) objectives which also give 1 point. So you can't really be prevented from winning in that sense. That said, the game can definitely enter a "less fun" state as people get close to winning and no one wants to negotiate which cuts out a major element of the game.

[@PatBradv2]

Have not played, but sounds a lot like "Munchkin (With a Card Store)." Everything from the negotiation for partners to the potential betrayal of partners and even the race for ten points. Thankfully no take that mechanism, but still... I've almost lost friendships to that game and this one seems too similar.

[@calebfrazier3978]

We used to play Munchkin constantly, and Moonrakers is coming out more and more now. It doesn't feel like munchkin at all. Theres no way to intentionally screw someone over, and for the first half of the game you want to succeed. the last half we usually have too much help.

[@mikebiff]

I'd love to hear more about how munchkin put the damper on friendships lol

[@Morcarag]

The MASSIVE difference here is that there is really no way for other players to hinder you if you try for a solo mission completion (and only very limited ways if they join as an ally). This utterly does away with the major flaw of Munchkin that has happened EVERY time I've played it where the first person to try to win gets every other player to unload all their "stop them" cards and then the next player just wins because everyone is out of those cards.

[@robertlavery6896]

This game is incredibly similar to The Thing board game.

[@Wylie288]

not at all?

[@ninseineon]

3 years on and it’s clear this should’ve got a seal of excellence

[@julie_marc]

I’m always kind of sad when card games don’t have icons/symbols on both top corners and leave the right corner empty :( I’m a lefty and not being able to see symbols while fanning the cards is a huge hindrance.

[@ailinoro]

I’m lefty too. Don’t you just fan the cards the other way?

[@Ryu677]

As a lefty myself I have never understood the reason for lefty cards. I have played cards games since I was very young and never had a problem fanning cards the other way. Maybe you should give it a shot

[@grisben]

You need to wear more compatible colors. Your hat and tie aren’t congruent. Come on did your mom dress you??😂

[@waynemiller2801]

so kinda a space version of munchkin

[@Wylie288]

Not even close. Im starting to think no one has actually ever played muchkin.

[@Oncus2]

Just not feeling it. It doesn't look the customization is so big compared to other deckbuilders, and the negotiation seems very basic. What happens when you are close to victory? No one will let you have prestige points or someone will play the kingmaker just to end the game. Also, the art looks very unimpressive and bland. I like both deckbuilders and negotiation games, but this one seems off.

[@ilqrd.6608]

This question is on my mind as well. What happens when you are in pole position and want to complete a mission with victory points?

[@sebastianci5271]

Thats when you do some of the easy missions solo. If you are close to victory it should be fairly simple

[@Morcarag]

You try to complete missions solo. But yes, this is the biggest weakness of this game. The game's strength comes from interesting negotiations and people basically stop negotiating with you when you're within 3 points of winning. So you have to plan to be able to get three (ish) points solo. Which is not impossible at all, but is much less fun.

[@blink4t2]

I love you Tom Vasel but your fashion sense is a trainwreck. Also thank you for everything you do.

[@thedicetower]

I appreciate that!

[@famfam8352]

ligma

[@mikebiff]

What's ligma?

[@primusinterpares5767]

@@mikebiff Ligma balls lmao