I love how every game turns out differently, how you can mix and match modules for a different taste from game to game, but above all: this plays fast! Once you got the rules down, which doesn’t take long (half a game should do it), this game flows!
I've been waiting for you to do a review on this. When I saw this on BBG and Tom Vasel's review, I said "Whoa, that looks very good." And now, you gave it a BIG THUMBS UP, I'm going to try to get this game in my collection.
That was an enthusiastic review! I'm looking forward to the Anthology review video where you talk about the solo. It's a pity that the solo wasn't included with the base game, having to spend extra monies just to have solo does dampen my enthusiasm a bit.
Your enthusiasm for this game is totally warranted! The components, art, and gameplay are all top-notch. As far as expansions go, we didn't like the Well of Wishes much, but the Temple Ruins have been popular (there's definitely some luck in which Secret Quests you pull, but no more than the same thing in, say, Wingspan). I've only tried Guilds and Monuments once; I like the Guild action, though the monument-building part did feel undercooked.
The Well changes throughout the game though. I get the Wingspan comparison for Secret Quests, but this game is twice as long as a typical game of Wingspan and takes more setup/takedown effort. The longer and more involved a game gets, the less that luck swings ought to be forgiven.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I'd generally agree with that rule--it's the main reason I'm iffy on Spirit Island's expansion, for instance. Vindication (at least at 2 or 3 players) feels short enough to get away with a bit of luck, though.
I enjoy your reviews and anthologies, usually disagree with you on game opinions (Great Western Trail), but on Vindication we can agree! 😁 Can't wait for your anthology to hear about the solo play.
This is my favorite game also. There are some specific cards in the add on packs that you have to be careful with. They are neat, but the power combos they create are almost game breaking. One relic that allows removal of end-game triggers almost made my wife rage-quit as I wouldnt let the game end until I was winning :)
I love this game as well. It's one that has so many options out of the box and is easy to house-rule things like the end game triggers. Find the game ends too fast? Play to 2 end game triggers instead of 1.
I love this game as well. It is hard to explain but I think the multiple path to victory is very accurate. I think there are so many mini engines you can build that it makes the game interesting.
How's your review now? Anything changed over the years? I have the game, but haven't many chances to get it played. It's been a couple years. Pulling it down this weekend to play again with new players! I like it! My current gamers were, "Meh." We did notice, if one player gets a substantial lead on the others, there's no catching up to them and they always win. :-( Have you, or anyone in the comments, noticed that?
I love this game to bits (I also love the bits). But I agree, I much prefer to play the game without the guild token. I find the game tighter and more interesting without the extra little perks that come with it (and at the start of the game you're using it mostly for upgrading Potential to Influence).
Vindication is a good game, but I wouldn't give it a 10. I've played it with 4 and 5 players. I've noticed that it suffers from the same thing as with other engine builders in that if something goes neglected, then it can be exploited for points. Twice I was able to catch this mid to late game and won both games. People say that it is good for 2 players, and I'm not sure how that would factor. Still it's a good game, but I'm considering selling my KS copy of it because 2 other people I know own it and It's not one of my favorites.
@@willyum3108 That's a shame, I've never had the exploit issue, in fact I've won games by jumping in on something that my opponent is doing but doing it better. But if you know two owners already then selling is not a bad move, the game is still accessible to you. I'm the only local owner but it just gives me a lot of joy playing it with only minor issues.
No, I haven't had time to give it the beans really. I tried it once and thought it was OK, it adds some extra ways to score and use your time - but some abilities did seem like they were stronger than others. On first impressions, I'd try it again but I find myself having to leave it out to teach new players and yeah I wouldn't throw it in for new players - probably a "it's fine, but not essential" expansion. Tom Vasel did a review on it though I believe.
Hi Luke, glad to hear you enjoyed the game. I backed it too but haven't gotten around to playing it yet. I was just wondering if you could tell me which sleeves you used for the cards. Thanks in advance! Keep up with the great videos!!
I'm not Luke. But on my copy, I use the Ultra Pro 69x69mm. They fit fine (bit of space left as the cards are slightly smaller) and fit in the box insert.
I hope they release a bigger board with two sides that’s a bit bigger to place a few more tiles and new tiles and cards. That’s it. Take more money if they do.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Yeah, I can totally see people not liking the Treachery cards. Even if you like take-that, their use kind of shoots yourself in the foot in many cases so they become more like a suicide pact. :D
@@TheBrokenMeeple Actually, the box was designed for vertical storage. If you watch 3 minutes into the "reboxing" video published by Orange Nebula this August, you will see that the box comes with a styrofoam piece ("it's not trash") there to hold the cards in place when storing vertically: th-cam.com/video/808pKP2JjrM/w-d-xo.html . And if you do sleeve your cards like me, then it's easy to cut out a rectangle in the foam to fit around the sleeved cards. And then it still holds them in snuggly for vertical storage without letting anything move near them. Obviously, that doesn't solve the issue of storing the new expansion pieces though. But it works well for the base game.
@@NycLogics Seconded. I've played the majority of my games at two players; though I liked three a bit better, I liked the two-player game better than the full five-player experience (and that was still fun, just a bit slow).
1. I still think that this game should have been entitled something like "Redemption." "Vindication" suggests that you scumbag character was right all along. 2. Why are all the scumbags in this island? Is that part of the sea the designated dumping location?
What if it's the Island itself that has awakened and is trying to vindicate itself. For that it's using the treacherous garbage thrown out all over the multiverse but drawn by the awakeninh magic into this world and given the second chance by this Land itself. Are you sure that all the characters led their previous life in the same universe and time the Island exists?
And as for the characters, I just prefer to doubt there is any vindication, redemption, exoneration or whatever. Just the facade, if anything. Or vindication, but not as normal people see it but as a lifelong scumbag would see it. That is, looting arcane towers for relics, manipulating their saviour and other locals from the nearest inn into doing some dirty job for them, like killing endangered species, living in the local nature reserve called "the Gaping Maw", and taking the whole island under their control just for other people to honor them every time, they want to borrow a new book from the only library in the island.
Love this review! There is so much creativity and story in this game. It’s among my tops and I’m glad you feel the same way. 👍 PS. If like me you’re also BIG fan of the lore book, then you’ll appreciate how much of the larger island story I wove into this solo variant. Love to hear your thoughts on it. boardgamegeek.com/article/33034801#33034801
Wow 2 whole dislikes already? I'd love those 2 people to come here and say exactly why. Not like Spaceballs? Not like Vindication? Personal vendetta? Pretty sure no profanity exists........ I'm all ears! :P
The Broken Meeple how someone can’t not like this game is crazy. I disagree with you about the tile you draw secret mission. It’s not an absolute. I felt it make for a good come back. If you time it right. There’s just so much you can do in this game before it times runs out. I haven’t had the same strategy twice.
It's the fact that it could be a point swing late in the game by automatically having the criteria. And it's two people disliking the video over the game.
This is the internet and more often than not people don’t even spend three seconds before voting or bother giving proper feedback . Gotta ignore it especially when they are not vocal
This is the review I’ve been waiting for about Vindication. Thanks for the honesty.
I have been waiting for this review! We love this game at my house too! Thanks for keeping up with your quality content!
I love how every game turns out differently, how you can mix and match modules for a different taste from game to game, but above all: this plays fast! Once you got the rules down, which doesn’t take long (half a game should do it), this game flows!
I've been waiting for you to do a review on this. When I saw this on BBG and Tom Vasel's review, I said "Whoa, that looks very good." And now, you gave it a BIG THUMBS UP, I'm going to try to get this game in my collection.
lol - love the Magic Carpet comparison. Had the same experience wanting to replay it 10 years later.
That was an enthusiastic review! I'm looking forward to the Anthology review video where you talk about the solo. It's a pity that the solo wasn't included with the base game, having to spend extra monies just to have solo does dampen my enthusiasm a bit.
Well to be honest I think you can easily play Scenario 1 solo without it. Just find the rules online and you should be ok.
Your enthusiasm for this game is totally warranted! The components, art, and gameplay are all top-notch.
As far as expansions go, we didn't like the Well of Wishes much, but the Temple Ruins have been popular (there's definitely some luck in which Secret Quests you pull, but no more than the same thing in, say, Wingspan). I've only tried Guilds and Monuments once; I like the Guild action, though the monument-building part did feel undercooked.
The Well changes throughout the game though. I get the Wingspan comparison for Secret Quests, but this game is twice as long as a typical game of Wingspan and takes more setup/takedown effort. The longer and more involved a game gets, the less that luck swings ought to be forgiven.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I'd generally agree with that rule--it's the main reason I'm iffy on Spirit Island's expansion, for instance. Vindication (at least at 2 or 3 players) feels short enough to get away with a bit of luck, though.
I enjoy your reviews and anthologies, usually disagree with you on game opinions (Great Western Trail), but on Vindication we can agree! 😁 Can't wait for your anthology to hear about the solo play.
This is my favorite game also. There are some specific cards in the add on packs that you have to be careful with. They are neat, but the power combos they create are almost game breaking. One relic that allows removal of end-game triggers almost made my wife rage-quit as I wouldnt let the game end until I was winning :)
I love this game as well. It's one that has so many options out of the box and is easy to house-rule things like the end game triggers. Find the game ends too fast? Play to 2 end game triggers instead of 1.
Great review Luke, I also love Vindication.
I agree totally about wanting to go again after you finish. Change some to the things you've added and see where you will go from there
I love this game as well. It is hard to explain but I think the multiple path to victory is very accurate. I think there are so many mini engines you can build that it makes the game interesting.
Now I have to buy it :)
Yes.
Hands down one of my favorite games😁😁🤘🏻
This game is awesome. I love it. Played 10 times already.
I debated a lot whether to get this. Luckily a friend of mine got the Kickstarter, so I'll end up trying it anyway.
How's your review now? Anything changed over the years? I have the game, but haven't many chances to get it played. It's been a couple years. Pulling it down this weekend to play again with new players! I like it! My current gamers were, "Meh." We did notice, if one player gets a substantial lead on the others, there's no catching up to them and they always win. :-( Have you, or anyone in the comments, noticed that?
Occasionally but that's mainly down to being experienced with it. Plus the game isn't that long really. I still really enjoy it!
I love this game to bits (I also love the bits). But I agree, I much prefer to play the game without the guild token. I find the game tighter and more interesting without the extra little perks that come with it (and at the start of the game you're using it mostly for upgrading Potential to Influence).
Almost got this one, but something held me back. I'd like to give it a try sometime, especially since the reviews I've seen have been positive.
Try before you buy if you're unsure.
Vindication is a good game, but I wouldn't give it a 10. I've played it with 4 and 5 players. I've noticed that it suffers from the same thing as with other engine builders in that if something goes neglected, then it can be exploited for points. Twice I was able to catch this mid to late game and won both games. People say that it is good for 2 players, and I'm not sure how that would factor. Still it's a good game, but I'm considering selling my KS copy of it because 2 other people I know own it and It's not one of my favorites.
@@willyum3108 That's a shame, I've never had the exploit issue, in fact I've won games by jumping in on something that my opponent is doing but doing it better.
But if you know two owners already then selling is not a bad move, the game is still accessible to you. I'm the only local owner but it just gives me a lot of joy playing it with only minor issues.
did you ever make a video talking about the expansion? I can't seem to find anything
No, I haven't had time to give it the beans really. I tried it once and thought it was OK, it adds some extra ways to score and use your time - but some abilities did seem like they were stronger than others.
On first impressions, I'd try it again but I find myself having to leave it out to teach new players and yeah I wouldn't throw it in for new players - probably a "it's fine, but not essential" expansion. Tom Vasel did a review on it though I believe.
Hi Luke, glad to hear you enjoyed the game. I backed it too but haven't gotten around to playing it yet. I was just wondering if you could tell me which sleeves you used for the cards. Thanks in advance! Keep up with the great videos!!
I'm not Luke. But on my copy, I use the Ultra Pro 69x69mm. They fit fine (bit of space left as the cards are slightly smaller) and fit in the box insert.
I second the Ultra Pro sleeves. They are a really good fit and high quality.
I use Sleeve Kings now exclusively. Look at the geeklist on BGG for dimensions.
I use Ultra Pro for it (5 packs of 50). I wanted to sleeve it before the Sleeve Kings KS funded/fulfilled.
Any chance for a review of this game from a solo player perspective?
In a future Anthology, I'll take a look at the expansion and by then I'll have played both solo modes properly.
Was this ever made? Can’t seem to find it.
I hope they release a bigger board with two sides that’s a bit bigger to place a few more tiles and new tiles and cards. That’s it. Take more money if they do.
Yeah won't say no to a modular or unique board design. Hell TM did it and that's practically the same game regardless of what map you use!
Great review of a great game
This looks really good. Does it play well at all player counts?
I find it plays well at 3-5, probably wouldn't bring out with only 2. There's definitely more contention for space at higher counts.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Nice one. Thanks 👍🏻
I guess you liked the game. :D
BTW, you forgot to mention the Treachery mini-expansion.
Ah yes thought that was the big box expansion. I'll touch on it next time but to be honest I'll likely not use it again.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Yeah, I can totally see people not liking the Treachery cards. Even if you like take-that, their use kind of shoots yourself in the foot in many cases so they become more like a suicide pact. :D
You took the insert out 😮
Well it didn't gel with expansion content and I didn't like how the cards were all loose and basically made vertical storage impossible.
The Broken Meeple to be fair I usually do, but this one is nice. I imagine it will go though once I look at the expansion!
@@TheBrokenMeeple Actually, the box was designed for vertical storage. If you watch 3 minutes into the "reboxing" video published by Orange Nebula this August, you will see that the box comes with a styrofoam piece ("it's not trash") there to hold the cards in place when storing vertically: th-cam.com/video/808pKP2JjrM/w-d-xo.html . And if you do sleeve your cards like me, then it's easy to cut out a rectangle in the foam to fit around the sleeved cards. And then it still holds them in snuggly for vertical storage without letting anything move near them. Obviously, that doesn't solve the issue of storing the new expansion pieces though. But it works well for the base game.
Would love to know if this is worth it for mainly 2 player.
Daniel Astin yes me and brother play two players as great. We never know who going to win. It’s probably best 3. But with two is great too.
Is*
Get it. You won’t be disappointed. It’s that good.
@@NycLogics Thanks, will also play more than 2 but mainly 2. Definitely going on the shortlist, sounds amazing!
@@NycLogics Seconded. I've played the majority of my games at two players; though I liked three a bit better, I liked the two-player game better than the full five-player experience (and that was still fun, just a bit slow).
great review. love the game. did you wear your shirt inside out :P
Ha ha, someone finally noticed! ;-)
Yes I have keen eyes. Makes for very competitive play mate. 😁😁
Are you still very please with the game 7months later?
Yes I still love it and wish I could get it played more. 😊
The Broken Meeple thanks :) sorry last question: do you know if it passes the test as well in solo mode?
1. I still think that this game should have been entitled something like "Redemption." "Vindication" suggests that you scumbag character was right all along.
2. Why are all the scumbags in this island? Is that part of the sea the designated dumping location?
What if it's the Island itself that has awakened and is trying to vindicate itself. For that it's using the treacherous garbage thrown out all over the multiverse but drawn by the awakeninh magic into this world and given the second chance by this Land itself. Are you sure that all the characters led their previous life in the same universe and time the Island exists?
And as for the characters, I just prefer to doubt there is any vindication, redemption, exoneration or whatever. Just the facade, if anything. Or vindication, but not as normal people see it but as a lifelong scumbag would see it. That is, looting arcane towers for relics, manipulating their saviour and other locals from the nearest inn into doing some dirty job for them, like killing endangered species, living in the local nature reserve called "the Gaping Maw", and taking the whole island under their control just for other people to honor them every time, they want to borrow a new book from the only library in the island.
Love this review! There is so much creativity and story in this game. It’s among my tops and I’m glad you feel the same way. 👍
PS. If like me you’re also BIG fan of the lore book, then you’ll appreciate how much of the larger island story I wove into this solo variant. Love to hear your thoughts on it. boardgamegeek.com/article/33034801#33034801
Wow 2 whole dislikes already? I'd love those 2 people to come here and say exactly why. Not like Spaceballs? Not like Vindication? Personal vendetta? Pretty sure no profanity exists........ I'm all ears! :P
The Broken Meeple how someone can’t not like this game is crazy. I disagree with you about the tile you draw secret mission. It’s not an absolute. I felt it make for a good come back. If you time it right. There’s just so much you can do in this game before it times runs out. I haven’t had the same strategy twice.
It's the fact that it could be a point swing late in the game by automatically having the criteria.
And it's two people disliking the video over the game.
Gone up to 4 now, guessing I have some enemies! :P Maybe SUSD fans?
This is the internet and more often than not people don’t even spend three seconds before voting or bother giving proper feedback . Gotta ignore it especially when they are not vocal