Really thorough analysis Chris, thank you so much for taking the time to make this huge video. I'm really glad you liked the game, we worked really hard to hit the elements you talked about (accessibility, streamlining, making sure every element is there for a reason) and I'm glad you liked those things! EDIT: also it's 50 dollars
@@CarbonBallas Eric and I are friends, we met on Twitter, and he asked me to co design mass effect with him cause he knows I like mass effect and he liked my designs that I showed him in the past. i spent 5 years doing board games content creation and writing and 5 years doing rulebooks and misc writing and consultation, so that's my background. mass effect is my first published design. I've written for twilight imperium and netrunner in the past.
Chris, thanks for the detailed review. You packed a ton of great information into 50 minutes. The design of the game looks amazing and it has a useful insert for storing everything. Also the game is $50 that seems like a good value these days. My only hesitation, is how many of these types of games do I need? You've given us all a lot to think about.
Tali and her drone can also unlock doors and disable turrets with the same named ability that Shepard uses to do so, 'Hack'. For Tali, it works for both her and her drone, which can move and act independently of her, during her action cycle. Obstacles only impede ranged weapon fire, and only if the character firing is not in a hex sharing a border with the obstacle. This replicates the cover shooter 'mechanic' of the source games, as maps were often filled with half height barriers, that could be used for cover, but could be easily vaulted over if you were next to them, meaning they didn't affect movement, and they were increasing ineffective if enemy troops actually moved close enough.
You might be able to combine this with "Rogue Angels", or even better, with "5 Parsecs from Home", but get several sets from the miniatures. I do hope there will be more missions & other miniatures, including an mission-editor of kind, so you can create your own story, maybe from the other videogames.
Haven't played any of these, but I was thinking of combining "Mass Effect" with "Rogue Angels", or combine it with "5 Parsecs from Home", though in that case get several sets of the other miniature-sets
I'm glad you mentioned Nemesis Chris. I helped demo that game at Dice Tower West earlier this year and all I could think during those four days was: THIS GAME NEEDS TO BE STREAMLINED. I thought it over and over again, and in my mind I said: They need Eric Lang to edit this. The best part of Eric's designs in terms of Streamlining is that they never suffer from lack of depth. For some reason Awaken Realms, creates great games, but simply can't streamline their damn games. Okay. Just wanted to say that Chris!
I got my copy delivered today... Just before I had to go to work, didn't even get a chance to open it. Can't wait to try it out. People seem to be complaining about the fact that it is "cheaply" made. And yeah. That's why it's not 135$. There are optional mini packs you can buy for it if you want to spend...
Ooh... Sounds cool, though I'm not a super big fan of 'I go, the game goes, I go, the game goes.' I'm actually impressed and more excited about games that manage to avoid that feeling a bit.
I do not get all the nay-sayers on this video and others. I'm very much looking forward to this game, I'm a massive ME fan and an even bigger co-operative board game fan. It seems like a very fun easy-setup, easy learning, dungeon crawl with some depth but not a massive commitment like gloomhaven or journeys in middle earth. The themeing seems incredibly on point. All of that, in a board game well under $100 makes this seem like a steal. I do hope if this game does well we get more squadmates and additional enemy factions.
10 днів тому+1
It's almost like different people want different things out of a game and sometimes people dont like that other people like something they're not ok with...sigh!
Have you ever played mass effect the video games? Of course their skills are different. Liara is bio, tali is tech, wrex is a wrecking ball, garris is sniper. And Shepard is always player choice. Missions always had multiple characters. Solo as just one character would have not been thematic. You are excited that it all fits in a small box. I’m not. It just tells me that this should have been kickstarted so we could have more. Streamlined for an epic space opera doesn’t make sense. Mass effect should be like iss vanguard. There should be a ship phase with decisions there in between missions. And it was about relationships with your crew which is why I am happy to see loyalty missions. I know I am asking for more…but this looks like it was streamlined too much. Also, not a fan of player sheets. It means mixing and matching skills for replay ability is gone.
If you are looking for more, consider Rogue Angels. A branching storyline and character relationships based on the decisions you make during missions. So you will not experience the entire story in a single playthrough.
I was so excited when I heard a ME boardgame announced and designed by one of my favorite developers. Then found it was a small straight to retail game and immediately that excitement went away. This IP deserves to have the whole crowdfunding treatment. Loads of characters, enemies, branching epic story with deep decisions based on your choices etc… I know some people are sick of the bloated expensive crowdfunding experience but this game would have been amazing at 250-400 for a massive all in with all the bells and whistles we get with this type of game.
Can you tell me more about Eric Lang? I own and played some of the games he helped make, and this is a first for me to see the comment section talk negative about him. I personally don't know much about him other than what games he took part of.
@@XoftheTITANS he's been known to use his influence in the industry to blacklist people/companies from cons because he disagrees with either their social or political views.
Enemies randomly spawn? Shepard is the only character that can unlock a door....why Table space hog You can see enemy types but they will only activate when you choose to make them - surely these should be unknown enemy. No Mass Effect style / atmosphere / Cheap components and massively overpriced resin minis Glad I watched your review, I'll be giving this a wide berth
Have a look at Rogue Angels. Unlocking doors is a mini game. Enemies have different attack patterns. It has great atmosphere and character relationships.
Really thorough analysis Chris, thank you so much for taking the time to make this huge video. I'm really glad you liked the game, we worked really hard to hit the elements you talked about (accessibility, streamlining, making sure every element is there for a reason) and I'm glad you liked those things!
EDIT: also it's 50 dollars
How did you get started in game design Calvin?
@@CarbonBallas Eric and I are friends, we met on Twitter, and he asked me to co design mass effect with him cause he knows I like mass effect and he liked my designs that I showed him in the past. i spent 5 years doing board games content creation and writing and 5 years doing rulebooks and misc writing and consultation, so that's my background. mass effect is my first published design. I've written for twilight imperium and netrunner in the past.
:)
What would it take to bring this game to screens?
Wow! I was looking for a sci-fi focused crawler with solo option! I am so glad you reviewed this.
Welcome!
Chris, thanks for the detailed review. You packed a ton of great information into 50 minutes. The design of the game looks amazing and it has a useful insert for storing everything. Also the game is $50 that seems like a good value these days. My only hesitation, is how many of these types of games do I need? You've given us all a lot to think about.
That IS the main question! How Many??? :)
Tali and her drone can also unlock doors and disable turrets with the same named ability that Shepard uses to do so, 'Hack'. For Tali, it works for both her and her drone, which can move and act independently of her, during her action cycle.
Obstacles only impede ranged weapon fire, and only if the character firing is not in a hex sharing a border with the obstacle. This replicates the cover shooter 'mechanic' of the source games, as maps were often filled with half height barriers, that could be used for cover, but could be easily vaulted over if you were next to them, meaning they didn't affect movement, and they were increasing ineffective if enemy troops actually moved close enough.
You might be able to combine this with "Rogue Angels", or even better, with "5 Parsecs from Home", but get several sets from the miniatures.
I do hope there will be more missions & other miniatures, including an mission-editor of kind, so you can create your own story, maybe from the other videogames.
If you want to play Mass Effect just go for Rogue Angels.
I personally rather Mass Effect characters.
Second on that! Can't wait for my copy :D
Why not both? I already kickstarted Rogue Angels but there's just no way I can resist a Mass Effect board game.
Haven't played any of these, but I was thinking of combining "Mass Effect" with "Rogue Angels", or combine it with "5 Parsecs from Home", though in that case get several sets of the other miniature-sets
Get a voice recording of Jennifer Hale saying "I'm commander Shepard and Rogue Angels is my favorite board game on the Citadel" and I'll consider it.
I'm glad you mentioned Nemesis Chris. I helped demo that game at Dice Tower West earlier this year and all I could think during those four days was: THIS GAME NEEDS TO BE STREAMLINED. I thought it over and over again, and in my mind I said: They need Eric Lang to edit this. The best part of Eric's designs in terms of Streamlining is that they never suffer from lack of depth. For some reason Awaken Realms, creates great games, but simply can't streamline their damn games. Okay. Just wanted to say that Chris!
Thanks!
I love the IP and the price tag is VERY tempting. I may jump on this sooner then later.
Price is good considering if you get it without the minis
Nice Work Chris 🎉
I got my copy delivered today... Just before I had to go to work, didn't even get a chance to open it. Can't wait to try it out.
People seem to be complaining about the fact that it is "cheaply" made. And yeah. That's why it's not 135$. There are optional mini packs you can buy for it if you want to spend...
Ooh... Sounds cool, though I'm not a super big fan of 'I go, the game goes, I go, the game goes.'
I'm actually impressed and more excited about games that manage to avoid that feeling a bit.
I do not get all the nay-sayers on this video and others. I'm very much looking forward to this game, I'm a massive ME fan and an even bigger co-operative board game fan. It seems like a very fun easy-setup, easy learning, dungeon crawl with some depth but not a massive commitment like gloomhaven or journeys in middle earth. The themeing seems incredibly on point. All of that, in a board game well under $100 makes this seem like a steal. I do hope if this game does well we get more squadmates and additional enemy factions.
It's almost like different people want different things out of a game and sometimes people dont like that other people like something they're not ok with...sigh!
I was really worried about this solo. Sounds like it works well.
I find it comical that you can buy the miniature pack for this game for $300! 🎉
That is a metric freaking ton of money. and you know what team i'm on. #teamstandee
How Eric Lang is it on a scale from Blood Rage to Rising Sun?
It's more blood rage than rising sun for rules complexity/overhead if that's what you're asking
THX CHRIS
Just to let everyone know the game is 50 dollars
YES! Sorry!
no problem!
Thanks for the pronouns that really enhance the gameplay. Cock.
Have you ever played mass effect the video games? Of course their skills are different. Liara is bio, tali is tech, wrex is a wrecking ball, garris is sniper. And Shepard is always player choice. Missions always had multiple characters. Solo as just one character would have not been thematic.
You are excited that it all fits in a small box. I’m not. It just tells me that this should have been kickstarted so we could have more. Streamlined for an epic space opera doesn’t make sense.
Mass effect should be like iss vanguard. There should be a ship phase with decisions there in between missions. And it was about relationships with your crew which is why I am happy to see loyalty missions. I know I am asking for more…but this looks like it was streamlined too much.
Also, not a fan of player sheets. It means mixing and matching skills for replay ability is gone.
Can't ever please everyone I guess.
If you are looking for more, consider Rogue Angels. A branching storyline and character relationships based on the decisions you make during missions. So you will not experience the entire story in a single playthrough.
No
Very elaborate.
I was so excited when I heard a ME boardgame announced and designed by one of my favorite developers. Then found it was a small straight to retail game and immediately that excitement went away. This IP deserves to have the whole crowdfunding treatment. Loads of characters, enemies, branching epic story with deep decisions based on your choices etc… I know some people are sick of the bloated expensive crowdfunding experience but this game would have been amazing at 250-400 for a massive all in with all the bells and whistles we get with this type of game.
You have just described Rogue Angels, except it delivers that without the bloat and reasonably priced.
the first time i've seen someone complain that the game isn't trying to squeeze all the money possible out of customers.
Eric lang equals hard pass.
Can you tell me more about Eric Lang? I own and played some of the games he helped make, and this is a first for me to see the comment section talk negative about him. I personally don't know much about him other than what games he took part of.
Yeah not sure what this means but ok
@@XoftheTITANS he's been known to use his influence in the industry to blacklist people/companies from cons because he disagrees with either their social or political views.
Enemies randomly spawn?
Shepard is the only character that can unlock a door....why
Table space hog
You can see enemy types but they will only activate when you choose to make them - surely these should be unknown enemy.
No Mass Effect style / atmosphere /
Cheap components and massively overpriced resin minis
Glad I watched your review, I'll be giving this a wide berth
To each their own!
Have a look at Rogue Angels.
Unlocking doors is a mini game. Enemies have different attack patterns. It has great atmosphere and character relationships.
WTF is Arenaline?
At least they spelled the pronouns correctly. Close call!