Vindication Review - with Tom Vasel

This was one of my earlier Kickstarters and I too first thought it was an adventure game kinda like 7th Continent and the like. Then I realized it was more of a eurogame and, not being a big fan of eurogames, I thought I was going to pass. But I'm soooo glad I didn't. The innovative design, game mechanics and strategy building are all so smooth, so intuitive and ultimately very immersive. The fantasy artwork is spectacular, the choices of places to visit and things to pick up were many...the list of possibilities continues. This may not be a story-heavy game from the get-go, but there is a world of exploration and story-building players will do by themselves. Love it.

I've watched a couple reviews on this, and I still don't really understand the game or the theme. It seems awfully convoluted. Despite the positive reviews, I don't come away with any desire to play it. Maybe it is good, but it feels like there is a very high barrier to get over to comprehend what the idea is here.

I REALLY love this game as well. Love the combination of special abilities and powers with resource management, and how the mix of modules (and variable end-game triggers) can give you different experiences and keep the game feeling fresh with each play. Hope it gets a wider release soon.

This will be one of the first games I play in the new year, I just have too much going on between now and then to get it learned well enough to teach it. Haven't even punched my copy yet. All the positive buzz in the past couple of weeks is getting me very excited to get it to the table.

Looks great both mechanically and aesthetically.
What a shame there's no solo ☹

As one of the early play testers, I'm Super pumped that you liked the game Tom. Great job to Marc and the team. I can tell you that this was a labor of love from the designer. Great review.

Thanks Tom! Can’t wait to get it to the table

Epic box, at an Epic price. And what? Card sleeves? Who's copy of the game is this?

I spent the whole day watching Dice tower reviews I love em! BUT when i try to find these games some are like finished kickstarter or not out yet/unavalible for some reason, could you guys please mention this because its frustrating especially if your reviewing an advance copy.

Oh my god. Take a breath, Tom. 😂👍

The cards come sleeved?

Looks cool. $100 I will pass.

Honestly the production quality of the game alone makes me want it.

"Eurogames can look pretty too."

Put that on a shirt

There is a lovely moment when you start teaching this game where you get to say to everyone around the table "you are a wretched scumbag" plus you get to follow it up with a really good game.

I really like this game and i've got about 4 plays on it. i'll continue to play the game. the only criticism I have for the game other than a few small printing errors is that some of the card interactions are not specified well enough. The big one being that you can use the command post more than once, but others that you can't. There's was also confusion on resting and talking command of a region which you can't do.

I look forward to ON to update the faq.

I love this game too. Haven't been as excited about a game in awhile. I think the sandbox nature combined with Euro mechanics. Watching the review, I want to play again right now.

This was my first Kickstarter i backed and as it seems, like everyone i expected a adventure style game, but it turned out to be so much better. My No.1 Game of this year

I get so annoyed when a game looks great and the reviews are stellar … and then I find out it's a 'future release' and only 'the chosen' have a copy. (Sorry for the rant …)

Usually you're throwing things around. Nice to see some sleeves!

Awesome! So glad I backed this

I backed the KS and am happy with it. Rahdo makes some good points about some odd design decisions. Having players represented by coins, then having the huge minis that just sit off to the side. It's worth checking out his final thoughts on it.

The moment I saw the die, I stopped the video.

Another overproduced, overpriced euro pretending something its not. Just like Scythe.
Ill pass.
Id rather play sad-face-guy-from-1500-on-front euro game for third of price.

Looks fantastic, and components seem stellar. I'm not too sure about the theme though. Seems dark and not very interesting. Tom's word is next to God but not sure I will buy this. Cost is $104 CAD. I can get both Root AND Wingspan for that price. In fact I just pre ordered both of them instead of this one. No brainer really.

another wingspan. not sure what is up with these new games. they look great, design of components look great, seem like they play great ie. great reviews, do everything right, mix genres and mechanics......and yet seem wholly boring. maybe uninspired....idk. i will give it a play if the chance comes up. but i just can't bring myself to back it.

So just to clarify..the yellow blue and red resource cubes are orange, but the purple ones are orange?

I'm sold.

"Not every euro game has to have this dour looking guy on the front cover who is unhappy with his life because he is a silk trader in the 1500's" haha they are like my favourite games even thematically but this is still my favourite quote ever

I can see why Sam is.. lukewarm about this, putting it mildly :)

This game wasn't for our group unfortunately. Favorite mechanism was the end game triggers that popped out when passing them on the score track. But overall it was just fine.

So how much player interaction is in the game

The game comes with a rule book hereee and ... some art.

What's the point of a board game if there's no interaction? I've never understood this...

I had forgotten all about this game till I saw it released on Cool Stuff this week. Price Point is high for me, but your review has me thinking it's worthwhile. Good show, man!

Tom Vassel logic:
"I like this game" => hits it with a mallet

I like the review, but I wish that you were better at making sure that the things that you are holding and showing in your hands are in focus like Zee. It's hard to see when they are so blurry all the time

I wonder if this game is necessary if I am all in on Dwelings of Eldervale as the two look similar to me.

Who’s here because the new Kickstarter is live?!

Is this game worth paying over $300 on Kickstarter?

Love Dice Tower! Get a green-screen thingy to show components, I get seasick watching Tom put pieces up to the camera and it tries to focus. [smilely]

I don't know but judging from the length of the rules discussion thread in the BGG forum (which should already be a big red flag) something must be off in the game. Even the game authors (who don't appear to have enough time to answer people's questions) have mentioned that it is encouraged for players to experiment with house rules, probably because the game is so convoluted it's actually difficult to catch or meaningfully write down the rules for various edge cases because there are just too many. The rules are so all over the place and vague (no specific definitions of terms, symbols and actions in the rulebook, instead almost similar things are repeated everywhere with different wording, adding to confusion). That said, the game itself is actually quite good. If only the rulebook was more succinct.

Not for me... Almost no interaction between players, and thematic aspect, nearly zero. As what Tom said, maybe a great game but not for everyone... meaning that you either love or hate it. Latter for me.

Theme doesn't make sense for more then one player. If your a scumbag thrown over a boat, then that means each player has been thrown over a boat at the same time and all trying to accomplish the same goal.

Is there anywhere you can buy this that isn't $200+? Ebay copies are literally hundreds of dollars

So basically Catan with wretches? Where can I find this game without paying extortionists prices?

It could be the best board game ever, but it's also over $100

Just recently played this and wasn't a big fan, i hate that the game randomly just ended before any of us got anything going, im gonna play this again with the expansion tiles added in and make a few house rules

This looks horribly unexciting. Cube, cube cube, cube.