Ah, a fellow explorer! Prepare to embark on a truly epic journey with ISS Vanguard. You're asking a fantastic question, one that gets to the very heart of this incredible campaign game. It's not just about a number; it's about the experience of discovery, the unfolding narrative, and the difficult choices you'll make along the way.
So, how many missions are in ISS Vanguard? Well, let me tell you, it's not a simple, single answer. The core campaign is a sprawling adventure, and the number of missions can vary depending on your choices and how you play. But let's break it down, step by step, so you can see the full scope of your impending expedition.
Step 1: Buckle Up, Recruit! Are You Ready to Face the Unknown?
Before we dive into the mission count, let's get you in the right mindset. ISS Vanguard is a campaign game, meaning it's meant to be played over multiple sessions. You're not just playing a single game; you're living a story. Every choice you make, every success you achieve, and every failure you face will have a lasting impact on your crew, your ship, and the very fate of the human race.
Are you ready to take on the responsibility of leading the first human galactic exploration effort? Are you prepared to face the mysteries of the cosmos, manage your resources, and make tough decisions that could mean the difference between life and death for your crewmembers? If the answer is yes, then let's get started.
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| Iss Vanguard How Many Missions |
Step 2: Understanding the Campaign Structure
The game is structured in two main phases: the Ship Phase and the Planetary Exploration Phase. You'll alternate between these two phases throughout the campaign.
Ship Phase: Managing the Vanguard
This is where you'll make crucial decisions for the ISS Vanguard itself. You'll manage your crew, develop new technologies, and plan your next planetary exploration. This phase is a crucial part of the game's loop. Think of it as the strategic, resource-management part of your journey.
Tip: Reading in chunks improves focus.
Crew Management: You'll have a roster of over 100 unique crew members to choose from, each with their own skills and abilities. You'll need to select the right crew for each mission and help them rank up to become veterans.
Module Upgrades: The ISS Vanguard binder is your ship, and you'll be constantly slotting cards in and out of it to upgrade different ship sections like Engineering, Recon, Science, and Security.
Production & Research: You'll use discoveries from planets to research new equipment and technologies, which will be essential for future missions.
Planetary Exploration Phase: The Missions
This is the heart of the game. A mission in ISS Vanguard typically refers to a single planetary exploration. These can be "Operations" (standalone missions) or, more often, a part of the core campaign.
Landing: You'll choose a lander, customize it with modules, and select your away team. This is a critical step, as your choices here will determine your capabilities on the planet.
Dice Checks & Actions: On the planet, you'll be performing actions, rolling dice, and trying to match symbols to succeed. The dice are at the core of the gameplay, and managing them is key.
Logbook Entries: This is where the story unfolds. The game is driven by a massive Logbook with hundreds of entries that will guide you through the narrative, provide flavor text, and present you with difficult choices.
Discoveries & Threats: You'll be searching for Points of Interest (POIs) to make discoveries and facing threats that will challenge your crew's resolve.
Step 3: So, How Many Missions in the Core Campaign?
Now for the main event. While the exact number can be slightly fluid based on optional side missions and specific logbook choices, the core ISS Vanguard campaign is structured around a series of major Planetary Exploration missions.
The core campaign consists of a main storyline with a significant number of planetary explorations. From what we can gather, a full playthrough of the main campaign is a lengthy endeavor, with many players reporting a campaign length of 20 to 60 hours, and some even exceeding that. A full campaign can involve visiting a significant number of planets, with some players reporting visiting 16 or 17 different planets. Each of these planetary visits can be considered a "mission" or a session.
It's not just a set number of levels. Think of it more like a branching narrative. Your decisions will lead you to different planets and different mission objectives. The path you take will be unique to your group.
The game rewards replayability. You may revisit a planet for a different objective or to complete a side mission you missed the first time.
The tutorial is a mission in itself. The first mission is a tutorial that guides you through the basic mechanics of the game. Even this takes a few hours to complete, setting the stage for the epic journey ahead.
Operations are standalone missions. In addition to the main campaign, there's an Operations Book with standalone missions that you can play outside of the campaign. This adds to the overall mission count. For example, the Operations Book I includes "Operation Eternal Sunrise" and "Operation Lone Wolf," a solo survival mission.
In essence, while there isn't a simple "20 missions" or "30 missions" answer, you can expect to undertake dozens of planetary explorations over the course of the campaign. The length and complexity of each mission will vary, but each one is a significant part of the larger narrative.
Step 4: The Flow of a Mission
To give you a better idea of what a single "mission" entails, here's a step-by-step guide to the Planetary Exploration Phase.
Tip: Use this post as a starting point for exploration.
1. Prepare the Away Team: After the Ship Phase, you'll choose your crewmembers for the mission, deck-build their skill decks, and equip them with gear. This is a critical decision point! A well-balanced team is key to success.
2. Customize the Lander: You'll modify your lander with various modules to prepare it for the specific environment of the planet you're visiting.
3. Mission Launch & Landing: You'll read the initial log entry, and depending on the planet, you might have a landing procedure to follow, often involving dice rolls and track progression.
4. Planetary Exploration: You'll be exploring the planet by moving a marker across a board, discovering Points of Interest, and engaging in Dice Checks. This is where the bulk of the gameplay happens.
5. Resolve Dice Checks: When you perform an action, you'll roll a pool of dice and attempt to match the results with the required symbols on your cards or the current Global Condition card. You'll gain successes or face consequences.
6. Encounter Log Entries: Throughout your exploration, you'll be directed to specific logbook entries that tell the story, present you with choices, and introduce new challenges.
7. Complete Mission Objective: Each mission has a specific objective. Once you've met the requirements, you'll complete the mission and return to the ISS Vanguard for the next Ship Phase.
Step 5: Variety is the Spice of Exploration
One of the things that makes ISS Vanguard so captivating is the sheer variety of missions and encounters. You won't just be doing the same thing over and over again.
Varied Environments: You'll visit planets with vastly different biomes and conditions, from crystalline voids to dense jungles.
Diverse Challenges: Some missions might focus on resource gathering, while others are tense survival scenarios or diplomatic encounters.
Branching Narrative: Your choices in one mission can have a ripple effect on future missions, unlocking new paths or closing off others.
Stand-alone Operations: If you want to take a break from the main campaign, the standalone Operations provide a great way to experience a complete, contained story.
In short, ISS Vanguard isn't just about a mission count; it's about a grand, unforgettable journey through space. The number of missions is directly tied to the length and depth of the campaign, which is truly massive.
10 FAQ Subheadings with Quick Answers
How to Save Progress in ISS Vanguard?
You should save your progress at the end of the Ship Book phase after completing a Planetary Exploration. This is a natural stopping point in the game's loop.
How to Handle Crew in a Solo Game?
Tip: Read at your natural pace.
In a solo game, you must control all four Sections (Engineering, Recon, Science, Security). While this can be overwhelming, it gives you more dice diversity and control over the team.
How to Choose the Away Team?
You'll choose crewmembers for the away team at the beginning of each Planetary Exploration. A well-rounded team with a variety of skills and dice is generally a good strategy.
How to Rank Up Crewmembers?
Crewmembers rank up by gaining experience on missions. You can choose to push your luck and stay on a planet longer to try and rank up more crewmembers, but this comes with risks.
How to Manage Dice and Dice Checks?
Managing your dice is a core mechanic. You'll take available dice from your crew board, roll them, and use the results to perform actions. Refreshing your dice by taking a "rest" action is crucial.
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
How to Use the Logbook and App?
You can use either the physical Logbook or the companion app to read the story entries. The app is a great option for an immersive, voice-acted experience.
How to Use the Ship Book?
The Ship Book is a physical binder where you manage the ISS Vanguard itself. It's where you'll track your upgrades, resources, and crew.
How to Handle Injuries?
Injuries are a part of the game and can impact your dice rolls and abilities. Managing your crew's health and resting them when needed is vital.
How to Get New Equipment?
You can gain new equipment by making discoveries on planets and then using those discoveries to produce new items during the Ship Phase.
How to Play the Standalone Operations?
Standalone Operations are found in the Operations Book. You can play them as one-off scenarios without affecting your main campaign. They are great for a quicker game session.
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