Quick Look: Rogue Angels: Legacy of the Burning Suns
Designer: Emil Larson
Artists: Dinulescu Alexandru, Linggar Bramanty, Przemek Kozlowski
Publisher: Sun Tzu Games
Year Published: 2023 – upcoming on kickstarter (Link at bottom)
No. of Players: 1-4
Ages: 16+ (14+ would be fine)
Playing Time: 60-120 minutes.
Foreword:
This is one of the most in-depth, elaborately crafted board games I have ever played. My preferences and lack of a solid group for heavier games usually steer me away from campaign or legacy style games but I do enjoy them and I’ve got to give the nod of approval here. I was fortunate to get my initial game in with the designer, Emil, and we had a great chat about the history of the game, his design journey, and some of the thought and effort that went into this project. For anyone looking to make the plunge into a meaty medium class or entry heavy weight this might be the one! With a fantastic story-driven campaign that slowly introduces you to the game and mechanics it’s about as easy as a game in this class is ever going to get. As an added bonus, the tutorial mission even delivered a fun experience.
From the Publisher:
Rogue Angels is a co-op sci-fi adventure game driven by character choices and a strong narrative with multiple paths, tactical combat with fluent turns and action management with asymmetric abilities.
Rogue Angels offers a game play ranging from infiltration, combat and sabotage to assassination, search and rescue operations, with most missions being adaptable to player choices.
Set in the Burning Suns universe, you get the opportunity to become a hero and help save the galaxy through impactful choices for your characters and their legacies.
Disclaimer: The publisher played the prototype TTS digital version of Rogue Angels: Legacy of the Burning Suns with me. The opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.
Review:
Initial Impression/Components:
There are a ton of components that I saw on the digital version, but as my experience with this title were via TTS I cannot speak for the physical quality or look. Unfortunately, I don’t have a list of components but there should be a full list available when the kickstarter page launches. (link below)
Favorite:
It’s really interesting how your actions and the outcome of your choices shape your character’s personality and therefore relationships with different factions/characters. Further to that, you get character development and permanent upgrades (which come in the form of cool stickers that fit perfectly onto specified areas of your characters cards. Your ability to make game changing choices while still following story driven campaign missions is the hook for me.
Least Favorite:
I’m not sure where I’d go with this answer. Perhaps to note that you should bring characters with abilities and strengths that pair well with each other and not stack everything in one basket like all offense with no utility.
Oh, and if you’re playing with me, don’t be afraid to risk it all for an exciting outcome, you best believe I’m rolling like that.
Mechanics:
Action Points
Action Queue
Campaign / Battle Card Driven
Cooperative Game
Dice Rolling
Grid Movement
Hand Management
Legacy Game
Movement Points
Multiple Maps
Narrative Choice / Paragraph
Once-Per-Game Abilities
Role Playing
Roles with Asymmetric Information
Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game
Solo / Solitaire Game
Storytelling
Turn Order: Random
Variable Player Powers
Variable Set-up
Rules:
It’s hard to summarize the rules on a game of this magnitude in a few sentences. Instead, I’ll advise that anyone with TTS can now play the game for free from the website link (below) where they also have the full rulebook at their disposal. Similarly, their Kickstarter page will have a link to their ruleset.
Areas they did well:
– massive number of included missions
– card cooldown track
– solo mode
– save state ability / progress
– good balance of luck in custom dice variation
– accessibility
– game length
– overall game experience vs time invested
– art and theme
– feeling of immersion
– story driven element (that you can skip past if its not your thing)
– variable player abilities, characteristics, upgrades, etc
– game and character development
– unlocking or hijack computer element
– bang for buck
– feels intuitive and good iconography
Areas they could have improved:
– from a marketing aspect, I feel they should hit home more how this game is has incredible content but is one of the most straightforward games in its class despite all that is involved in playing.
– can have too much time for missions
– strong cards can be on the cool down track for a long time
– difference between characters can be huge. You may want to be picky about your character choice. I’d suggest advanced players to look at each and their abilities / upgrades up front before making a choice.
Overall:
The years of development on this title and countless hours of blood sweat and tears that the designer put into meticulously crafting it will be the reason it will be a top shelf choice for many gamers who flock to this type of game. It’s been called the “mass effect’ of the board game world and I can see the comparison. I think they do a great job of making this a truly rewarding solo experience, but I would still choose players over solo as the rich story element and character choices really get a chance to shine with a shared audience. On the other hand, campaign and legacy games can be a pain without a consistent friend group. Perhaps it’s best to dig into both!I think the overall feel of this game defies what a board game can usually offer. Even though it is a story led, campaign style game, I feel it more like an open world rpg that didn’t limit me in what I wanted to do or try.
Final Thoughts:
My only regret is that I didn’t get a chance to play this one in person. Give it a try and check out a mission or two. Just like a good book, you might find yourself unable to put it down! Emil Larson has carefully crafted a masterpiece.
I’ll see you next time, back here at The Game Table,
Brad Hiscock, aka Zerility
After reading Brad’s review, if this sounds like a game for you at the time of this posting Rogue Angels will be launching on KICKSTARTER soon. Check it out and make sure to get notified upon launch both HERE and/or below!
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Brad Hiscock, aka “Zerility”, is a construction project manager and electrician by trade who was the owner of a 6-time award winning electrical company. His passion for board games has led him from playing hundreds of original titles to creating a design and publishing company of his own, Convivial Games. As an up and coming collaborator on many projects, he is always eager to try new games and meet new people.
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All of Brad Hiscock, aka “Zerility”‘s reviews can be found HERE.
