# ISS Vanguard

ISS Vanguard is a board game for 1–4 players. It plays in 90–120 minutes and is meant for ages 13 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 2. It is rated 7.9 out of 10 by 34 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $147.99 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–4 (best with 2)
- **Playing time:** 90–120 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 13+
- **Complexity:** 3.7 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2022
- **Categories:** Novel-based, Space Exploration, Adventure, Science Fiction, Exploration
- **Mechanics:** Storytelling, Narrative Choice / Paragraph, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game, Solo / Solitaire Game, Cooperative Game, Open Drafting, Dice Rolling, Variable Player Powers
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.9 out of 10, from 34 reviews
- **Owned by:** 141 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 870
- **Unique players:** 127

**Designers:** Marcin Świerkot, Krzysztof Piskorski, Andrzej Betkiewicz, Paweł Samborski

**Artists:** Patryk Jędraszek, Pamela Łuniewska, Dominik Meyer, Piotr Gacek, Ewa Labak, Ingram Schell

**Publishers:** Ігромаг, Awaken Realms

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 147.99 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/iss-vanguard |
| La Gameria | 129.95 € | https://gameria.es/juegos-de-mesa/iss-vanguard-17816.html |
| Goblin Trader Barcelona | 142.5 € | https://www.goblintrader.es/es/inicio/54161-iss-vanguard.html |
| BoardGames.BG | 143 € | https://boardgames-bg.com/iss-vanguard-2022.html |
| TLAMA games | 3599 Kč | https://www.tlamagames.com/deskove-hry/iss-vanguard-cz/ |
| Svet deskovych her | 3599 Kč | https://www.svet-deskovych-her.cz/produkty/13093/iss-vanguard |
| Alphaspel | 1699 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/161941-iss-vanguard |
| Ludifolie | 155.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/19160-iss-vanguard.html |
| Zatu Games | 142.19 £ | https://zatu.com/products/iss-vanguard |
| Juegos de la Mesa Redonda | 170.96 € | https://juegosdelamesaredonda.com/17056-iss-vanguard-castellano-8436607945390.html |
| Dungeon Marvels | 171 € | https://dungeonmarvels.com/iss-vanguard-castellano-85336.html |

## Expansions

- [ISS Vanguard: The Lost Fleet](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard-stretch-goal-box)
- [ISS Vanguard: Personnel Files](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard-personal-files)
- [ISS Vanguard: Deadly Frontier](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard-deadly-frontier)
- [ISS Vanguard: Equipment Promo Cards](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard-equipment-promo-cards)
- [ISS Vanguard: Fearless Crew Mini-Expansion](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard-fearless-crew-mini-expansion)
- [ISS Vanguard: Story Dice Expansion](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard-story-dice-expansion)
- [ISS Vanguard: Personal Discovery Promo Cards](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard-personal-discovery-promo-cards)
- [Awaken Realms Vault: Story Dice – AR Board Game Dice Bundle Box](https://www.ludoya.com/games/awaken-realms-vault-story-dice-ar-board-game-dice-bundle-box)

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## Rules questions

### Can I use other crewmembers' dice to build my Dice Check pool, and how does Assist work?

Yes — other crewmembers may Assist by adding dice from their section to the acting crewmember's roll pool; Assist dice are added before rolling and are provided from the assisting crewmember's dice subject to Convert/ability limits (they are treated as part of the roll pool when resolving the check). (pp.16, 23, 32)

### What's the difference between spending a die and sacrificing a die (Exertion), and when do dice come back?

Spending a die pays an effect and that die stays spent until refreshed at Rest or round end, while Exertion lets you sacrifice a die (or take the Exhausted condition) to refresh your pool immediately; sacrificed/spent dice are returned only when rules specifically refresh them. (pp.20, 31)

### How do Injury and Danger dice work — do they count toward success and when are they removed?

Injury dice are placed by Injury cards and are included in Dice Checks as specified by the injury (often producing negative or special faces), while Danger dice are rolled when an action forces them (e.g., Travel) and can cause extra consequences or injuries; resolve their faces during Dice Check resolution and remove Injuries only by the card’s removal instructions or medical/clearance effects. (pp.22, 33, 40)

### If a die face shows multiple icons, do I get all of them or must I choose one?

You get all icons shown on the die face — multi-icon dice produce every listed effect when that face is used/resolved, unless a specific effect says otherwise. (pp.33–34)

### When I take the Travel action, can I split the cost between crewmembers or avoid the Danger die by spending other dice?

Travel is resolved by the acting crewmember spending the required die(s) or, if they don't spend, by resolving the Danger die (you cannot split the Travel cost between crewmembers); follow the Travel steps for path, icons, and any injury or Danger die effects. (pp.18, 30)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/iss-vanguard)
- [ISS Vanguard in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/iss-vanguard)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/325494)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-18. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._