First Try-out for FANG

[Pfr_Fate]

The basics of the coop game (which I enjoy the most): the villains (nazi or mob on automatic rules) are trying to score Fortune points before your team of players do. You score Fortune by collecting artifacts, of which there are four at any time on the board. To gather an artifact, you must succeed in a set number of 'dangers', each requiring your character to make successful skill tests. Each character has different skill levels which can be modified by Event Cards, Allies, and Gear (usually purchased through uising Glory which is gathered through completed dangers...like ATOE). The Vile Organization (nazis or mob) will also be on the board and hunting artifacts (on thier own or directly against the players), but through a very simplified system (you don't waste time with Nazi/Mob details).

Due to the game's interplay with systems (some of which I don't detail here as it would get long winded), the game turns into a race against the Nazis/Mob where you make strategic decisions to group chracters on dangers, delay to gather equipment, fight the opponents directly or even raid their bases to mess them up. The enemy will by card flip (like ATOE Mystery Cards and Tactic charts) be messing you up in thematic ways (War Zeppelins, blitzkrieg, occupation, kidnapping, extortion, etc.).

The only downside I saw in the game (besides really having to get your mind wrapped around the rules) was a tendency to forget where you might be within the turn (but my session was chaotic in the players) and a shortage of danger cards which might get a little redundent (only a little).

I intend to make a Phase Tracker and post it here and a set of Cheat sheets for the Coop game (also post them here). As to the Danger Cards - i have a feeling that the Frog will supply us with new expansions to included them (Spider Queen?). Happily, the upper limit of size of the Danger Card deck would not possibly affect game-play, so there can be hundreds of new cards to keep things fresh.

Caveat: FANG is a theme game. If you do not usually get into the spirit of the theme and 'see' a story with every flip of the card or throw of the dice - if you only see game mechanics and tactics to win - then (like ATOE), you may not enjoy FANG to the fullest. For example, the character Sharon Hunter starts with an Ally. I drew 'Driver' - a generic character that increases movement and provides a bonus to vehicle skill tests. If you look at this as simply a generic skill enhancer, then FANG might be less than you'd like. If you immediately call him 'Driver Dave', and say the newspaper assigned him to their ace reporter and actually talk about their trials on the dangers (like I have done above!!!!) , then you will find FANG totally amazing.