Raybox Games have been very busy over the last few months getting ready to launch not only a new game, but a series of games, based on a new system. There is going to be a lot to unpack so sit back and relax as I give you an overview of the first of the games Escape From Stalingrad Z.
Escape From Stalingrad Z // Raybox Games
Escape from Stalingrad Z is a solo/co-operative narrative campaign game of tactical combat set in the horrific zombie plague of World War II. I know what you're thinking, so far so Dead Snow but wait! The unique selling point for me is the system Marco has created to play out these games, Paths Unknown. It incorporates a narrative campaign system with tactical miniature combat played right out of the scenario book.
Once you have learned the rules, all you need to play is contained within the Scenario book, character sheets and punched tokens. The scenario book is coil bound so it can lie flat on your table as a physical play surface. With scenario description on the left and scenario map on the right, your game will take less than a minute to set up. You play directly in the book on the right-hand map. As you open doors, new threats will be revealed. Each scenario has primary and secondary objectives. Each of your characters has unique specialized skills and will gain experience to advance their abilities and assure success.
The game plays out over a series of linked scenarios that form a campaign. Each previous scenario in the Campaign will affect the start of the next, creating an ongoing story. The full book contains fourty scenarios that tell the story of the rise of zombies within Stalingrad and the story of your group of survivors as they struggle to survive and is accompanied by tokens for the heroes and monsters, although there are a range of models that can be picked up if you want to add another dimension to the game.
With a mixture of stealth and combat required to complete the scenarios you have multiple choices to make as to how you play your campaign and the decisions you make will impact future scenarios. If you want to see how the game works Marco has put up his first playthrough video to explain the rules and show the first scenario.
Marco has also just anounced that Escape from Stalingrad will be the first of a campaign series called Operation Z Series and that it will be followed by Escape from Project Reise. The idea of having a campaign series that sits on a book shelf and can be played on a tray on your knees if you're lacking space or tucked up in bed is a fantastic idea and I can see there being a real diversity in where the Paths Unknown range can go after this opening series.
I'll be talking to Marco soon about the game and Raybox Games plans for the future so if you want to know more you can keep your eyes peeled for that in the next few weeks.
"The idea of having a campaign series that sits on a book shelf and can be played on a tray on your knees if you're lacking space or tucked up in bed is a fantastic idea "
Interesting. I’m not normally a fan of weird world war 2 but … yeah interesting
soviet snow?