How To Play Deadzone, and Kick Plague Ass!
January 31, 2014 by warzan
Video Sponsors: Infinity - Warmachine
I think we've all missed the goodness that is Warren and James having a game of something. Now, they get to settle down and play an epic demo game of Deadzone!
So far it's looking like a fantastic box filled with sneaky tactics and great depth and scope for more. In short, this is a game you need to be picking up.
Don't forget the quick start rules!
[poll id="12"]
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
![Warcradle Studios Reveal TINY New 10mm Festive Marker! [Updated]](https://images.beastsofwar.com/2025/11/christmas-kyle-main-600-338.jpg)
Definitely swinging me in the direction to get a copy!
The game looks great. I got a starter set of marauders just need to get the main game now.
Please sir. Can I have some more?
When your nose touchs the board you know that you are playing a freaking awesome game!
Man… i wish customs didn’t ruin my xMas 🙁 , hope to receive it in a few month when i leave this place -.-
This is a game that, if your not careful will slide under your radar. And having played it, its mechanics have clicked together so smoothly you would think the universe had demanded its creation lol
Simple, deep, awesome action that I cannot wait to play again. definitely one to watch, I only hope they can scale this without destroying it!
Hey Warren, I bumped into you in the elevator at last years gamesday, I was the idiot who just said hi as I couldn’t remember the name of the web show that you did. Now I know so much better, and it’s so much more than a web show.
If it wasn’t for your unboxing vid I would not have ordered Deadzone, which arrived today, I’m in geek heaven thank you so much for introducing me to this awesome game, love the gameplay vid hope to see much more on this in the next few months.
Thanks to GW I’m going to cancel my subscription and get a back stage pass to BOW, keep up the good work, if ever you need random guest who happens to be a member of the armed forces then give me a shout.
James got some stuff wrong – it’s +2 dice for a clear shot and the HMG stage 3 was in cover against that first shot as he was at a higher level than the shooter
If that’s all I got wrong: yay!
Not sure, I stopped watching after that point! Nothing personal, just didn’t have an hour free to watch the whole thing!
By the way, please make a Deadzone Training Camp Series!
So good, I’ve been waiting for this one.
Great demo guys! Warren rolls like a fiend again!!
I have been waiting for this, my copy of the game is on it’s way, I don’t think the game needs to be on a bigger scale as that’s the whole point, keep it a skirmish game with more models.
One of 40k’s problems is the ever increasing amount of rules, everything about this game looks awesome.
When I say scale, I just mean MORE TABLE and MORE AWESOME TERRAIN – shouting to ensure mantic hear me 😉
Have to try it on 4 mats …
Since Warpath had some trouble because they tried to reuse the rules from KoW, with a few meaningful changes, i think it will be great they used Deadzone rules for big battles but adding movement since there will be no squares. Please no unit coherency or stuff like that, is a sci-fi almost all factions have ways to communicate everything remotely in short distance ( yep, Plague = Pheromones ).
So J&J (+ testers) created the best game of all times ? 😀
great demo.
I’m afraid the true LoS kills it for me but the game has a very good look. I have no doubt this one will pull more than a few people into the hobby.
The LoS rules work brilliantly. You’re never left arguing whether one mini has LoS to another. Either the mini is in a cover cube or he is not, and either all of the mini can be seen (including the base) or it cannot. Incredibly simple, incredibly effective, incredibly tactical. Which is pretty much the designer’s signature.
Yeah, one of the big problmes with Necromunda was constant arguments of LoS. If the person you were playing against was a bit of a James Blunt, you might end up arguing over every single shot. It sometimes felt like the nastiest gamer could win the game, simply by arguing the game to death. I look forward to seeing the LoS rules in action.
That’s where the laser pointer comes in handy.
I’d really recommend you give it a go before you write it off 🙂
I’m always willing to demo a game, but I’m not rushing out to buy a copy until I try it myself. True LOS tends to be a game mechanic that I don’t get along with but I can see how spraying down a cube could be a strong substitute when LOS to a model is disputed. In my experience, abstract LOS rules lead to cleaner interactions and fewer arguments.
I just started painting my Marauder figs, I’ve only had one game, but so far I’m loving Deadzone and hope to see great things from it!
Looks pretty interesting, different from what I imagined it’d be like, though not in a bad way.
Planning to try out some of the Deadzone stuff in my upcoming hobby purchases so I was wondering, with the plans for more Deadzone content and all, if it were perhaps possible we might see some painting tutorials for Deadzone? Or are there already some good ones somewhere? Perhaos from Mantic theirselves?
Specifically I’m interested in how to paint the Enforcers to look like the official ones, I’d like to get that sme white and clean looking style to mine but I’m not entirely sure how to do it.
Great Video guys, loved it.
As I’ve been saying since I bought this thing at Christmas, best game I’ve played for a long time.
£54 for that box is probably the best value in miniature gaming right now, not as much stuff as Open Fire or Dropzone Commander starters, but I’m sure there are more hours of gameplay in the box contents by themselves than anything else.
Enjoyed the video so much I ordered Deadzone and Dreadball today. Need to find someone to play them with now 🙂
I backed Deadzone on Kickstarter because of the rule and mechanical simplicity, but with tactical depth and that terrain – this demo game was on what some refer to as a paintball set-up whereas others prefer to go the whole hog.
Yet another wonderful video demo – James is marvellous, Warren is most entertaining and enthusiastic, and about the only thing missing was the combat-cam that was used with Bolt Action and Dropzone Commander – get that into the next game guys.
Two other points: via the KS, and since then, Mantic and Jake Thornton involved THOUSANDS of people in playtesting and making suggestions that allowed refinements and additions to the original concepts. I applaud them for that – they are not the only games company to do it but they are probably the greatest exponent of it at present.
Second point: this is very scaleable and should tie into Warpath and Dreadball very nicely. And since some of the mechanics of Dreadball have been adapted here, it makes it easier for people to get into the other game too.
I highly recommend this. The booby trap is one of my favorite cards – I have had games where fortunes fluctuated both ways when each side had one of those cards. It does make for a bit of a sphincter-factor when you approach one of those crates. It could be Christmas or Kaput.
Aww, you ain’t so bad yourself 😉
I backed the kickstarter and am gluing as we speak, and now the second survey has just come out!
this game deserves a spot in the limelight as a great game in its own right, because the people I show it too just seem to say ‘wow the game looks great! I must buy the terrain for infinity’
@warzan you missed out the “All of the above” in the vote 😉
Now what to get in the 2nd survey … more, more, MORE!
Deadzone is the game of the year without a doubt. Amazing stuff – thanks for the vid!
Mantic should have Jake do Warpath 3.0, this guy designs great fun games.
^THIS
Great video guys! I second the call for a training academy series like you have done with DreadBall (which I hope will continue). Let’s see a full game next time out, with sneaky mission cam to boot!
I would like to see a more in depth video series that tells you more of the special rules and how they interact with the game, the mission cards and the sneakiness of counting points.
I received my copy of Deadzone and have enjoyed playing around with the models and the terrain. I have a small gripe about the connectors for the terrain, but other than that I can see this being a run away success for a game for its models, rules and the terrain.
I can’t wait to see what comes out in the future. I have my eyes on the Asterians and Marauders as well as the new things for the Enforcers (Peacekeepers and Strider) and Plague (Plague Terratons!). I would also look forward to more of the modular terrain.
You buggers are ruining my bank account. Was um’ing and ah’ing about the collectors edition, now I have to buy it.
This game looks so much fun to play. Now, I’m a big fan of the 40k setting but not the 40k rules. There are already people out there developing unofficial “Deadzone 40k” so I am very tempted to pick up a box and give it a try.
I went in on the kickstarter, sad to admit I haven’t had a chance to get it out yet though. I’m really waiting for my Iron Father stuff later this spring to get all hyped up about the game.
Everything in the game as far as components, minis, etc. etc. is really nice. Certainly a great value for your money (even the non KS versions).
My only remaining concern is the “grid” thing about the game. I worry that its going to be a perma-board game and not so much a traditional tabletop minis game. I wish they’d just make some optional rules to use tape measure/measuring sticks as opposed to the grid thing. That would open up some terrain options for people, sure you could do your own elaborate cube boards and that is what I might end up doing. Many gamers though are just going to be stuck on the cube forever.
Not really a make or break thing for me though, everything I’ve seen and heard so far has made me really glad I bought in (even if I haven’t been playing just yet). So I’m remaining really optimistic about this one. Finally a “necromunda” like sci-fi skirmish game that has ne releases and whatnot to look forward to! Huzzah!!
You don’t need them to write any special rules, if you don’t want to use a grid (and to be honest, there is no reason not to) just use a tape, 1 cube = 3″ that’s all you need to do.
As i’ve said at every opportunity, a 4 turn demo game of this game has got me counting the days until i get paid and get buy my copy. me and the friend i played it with INSTANTLY fell in love with this and dreadball, in less than 2 hours we had decided what teams and forces we wanted and which we were getting first.
This is one of maybe two or three games where the ruleset has been one of the things that excited me rather than just the miniatures.
Backed the kickstarter, and so glad I did. As the above demonstrates great game
I always enjoy watching James and Warren fight it out in any game. They bring an enthusiasm to whatever they are playing. Thanks for making it fun to watch and pick up on rules I missed; such as the option to fight or survive in Combat. Keep these videos rolling.
It’s an awesome two-way process, because I enjoy reading these comments to pick up on rules I missed! 😛
Glad you enjoyed it though, Warren and I always have a blast when we play games. We’ve had more chances to play them off-screen as well lately, so I can confirm that it’s not just something we put on for the cameras!
“Hey guys, look what I fou……” Funniest quote ever in battle report. I laughed so loud my wife wanted to know what I was watching. I told her she wouldn’t understand :).
I have to say, beside the faction specific mission in the survey i also like a lot the damage system, it seems simple, elegant and very effective. Excellent demo guys!
I’ve played roughly a dozen games of Deadzone now – Which is pretty good going for me – especially considering it’s been only a couple of months since I got it.
It really is awesome. Really is. Especially when you get into what I call the X-Com cluster…frak.
That point where you see your whole attempt at any sort of strategy going horribly wrong. Like teleporting your Rebs teraton onto the roof of a building, only to have an enforcer jetpack a level higher than you, giving him a full clear shot of the gal (yes, that giant Teraton is female. The dreadball models are the males). You then add in a headshot card, some AP ammo the guy was carrying from earlier and down goes your main close combat monster…
Only for it not to stop as your own commander gets a shot right between the eyes from a long range pistol from the Enforcers Sergeant…
Actually, come to think of it, maybe calling that game fun wasn’t the right idea. But it was flipping cool.
Yesterday’s plague game went more my way, with me drawing the most atypical plague mission possible. 10 victory points to win, and I get 2 points for every turn more than half my guys are alive. Plus I get points for killing my opponents high priced models (in this game, it was his teraton).
We have a pretty interesting board setup, with a line of sight blocker in the middle, causing the battlefield to be a warren (hehe) of narrow streets. Perfect ambush territory.
Of course, I had my mission hidden from my opponent. So, when I started placing all my guys behind cover and out of sight, I outright said to him. “Well, the way I see it, your missions are either kill my guys, which means, you’ll need to come over and get me. Scour (nick items and run away), in which case, the majority of the items are in this alleyway. Or infiltrate, in which case, you’ll need to pass through this alley. Therefore, there’s no reason I need to get shot.
And it was all because I was wanting to just hide my guys in buildings. In any case, I did send out 3 of my 8 models for a fight. – My 2 Stage 2’s, who are the main close combat guys of the faction (but watch out, they might go BERSERK when wounded. This is bad) and my big guy, the bloke on the box cover and one of the best models I’ve seen, the Stage 1.
This guy is huge, as slow as molasses but is really hard to hurt (so there’s no massive worry about getting shot) and an absolute beast if he ever gets into combat. – 3+ to hit, on a D8 is damn scary.
So, with a little bit (well, lot) of luck, good use of ‘Steadfast’ cards (ignore any aggression loss from a shot) and my opponent leaving a guy out of position, the Stage 2’s pounce into combat with my opponents dice turning completely against him and being unable to slow them down.
Then finally, with a tricksy move card being played on my Stage 1, letting the guy who can only move 1 square a turn, race forward a gigantic… 2(!), ramming into the back of the teraton and turning it into a fine red paste. After that, it’s just a matter of mopping up.
Yeah… To summarise, this game really is great.
Technically, you will NEVER see the entirety of someone’s base from a lower level. Unless the floor he’s standing on is transparent.
I got my box sitting in the hobby room, but I haven’t done anything with it. Reminds me of what happened to my Alabaster set…
Like the “secret” missions thing but cube based movement and range with true line of sight seems janky.
Seriously go to your FLGS and try it, you will be surprised just how smooth it is. 🙂
Backed the Kickstarter, and loving the game. Just completed my second survey to get even more, including the awesome looking Enforcers in Peacekeeper armour!
My first game I pulled the worst plague mission ever. Get all your guys off the opponents table edge. No bonuses for killing things, nothing. It just killed me. His mission massacre my force. Guess who won. Still, it was fun.
Nearly bought this game at Christmas but wasn’t entirely sure, besides I’ve got an entire undead army and orc amy for Kings of War to paint. So I thought ‘No, that’s plenty to keep me busy’ And off I went thinking to myself how close I came to parting with my hard earned.
Obviously that has all changed now, that copy of Deadzone in the shop has just found itself a new home, sorry fat wallet.
My copy of the game is on the way, I loved the video it really showed off the game.
One of the things that I can not get my head around that a model is only in cover if that piece of terrain is in it’s square, yet surly if a model is next to a building hidden from the opposition then it should count as being in cover?
Again great vid guys, can we have more please!
That’s part of the beauty of the game, actually. – You’re actually *not* in cover (assuming you’re in an ’empty’ square). However, as you’re hiding partially behind a building, you’re going to be avoiding suffering a ‘Clear Shot’ (which is actually +2! dice to your shooting, not +1 as mentioned in the video).
So, the standard situations are:
You’re in the middle of an empty square, your opponent shoots at you, high noon style. He’ll have a total of 5 dice to ‘Shoot’, you have a total of 3 dice to ‘Survive.’ This is probably very bad.
You’re in a cover square, standing behind something (or there’s another piece of terrain in the way). Your opponent has a total of 3 dice to ‘shoot,’ you have a total of 4 dice to ‘Survive.’ Since you probably have at least 1 point of armour (unless you’re a dog!), you’re probably quite safe and happy, as your opponent will probably be needing to roll a lot of 8’s to actually hurt you (which happens more than you think…).
Or, you’ve got the more complex example.
You’re in a cover square, however, your opponent has outflanked you! And managed to get behind you, giving himself a ‘Clear Shot,’ and +2 dice, despite you being in a cover square.
But wait, there’s hope… Your guy may be able to dive out of the way in time, so, you get the +1 dice bonus to your ‘Survive’ check. This gives your opponent a total of 5 dice, but at least you still get 4. – It’s still in your opponents favour, thanks to the ‘Clear Shot’ but it may be a key factor in you only being ‘injured’ as opposed to killed outright.
Of course, then you wander into the Nightmare Scenario, like me… Where you’re caught so out of position, that your opponent gets: +1 dice for high ground. +2 dice for being a sniper. +2 dice for clear shot and +1 dice for the ‘Headshot’ card, and ignoring 2 points of Armour, due to the card, plus the sheer power of the sniper rifle. That’s giving him a total of 9 dice, against your pansy 3.
In short. That hurts. A lot.
One thing people never seem to mention so much about Mantic is how much better the background is compared to Games Workshop. The background is like Judge Dredd, old school 40k and dawn of the dead all rolled into one. It manages to be a lot more humourfull, whilst at the same time a lot more plausible at the same time.
Hooray! We’re working really hard to make the background extra-awesome. We’ve got a series of videos coming out where we talk all about it, so make sure you watch out for them!
Well I should say one of the good things about the background is that the armies feel plausible. The armies consistently look like proper sci fi armies with proper equipment. Also the different armies seem to fit together, so you don’t have 2 armies that look like they belong in a different game.
Has orcy been listening to A BAND OF ORCS? I think their album is quite good.
Wow! That looks like a fun game! To me it seems like what Sedition Wars was supposed to be and a less wonky rules-wise version of Mercs. I will be looking to pick this game up soon it seems. Looking forward to more coverage!
Agree. Better than Sedition Wars which turned out to be a misfire for the McVeys in my opinion, and a lot tighter more consistent than MERCS rules-wise. One of my games of 2014.
Well. I guess you just got a new customer here. I am defo buying that awesome game. BoW, this is a great video, carry on with the great work guys!
Dreadball got me back into the hobby after a 15 year absence and this is defiantly my next buy. then i have to buy ultimate dreadball before xtreme comes to kickstarter dam my wallet is getting lighter.
instead of going to sleep yesterday around midnight, I watched this one hour long demo game… – which was indeed great! I feel bad on missing out on the kickstarter… I couldn’t convince my mates to jump in on it… maybe this video can?!
thanks chaps, it was a lot of fun to watch… question for james though: will there be bigger packs (“armies”) in case, you just want to buy miniatures, but without duplicates? I see booster, but together with the starter that would mean, I have some minis more than once.. and I know some more minis are coming for each faction… so will there be an “all-minis-in-one”-package in the future?
I kickstarted this, picked it up at the open day, spent a few weeks putting stuff together, then rounded up a few victims and opened the door to the best miniatures game I’ve ever played, and I’ve just about played all the major ones.
Couple of weirdies that need ironing out, but the FAQ and Compendium should sort those. (eg if I give a G2 acid breath, what’s his hit roll? Why is Massive Frag so bloody ridiculous? Why do plague have a sit and hide mission?)
The beauty is speed of play, sheer theatre of it, the “sense” of everything in that all the rules make sense and seem to work how they should without any “why would that happen?” type scenarios, the depth of tactics, the blaze vs shoot conundrum, the scenery, the G1 plague model, the surprisingly not comically bad Marauders, the ridiculously lucky Marauder commander I have (best game melee’d 2 plague dogs, survived an attack from a G2 and 2 hits from a plague mortar), guys being knocked off buildings, the rainmaker suit always rolling 1’s and 2’s and killing the hulk standing next to him, the hulk, the awesome goblin sniper, small play area. Seriously I need a damned good reason to get out anything else at the moment.
I can’t help you on the massive frag thing, as I’ve chosen to ignore any units at the moment that don’t have fully published rules.
For the acid breath though, the answer seems simple enough to me. – The model has a shoot value of ‘-‘ therefore can’t shoot, even if you give him a gun.
This video has made me order a copy of the starter box. Then I clicked the link to dread ball academy videos,,, guess what,,,,,,,,,,,, Yup ordered that too…… Damm you Beasts of War 🙂
Have been going through all the Deadzone content, just love it, when is the next game with the terrain from the mega build?
The video is dead on you tube…