Zombicide: White Death Design Diary 1 - Welcome to Wintergrad
Hi everyone! This is Nicolas Raoult, one of the designers of Zombicide, including the latest addition to the family, Zombicide: White Death!
I’m here today to walk you through the frozen landscape of Wintergrad and talk a bit about what to expect from this triumphant return of the Fantasy line. Zombicide Fantasy, whose family includes Black Plague, Green Horde, and its many expansions, is among the most beloved versions of the game. Until very recently, Zombicide: Green Horde was CMON’s biggest Kickstarter campaign, having raised over 5 million dollars. It is still, to this day one of our best-selling games in stores around the world. So, a new game in this era will have big shoes to fill! So, while sticking to things the players love about this medieval fantasy land, we also wanted to introduce new things, meet new characters, try different mechanics, and explore different parts of that universe. Enter White Death.
Far, far away from the western, sunny towns we saw in Black Plague and Green Horde, we reach the cold, besieged city of Wintergrad. In this faraway land live many creatures that the survivors on the western border would think are only legend. White Death introduces intelligent humanoid-animal-hybrid species. Meet Lorna from the mystical canine people called Kenshan, and Ogon, one of the Khanra, the cat people. They don’t have any sort of special rules players have to remember. They are just cool.
In Zombicide: White Death, Survivors cannot flee anymore, as the city is surrounded by Zombies. They have to resist, which is a different take on the Zombicide theme. The new setting introduces a snow-covered urban area with medieval ramparts with corresponding special rules!
Huge walls separate the board in several areas, preventing free passage for the survivors... and the Zombies. These ramparts can be climbed upon, using either stairs or rope ladders. Players can move and fight on Battlement Walkways on top of ramparts.
Zombies, mindless as they are, cannot use rope ladders. To get on top, they have to use stairs . Occasionally however, a special “Zombie Siege!” card allows Zombies to climb and cross Ramparts in a fit of rage! Also, undead as they are, Zombies standing on top of Battlement Walkways can harmlessly fall to pursue their prey.
But the Survivors also get some new tricks. They can find Cauldrons to place on Battlement Walkways and throw hot tar at Zombies below, eliminating everyone there.
And finally (for now), being in a winter-themed environment comes with perks . The new Freeze mechanic allows Survivors to temporarily immobilize Zombies.
Now you met Wintergrad, but that’s not all that is coming in Zombicide: White Death! Stay tuned for the next Designer Diary, when we will explore a few more new things players can expect to see!
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