I prefer alternating activations because it avoids the situation where one side can blow the other off the table before they can even move (like 8th edition WH40K), and it avoids many of the messy situations created by Kill Team’s hybrid IGOUGO/alternating shooting system.

One player activates a model, then the other player activates a model, back and forth until all models have been activated. One final note, Deadzone also uses an alternating activation sequence.

Also, the mechanic is just dead simple to remember. What I like about using a dice pool mechanic is instead of 3 or 4 separate dice rolls to resolve an attack, as in most Games Workshop games, everything is reduced to a single opposed dice roll, speeding up the game. But otherwise the dicing mechanic is the same. In close combat, the defender may choose to use their Fighting stat, thus having a chance to wound their assailant, or they may just use Survive to simply avoid the attack. The number of successes generated are compared to determine the potential damage inflicted on the target. If the shooter is higher, or if the target model is completely in the open, then the attacker adds bonus dice to their roll (I learned the hard way that controlling the high ground is very important in Deadzone). Your opponent then makes the same test, but using their model’s Survive stat. Modifiers add or subtract dice, rather than changing the target number.įor example, shooting an opposing model requires a test where you’re trying to roll equal to or higher than the model’s Shooting stat (which may be 3+, 4+, 5+, and so on). Dice rolls of 8 “explode,” allowing you to roll another dice, and keep doing so as long as you keep rolling 8’s. A standard roll is three 8-sided dice each dice rolling a certain target number is a “success.” Your opponent does the same, and then total successes are compared (ties usually go to the defender). It’s bloody genius, as far as I’m concerned.ĭeadzone uses an opposed dice pool mechanic to resolve most conflicts. It combines the certainty of grids or spaces with the fluidity of measuring inches on an open board, while also encouraging maneuvering for advantage.

The cube system resolves many of the problems I have with more traditional skirmish games like Necromunda and Kill Team. Thanks to my buddy Randy for taking this picture.

Dead Zone Adventure free