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Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: spect_spidey on November 05, 2018, 10:36:18 PM

Title: Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 Dead Rise review
Post by: spect_spidey on November 05, 2018, 10:36:18 PM
I purchased the Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 combo pack that included the printed cards with the PDF of the scenario. I thought today that I would give a short review of my purchase.

The PDF
The PDF comes in at 14 pages when you include the cover. The cover is full color with additional color through the remaining pages. The layout is clean and crisp. With a simple but effective design. It is very similar to what you see in the other Pulp Alley books. It starts out with an introduction advising of the methods of play for the scenario and recommendations on use of the Horror Deck and Strange Shadows booster pack for said Horror Deck. Next is a handy Turn Summary page that also includes reminders on the Fight Modifiers. This comes in very handy. Next comes a summary of the scenario. This details the background of the scenario, plot points, number of turns, deployment zones, and special rules used for the scenario. Following this is the rules for horror and non-player characters. Each one taking up a page. After this we have the setup of the scenario. This provides specific details on how to set up the play area, deploy, and such. After this we have a table of events that each player must roll on prior to starting the game. After this we have a page dedicated to the special rules of the scenario and then one dedicated to the scenario wrap-up. The remaining pages include the cards needed for the scenario. Players can print them out to make their own scenario deck and have the reference card for the living dead NPCs in the scenario.

All and all the PDF gives you everything you need to play through the scenario. It recommends some possible characters from the Pulp Alley line of miniatures to run through the scenario or encourages a player to create their own. The writing is what you would come to expect from a Pulp Alley product. Anyone who has previously purchased a Pulp Alley PDF will know what to expect from this one. Rating 4 out of 5.

The Cards
The cards are printed on the same type of card stock that you would expect from Pulp Alley. The colors are vibrant and the text is easily read on them. The set of cards contained 12 cards. 11 of these are the scenario cards that make up the scenario deck used during the game and the other is an ally card representing the living dead NPC. I love the layout and look of the Pulp Alley cards. I always recommend buying the cards if you can afford it. I know it is more expensive than printing your own, but I think they are more than worth it. The scenario cards continue the color coding of the backs helping to make the cards easily recognizable from others. For those who are curious, the scenario deck uses a yellow back laid out like the other cards with scenario written on them. Rating 5 out of 5.

The Scenario
The scenario is designed to be playable solo, co-op, or versus. Each player takes control of one character. The scenario makes use of the horror and non-player character rules previously mentioned in the PDF section of this review. It also uses an event roll prior to the first start of the game. This is similar to the events listed in the original rulebook but the list is geared specifically to this scenario. When a character activates, they must first resolve a scenario card from the deck. These scenario cards can do various things such as spawn a plot point or a living dead. At the end of each turn, a new living dead is spawned at the center of the map.

I personally do not currently own a horror deck. When I played the game versus my wife we decided that whenever a horror check was called for, the character in question would just move 6 inches in the opposite direction of the nearest enemy. This seemed to work pretty well. I really enjoyed the scenario deck. It felt similar to what the solo deck does for solo players. The cards keep things exciting and I hope to see more use from a scenario deck. If you read this Dave, please make a more generic scenario deck. I think it could add an additional aspect to the game.

Overall, I really enjoyed playing through the scenario. There were only two issues that I had with the scenario and they are minor ones. The first is that the outer 6 inches of the play area is considered perilous area. This means that the regular perilous area rules on in effect. This is fine, but it leads to the second issue of the scenario. The living dead spawn at the center of the map. With the outside areas being perilous, it pushes players towards the center of the board. This greatly increases the chances of the plot points being spawned near the center of the play area. What I found this that this can lead to a character getting trapped within the 12 inch rush range of the spawning living dead. This ultimately is what made my character meet his demise. I moved him in to try and get a plot point that was discovered, but it was within the 12 inch range of the living dead. This meant that every turn a new living dead was rushing my character. It made it impossible to get away from them once there was more than one in the brawl. I would recommend that this be changed. I would suggest having them spawn from a random board edge and then move 6 inches towards the nearest survivor. I will try this method in my next play through and see what happens. Rating 4 out of 5.

Overall, I found the scenario to be highly enjoyable. I had been hesitant to purchase any of the scenario of the month offerings. But this one being a zombie survival scenario peaked my interest. I am glad that I purchased it and will probably consider purchasing some of the other ones.

If you would like to read my poor attempt at an AAR, please checkout the link below.

https://imgur.com/a/W0h2YaC
Title: Re: Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 Dead Rise review
Post by: ragsthetiger on November 05, 2018, 11:26:15 PM
Cool review.  I've tried it four or five times now, and never come close to surviving it.  In my games, the issue is always the same...the living deaders make their recovery rolls and I'm buried in them by turn 4.  The more you take down, the more of them there are to make their recovery rolls and get back up.  Might be doable with a 'finish it' rule in effect, or a lot of players chasing the plot points, but solo it's just suicide.  I do love the scenario deck idea though, and hope to see more of that.
rags
Title: Re: Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 Dead Rise review
Post by: syrinx0 on November 06, 2018, 03:20:39 AM
I assumed the scenario was intended to be rather deadly so the inevitable rushing didn't bother me.  We had a three person game where one of the player had nothing but luck. All the spawn were closer to the other two characters and we never could get close to a plot point.  I put down a rushing Zombie almost every turn but never could get loose.  It was a fun little horror scenario.
Title: Re: Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 Dead Rise review
Post by: d phipps on November 06, 2018, 03:58:44 PM
THANKS so much for the review. I definitely appreciate your feedback.

FYI -- our Scenario of the Month for November and December both include the Scenario Deck rules as well.  ;)

I won't argue that Deadrise ranks up there with one of the more difficult scenarios I have designed. I have about a 50% win ratio with multi-players and 30% with solo.

First, the reason the outer edge is perilous and the zombies spawn from the middle is to create the feeling that there is no safe place. This keeps the characters moving rather than simply huddling in the center. We playtested it many different ways, and this felt like it had the right vibe.

A few tips that may help you survive the Deadrise --

1. Safety First: Survival is your top priority -- so try to stay over 12" away from zombies. This is the BIG one. I know it is easier said than done, but if you stay over 12" away then you will survive.

2. Don't Take the Bait: When a plot point appears, see rule #1. Ignore all plot points that are not safe.

3. Dodge is Your Friend: When you get engaged, it is almost always better to get away than to stay and fight. Unless they have you boxed in, try to dodge move away -- and then dodge move again, and again....


Have fun in the apocalypse!  ;D






 
Title: Re: Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 Dead Rise review
Post by: Alcide Nikopol on November 08, 2018, 09:44:53 AM
I got lucky on my first playthrougb and managed to survive. It wasn't easy. That's for sure.
Title: Re: Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 Dead Rise review
Post by: spect_spidey on November 08, 2018, 11:45:59 AM
I got lucky on my first playthrougb and managed to survive. It wasn't easy. That's for sure.

My wife survived. I bit the dust during turn 6.
Title: Re: Pulp Alley Monthly Scenario 10 Dead Rise review
Post by: Alcide Nikopol on November 11, 2018, 11:48:09 PM
Had another go this one yesterday with 2 other players. Only one survivor but still lot of laughs.