The latest edition of Zweihander, known as Zweihander Reforged, is currently on Kickstarter until Sunday, April 7, 2024. This new edition aims to enhance the gaming experience by offering adjustments for quicker setup and easier play.
Zweihander is a dark fantasy role-playing game that has gained popularity among players looking to explore a different style of gameplay outside of Dungeons & Dragons. Drawing inspiration from grim worlds like Warhammer, monster-filled forests of The Witcher, and surreal dreamscapes of Blackbirds, fantasy enthusiasts are drawn to the gritty and immersive settings reminiscent of A Song of Ice and Fire or Elden Ring.
Originally released in 2017, Zweihander has evolved over the years through revised editions, starter sets, and valuable player feedback. The game utilizes a percentile system where characters are assigned a percentage chance of success for their actions. Players roll two ten-sided dice, interpreting one as the tens digit and the other as the ones digit to determine success.
Players have the ability to manipulate dice rolls through special character abilities or by spending fortune points for a reroll. However, this grants the Game Master a Misfortune point to use against the players later on.
In Zweihander, players create survivors in a dark fantasy world rather than traditional first-level characters. They can start in unconventional classes like a valet, which may grant access to spells based on their social class. Characters have the option to choose from three classes at the beginning of the game, with opportunities to unlock additional classes or advanced versions as they progress.
The game emphasizes human characters but also allows players to explore fantasy ancestries, each offering unique talents that impact gameplay. Ancestries include darker variations of creatures like living statues or gargoyles.
Zweihander Reforged introduces significant changes, such as incorporating a 'Brush With Death' into every character's origin story. This pivotal moment alters characters and prevents them from returning to a mundane life. Combat mechanics have been refined, professions revamped, and ancestries redesigned to enhance the overall gaming experience.
Corruption in the game now functions more as an infection rather than a moral choice, allowing players to utilize Corruption to aid spellcasting and other crucial actions. However, excessive use of Corruption can lead to irreversible consequences, transforming the character into a villain.
Backers of Zweihander Reforged on Kickstarter can expect digital and physical rewards to be delivered around February 2025, offering an immersive and engaging gaming experience in a dark and treacherous world.
