Does Mutant Year Zero hold up all these years later as a great post-apocalypse game? | RPG Review

[@DaveThaumavore]

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[@jackofblades4374]

The less obvious mutations don't necessarily mean you look completely human (you could have a physical deformity or something). The ones that alter your appearance aren't meant to single out a character, as mutations are seen as normal by the ark population. It would actually be very unusual to be the only person with a physical mutation or deformity in an ark. And personally, I'd be more worried about the guy who can take control of my mind than the guy with four arms. If you run into unmutated humans, that might be a different story, but I see it as a roleplay opportunity. They would probably treat all mutant PC's the same anyway, no matter how they look. Considering the other books let you be an anthropomorphic animal or a robot, the bug wings or reptile skin is just par for the course.

[@ianmaluk1]

There's a reason why two major plots circulate around mutants with psychic powers.

[@markfelps2269]

I'm running it right now. It's a real change from the sort of D&D games most of the players have played previously, but they love it. Also, you're wrong about doubt damage. Sense Emotion/Manipulate/Heal are all empathy based and most roles don't bother with a high empathy. When low empathy characters try any of those things, they face a real risk that a push breaks them. In addition, a good GM is using manipulate against them via NPCs, and it's almost trivial for an NPC Chronicler to break the strongest members of the team given the ability to stack doubt damage with extra successes. Our Chronicler, who has an artifact that adds a gear bonus to manipulate, is rolling 11 dice and needs 3 successes to break your average grunt.

[@NefariousKoel]

"The Rot" is the name for radiation poisoning, something the survivors don't really understand. A cornerstone of post-apocalyptic hex crawls. 😁

[@Suavek69]

Not really radiation. At least, not only radiation. (SPOILERS) Even in Mutant Year Zero: Elysium, where you play as humans from one of the remaining ultra high-tech cities, it is still called "The Rot". It is safe to say that the term "the Rot" is something that the elder probably introduced to the Mutants. Plus, the way it is described in the book makes it seem like it is probably the mix of radiation as well as biohazard materials.

[@DanAlgstrand]

Thanks for the nice words, Dave!

[@dejahthoris1808]

Hi! thanks for finally getting to Mutant Year Zero, It's a great modern, post apocalyptic rpg, this edition of it anyway, as the original swedish editions Mutant 1st/2nd and Mutant UA, borrowed heavily from Gamma world by TSR. This new edition of MYZ still has Gamma World in it's DNA but somehow managed to feel unique due to the world building and it's innovative game mechanics. I would suggest that you look into Gamma world 1st/2nd edtions because without them there would be no MYZ, particularly look into Gamma World 1st edition, being my personal favourite version of Gamma World due to it's bare bones design and not being tarnished or influenced by the somewhat tired MadMax version of the post apocalypse. "side note" Mutant Epoch is another Great modern, post apocalyptic rpg, though it's a mesh up of Gamma World and Fallout in theme and design aesthetics. Thanks again, keep up the great work!

[@commandertorres]

This is somethint I like about YZE games: They’re really easy to get a handle on and it feels very accessible for anyone to play with.

[@DaveThaumavore]

Indeed. Once you learn one, the rest are pretty second-nature.

[@josephshriner2850]

I have only played the PC game and I gobbled it up. What drew me to it was how mutation reminded me of the old TMNT and other strangeness ttrpg. I genuinely like the setting and feel it competes against Mad Max, Roadside Picnic and others of the same ilk.

[@paavohirn3728]

Thanks for reviewing the beginning as well! It's something definitely to check out eventually. The more I hear about it the more enticing it sounds.

[@davinci451]

Wow the history of Mutant Year Zero came as a complete surprise to me. My first experience was the video game!

[@mariodosantos]

Just as I was pondering getting this game you publish this video... My Free League addiction won't end...

[@mikaelfalk6086]

Love your reviews❤. If I remember correct Fria Ligan had earlier released two rpgs in swedish: ”Svavelvinter” and ”Spelet om Morwhayle”. They had two differt rule engines. I think these games are discontinued now.

[@richardextall2002]

Another good appraisal. Thank you for keeping this channel going and keeping the quality high.

[@SteveDahlskog]

The Mutant Y0 game campaign should be viewed as a whole (from the first including Ad Astra).

[@uplinkx1126]

Thank you so much for telling me about CriticalMatch! That was the most amazing part of the video. You should do videos completely dedicated to the subject. I'm sure people would love it.

[@detectivelizard9532]

I wish I could pick up Mechatron expansion but it hasn't been in stock at the publisher's store for ages. Great review by the way.

[@HuskHunter]

Oh perfect, something to listen to when I work

[@syncmonism]

I think it was a very unique combination of artistic/ audio visual presentation to have with what was ultimately just a solid but not particularly complicated or sophisticated turn based tactical shooter with light exploration and very light real-real time stealth elements added to its gameplay. The use of very high quality voice acting and decent quality writing also really elevated the overall experience of the gameplay which happens within that narrative. The game is so original in the approach it takes with the way it combines elements from narrative driven REAL TIME single player games with turn based gameplay, and the level of quality in the audio dialogue in particular was particularly noteworthy, and probably also a very efficient use of limited resources. It's interesting to see a relatively low budget game put such a high priority on voice acting quality, and I wish other lower budget games would do this more often. This would have still been a good game even if the quality of the narrative and audio dialogue presentation was largely total crap (looking at you, X-com), but the quality of the narrative presentation, the atmosphere, sound design, and often context sensitive dialogue really elevates the experience.

[@jasonandkrishandy-kraus123]

Great review as always and a nice shoutout to Dan Algstrand.

[@NefariousKoel]

I've seen the mutations in this game aptly likened to X-Men mutant powers. Not on the nose, but close enough.

[@DaveThaumavore]

Yeah that’s a pretty solid comparison.

[@drphibbs]

Do you have any plans to review the Fallout ttrpg published by Modiphius?

[@caseygoddard]

I'm curious how the Genlab Alpha supplement compares to the T.M.N.T. table-top RPG.

[@taejaskudva2543]

Whoa, is never considered that, but using Genlab Alpha to play the old After the Bomb supplements for TMNT? That's amazing.

[@borusa32]

I have run it off and on for 4 years now. My group really like it but I absolutely agree with the views you express about the metaplot reveal.

[@Maehedrose]

I like MYZ, it's like Fallout in Sweden. Each of the expansions is also cool.

[@taejaskudva2543]

Was John Malkovich in the Mutant Chronicles movie? I didn't remember that. The main star was Thomas Jane, I thought. It's been a while, maybe I'm misremembering.

[@DaveThaumavore]

He was.

[@taejaskudva2543]

@@DaveThaumavore lol, guess I could have just Googled it!

[@WinterIgnatius]

Mechatron I tried to get as a physical copy for over three years and didn't get much help from Free League, so I gave up on the system and the company.

[@scottmckay9049]

Been playing this game over at sanity check gaming for months we really enjoy it!

[@DaveThaumavore]

Nice! Have you seen Zone Wars on Kickstarter?

[@scottmckay9049]

@@DaveThaumavore yeah want to back but gotta wait on payday I really enjoyed Road to Eden as well.

[@michaeledmonds4849]

Even before watching the video, I will say yes (because I am playing in a MYZ game currently :) )

[@LisekTheFox]

Hey

[@geekindica]

One of my favs games. Really awesome.

[@kalleendo7577]

Awesome!

[@marccaron6008]

Great video. Just what I wanted to confirm buying the game! Tx

[@Gopher86]

Looking for an introductory video for your MYZ group? Look no further! I’ve created a video for my local group to prepare them for the setting and the world’s backstory: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKWxg4yin5uCg9k Have fun!

[@_mawburn]

You forgot to mention the video game. It's nothing like the RPG except in theme (Genlab Alpha specifically), but it's amazing too! Also, maybe I missed it if you mentioned it. But they book offers suggestions to use a map of your own neighborhood for the grid crawl. You'll still use the same roll tables and what not, but it adds an extra layer of coolness to it if the Ark is your house or something.

[@DaveThaumavore]

0:28

[@shane7103]

I don't see how its a role playing game, although everyone refers to it as one. For me an RPG has an element of choice. It's a tactical squad based shooter if anything. I've put a few hours in and it's a good game, just don't get the RPG classification

[@shadowweaver1599]

So I played this day one on game pass then I just saw it was on sale on ps5 with the dlc and said yes I will buy it I really enjoyed my time with it it’s a great turn based game and I feel is still a great game.

[@KjetilKverndokken]

It's the second game. But first in English 😉

[@MsGorteck]

When I first saw the trailer for the game, I watched it multiple times and then again the next day, next week... I could not get enough. I started emailing them to see when it was coming out, maybe 2-3times a month; they finally stopped replying. I don't blame them, I WAS annoying. I never saw any of the expansions cause I was a over-the-road truck driver and did not have the time to search the web. (If the wheels aren't turning you ain't making money.) About 2yrs ago I saw Elysium and snatched it up. I wish I would not have, because it is a waste of money. It is just a bunch of neonazis living in a hole until they blow it up. This company seems to me to have no true concept of what it means to be a slave; seriously a playable character class- Slave. HELLO FREE LEAGUE NOBODY WANTS TO BE A SLAVE!! This is not kinky sex. And then there is the tip of the hat to Nazism.... It is really too bad, because MYZ is a awesome game and while you are going to die you have the opportunity to make things better for the rest. The ark can live on and your character had a actual, concrete, hand in it. But they had to make integral to the games to pieces of history that are abhorrent, and you are supposed to play them. MYZ is a awesome game, but to treat something as abhorrent as slavery as a good playable character class is shameful.

[@afBeaver]

Free league did a few games before this, but this was the first one that was published in English. They did a few Swedish-only ones before this 😊