Pandemic: Hot Zone - North America - How To Play

In this video we're going to learn how to play Pandemic: Hot Zone - North America. If you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to post them in the KZbin comments below.
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How to play the original Pandemic: • Pandemic - How To Play
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00:00 - Introduction
00:57 - Game Setup
03:21 - Game Play Overview
04:08 - Action: Drive/Ferry
04:51 - Action: Direct Flight
05:05 - Action: Charter Flight
05:28 - Action: Treat Disease
05:46 - Action: Discover A Cure
07:12 - Action: Share Knowledge
07:52 - Event Cards
08:17 - Hand Limit
08:41 - Role Cards
10:01 - Drawing Cards
10:33 - Epidemics
11:59 - Drawing Infection Cards
12:21 - Outbreaks
14:11 - Winning and Losing Conditions
14:40 - Crisis Cards
15:17 - Conclusion
#watchitplayed #boardgames #tutorial

[@mickeymonson2473]

It's nice you are happy and smiling during your videos. Like you genuinely like games. It makes the videos pleasant. Great work! Thank you.

[@WatchItPlayed]

It helps that I do genuinely like games and teaching them :) Thanks for checking out the video!

[@RumzDizzle]

On our forth try we finally beat Pandemic (the regular version). Love the channel, sub'd now after watching your tutorial on Carcassonne and Pandemic. Lady and I are getting into board games after not playing for many years. Played some Catan in college but that's about it as far as adult board games. Remembering how much fun table top gaming can be and giving the eyes a rest from screens. Thanks!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Nice job beating Pandemic! Now you might need to up the challenge and toss in an extra Epidemic card :) Also, really nice to hear you're enjoying getting back into the hobby - thanks for subscribing, great to have you here.

[@seymourlego1]

I have just bought the europe version and this video tells me all I need to know. The printed Instructions are good but this brings the game to life. Thanks for all the hard work you do and keep it up. 😀😀😀

[@WatchItPlayed]

Guess what? We have a video for Europe as well :) And it explains how to combine two sets together, if you're curious: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXvNmIGmptGfas0

[@correpepor]

This video is the boost I needed to buy it XD Great explanation, as always!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks Pepor! Have a great time playing :)

[@gooddaysgames586]

Looks great! Thanks for the awesome content!!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@rabardy2992]

Great vid, Rodney - and perfect timing: my copy arrives tomorrow! 👍

[@rabardy2992]

Also, if you're familiar with the solo rules for Pandemic: Fall of Rome (using a shared library for storage instead of the Pool Knowledge action), am I right in thinking it'll work with this, too? They seem to work quite well with other Pandemic games, but thought it was worth asking... .

[@WatchItPlayed]

I haven't played the Fall of Rome version, so not sure!

[@rabardy2992]

@@WatchItPlayed Highly recommend you try it if you can: it's a great twist on the conventional game, was one of my Top 5 for last year, and has surpassed all the others as my favourite version so far 👍👍👍

[@MsGinahidesout]

Really excited about this! Thanks

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@marcusgsuniga]

I always wanted to get into a pandemic board game and this seems like the right time. I will be surely trying the print and play with my gf!!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Perfect!

[@edwardzimmerman162]

Brilliant, straightforward explanation. That medic card was confusing me before this.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Glad this was helpful Andre!

[@Dizzula]

Pandemic is my favourite board game of all time. So much so that, as a game designer myself, I have created several of my own expansions for my friends and I to play. One of those expansions includes Disaster cards, which are very much like the new Crisis cards I see here. I might print and play this to see how similar our ideas are!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yeah, check it out and see what you think!

[@BurhanArifMuhammad]

can you share your created expansions? I'd love to see it!

[@birdgang2939]

A lighter version of Pandemic definitely sounds like a great addition to my collection! ...Once a certain world crisis comes to an end. ^^;;

[@BRIANRUCKER84]

Don't worry, it can be solo!

[@kemcolian2001]

@@BRIANRUCKER84 wait fr? niiiiiice.

[@lupitajones7]

Very well explained! 🧪🦠

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thank you kindly!

[@Loutjee92]

Great video! Looks like a very good game! Now that I have seen this video, I really want to buy it! 😃

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks for checking it out Milou!

[@chapelmontoya7232]

Thanks for the vid, just bought this game today, always wanted to play the first one but it seem too long for any of my friends to finish. Glad they made a shorter version of it.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yes, this will certainly play faster!

[@tactiqueludique8754]

Funny how they put an accent in Montréal even if its the english version. Thanks for the vid from Montréal :)

[@LmodianABiene]

I think very nice lighter version of Pademic :) Thank you for this how to play :)

[@WatchItPlayed]

You're very welcome!

[@skipenguins]

Pandemic Legacy Season 1, was the last game our little board gaming group got to play the weekend before all the social distancing and lock down started in the UK. We'd also just got our copy of Legacy Season 2 and was looking forward to doing that the following weekend.

[@WatchItPlayed]

My son and I ended up playing through Pandemic Legacy Season 2, together just as 2 players. I will say, it was much easier to schedule :)

[@skipenguins]

​@@WatchItPlayed I know what you mean. There our only the three of us and that can be a right nightmare to sort out dates. Stay safe and keep up the good work. :)

[@ta_nya5240]

I'm a fan of the original, it's a really challenging, but interactive game. This looks like an interesting variation that's definitely worth trying.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Glad you liked what you saw!

[@japaneseflea]

pretty timely

[@FrankMinogue]

We love pandemic, but when we play, we always play cooperatively, with our cards face up and discuss the player actions, with the active player always having the final call. This looks good for people who may have never played Pandemic before, or for a quicker game of pandemic. But I think I am going to put a no on this for my list. I am looking at some other priorities. Of course, the video was awesome!!

[@WatchItPlayed]

Thanks for giving it a look Frank!

[@FrankMinogue]

@@WatchItPlayed always! I am trying to build up my knowledge so that maybe I can get a job in a game store.

[@Kindlesmith70]

Try before you buy is a great way to market a game. This looks like a slightly modified tiny version of the core game. Cute. We play with our hands revealed to each other so we can engage in discussion over the best course of actions. Naturally the person whose turn it is has the final say. I'm on the belief, if it's true cooperative, then no information should be hidden from your team members. It's also nice to discuss strategy in cooperative games increasing engagement with the game.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yes, it was great of them to offer a print and play version!

[@janerikfries]

Some years ago l was amazed by Lotr lcg and l watched your episodes about it to learn and finally buying it. Since you now have double core boxes and put them in the spotlight l guess you also got hooked, am l right?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Oh yes :)

[@chewnastaloco8382]

You alone are the reason why i buy board games

[@WatchItPlayed]

I hope you are having fun playing them!

[@goldbug371]

Hope they come out with Hot zone Asia (and OZ)

[@Hyacintosss]

super

[@NassachiASMR]

Thank you for the great content~ Me and my roomie want to try some lighter games, and this seems fun. Do you speculate this will be a series like the Ticket to Ride games? We live in Europe and would gladly wait for the EU version (we have the original Pandemic already)~

[@TakedaYuuki-8SFL]

Amen

[@nienke7713]

On ZMan's website it talks about "The Hot Zone Series", so it seems they're planning similar small versions of pandemic in different regions. On www.zmangames.com/en/games/pandemic/ it says: "The Hot Zone Series The 2008 hit cooperative board game returns with an all-new series! Pandemic: Hot Zone is a shorter, more portable version of the original game, and challenges players to work together to cure three diseases that threaten a specific region of the world. Travel around to treat local populations, use your characters' special abilities, and complete research on each of the three diseases to win as a team!"

[@nienke7713]

And this blog post states it even more explicitly: www.zmangames.com/en/news/2020/5/7/hot-zone-series/ "A few discerning folks even inferred correctly that specifying “North America” as the region alluded to this being the first in a series of fun-size Pandemic games. I’m pleased to confirm that their assumption is correct! We intend to make versions of Hot Zone focused on various regions of the world, so stay tuned for more info on future iterations."

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yep, more on the way!

[@randyreynolds107]

Still feels way too similar to the original game to warrant buying it. But I guess if this is your first foray into the Pandemic board game universe, this is a good gateway game to get you excited for the world map, the research stations, legacy, etc.

[@christalbot210]

This was my first thought as well. However, my wife and I like to play a game while we're eating at a restaurant (not recently of course). This version is much more table friendly then the original version and probably plays in less time. Thus, I'm thinking it's a good "restaurant game".

[@WatchItPlayed]

The size will be another positive feature for some.

[@whcmason]

So, as an example, we find the yellow cure. If we draw a yellow city from the infection pile, do we still put a yellow cube on it or just ignore it and count it as one of the two infection cards we have to pull?

[@WatchItPlayed]

The yellow cube is still added to the board, but now it is easier to treat (because you have the cure). You'll find that covered here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZuli4eIpbKSetE

[@ahmedhamza7052]

I understand that an outbreak is caused only out of more than 3 cubes are in the same place from the same color, but it doesn't matter if we put more than 3 disease cubes with more than 1 colour. Is that correct?

[@WatchItPlayed]

If you had 2 blue and 2 black in a space that doesn't cause an outbreak.

[@augustocarulli4898]

Rodney, how many times did you practice the trick with the box? First Try? Chaz Help you?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Why, first time, every time, of course ;)

[@augustocarulli4898]

@@WatchItPlayed Well I am very clumsy so, looking for advice jeje

[@falconwind00]

Rodney has years of experience flipping boxes. Don’t try this at home!

[@kjerstiningemarsengunderse3854]

Hi, I just recently purchased the game and I think it’s a lot of fun. But being new to the game and still very depended on the booklet, I struggle to understand one thing. How is it possible to lose the game to an outbreak when you’ve cured one or maybe even two of the of diseases? Sorry if it’s a silly question :-)

[@WatchItPlayed]

That's a tough one to answer... you'd almost have to see it in action, but outbreaks occur when you get too many cubes on a space of the board, so even if you have cures, new cubes being added might cause outbreaks.

[@Leron...]

I could have sworn the rules for Pandemic allow players to play event cards between the steps of an epidemic (the only caveat was that you couldn't play an event if it would interrupt what happens due to a flipped card). Have the rules changed for this version or am I misremembering them?

[@WatchItPlayed]

In this case, you're misremembering them.

[@rukbat3]

There is one event card in the original game which specifically says you can play it in between the steps of an epidemic. Other than that, I guess you can't.

[@KChiefs4]

so is it only an outbreak if it is 4 of the same color or can it be multi-colored like 2 red 1 yellow and 1 blue?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Right, outbreaks occur when it's cubes of the same color.

[@michaels9508]

I love the game just wish I had two more players.

[@WatchItPlayed]

Hope you find some soon!

[@lynnburke2266]

Does this play well w just 2 players? Its hard to find other pple to game w even bfor covid. I've always been interested in playing but I've heard its difficult to win & it takes a long time..so a more streamlined less lengthy version & cheaper wud be a sure buy

[@WatchItPlayed]

My games have been exclusively 2 player so far :)

[@lynnburke2266]

Oh good to note. Thx. Oh reread my question.. it was referring to ur video pandemic hot zone version vs the original pandemic. Thank you

[@carlosmarquez2725]

@@lynnburke2266 Hot Zone is actually better suited for fewer players: whereas normal Pandemic is better at 3-4 players, 4 players in Hot Zone are only able to take 3-4 turns each before time runs out. Also, given that the number of cities is reduced in half (24 vs 48) 2-3 players are enough to keep the board in control. I've always said 3 players is the best count to play normal Pandemic, and I strongly believe this plays best at 2 players (which is also great for us lonely players who like to two-hand their co-op games), while being too challenging at 4 players. At 3 it's still good.

[@gileswarr1067]

So none of the diseases can be eradicated? You didn't say anything about eradication anywhere in the video.

[@WatchItPlayed]

That's right. There are no eradication rules.

[@glassypress2360]

So is like An traver edition of pandemic?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yes, you could think of it that way too!

[@ahmedhamza7052]

After finding a cure to a certain disease can this disease cause an outbreak? Even if this outbreak can cause the game to end if we move the outbreak marker to the final step?

[@WatchItPlayed]

I shot this long enough ago I don't recall the answer, but if the video doesn't say that cures stop outbreaks, then they don't.

[@nyyellow]

There are only 4 roles in this version?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Correct!

[@lixeed8111]

Привет, я от Казахстана!))

[@davidsobieralski8311]

Is the play time shorter than vanilla pandemic?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Yes, we found it to be. Of course, if you have slower players, that will always be a factor - but assuming that remains the same, this is a more portable, faster playing game.

[@ahmedhamza7052]

If after finding a treat of a disease, an outbreak occurs out of that disease and the market of the outbreak reaches the final step the players lose the game or it doesn't matter because we discovered the cure?

[@WatchItPlayed]

I can't quite follow your question, but this part of the video explains it exactly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZuli4eIpbKSetEfeature=shared&t=855

[@beemex01]

Can't find the Print and Play

[@Dizzula]

Yeah, I can't see it either...

[@WatchItPlayed]

I am seeing it on the link in the description (you may have to scroll down - or it may be that they just added it).

[@beemex01]

Yaay, you are right, they just added the files. Thank you and i am so looking forward to this new, shorter version :)

[@CharlesN88]

Pandemic Lite

[@JackieFox1976]

I'm holding out for a heavier version of pandemic in which every U.N.-recognized country is represented.

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

Just that? I want to see a 7.8 billion player game where some people are against ending the pandemic, breaking social distancing and mask rules and holding massive gatherings.

[@JackieFox1976]

@@ThePeterDislikeShow Touche'!

[@longchampe]

Seems redundant if you already own the original pandemic

[@GatsbyCioffi]

As somebody who has owned the original Pandemic for years and just now bought Hot Spot ($10.50 at Target was irresistible, haha), this is what I've been looking for. A version of Pandemic that is quick to set up, and not overwhelming for new board gamers. Plus, I can stow it way easier! With a few added character cards, I think this is a gold mine.

[@WatchItPlayed]

For some it might seem that way, but as Andrew comments, I think others will enjoy!

[@Tyrogandio]

Can you not eradicate diseases in this game?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Correct, you cannot.

[@oxGAMERPROxo]

Tried it with 4 players... so hard

[@WatchItPlayed]

Saving the world isn't easy!

[@MrMuppetLover]

Is this an expansion to Pandemic?

[@WatchItPlayed]

Nope.

[@MrMuppetLover]

@@WatchItPlayed Really? It's a standalone sequel?

[@jacobstacey6550]

@@MrMuppetLover Yes it is! Its part of their new 'Hotzone' series, which I'm pretty excited about.