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Koschei the Deathless is a scenario-based adventure board game steeped in Slavic folklore. Each scenario follows a distinct story with specific main and side quests. These scenarios are woven into a single campaign with multiple storylines, though they can also be played as standalone games. While the narrative is one of the most important aspects of this game, scenarios remain replayable even if you already know the story—or at least the parts you’ve managed to uncover so far.
You and the other players take turns interacting with the game environment, fighting your way through the obstacles Koschei has prepared. As you progress, you will gradually improve your deck of cards to support your actions. There are three main types of actions you can take:
- Trigger an event to advance the main story,
- Complete quests to further develop your character,
- Perform a ritual to gain the supernatural world’s support for your endeavor.
The game will be available in three modes: competitive, cooperative, and solo.
Key Aspects
Times are tough. Koschei has exploited the divide between the new Christian faith and the Old Gods to seize the throne for himself. He has been oppressing the people of the Slavic lands ever since. Is this the fate we must bear? Some have tried to challenge him… we will build them fine tombs when Koschei is finally gone—if there is still someone left to remember them.
Slavic folklore is at the heart of this game, making it truly unique. Players can look forward to common Slavic themes such as the power of destiny, the cycle of nature, and the intertwining of the supernatural and the mundane.
Streamlined rules – The complexity of the game does not come from an overwhelming number of options to remember or trackers to monitor but from the depth of strategic choices available within a few basic rules. It will be up to you to discover synergies and small combos that make the difference turn by turn. New features will be introduced gradually as you progress through the campaign, minimizing rule overload at the start.
Continuous deckbuilding is a key aspect of Koschei the Deathless. The game offers each player the opportunity to shape their deck according to their strategy and needs. You can start buying and burning cards from turn one, and this mechanic remains relevant until your final turn. A few twists set it apart from classic deckbuilding games, addressing some of the genre’s usual weak points.
Multiuse cards – In the current version of the game, each card can be used in four different ways: As fuel for movement actions, played from your hand for mana, used for its alignment to complete side quests, and discarded as part of a dedicated action to gain specific resources. There are a few additional potential uses still in testing that may become available in advanced scenarios.
Character alignments won’t follow a simple good-versus-evil axis as you might expect. Instead, they are based on common Slavic themes: order, chaos, nature, and spirits. Players will collect alignment points throughout each scenario and across the full campaign. These points will enhance the effectiveness of actions aligned with your chosen path while limiting the actions of those you neglect.
Resource management – To succeed, you must carefully manage four key resources: Knowledge to obtain new cards, Mana to cast spells and summon your army, Health for yourself and your army, and finally Fame, which determines the size of your army at any given time and also counts as victory points at the end.