One of the aspects of Zone Raiders that we are most excited for is the built-in support for Cooperative Play. Many players enjoy challenging scenarios that are not built around player-on-player competition, and it seemed only right to develop the game with that desire in mind. Today, we’ll look into a preview of the Co-Op Play Module that will be part of the Zone Raiders core rulebook.

Co-Op play is supported in both campaign play as well as individual matches where rival teams may band together against greater threats.

In a Co-Op Scenario, Player Teams face off against deadly opposing forces known as Adversarial Intelligences (AI). AI Forces include the deadly Immunocytes, killer machines that seek to destroy sapient life. They also feature the mysterious Marauders, a militant humanoid sect that worships dark technology. Each force behaves differently and pose unique threats. To take on such daunting foes, Player-lead Raid Teams can combine their forces to send in hand-picked groups to attempt and accomplish daring missions against these stacked odds.

Co-Op Missions can be played as one-off games or as part of a campaign where the results of a mission can have ongoing impact.

Since the AI holds the advantage, Raid Teams must use stealth and timing to achieve their goals. Each mission has guidelines on deployment and specific objectives that must be accomplished, such as collecting high value scrap, eliminating key targets or defending evacuating civilians.

In many missions, Raid Teams begin the game concealed with the AI unaware of their presence and patrolling the map at random as sensor contacts. When Raiders of the Team encounter one of these contacts, the number and type of enemies are revealed and deploy to fight the team. The noise of battle can attract other contacts, so the player team must work together to eliminate their opponents quickly or draw off approaching patrols to accomplish their goals.

Of course Co-Op wouldn’t be as interesting without a system of how AI units behave. Every AI model follows its own brief behavior rules, indicating what actions they take and in what order. Some models may attempt to close recklessly to engage in melee, while others skirt ranges and snipe at a distance. Others have unique powers of command or revel in attempting to sneak up on the players. When attacked, most models take defensive reactions to keep themselves alive or frustrate what the players may attempt to do.

The AI Behavior system is designed to be streamlined while offering a high degree of variation in tactical challenges players must face.

Matrioshka is an unforgiving environment where sometimes even rivals must join forces for survival against the greater danger of the world. Against the Adversarial Intelligences, will you rise up with your fellow Raiders to face the challenges ahead?