Guide to Zona - Flip the character board to its character side, placing any
SET-UP
- Place the main board in the middle of the table using the
appropriate side for 1-2p or 3-4p as marked.
- Shuffle the event decks for the green and yellow sectors as
well as the Sarcophagus and place them on the spaces on
the left side of the board.
- Shuffle each of the secret location decks separately and
place them on their designated spaces (for your first game)
as shown in the rulebook or place them randomly.
- Shuffle the lock tokens and place 1 token on the marked
spaces next to each of the secret location event decks,
returning the rest of them to the box.
- Shuffle the secret item cards and make 4 small decks of
cards, each equal to the number of players and return the
rest of them to the box. Place one of these decks on each
of the marked spaces next to each of the secret locations.
- Place the marketplace board next to the main board.
Shuffle the junk item deck (brown gear backs) and the
equipment deck (blue gun backs) separately and place them
on the marked spaces next to the marketplace board. Fill
the empty spots with the cards of the corresponding decks.
- Flip the threat tokens picture side up, then divide them by
symbol and color in the top right corner. Place each of the
4 stacks in their proper slot of the plastic tray and place
near the main board.
- Shuffle the green and yellow artifact decks separately and
place them on the artifact spots at the bottom left of the
board.
- Shuffle the rumor cards (radio tower back) and place them
at the top left of the board near the emission track.
- Place the emission marker on the 0 spot of the emission
track.
- Shuffle the emission deck and place it at the top left of the
game board in its appropriate space near the emission
track.
PLAYER SET-UP
- The player who last went to a roadside picnic or recently
experienced something incredible receives the Voice of
Zona (first player) token.
- Each player is randomly dealt 2 character boards, then
chooses 1 to keep. The chosen board determines the
player’s character.
- On the back of your character board is some starting info:
 Place starting threat tokens as indicated at the
bottom left.
 Take damage tokens as indicated at the top right.
 Gain rubles as indicated at the top right.
 If your reputation starts good (white star) or bad
(black star), take the appropriate reputation token.
 The starting location where your figure will be
placed.
damage tokens on the fortitude track (left side).
- Each player then takes a backpack board, fatigue dial (set
to 1), a player aid card, and the 4 starting item cards with
the picture of their character on the back.
- If the character begins the game with a reputation other
than neutral, place the reputation token on the designated
space.
SCAVENGER DETAILS
Scavengers have 4 attributes – Alertness (eye), Physique
(fist), Smarts (light bulb), and Willpower (brain).
Fortitude is measured on the fortitude track and is a
combination of your character’s physical and mental well-
being.
You suffer damage when your equipment and abilities fail
to protect you. You mark damage by placing a damage
token on the next available space of the fortitude track.
If you would place more damage tokens than you have free
space on the fortitude track, discard any excess damage
tokens and take a weakness token. Place the weakness
token above one of your attributes that does NOT already
have a weakness token. You ONLY take ONE weakness
token regardless of how much extra damage you would
have taken.
Each Scavenger has a unique ability at the bottom of their
character board.
Your fatigue dial tracks your fatigue level.
Your backpack has 5 spaces to hold your equipment cards.
Not all equipment needs to be held in the backpack.
Reputation can either be good (white star), neutral
(black/white star), or bad (black star).
GOAL OF THE GAME
The goal of the game is to reach the sarcophagus of the
Chernobyl Nuclear Plant. Players must acquire 2 secrets
from DIFFERENT secret government locations to gain access
to the sarcophagus.
Players ALL lose if the rumor deck runs out OR if the
Sarcophagus event deck runs out. If a player in the
Sarcophagus area reaches the description of the ending in
the event phase, they win.
MAIN BOARD DESCRIPTION
A location is a space on the board with a border. Locations
are adjacent if they share a border that is NOT impassable.
Green sector locations are the least dangerous, but also
provide the lowest value loot. Yellow sector locations are
more dangerous, but also provide more valuable items.
Red sector locations are the most dangerous.
Bunkers (3-tiered building icon) allow scavengers to refill
equipment, heal damage, and generally stay safe. You can
also trade while camping in a bunker. They provide
complete safety during an emission. Bunkers are NOT
considered to be in ANY sector, so no threat tokens can be
placed or relocated to bunkers.
Secret Locations contain secrets that scavengers must
acquire to access the sarcophagus. Secret locations are
underground and are NOT considered outdoor locations.
Locations adjacent to secret locations are secret entrances.
Sarcophagus is the end location of Zona. To access it, you
must discover 2 secrets, each from a DIFFERENT secret
location. It can ONLY be entered from the Power Plant
location (by performing its action).
Borders are either dotted lines which can be traversed or
solid lines which cannot.
Shortcuts can be traversed at the risk of damage as
indicated by the icon.
Outdoor Locations are referred to as locations that are
exposed to emission. This refers to ALL green, yellow, and
red sector locations. Bunkers, secret locations, and the
sarcophagus are NOT considered outdoors.
COURSE OF PLAY
The game is divided into rounds of 3 phases. In each phase,
players take their turns in order, starting with the player
with the Voice of Zona token. Phases are resolved in the
following order:
1. Action Phase: Each player performs a maximum of
2 actions – move, local action, resolve a threat
encounter, rest, or enter a secret location.
2. Event Phase: In turn order, EACH player draws 1
event card corresponding to the type of location
where their character is located and resolves it.
Not all locations have a dedicated event deck
(Power Plant, Pripyat, Moscow Eye). Players at
those locations skip this phase.
3. Rumor Phase: The Voice of Zona draws 1 rumor
card, reads it aloud, and resolves it. During this
phase, emission may occur.
GAMEPLAY
1 - Action Phase
During this phase, players can perform up to 2 actions on
their turn, beginning with the Voice of Zona and going
clockwise. The phase ends after the last player’s actions.
The actions that can be performed are as follows:
Movement – Move your figure to an adjacent location. If
the new location has AT LEAST 1 threat token, you MUST
resolve an encounter. Passing through shortcuts results in
suffering the damage indicated. You may only move to a
secret location if that location is OPEN.
Performing Local Action – Each location has its own local
action. You may perform this to resolve its effect. Even if
the location has a threat token, you MAY still perform its
action.
Opening a Secret Location – You may spend an action to
fulfill the specified condition on the lock token. Flip the
token over. It is now considered open to EVERYONE. After
opening the secret location, move you figure into one of the
secret location’s free spaces. Additionally, you may
examine that location’s secret items deck and keep one of
the cards.
Searching – Resole a search action to encounter a threat
token present at your location. If there are multiple, you
choose which threat you want to encounter.
Rest – When performing rest, lower your fatigue by 1.
Pass – You may forfeit actions by passing. If your first
action is to pass, you immediately finish your turn without
resolving your second action.
2 – Event Phase
During this phase, players, in turn order, each take 1 event
card corresponding to their sector. After drawing, resolve
the section corresponding to your current location.
Red sector locations and bunkers do NOT have event decks.
Resolve the event by reading the text and performing the
tests of the required attributes, resolve damage or
weakness, make any changes to fatigue or reputation, and
perform the described commands.
Event tests – After performing a test, read and resolve the
part that corresponds to your test result. If you pass, read
the green checked info. If you fail, read the red X info.
Tests will indicate an attribute and a test difficulty number.
Some events will force you to make a choice. You MAY
read the entire card before making a decision. If an effect
says, “You may,” you are allowed to choose to not resolve
the effect.
If you receive damage when resolving an event, you MUST
assign it IMMEDIATELY. Damage types separated by a
comma are assigned SIMULTANEOUSLY. You MAY use any
protective items that you have in order to reduce the
damage.
If the card says “Encounter”, you MUST take a
corresponding token from the threat token tray and resolve
the indicated encounter. If you do NOT defeat the
encounter, the token is placed at your location OR it is
discarded if it would be placed at a secret location.
When drawing threat tokens, you will draw from the
BOTTOM of its stack. When discarding threat tokens, you
will discard them picture side up to the TOP of its stack.
Some events will take your reputation into account. If the
card refers to a particular reputation, resolve the portion
corresponding to your reputation.
Event green/yellow sector event indicates two specific
locations and then a generic location. Resolve the portion
that relates to your scavenger’s location. If the last event is
drawn for a particular deck, shuffle the discards to make a
new deck.
Secret location events have more text than green/yellow
sector events. They also have X and arrow symbols. The X
indicates that you have failed that card. The arrows
indicate moving to the next paragraph.
If you are instructed to read the “You uncover a Secret,”
line, do NOT discard it. Instead, place it under your
character board so that the location and the word “secret”
are visible. ADDITIONALLY, you may search that location’s
secret item deck and keep 1 of the cards, just like you do
when opening a secret location.
If the last event card of a secret location is discarded or
taken, that location has been looted. Any scavenger at a
looted location MUST use their first action to move to a
location adjacent to the secret location. NO ONE may enter
a looted secret location.
Sarcophagus event cards are structured in a similar way to
secret location events. If you are instructed to read the last
paragraph of the card, you are the winner! If the last
Sarcophagus event card is discarded, ALL players lose.
3 – Rumor Phase
The player with the Voice of Zona token draws the top card
of the rumor deck.
Begin by moving the emission marker as many spaces as
there are arrows at the top of the card. If the marker
reaches the last space of the emission track or beyond,
pause this phase by placing the rumor card on top of the
rumor deck and resolve emission. Continue resolving the
rumor after emission.
If the card contains a clock symbol, it is a persistent rumor.
Place it on the temporary effects space next to the rumor
deck. If there is already a persistent rumor there, remove
it. A persistent rumor remains unless removed by another
or removed by emission.
The Voice of Zona will make any decisions related to the
rumor card.
Once the card is resolved, pass the Voice of Zona to the
next player to the left.
Deactivated items are refreshed by removing the damage
token placed on them.
TESTS
In order to pass a test, roll 3 dice, adding the results to your
attribute value being tested.
For every “+” rolled, add 1 to the attribute. For every “-“
rolled, subtract 1 from the attribute. The triangle symbol is
treated as a blank, UNLESS you roll at least 2 triangles. If
you do, you suffer 1 radiation damage.
In order to pass a test, you must obtain a result equal to or
greater than the test value. Otherwise, you fail.
Forcing a Test – After rolling, you can force a test. If you
decide to do so, increase your fatigue by 1 and reroll ONE
die of your choice. You may force ONLY ONCE during a test
and you CANNOT force if your fatigue is 5.
When using item rerolls, forced rolls, etc., you MAY reroll
the same die more than once.
Using Items – Items in your equipment can influence tests.
Those that do are marked with an attribute icon. If you
perform a test of that attribute, you can use the modifier –
either a “+” to add 1 to the result or a “-“ with a line
through it to cancel 1 rolled “-“.
Mark item usage with damage tokens on its durability track.
If you cover the X spot of an item, it is discarded.
Encounter Modifiers – Items with the mutant (claw) or
anomaly (lightning) icons may ONLY be used during an
encounter with a threat of the matching type. They may
ALSO be used during a test in which that ICON (claw or
lightning) is in the description next to the difficulty level.
Items
Small items (pouch symbol in upper right) do NOT take
space in your backpack. They are usually one-time use, but
not always. Place them to the left of your character board.
You can have an UNLIMITED amount of small items.
Gear (body symbol in upper right) can be worn, placed to
the bottom right of your player board. You CANNOT wear 2
items that cover the same body part. There are some items
that cover MORE THAN ONE body part.
When you gain gear, you may IMMEDIATELY place it as
worn, moving other gear to your backpack. You may also
rearrange your gear in the Action Phase, during your turn,
before or after performing an action. These are the ONLY
times gear can be worn.
You MAY drop items at any time, simply discard it to its
discard pile, EXCEPT for secret items. Those are returned to
the box.
Some items and abilities grant a 6th spot in the backpack. If
the item/ability has the backpack icon in its description, you
MAY keep 1 item in the special 6th spot of your character
board. If the item granting the 6th spot is lost, the item in
the 6th spot must be returned to your backpack or an item
must be discarded to make space.
The loss of the 6th spot does NOT allow you to immediately
wear gear! It can only be worn in the aforementioned
cases!
You MAY use items at ANY time during your turn. During
ANOTHER player’s turn, you MAY use items in reaction to
effects that damage you or force you to perform a test.
When resolving a single effect, an item can ONLY be used
ONCE.
Mark item usage with damage tokens on its durability track.
If you cover the X spot of an item, it is discarded.
Consumable items have more than one space and can be
repaired. Durable items can be used multiple times, but
ONLY ONCE PER ROUND. At the end of the Rumor Phase,
damage tokens are removed from DURABLE items.
Game effects may also damage items, placing a damage
token on them. Durable items CANNOT be damaged.
Marketplace
You can perform transactions when camping (described
later) or when resolving some event cards. Items are
available based on reputation. Items in the last column can
only be purchased by good reputation. Items in the 3rd
column can only be purchased by good or neutral
reputation. Items in the first two columns can be
purchased by anyone.
If you buy at least one item on your turn, refill the market at
the END of your turn moving items to the left to fill in
empty spaces. Place new cards from their proper decks in
the empty spaces.
If a reward would command you to take an item, take and
keep the TOP card from the appropriate deck.
Artifacts
These are items as well, but have a negative impact when
used. You can use other items you possess to negate this
impact.
You may NOT use an artifact if its impact would increase
your fatigue beyond its limit, gain you a weakness, or cause
you to discard an item or resource you do not have.
Mutants & Anomalies
When you enter a location with a threat token, you MUST
resolve the encounter. If there is more than 1 threat token,
the VOICE OF ZONA chooses your threat.
If you are moved by a “relocate” effect or start your turn at
a location with a threat, you do NOT automatically resolve
the encounter.
Threat tokens do NOT block local actions. Failing to defeat
an encounter does NOT end your turn.
When encountering a threat token, read its ability. Perform
an alertness test, suffering any damage as indicated. After
the alertness test, you MAY end the encounter and run
away. Place the threat token back on its current location
and continue with the phase that the encounter
interrupted.
If you decide to confront the threat, perform the
confrontation test. If you fail, you suffer the damage
indicated and the encounter ends. Place the threat token
back on its current location and continue with the phase
that the encounter interrupted. If you succeed, you get the
reward.
If the reward shows the bunker symbol with a ruble value,
this can ONLY be sold in a bunker while camping. The other
rewards are green/yellow artifacts or a nonstandard reward
as described in the threat’s ability.
Damage
There are 3 different types of damage – radiation (yellow
rad symbol), mental (blue swirl), and physical (red blood).
Items with protection from this damage will show the type
in a shield. Each protection icon cancels 1 damage of that
type.
Each damage that is not canceled, regardless of type, is
marked on your character’s fortitude track.
When you heal, remove damage tokens from your
character’s fortitude track.
If you suffer more damage than the number of free spots on
your fortitude track, discard all of the excess damage and
take a weakness token, placing it above one of your
attributes. This reduces that attribute by 1. NO attribute
can be weakened more than once.
If you receive a 4th weakness token, you die. If you die,
discard your board and all cards and tokens. You DO have
the option to restart the game. At the end of the rumor
phase, repeat player set-up, but do NOT place starting
threats. If your previous character had discovered 2
secrets, you MAY keep ONE of them for the new character.
Fatigue
Fatigue CANNOT voluntarily be increased beyond its
maximum.
If you need to increase fatigue beyond its maximum by a
game effect, suffer 1 damage for EACH point of fatigue
above your maximum.
If a lock token would require you to increase fatigue beyond
your maximum, you CANNOT open the secret location.
Secret Locations
Each secret location has its own event deck. You CANNOT
enter a secret location if:
 It is locked and you are unable to perform its action.
 All spots are taken.
 You have already uncovered a secret from that
location.
 All of that location’s event cards have been
discarded.
Undefeated threat tokens at a secret location are discarded
at the end of the encounter.
Even if there are no more secret items at a secret location,
its secrets can still be discovered.
Emission
If the emission track reaches the last spot on its track, the
emission is IMMEDIATELY resolved with these steps:
1. Flip the top card of the emission deck so that the
two cards form a diagram.
2. Any scavenger at a location adjacent to a bunker
MAY increase fatigue by 2 (if they can) in order to
relocate to that bunker location.
3. ALL scavengers at OUTDOOR locations suffer
damage types shown by sector color.
4. The rumor token, persistent rumor card, and ALL
threat tokens are discarded from the board. New
threat tokens are placed according to the emission
card diagram.
5. All marketplace items are discarded are replaced
with new ones.
Bunkers & Camping
Each bunker has a local action. You may camp while
performing the bunker action.
When performing a bunker’s local action, you may also:
1. Lower your fatigue by the value of your willpower.
You MAY use items that grant “+” to the willpower
attribute. Each “+” reduces fatigue by an additional
1.
2. You MAY do the following in any order, any number
of times:
a. Pay 200 rubles to heal 1 damage
b. Pay 100 rubles to repair 1 item damage
c. Sell a mutant trophy
d. Sell 1 item, reducing the value of
consumable items by 100 rubles per
damage token on the item
e. Buy 1 item from the marketplace, following
all reputation rules; items bought this turn
CANNOT be sold.