Catacombs Alpha

Catacombs Alpha is based on the award winning dungeon crawl tabletop game, Catacombs Third Edition (abbreviated as "Catacombs 3E"). 

Catacombs Alpha is a unique tabletop fantasy experience where players skilfully flick wooden discs representing heroes and monsters across a neoprene playmat. Trick shots can be performed by ricocheting off obstacle pieces. Ranged shots such as fireballs using their own discs enabling attacks from a distance.

Up to four players control a party of heroes who cooperatively use their special attacks (abilities) to explore the Catacombs, defeat the monsters, and eventually confront the Catacomb Lord.

Players capture gold coins from fallen monsters and then use them to upgrade their heroes by buying items and other services. Heroes can recruit familiars to help them.

The game is designed for quick setup and fast play. As a new starter set, Catacombs Alpha is compatible with all existing Catacombs 3E expansions.

If you missed previous Catacombs 3E campaigns, Catacombs Alpha is the perfect opportunity to try the award winning Catacombs system at a great price.

For returning backers, there is an exclusive expansion version of Catacombs Alpha. This so you don't buy components such as the walls and obstacles that you already own. 

All backers of this campaign receive four exclusive monsters (both "regular" and "S2" variants).

Elzra is a trusted creator on the Kickstarter platform. For this campaign, I am working with the Kickstarter team to help them test a new back-end feature of their platform. This was a feature I personally encouraged them to include on a number of occasions. By supporting this campaign, you're helping to bring this important new feature one step closer to reality for creators. We can't reveal anything further, but we really appreciate your help for this important test.

Two ways to explore the Catacomb using the included Room cards: the guided path for learning the game or by arranging the cards on the 5x5 grid

A party of three or four Heroes (Alpha will support both configurations) choose their route through Level 0, 1, and 2 Battle Rooms

Battle Room difficulty scales from 0 (easiest) to 2 (most challenging)

Special Rooms such as the Merchant and Healer offer upgrades to the heroes

Five heroes are included with Catacombs Alpha. Each have unique attributes (Flying, Heat Resistant, Toxic, etc.)

Ability cards specific to each hero are refreshed between Battle rooms

Purchasable items from merchants, including weapons, magic items, and familiars

A familiar acts as a companion to a hero and offers additional actions

Heroes work as a team with no friendly fire

All combat resolved through dexterity-based disc flicking on a double-sided neoprene playmat. 

Character shots use the hero's own piece, while ranged shots (such as fireballs) use separate projectiles of differing sizes

Multiple shot types: melee, rush, bite, missile (ranged), fireball (ranged), target (ranged), ice boulder (ranged), and more

Shot modifiers add tactical depth (chain, critical, fear, regeneration, stun)

New monsters and boss characters (called "Catacomb Lords") challenge the heroes

Each Catacomb Lord has unique minions, abilities, and mercenary monsters

Catacombs Alpha is compatible with all Catacombs 3E expansions

Catacombs Alpha is a cooperative dexterity-based dungeon crawler where one to four hero players work together against an Overseer player. Heroes must explore the catacomb and fight their way through several Battle rooms by skilfully flicking wooden discs, culminating in a final battle against a Catacomb Lord.

Each hero has their own unique set of actions, abilities, items that help them through the various rooms and encounters. The five heroes from left to right are:

Each hero has a player board that tracks the state of their cards and their health. When a hero's health is reduced to zero, they are downed for the current Battle room. They are restored in the next Battle Room.The Overseer player controls the monsters and the Catacomb Lord, acting as the adversary the heroes aim to defeat.

There is a near limitless combination of rooms to explore. Some rooms have a swarm of monsters that the heroes must fight through to succeed. Others provide unique encounters where the heroes can spend their hard earned gold on new items, healing services, or even gamble to gain every edge they can against the Overseer player.

The actions, or shots, a character may perform are determined by the shot sequences shown on their cards. Each shot involves flicking a disc on the playmat. Some do varying amounts of damage, while others can freeze opponents, scare them off, or teleport allies out of danger, to name a few. There are a variety of shots in the Catacombs System.

Just using a shot doesn't always guarantee its action, however. In order to be effective, players will have to train their dexterity skills and accurately flick wooden discs. Ducking in and out of cover, positioning shots, and banking attacks off obstacles are essential skills to an experienced player.

If the heroes live long enough to reach the Catacomb Lord's Lair, they will meet the final boss. If they manage to defeat it, then the heroes win the game.

This expansion version of Catacombs Alpha requires components from one of:

Catacombs 3E standard version

Catacombs 3E "big box" version

Catacombs 3E "big box" Plus version

Catacombs Fortress of Nazemoor "big box" version

Many players and backers from all over the world have contributed to the Catacombs System over the years. In no particular order I would like to acknowledge the work, ideas, and support of: Dean O. (Australia), Russell W. (USA), Rob D. (Canada), Derrick P. (USA), Ethan D. (USA), Tom Vasel (USA), Ethan H. (USA), Adrian G. (USA), Matt L. (USA), Manus N. (Ireland), Ryan A. (Canada), Marc K. (Canada), Skip M. (Canada), Jean-Baptiste G. (France), Carsten R. (Germany), Lance (Italy), Win P. (Norway), Quint W. (USA), Draconis E. (Italy), Lippo (Germany), Koby B., Josh L., Brian M. (USA), Kolby R. (USA), Ryan H. (USA), Matt (USA), Ryan W. (USA), Christian B. (USA), Mason C. (USA), and Skazz. This is not an exhaustive list - thank you to anyone who helped me that I may have missed!

The shipping rates below are estimates and are subject to change. Shipping will be charged during the Pledge Manager. In addition, UK VAT, EU VAT, and Canadian Sales Taxes will be collected during the Pledge Manager.

Again, these rates are estimates and we will do our best to secure the most economical rates for our backers. If your country is not listed, please contact us for a shipping estimate.

Canada: Orders will be shipped directly from Ontario, Canada.

USA: We dispatch all shipments from within the continental United States.

EU: Your orders are expected to ship from our shipping hub in the Netherlands. 

UK: Your orders are expected to ship from within the UK (handled by either Zatu, Games Quest or Spiral Galaxy). 

Israel: Due to shipping restrictions from our EU hub, orders are expected to be sent via VFI.

South Africa: We expect to process your shipments through VFI for delivery.

Australia and New Zealand: Orders are expected to be dispatched from Aetherworks.

Norway, Switzerland, Serbia: These orders are expected to be dispatched through our European Union shipping shipping hub.

Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and other South American countries: Shipments to these regions are dispatched from Ontario, Canada.

China, Hong Kong: Orders are fulfilled by VFI from their warehouse based in China.

Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and other Asian countries: VFI handles the dispatch of shipments to these destinations.