This is not really a tactical game, although it leans in that direction. It suffers from a lack of plain language: instead of distances, it works off 'tiles', Humans go by a different name, and several very common game terms are re-named for no viable reason other than a failed effort to inject some mystery into a rather lackluster offering.

Overall, the game is pretty beige in terms of RPG-ism, with strong aftertastes of skirmish rules, video games, and board gaming thrown in.

This is not a "tactical roleplaying game." It is a wargame that pretends to have RPG elements. I say pretends because those elements are ultimately utterly worthless. All this game cares about is combat, and all the "roleplaying" is just basic downtime activities-made all the more useless by the fact the game outright tells you you're better off skipping those parts and going right from combat to combat!

Zafir as a game is an unique experience within the realm of TTRPGs. Drawing inspiration from XCOM for the basis of the squad emphasized, tactical gun play. The systems put in place in this game are robust and there is a lot of room for cuatomization. I am proud to add Zafir to my rotation of games I will regularly run and play.

Besides the fantastic rules and systems in place, the lore of the world is detailed and fantastic. Each page is bursting with information about every aspect of the world, its people, the gods, NPCs, and governments. There is a huge amount of potential in thid game for published adventures and expansions but the base game on its own is robust. The artwork is also stunning.

Despite the book's massive size, it is really easy to navigate, and there is plently of explanations into every section. This book is a must buy for anyone looking to expand their horizons in tabletop.

This is an absolutely fantastic roleplaying tactics game. I want to review it on two fronts, one technical and one purely personal.

Depending on my mood, I swing between traditional RPG's where the focus is on story telling and not combat, and tactics and wargame style RPG's like the Battletech/MechWarrior rule sets. I tend to appreciate each on separate merits, though some of those overlap.

I would say Zafir tends more towards the latter than the former. It focuses on tactics, battlefield layout, team outfitting, and planning. It gives you the options to move through that battle in many of the ways games like D&D and Pathfinder do, providing you with the freedom to do things like sliding, taking cover, climbing and dropping down. It is a game that lends itself to maps and miniatures, or could likely be played with proxy units, paper and grids, or online via Zoom and other methods. If you're a fan of PC games like XCOM, Battletech (2018), and other similar turn-based tacticals, and you're looking for a tabletop game you'll be into, I cannot recommend this game enough.

The art is fantastic as well. The rules and history are fascinating and combine some of my favorite fantasy world elements into one setting. Technomancy-style factions and equipment. Steampunk stylings. Magic, swords, it has it all weaved into a fantastic backstory that is at once both inspiring and tragic, and reflective of our own in many places. It gives you a huge world to work with.

On a personal note, I am a trans gamer, and it is so wonderful to me to meet a game that on its face, declares that I am welcome as both a gamer AND a character in it. So often I meet game universes where I have to find a way to fit in, or just compromise (moreso a problem with PC games, where rules tend to be more rigid due to programming), but I was only a few pages in when I knew Zafir was going to be right for me. That made my whole week when I saw that.

TRULY Unique

Zafir is, quite simply, a unique game. Many times, when I buy a game, I excitedly think to myself, "I wonder if it'll be a D&D-like or a Powered-by-the-Apocalype-like game!" And I love those games, I'm not here to bash them. But in Zafir, everything from the Zoroastrianism-based magicpunk lore to the highly-strategic mechanics are novel. The world is full of unique races and super interesting societies and religions, and as a fanatical homebrewer, I've NEVER been this excited to utilize exactly what's in the book!!! What's more, gameplay is focused around a story segment and a strategic mission segment. The combat is complex enough to require strategy, but easy enough to pick up. The writing is clear, the illustrations are gorgeous; I simply can't recommend it enough.

Unique is unique; that's fine. But this game doesn't just do something new; it does new well. A beautifully-designed, beautiful-looking game.