WIBAI Games will release the scientific deck building game Pathogenesis in 2017. The game is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter.
Pathogenesis is designed by the husband and wife team of Loren and Jamie Cunningham (Transylvania: Curses & Trators). Jamie Cunningham has a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology and is a full time professor of Biology at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. The game is illustrated by scientific illustrator somersault18:24. The game uses a similar style of center-row deck builders like Star Realms and Ascension with mechanics based 100% on real science.
Players take the role of bacterial pathogens attacking a human host, where they must survive the host’s powerful immune response, adapt to a changing environment, and evolve to take on virulence factors to increase their attack, defense, and other abilities. The goal is to do enough damage to the host before the body becomes immune, in which case all players lose the game.
The box includes 44 pathogen cards, 4 decks of 10 starter cards, 50 trait cards, 12 toxin cards, 34 environment cards, 15 barrier cards, 3 body boards,76 immune system cards, and lots of tokens. The game is for 1 – 4 players, ages 14 and up, and plays in 30 – 60 minutes. Tentative MSRP is $45.00. Backer fulfillment is planned for June 2017, with trade release to follow.The Kickstarter has raised more than $59,000 from over 1,350 backers, with 42 hours to go, as of this writing. The campaign offers retailers and educational institutions special pricing if they contact WIBAI Games during the campaign.