Board Game Mansions of Madness

A super-atmospheric cooperative game based on the universe of H.F. Lovecraft. Unlike the first edition -– semi-cooperative «one against all»» -– the role of the Guardian is now performed by a digital application.

The second edition successfully follows and develops the mechanics of the first edition. Both editions can even be combined if you purchase a special set «Transitional Set», which contains the necessary character cards and monster tokens.

Innovative detective cooperative

The dark alleys and majestic estates of Arkham are full of incomprehensible forces, amazing secrets and terrible monsters. In the rooms of these ancient mansions, insane cultists turn to the Ancients, and monstrous creatures swarm under the full moon on the godforsaken streets. But here are a few brave explorers who dare to open the doors of the estates to stop this madness in Arkham... Will they succeed?

This is a cooperative game in the genre of detective and horror for 1-5 players who play the role of explorers. They will have to investigate mysterious events in the eerie estates of Arkham with mystical secrets, intricate puzzles and monsters from the otherworld. Explorers are waiting for 4 exciting scenarios, varying in length and complexity. Variability is provided by the application, which creates a new map each time and is responsible for unexpected plot twists and all kinds of puzzles.

All players act as one team: they either win or lose together. The main goal of the players is to explore the map of the selected scenario to collect evidence and solve the mystery. In addition, the researchers will fight terrible monsters, interact with non-player characters and solve intricate puzzles. 

Game flow. Researchers phase

Players choose characters with unique abilities and skills - strength, dexterity, observation, knowledge, will and influence. The value of the skill is the number of dice that the researcher rolls when passing the corresponding check. All characters start the game in the same room on the starting tile. 

The game consists of a series of rounds. Each round consists of two phases: the explorer phase and the myth phase. During the explorer phase, players take turns, in a pre-selected order. The active player performs any 2 actions:

• Move. Move their character figure to 1-2 adjacent zones.
• Attack. Attack a monster with their bare hands or with a weapon (considering its range) using the app.
• Search. Study a search token in their zone using the app.
• Research. Study a research token in their zone using the app.
• Interact. Interact with a character or interaction token in your area using the app.
• Exchange. Exchange property with another explorer in your area. Leave or pick up property in your area.

The player also has rare actions such as push, set fire, or steal. He can also barricade himself or extinguish a fire. Some cards or effects allow explorers to perform component actions. Such an action can be described on the component itself or in the effect text.

The player interacts with the game world using the app. He also solves puzzles in the app - a lock, a code, or five-pointers.  A move in a puzzle - is a separate stage of its solution. The types of moves in a puzzle depend on the type of puzzle itself. The player has as many turns as the value of the corresponding skill. After spending the evidence, the investigator gets an additional turn to solve the puzzle.

The investigator can attack a monster that is in the same zone or within range of the weapon. The player chooses a weapon or spell from his arsenal.  After choosing the type of attack, the investigator applies the effect according to the instructions of the application. Often this effect requires a skill check. Using the «+» and «‒» buttons in the monster menu, the investigator notes the wounds inflicted on the monster.

Skill checks

When checking a skill, the investigator rolls as many dice as the value of this skill on the investigator`s card. The total number of successes obtained is called the result of the check. If a modifier is listed next to a skill symbol in the fiction (for example, “‒1”), the investigator rolls more or fewer dice by that modifier. The investigator rolls at least 1 die on any check. 

The investigator can spend 1 evidence point to replace a “magnifying glass” roll with a “success.” After all possible substitutions, the investigator determines the result of the check by summing the “successes.” The consequences of a successful or failed check are determined by the effect that prompted the check.

Myth Phase

The Myth Phase is divided into three stages: the Event Phase, the Monster Phase, and the Horror Phase. During each stage of the Myth Phase, the app creates a series of effects that the investigators must play.

• Event Phase. During the Event Phase, the app describes one or more Mythos events that the investigators must play.
• Monster Phase. During the Monster Phase, the app indicates which monster actions the investigators must play. Monsters can move and attack.
• Horror Phase. During the Horror Phase, each investigator makes a Horror check against one monster within their range.

Victory and Defeat

The conditions for victory depend on the scenario chosen at the beginning of the game, but remain unknown to the investigators for a certain time. Throughout the game, the investigators must solve a mystery to learn their main goal. To do this, they must listen carefully to the scenario prologue and pay attention to all the clues that the investigators receive during their investigation. Once the investigators understand their objective, they will be given a final task. This must be completed to complete the investigation. Completing the investigation means winning the game.

The objective may change or become more difficult during the game. If the investigators` investigation drags on, the game will end before they reach the objective. One of the investigators will read out the epilogue of the scenario. The investigators lose the game.

If an investigator is eliminated, the game ends at the end of the next investigator phase. If the investigation is still not completed at the end of this phase, one of the investigators will click «Investigator is eliminated» in the game menu and read out the epilogue of the scenario. The investigators lose the game.

Some game effects, such as the «Crazy» state, can change the conditions for winning or losing for a particular investigator. The text of this effect will clearly state how that investigator wins or loses the game.