Too Many Bones F.A.Q.

Too Many Bones Frequently Asked Questions

What is Too Many Bones?

Too Many Bones is a board game created by Chip Theory Games. It is a cooperative adventure game where players take on the role of unique and customizable characters known as Gearlocs. You and your fellow Gearlocs work together to defeat enemies, complete quests, and level up your characters. With its rich storytelling and innovative gameplay, Too Many Bones offers an immersive gaming experience.

How many players can play Too Many Bones?

Too Many Bones can be played by 1 to 4 players. Whether you prefer to take on the challenges alone or enjoy the camaraderie of playing with friends, Too Many Bones offers a flexible player count to accommodate your gaming preferences. You can even mix and match between playing solo or cooperatively, depending on what suits your gaming style.

How long does a game of Too Many Bones typically last?

The duration of a game of Too Many Bones can vary depending on factors such as the number of players, the complexity of the encounter, and the chosen gearlocs. On average, a game can last anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes. However, with the unique character progression system and the multitude of choices available, each game offers a fresh and engaging experience that will keep you coming back for more.

What sets Too Many Bones apart from other board games?

Too Many Bones stands out from other board games due to its unique combination of strategic gameplay, immersive storytelling, and high-quality components. The game offers a deep and rewarding character progression system, allowing you to customize your gearlocs and experience a sense of growth and development as you play. Additionally, the game’s innovative dice-based combat mechanics and rich world-building create a captivating and engaging experience from start to finish.

Are there expansions or additional content available for Too Many Bones?

Yes! Chip Theory Games has released numerous expansions and additional content for Too Many Bones, providing players with even more options and scenarios to explore. These expansions introduce new gearlocs, adversaries, encounters, and storylines, further expanding the depth and replayability of the game. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran, the expansions offer fresh challenges and opportunities for discovery.

This game is full of little details! Let me answer some common questions that have come up.

Attack and Defense Dice Pool: What’s a dice pool? And what if all my Defense Dice are being used?

Me and my buddies all use the same Attack and Defense Dice (white) that the bad guys use. Sometimes, we might run out of Defense Dice because they’re being used by the bad guys, or they’re in our Backup Plans, or the Gearlocs have them. If one of us runs out of Defense Dice, we can share our Backup Plan Defense Dice and use them as Attack Dice instead.

Attacking: What does it mean to “Attack” (for both the bad guys and Gearlocs)?

When we “Attack,” it means we’re rolling the Attack Dice (white) to hit a target. Rolling Skills doesn’t count as an “Attack,” even if our Skills can do damage.

What does it mean when some Baddie Skills don’t have a “#” symbol?

Well, when you see a Baddie Skill without a “#”, it simply means that it’s in its most basic form. For example, Lashback skill without a “#”” is the same as Lashback 1.

What happens if I have to find a specific Baddie in my Active Stacks?

If you need to encounter a specific Baddie or a certain type, don’t worry. You just need to shuffle your Active Stacks, except for any Baddies you have already scouted. After shuffling, place your scouted Baddies back on top of the stacks so they are ready to go!

How do Break and Corrosive work? And are they different for individuals and groups?

Break and Corrosive are quite interesting. They work differently depending on whether they are affecting an individual or a group of Baddies.

When I use the Skill “Break,” I have to Exhaust an Attack die that caused damage to me. This means that my Attack Stat will be reduced by 1 for the rest of the battle. The Exhausted die serves as a reminder of this. However, things get even more dangerous when I have the Corrosive ability. Whenever I attack with Corrosive, any Defense Dice that are left in the target’s Active slots after applying damage must also be Exhausted. It’s like a double whammy!

Visible Encounter Deck: Can I know what our next Encounter is?

Yes, you can usually see the color and title of the next Encounter. But don’t worry, most Encounters will still be a surprise. However, if you want to be totally surprised, you can cover the deck and keep it hidden.

HP vs Buff HP: What’s the difference?

So here’s the deal: your HP is the number of Health Chips you have. It’s like the health meter for your Gearloc. But listen up! Buff HP is different – it’s not related to your actual HP and goes somewhere else. When you’re in a battle and need to figure out who’s the weakest or strongest, only look at HP. Heals can only affect your HP, not Buff HP, and you can’t go above your Max HP.

But wait, what happens if I get KO’d? Can I still do something?

When you’re KO’d, your Gearloc chip and Initiative Die get moved from the Battle Mat to your Gearloc Prep Area. Any Active, Locked, or Backup Plan dice you had on your mat are cleared – those skills are off the table. Your loot stays with you, but you can’t use it while you’re knocked out. It’s time to sit back and enjoy some popcorn while your friends keep fighting.

Now, let’s say a Baddie has multiple targets. Who’s first in line to get attacked? Is it me or someone else?

Let me tell you about this amazing Baddie. It’s really smart, you see. First, it goes after the weakest target. And then, if there’s a tie, you can choose who it attacks. Isn’t that interesting?

Now, let’s talk about reviving Gearlocs. Do you know how it works?

There are two Revive Skills in the game, both belonging to a character named Patches. One of the skills is called Liquid Life. When a Gearloc has Liquid Life in their Active slot, it prevents them from being knocked out. However, if a Gearloc doesn’t have Liquid Life, Patches can use another skill called the Zappack to bring them back into the battle. The revived Gearloc will come back with a certain amount of HP, which you can find on the back of Patches’ Reference Sheet.

Here’s another question for you. Can a melee unit roll Attack Dice, even if it’s not next to a Baddie?

No, they can’t. Just like Baddies, Gearlocs need to have a target within their attack range to be able to attack. So if a melee unit isn’t adjacent to a Baddie, it can’t roll its attack dice.

Now, let’s talk about trading loot during Lockpicking. Can you trade loot after someone has attempted to pick a lock?

Yes, you got it! Loot trading is something that can happen at any point during your Recovery Phase. It’s like a little surprise that can pop up while you’re in the middle of Lockpicking.

Untargetable Units: Can those sneaky guys still get hurt?

Yep, they sure can! Even though you can’t focus your attention on Untargetable units, they can still feel the pain in other ways. They may be invisible to your sights, but they’re not invincible.