Contents
- 1 AuZtralia Game Rules
- 1.1 Game Overview & Objective
- 1.2 Getting Started
- 1.3 HTML: The Foundation
- 1.4 Playing the Game
- 1.5 1. Action: Build Railway
- 1.6 2. Action: Extract
- 1.7 3. Time to Get Some Assistance
- 1.8 4. Action: Acquiring a Military unit
- 1.9 5. Let’s trade: Import/export
- 1.10 6. Action: Farm
- 1.11 7. Action: Attack
- 1.12 8. Action: Get Cubes Back
- 1.13 Fighting it Out
- 1.14 Defending Your Port
- 1.15 Dealing with Multiple Old Ones in Battle
- 1.16 Effectiveness of Units
- 1.17 Unleashing the Power of the Ancient
- 1.18 Wrap-Up Time
AuZtralia Game Rules
Hey there, folks! Today I want to talk to you about the game of AuZtralia and all the important things you need to know. So, let’s dive right in!
First things first, let’s talk about the game setup. You’ll need a game board, some player boards, cards, resources, and tokens. Each player will have their own player board and starting resources. The game board is where all the action happens, with different regions to explore and build your railways.
Now, let’s get into the gameplay. The goal of AuZtralia is to build railways, mine for resources, and defeat the Old Ones. The game is played in rounds, with each round consisting of two phases: the Action Phase and the Resolution Phase.
In the Action Phase, you’ll take turns performing actions. These actions can include exploring new regions, building railways, recruiting military units, and gathering resources. You’ll want to strategically plan out your actions to maximize your efficiency and progress in the game.
Once all players have taken their actions, it’s time for the Resolution Phase. This is where the game really heats up! During this phase, the Old Ones will awaken and start attacking. You’ll need to defend your railways and eliminate any monsters that threaten your progress.
As the game progresses, you’ll need to manage your resources wisely. Resources like coal, wood, and iron are crucial for building railways and recruiting units. You’ll also need to keep an eye on your gold coins, as they’ll be needed to purchase new cards and unlock special abilities.
When it comes to combat, you’ll need to strategically plan your moves. You can use your military units to attack and defend against the monsters. But be careful, as combat can be risky and you might end up losing some of your units.
One of the key features of AuZtralia is the randomized game setup. This means that each game will be different, providing a unique experience every time you play. You’ll need to adapt your strategies to the changing landscape and make the best decisions based on the resources available to you.
Overall, AuZtralia is an exciting game that combines strategy, resource management, and epic battles against the Old Ones. It offers a unique and challenging gameplay experience that will keep you coming back for more. So gather your friends, set up the game board, and get ready for an adventure like no other!
Have fun, and may the best explorer win!
- Double-sided Game Board
- 4 Player Boards
- 4 Port Discs
- 80 Cubes
- 12 Discs
- 80 Railway Tracks
- 84 Farm Tokens
- 25 Military Units
- 57 Old One Disc pieces
- 157 Resource Tokens
- 121 Cards
- 20 Survey Tiles
- 1 Player Aid
- 17 Victory Point Tokens
- 13 Sanity Tokens
- 1 Combat Marker
- 1 Combat Token
Game Overview & Objective
Hey there! Welcome to AuZtralia, a game filled with adventure, strategy, and economic exploration. Whether you’re playing alone or with a group of friends, you’re in for a thrilling experience. Picture this: you find yourself on the coast of Australia, ready to embark on a journey like no other.
Your first task is to establish a port at the coast, acting as your home base. From there, the real adventure begins. You’ll need to construct railways that stretch deep into the heart of the continent. These railways will connect you to valuable resources and provide a route for establishing farms.
But wait, there’s more! You’ll also have a Player Board that represents the resources and military units available at your port. Keep a close eye on your resources and strategize accordingly. The decisions you make will shape the course of your adventure.
When I’m playing the game, everything I do takes time. I become the active player when my disc is the lowest one on the Time Track. At that point, I can take one of my cubes from my HQ and put it in one of the Action Boxes on my Player Board. Then, I get to perform the action that corresponds to the chosen box.
Every action has a Time Point cost, which determines how far my disc will move along the Time Track. Once a cube is in an Action Box, I can perform the same action again, but it will cost me more Gold to do so. Eventually, I’ll have to spend a Time Point to retrieve all of my cubes from my Action Boxes.
Australia is a huge country, and railways are incredibly important for many things. They help with mining, establishing farms, and even allow my military units to attack the Old Ones. If I want to build railways, I’ll need coal and iron, which I can get by mining or importing.
When you start your farms, you’ll be rewarded with Gold and victory points. But watch out for the Old Ones—they can blight your farms. Gold comes in handy for purchasing military units and repeating actions.
As the game progresses, you’ll need military units to uncover the horrifying creatures hiding in the Outback. It’s a good idea to have a variety of units to make your attacks more effective. Keep in mind that military units can only operate within a certain distance from your railway network.
There are important characters who possess skills, abilities, and resources that can help you achieve your goals.
Sometimes, players must join forces to defeat the most dangerous Old Ones, launching multiple attacks over time.
Hey there! So, here’s the deal: at some point, the Old Ones will wake up and join the game. They become just like any other player, with a disc on the Time Track, making their moves and showing themselves. The tricky part is that the Old Ones always move towards the closest settlement, whether it’s a farm or a port.
If they reach a farm, they’ll ruin the land with their blight. And if they make it to your port and you can’t defeat them, well, that’s game over for you, my friend.
To win the game (and impress everyone), you need to score victory points. You can get these by establishing farms, defeating the Old Ones, and having certain personalities on your side. Cool, right?
But here’s the twist: the Old Ones can also score points. It all depends on how many of them are left at the end of the game and how many farms they’ve blighted. Yep, they might just come out on top and win the whole thing!
Player Board
The Board
I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of a board. It represents a group of individuals who come together to make decisions and steer an organization in the right direction. It’s fascinating to think about all the different perspectives and expertise that can be found within a board.
When you think about it, a board is like a puzzle. Each member brings their own unique piece to the table, and together they create a complete picture. It’s important to have a diverse range of voices and backgrounds represented on a board to ensure that all perspectives are taken into account.
But being on a board is no easy task. It requires a great deal of responsibility and commitment. The decisions made by a board can have a profound impact on an organization and its stakeholders. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the right individuals for the job.
So, what makes a great board member? Well, first and foremost, they should have a deep understanding of the organization and its goals. They need to be able to think critically and make informed decisions. Additionally, they should possess strong leadership skills and the ability to work well with others.
But it’s not enough to simply have the right qualifications. A great board member must also have a genuine passion for the organization’s mission. They should be willing to go above and beyond to help the organization succeed.
Another important trait of a great board member is the ability to communicate effectively. They should be able to clearly articulate their thoughts and ideas, and they should be willing to listen to others. Communication is key when it comes to building consensus and making sound decisions.
Finally, a great board member is someone who is willing to take on the challenges that come with the position. They should be able to handle difficult situations with grace and professionalism. They should be able to navigate complex issues and offer thoughtful solutions.
In conclusion, being on a board is both a privilege and a responsibility. It’s an opportunity to make a real difference and help an organization thrive. By choosing the right individuals and fostering a culture of collaboration and open communication, a board can truly elevate an organization to new heights.
Getting Started
So, you’re ready to dive into the exciting world of web development? Great! Let’s start by setting up your environment.
First, make sure you have a text editor installed on your computer. This will be your trusty tool for creating and editing your web pages. There are many options to choose from, such as Sublime Text, Notepad++, or Visual Studio Code. Pick the one that suits you best.
Next, you’ll need a web browser to test and preview your web pages. You probably already have one installed, like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. If not, go ahead and download one now.
Now that you have your text editor and web browser ready, it’s time to set up a local development server. This will allow you to run your web pages on your own computer before deploying them to a live web server. There are various ways to set up a local development server, but a popular option is to use XAMPP.
Note: Setting up a local development server may seem a bit daunting at first, but don’t worry – it gets easier with practice. Just follow the installation instructions provided by the server you choose, and you’ll be up and running in no time.
Once you have your local development server set up, you’re ready to start writing some code! But before you do, let’s quickly go over the basic building blocks of a web page.
HTML: The Foundation
To create a web page, you’ll be using a language called HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). HTML is the backbone of every web page on the internet. It allows you to structure and organize your content using different elements, or tags.
Each tag serves a specific purpose and tells the web browser how to display the content enclosed within it. For example, the <h1> tag is used to create a top-level heading, while the <p> tag is used for paragraphs of text.
Let’s say we wanted to create a simple web page with a heading and a paragraph. Here’s how it would look in HTML:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Web Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to my website!</h1>
<p>This is my first web page. I’m so excited to learn HTML!</p>
</body>
</html>
In the example above, we begin with the <!DOCTYPE html> declaration, which tells the browser that we’re using HTML5. This should be the first line of every HTML document.
The <html> element serves as the root element of the document. It contains two main sections: the <head> and the <body>.
The <head> section is used to define metadata about the document, such as the page title and any external stylesheets or scripts. In our example, we’re simply setting the page title to “My First Web Page” using the <title> tag.
The <body> section is where the actual content of the web page goes. This is where we put our headings, paragraphs, images, and other elements. In our example, we have an <h1> heading and a <p> paragraph.
By learning HTML tags and how they work together, you’ll be able to create a vast array of web pages with different layouts and functionalities. It’s like speaking the language of the web!
So, are you ready to start building your own web pages? Let’s do this! In the next lessons, we’ll dive deeper into HTML and explore more advanced topics. But for now, take a moment to celebrate your progress. You’re on your way to becoming a web developer extraordinaire! Have fun!
- I’m going to show you how to set up the Eastern map on the board. It’s really simple, so don’t worry. First, choose the Eastern map option. Check out the image above for reference. Next, pick a color and grab the corresponding set of pieces. You’ll need seven of each type of Farm – Sheep, Cattle, and Corn. You’ll also need twenty Railway tiles, twenty cubes, three discs, one Port marker, and your Player Board. Place your Player Board in front of you so that the ‘Eastern Barracks’ side is showing. Put your cubes in the HQ box. Keep the rest of your pieces next to your Player Board for now.
- Now it’s time to set up the supply of resources. Grab the resources and place them beside the board. There are four types of resources:
When you begin playing the game, you’ll have a starting inventory of two Coal, two Iron, and four Gold. These resources will be placed in your Warehouse. Additionally, you’ll start with three Sanity markers on your Player Board.
The next step is to set aside the eight Old One ties that have an X or XX on the front. These ties are unique and special. After setting them aside, the remaining ties are divided into stacks based on their level – one, two, and three. Each stack is then shuffled and placed face down beside the game board.
If you’re ready to get started, here’s what you need to do:
- Grab the twenty Survey tiles and shuffle them face down.
- Take one tile and place it in each hex marked with a Survey triangle. There are thirteen such hexes in total.
- Flip all the tiles face up, making sure that the arrow on each tile points toward the top of the board.
Now it’s time to place the resources and Old One tiles. Follow these steps:
- Refer to the indicated spots on the board and place the resources and Old One tiles accordingly.
- Make sure that the level of each Old One tile matches the level specified on the map. Place the Old One tiles face down.
- Remember, resources should never be placed in COASTAL hexes, and Old Ones should never be placed in HILL or COASTAL hexes.
- In some cases, there will be an overlap, meaning more than one type of resource can be placed in a hex. Similarly, resources can be placed in a hex that already has an Old One tile.
- If there is already an Old One tile in a hex where another one is due to be placed, remove the existing tile and replace it with a tile of the next level up. For example, if a level one tile is supposed to be placed in a hex that already has a level one tile, replace the existing tile with a level two tile. Level three tiles do not get upgraded; one of the tiles is simply not placed. If you run out of tiles of a certain level, use one of the next level up.
- After placing all the surrounding resources and Old Ones, remove each Survey tile from the board.
- Continue these steps until all the Survey tiles have been removed.
First, let’s get the Revelation cards ready. We have three decks: ‘1’, ‘2’, and ‘3’. I’ll shuffle the ‘3’ deck and draw five cards, placing them face down in a stack. Then, I’ll shuffle the ‘2’ deck and draw five cards, placing them on top of the ‘3’ cards. Finally, I’ll repeat the process with the ‘1’ cards, so we end up with a deck of fifteen cards, with ‘1s’ on top and ‘3s’ on the bottom. We’ll put the unused cards back in the box without looking at them.- Now, let’s move on to the Personality cards. I’ll shuffle them and draw the top five cards to form a display. The order in which we draw the cards matters. We want them to form a line going from left to right, with the right-hand side being the end of the line. We’ll place the remaining cards as a draw deck to the left of the display.
Let’s get started on setting up the game board! Here’s what you need to do:
1. Take the Old One cards and give them a good shuffle. Keep them beside the board for now.
2. Find the Old One’s purple disc and place it on space number 22 of the Time Track.
3. Make sure to stack the Military Units in their corresponding boxes on the board.
4. Keep all the other game components nearby for easy access.
5. Now, it’s time to determine who goes first. Randomly pick a player. They will place one of their discs on the Time Track, in the correct space based on the number of players. Make sure to stack the discs in the order of play, with the first player on top and the last player at the bottom. Remember, the game will proceed clockwise from the first player.
Now that you’ve set up the game board, it’s time to dive into the mysteries that await us! Have fun and may the best investigator win!
First, let’s go backward in player order, going from the last player counterclockwise to the first player. Each player has to pick a Coastal hex with the Port symbol and place their Port disc there. 
Playing the Game
The player whose disc is in the smallest numbered position on the Time Track gets to go first. If there are multiple discs in one space, the player with the highest disc in the stack gets to go first.
For example: I am the active player. Once I pass Green, Green will become the active player.
When I am the active player, I choose one of my cubes from my HQ and place it in an Action Box of my choice on my Player Board. Then, I perform the corresponding action.
Every action has a Time Point cost. I move my disc along the Time Track the number of spaces indicated by the action’s cost. If my disc ends up in a space with other discs, I place my disc on top.
Example: Imagine you’re playing a game with a red cube. You decide to move your red cube to the ‘Build Railway’ action. This action requires two Time Points. If you want to do this action again, you can either spend one Gold or use a Time Point to retrieve your cubes.
Available Actions
- Build Railway
- Mine
- Recruit Help
- Buy Military Unit
- Import/Export
- Farm
- Attack
- Retrieve Cubes
1. Action: Build Railway
Hey there! I’ve got some important information for you. Let’s talk about building tracks in this game.
There are two boxes you can use for this action. The first box costs two Time Points and lets you build a track in Coastal and Outback hexes.
The second box allows you to build in all three types of terrain. So, if you need to build your track in Hills, it will cost you three Time Points.
- Here’s what you need to do: spend one Coal and one Iron, and return them to the supply. Doing this will allow you to place TWO of your Railway tracks.
- Your first piece of track should connect to your Port. After that, your tracks have to connect to other tracks of your color or your Port. This means your rail network must be one big connected network.
When you build a track, make sure it crosses the border of two hexes. This will connect those two hexes together with Railway.
Imagine this: you’re building a train track that connects your harbor to a rich iron deposit.
Here are the things to keep in mind:
- You can only have one train track connecting two hex sides.
- Multiple players can have train tracks leading into the same hex.
- You cannot build a train track in a hex with an Old One tile, no matter if it’s face up or face down.
- To expand your train network, you must be able to trace a path from your port to your existing network, without encountering any Old Ones.
- Once you place a train track, you can’t remove it.
2. Action: Extract
When you have a Railway connection to a hex, you can collect all the resources of one kind from that hex and store them in your Warehouse. However, there’s a catch – your Railway line from your Port to the hex must not be blocked by Old Ones. It’s essential to keep it clear!
- If the hex contains two different types of resources, you get to choose which type you want to collect.
- If you decide to mine Phosphate, you also receive one Gold from the supply. Remember, the Phosphate is valuable for end-game scoring, as it’s worth 3 Victory Points.
Here’s an example: Let’s say Red has the option to mine either three Iron or three Gold.
3. Time to Get Some Assistance
Now that I’ve realized how important it is to continuously grow my business, I need to figure out how to attract more customers. This task can be quite overwhelming, but fortunately, I don’t have to do it alone.
Recruiting help is a game-changer when it comes to expanding my customer base. Having a team of skilled individuals to support me enables me to reach new heights and connect with a broader audience. Plus, it’s always more fun to work as a team and share the successes along the way.
The first step in recruiting help is identifying the specific areas where I need assistance. Perhaps I struggle with social media marketing or finding leads. By pinpointing these areas, I can determine what kind of help I need and who I should bring on board.
Once I know what I’m looking for, the next step is finding the right people. I can start by asking my network for recommendations. Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool, and chances are someone in my network knows a talented individual who can fill the gaps in my expertise.
Additionally, I can advertise the position and attract candidates using online job boards or professional networking sites. This allows me to reach a wider audience and find individuals who are genuinely interested in joining my team for the long haul.
During the selection process, it’s important to not only focus on skills and qualifications but also assess whether a potential candidate shares my vision and values. Building a cohesive team requires individuals who are aligned with the mission of my business and are willing to put in the effort to achieve our shared goals.
Once I have recruited the right people, it’s crucial to provide clear guidelines and expectations to ensure everyone is on the same page. Regular communication and feedback are also essential for maintaining a strong and productive team.
Recruiting help may seem like a challenging task, but with a clear plan and determination, I can assemble a team that will help me grow my business and attract more customers. Together, we’ll navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and achieve success.
When you play the game, you get to choose one Personality card from the options available. It’s a chance to discover who you are and what role you’ll play in the game.
Once you’ve made your choice, the remaining cards in the display shift to the right, filling the empty space. A new card is then drawn and placed to the left of the line.
If you’re feeling lucky, you can also spend 1 Gold to take two cards from the draw pile. You get to look at both, pick one to keep, and put the other one back face down on top of the deck. If you want, you can then swap the card you chose with one from the display.
There’s no limit to how many Personality cards you can collect, and you can play as many as you want on your turn. So go ahead and build your character!
4. Action: Acquiring a Military unit
A box on your Expeditionary Force and the main board shows the cost of each Military Unit.
You pay this cost with Gold.
- Take the Military Unit and put it in your Barracks.
- You can only buy one Unit at a time. However, if you choose to buy Infantry, you can purchase either one or two units for one Gold per unit.
Remember, there are only a limited number of Military Units available.
Example: I can buy An Artillery Unit for five Gold. It can shoot at a distance of 1 and cause 2 points of damage.
5. Let’s trade: Import/export
Hey there! Let’s dive into this exciting topic and talk about what you can do to make things happen. When it comes to managing your resources, you have a couple of options. Let’s take a closer look:
- Import – This means you can take either a Coal or an Iron from the supply and add it to your Warehouse. It’s like bringing in something valuable to help you out.
- Export – On the other hand, you can choose to take a Coal or an Iron from your Warehouse and put it back into the supply. But it doesn’t stop there! You also get to grab a shiny Gold from the supply and add it to your Warehouse. It’s like give and take, with an extra bonus!
6. Action: Farm
When it comes to the world of Farm tiles, there are three types to choose from: Corn, Sheep, and Cattle. I’ll let you in on a little secret – you can only place one of each type in a single action. So, the ultimate maximum you can place at once is three Farms, and each one has to be different. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Now, here are a few things you should know about placing these Farms:
- First and foremost, Farms must be placed in a hex that matches their specific type. In other words, Sheep can only be placed in Outback hexes. It’s all about finding the perfect environment for each type of farm. Nature knows best!
- Naturally, you’ll have to connect your Farms to your rail network, so choose the hexes wisely.
- A little heads up – the hex you choose for your Farm must be empty, which means no other pieces can be there besides Railway tracks. Sadly, no farms on resource-filled hexes, near Ports, or next to other Farms or Old Ones.
- One last thing: make sure there’s a clear path along your rail network, free of those pesky Old Ones, between your Farm and your Port. It’s like a secret handshake between your farm and the world!
When it comes to playing the game, one important thing to consider is the Time Point cost. The Time Point cost is determined by the number of Farms you decide to place on the board. So, for every Farm you place, you will need to spend a certain amount of Time Points. It’s like a currency in the game, and you earn it by selling the food that your Farms produce.
Now, let’s talk about the cost in more detail. Each Farm you place will require you to take one Gold from the supply. This is the money you earn when you sell the food that your Farms produce. So, in order to place a Farm, you need to have enough Gold in your possession. And remember, the number of Farm tiles you have is the maximum number of Farms you can place on the board. Once you place a Farm, you cannot remove it.
So, when deciding how many Farms to place, think carefully about the Time Point cost and the Gold required. Make sure you have enough resources before placing a Farm, as it can impact your overall strategy in the game. And if you want to earn more Gold and increase your chances of victory, consider placing more Farms. It’s a strategic decision that can help you in the long run.
Let me give you an example: you have three hexes where you can put Farms. There are two Hills hexes and one Outback hex.
But you can’t place a Farm in your Port hex or the one that has Iron. So, what you can do is place one Cattle Farm and one Sheep Farm. As a result, you get two Gold from the supply.
7. Action: Attack
Alright, let’s break down this action into simple steps. First, you need to choose which Military Units you want to send out for your Expeditionary Force.
From your Barracks, you can pick some or all of the units and place them in the corresponding unit spaces on your Player Board.
If you have multiple units of the same type, just stack them together.
Once you’ve assembled your force, it’s time to choose a hex to attack. Look for a hex with an Old One tile, whether it’s face up or face down. But remember, you can only attack hexes that are within your Expeditionary Force’s range. The range is determined by the unit with the lowest off-rail range in your force:
- If you have Infantry or Artillery units, their off-rail range is just one hex.
- Armoured Cars can reach up to two hexes away.
- Airships have an impressive off-rail range of four hexes!
- Armored Trains cannot travel off the rails. This means they can only be used to attack hexes that are on your rail network.
You can attack any hex that is within this distance from your rail network or your Port.
Basically, your force starts by moving along your rail network and then extends its reach across the country.
If you’re attacking with just airships, you can move through hexes occupied by Old Ones, but you cannot traverse an Old One hex to attack one that is further away.
Let’s say you want to move all four units. That would require two Time Points: Infantry and Armoured Cars.
The Airship doesn’t increase the Time Point cost.
First, you announce the hex you’re attacking and use the combat marker to mark it. If there’s a face-down Old One tile in that hex, it is revealed.
If there’s an Old One in a hex on your rail network, you can still attack it. However, you can only use parts of your rail network that aren’t blocked by Old Ones. Basically, you need a clear path from your Port to the hex where you want to ‘jump-off’.
The Time Point cost for this action depends on the units in your Expeditionary Force.
Only Infantry, Armoured Cars, and Artillery count towards this cost. These three types of units are located in the top row of your Expeditionary Force.
Let me break down how the Time Point cost is calculated:
- The Time Point cost is equal to the number of different unit types in your force. For example, if your force consists of Infantry and Armoured Cars, the Time Point cost would be two. This means that the maximum cost would be three Time Points.
- Armored Trains and Airships do not add to the Time Point cost of attacking. However, you will always have to pay a minimum cost of one Time Point.
- It’s important to note that the number of units of each type you move does not affect the cost of movement. This means that you can move as many Infantry units as you want, and the cost will always be one Time Point.
If you want to learn more about how attacks are resolved, you can find detailed information under the section titled ‘Resolving Combat’.
Did you know that your Military Units aren’t actually placed on the board? Instead, they go from your Barracks to your Expeditionary Force area, and then they return once combat is over.
8. Action: Get Cubes Back
Hey there! It’s time to move all of your cubes from the Action boxes on your Player Board back to your HQ. That includes the one you used for this action.
If you don’t have any cubes left in your HQ, no worries! You can get them all back, but it’ll cost you two Time Points.
Fighting it Out
When you attack a hex or if one or more Old Ones move onto your Port hex, that’s when combat happens. The way combat is handled differs a bit depending on the situation, but let me explain it all to you below.
- Checking if I’m still sane
- Revealing ancient cards
- Deciding when or if I should retreat
Every time a battle begins, it’s important for me to have three Sanity tokens next to my Expeditionary Force.
If I choose to attack a hex that hides a facedown Old One, I can decide to turn it face up and step back (look up Withdrawal for more information). If I choose not to retreat, I have to engage in combat.
Now, let’s flip over the top Old One card from the deck. This card will let us know if any damage is dealt to my force or the target I’m attacking.
First off, let’s find the Old One you’re up against. They’re in the middle column. Look to the left for symbols that match your units. For each symbol that matches, your Expeditionary Force will deal one damage to the Old One.
Remember, it doesn’t matter how many units you have of that type – just having one is enough to inflict damage. Having more just means you can soak up more damage.
Once you’ve dealt damage to an Old One, take the same number of colored cubes from your HQ and place them on the Old One’s tile. If the Old One has a Damage Capacity of six or more, you can put your cubes on the matching space on the Major Old Ones display.
If you need to, you can swap five cubes for a disc. Each disc represents five points of damage.
Example: The Big Bad Monsters Showdown. I’ve hit the Shoggoth with two damaging attacks, while you’ve managed to deal three. To take it down, we just need to land three more blows. Let’s finish this!
When you fight against the Old One, the symbol next to it shows how much damage your force received. If you see a purple cube, you need to put one on one of your unit stacks in your Expeditionary Force.
Just remember, you can’t put the purple cube on an airship. You get to decide which stack to place it on. If the number of cubes on a stack is the same as the unit’s Damage Capacity, then the top unit in that stack is taken out.
That unit should be removed from your Force and put back with your supply of Military Units. The cubes on the unit go back to the supply as well.
It’s important to know that you can’t split the damage among units of the same type. So, if you have two Infantry units, once they have both received two damage, one of them will be eliminated.
If you see an Airship symbol, it means your Airships will take damage. But don’t worry if you don’t have any Airships – you can ignore this result.
A Sanity symbol requires you to remove one of your Sanity tokens from your Board. If you don’t have any Sanity tokens left, you’ll be defeated. Check out the Defeat rules below for more information.
All the results on an Old One card happen at the same time.
After dealing with the effect of the Old One card, it’s time to see if you destroyed the Old One(s) or if you were defeated. If neither of those things happened, you have the option to withdraw. If the fight isn’t over yet, you draw the next Old One card. If you’ve run out of Old One cards, shuffle the discard pile and start fresh.
Combat goes on until:
- You Destroy the Old One(s),
- If you choose to Withdraw (leaving no units in combat), OR
- If you are Defeated
Afterwards, you should proceed to the End of Combat Resolution.
Destroying the Old Ones
An Old One is eliminated if the amount of damage it receives is equal to or greater than its Damage Capacity, as shown in the grey shield.
If you are the only player who caused damage to the Old One, you get to keep the Old One tile. It might earn you Victory Points at the conclusion of the game.
If more than one person hurt the Old One, we divide the Victory Point value of the tile equally among those players. Each of us gets that many Victory Points in token form. If there’s a remainder, it goes to the person who caused the most damage. If there’s a tie, we try to split the remainder evenly. If that’s not possible, nobody gets it.
All our cubes go back to our base when the Old Ones on the hex are all destroyed. That’s when the fight is over.
Time to Back Out
Before drawing a new Old One card, we can choose to take some of our troops back. We can either bring all of our Airships back or every unit that’s not an Airship.
- Take back all your Airships
- Take back all your non-Airship units, OR
When engaging in combat, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First and foremost, you need to choose the right units for the job. This decision is crucial because it can determine your success or failure.
Once you have selected your units, you will enter the heat of battle. It is at this point that you must carefully consider your actions and react accordingly. Remember, the outcome of the combat can have a significant impact on the overall game.
In order to emerge victorious from the clash, you must defeat the Old One card. This can be achieved in several ways, such as reducing the Old One’s hit points to zero or fulfilling specific victory conditions. Make sure to read the card and understand the requirements for triumph.
On the other hand, if things don’t go your way and you are defeated, it is important to be prepared for the consequences. In this situation, you will lose all of your units in the Expeditionary Force that have sustained damage. These units will be removed from the game. However, any undamaged units will be spared and returned to your Barracks.
It’s worth noting that if you withdraw any units from combat, they will also be returned to your Barracks, regardless of their condition. And if all your units are withdrawn, the combat will come to an end.
Ultimately, the end of combat resolution is critical. If you were defeated, all units with damage cubes will be destroyed. Their journey ends here, as they are sent to the supply. The surviving units, however, will be allowed to regroup and return to your Barracks for future battles.
Alright, here’s what we’ll do. First off, we need to remove all Damage cubes. That means we won’t be destroying any of the units, just fixing them up a bit. All of our units will go back to our Barracks for some much-needed healing.
But here’s the tricky part. If any of those Old Ones managed to survive the battle, any damage we did to them will stay. It’s like a reminder of our victory. Now, Zombies are a bit different. Any damage we did to them will be wiped away, and they’ll be sent back to our HQ.
And that’s it, my friend. We’re done with our action for now. It’s time to regroup and plan our next move.
Let’s See an Example
Imagine this scenario: we come face-to-face with a fearsome Zombie. Do we run away? No way! We’re tough, and we’re staying put to fight. We’re not backing down.
- First, I draw a card that causes one damage to me. I put the damage on my Infantry, and I also lose one Sanity. But I stay and fight.
- The next card has the same result, so I put the damaged cube on my Armoured Car.
- With the third card, my Infantry inflicts one damage on the Zombie.
- The fourth card eliminates the Zombie but also inflicts another damage on me. I have to allocate it to my Infantry, resulting in the loss of one Infantry unit. I can’t put the damage on my Airship.
End of Combat. I lose the top Infantry tile due to the two Damage. I take the Zombie tile and put my Armoured Car and Airship back in the Barracks, removing the Damage cube from the Car at the same time.
Defending Your Port
If the Old Ones attack my Port, which means they move onto my Port tile, we have to fight. All the units in my Barracks have to join my Expeditionary Force and fight back.
- This doesn’t use up any Time Points.
- I can’t choose to run away.
- If, after the fighting is over, there are still Old Ones on my Port tile, I lose my Port and the game ends right away. We’ll tally up points then.
Remember: if I wipe out all the Old Ones, but I’m still Defeated, I’ll still lose some units because of the damage, BUT I won’t lose my Port. The game will keep going.
If two Ports are attacked at the same time, we deal with them one by one in the order the players go in.
Dealing with Multiple Old Ones in Battle
When you send out an expedition to attack a hex that contains more than one Old One, you have to fight all of them. You don’t get to choose to fight just one.
You have to use the same Old One card to resolve combat for each Old One, even if they’re the same type. Each Old One is handled as a separate combat, and these combats are happening at the same time.
If there are two or more Old Ones of the same type, any damage you cause will affect each of them. For example, if you’re fighting two Zombies and you cause one damage, one cube will be placed on each Zombie tile.
On the flip side, whenever the Old Ones cause harm, it’s magnified based on the number of that particular type of Old One present. For example, if two Zombies inflict one damage, it would actually double to two damage, which you can then distribute as you see fit among your own forces. This also means that any loss of Sanity will be multiplied by the number of Old Ones of that type.
Effectiveness of Units
The Old One cards are designed to demonstrate how effective Military Units are against different targets. There are a few guidelines that can help you determine which units to send against each type of Old One:
- Infantry and Armoured Cars fare well against Zombies and Mi-go, but aren’t as effective against Shoggoths and Cthulhu.
- Infantry and Artillery are a good match for Temples.
- Artillery and Armoured Trains are well-suited to taking on Cthulhu and Shoggoths.
In this book, you’re going to learn about different units and their strengths and weaknesses in the game. It’s important to understand these factors so you can make informed decisions when playing. Let’s dive in!
First, let’s talk about airships. They have some vulnerabilities, particularly when it comes to Mi-go. Airships are not very effective against Zombies either. This means that if you’re facing Mi-go or Zombies, you may want to think twice before using airships.
Next up, we have the Loyalists. They fight in a very traditional way, so all unit types are good against them. This is good news because it means you have a lot of options when facing Loyalists. Plus, fighting Loyalists will never cause you to lose Sanity, which is always a bonus.
Now let’s discuss Armoured Cars. They are generally strong units, but there is one exception: Temples. Armoured Cars can never inflict damage on Temples, unless you have Lt. Singh on your side. So keep that in mind when you’re strategizing your attacks.
Finally, I want to mention that there is an Effectiveness summary at the end of this book and also on the Player Aid. These summaries are useful references that you can use to quickly see the strengths and weaknesses of each unit. They’re handy tools to have when you’re in the midst of battle.
So there you have it. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different units, you can make smarter decisions in the game. Good luck and happy gaming!
Unleashing the Power of the Ancient
Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of our world? Hidden beneath the ordinary, there exist ancient beings, older than time itself. These powerful entities, known as the Old Ones, hold unfathomable knowledge and immense cosmic power.
So, how can we tap into this ancient wisdom? Well, my friend, you’re in luck! I am about to reveal the secrets of activating the Old Ones and harnessing their immense power.
When we talk about activating the Old Ones, we’re not talking about summoning Lovecraftian horrors or opening forbidden gateways. No, I’m talking about tapping into the universal energy that permeates our existence.
The first step in activating the Old Ones is to open your mind. Let go of preconceived notions and embrace the unknown. It’s time to abandon the limitations of your everyday perception and dive into the depths of the mysterious.
Next, you need to attune yourself to the cosmic vibrations. The Old Ones exist beyond our physical reality, in a realm of pure energy. By aligning your own vibrations with theirs, you can begin to tap into their limitless power.
But how do you do that? Well, it’s all about meditation and focus. Find a quiet place, free from distractions, and allow your mind to become still. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and visualize yourself reaching out to the Old Ones.
Feel their presence, their ancient wisdom emanating from the depths of the universe. Let their energy flow through you, filling every cell of your being. As you connect with the Old Ones, you will feel a surge of power, an electric current coursing through your veins.
Now, this power is not to be taken lightly. The Old Ones are ancient and enigmatic beings, and their power can be overwhelming. It’s important to approach them with reverence and respect.
Remember, the Old Ones are not here to serve our whims or grant our every desire. They are cosmic entities, and their wisdom is beyond our comprehension. When you tap into their power, do so with humility and a genuine desire for knowledge.
Activating the Old Ones is a journey, a quest for enlightenment and understanding. It requires patience, dedication, and an open mind. But the rewards are immeasurable.
So, my friend, if you’re ready to embark on this cosmic journey, take a leap of faith and open yourself to the ancient mystic forces that lie hidden within our reality. Unleash the power of the Old Ones and discover a universe of untold wonders.
When I’ve gone past the purple disc at number 22 on the Time Track, it’s your turn to be the active player.
- First, I’ll move the purple disc one Time Point along the track.
- Next comes a revelation. If the purple disc moves to an illuminated space, I’ll draw a Revelation card and see what it says.
- Then it’s time for the Old Ones to move. If there are any face up Old Ones on the board that can move (Temples can’t move), I’ll draw TWO Old One cards and resolve their movement.
Keep in mind that the Old Ones can have multiple turns in a row as long as the purple disc is the furthest back on the Time Track.
Revelations
- When the card instructs you to uncover the Old One in the hex with the lowest number, find out which tile it corresponds to and turn it over. If the tile is Empty, take it out of the game. If it’s not Empty, leave it where it is. Each hex has a number in the bottom left corner.
- If the card tells you to reveal and draw six Movement cards, those six cards only affect the newly revealed Old One. However, you still need to draw two more cards to determine the movement of all the revealed tiles.
- If the card tells you to assassinate, take out the two Personality cards that are farthest to the right on the display. Move the remaining cards over and draw two replacements.
When you draw a card that tells you to draw and place Old One tiles on Temples, here’s what you do. First, take a look at how many face up Temples there are on the board. For each face up Temple, you’ll need to draw one level three Old One tile. Start with the lowest-numbered hex and work your way up to the highest-numbered hex on the board. Make sure to reveal the Old Ones by placing them face up. If you run out of level three tiles, don’t worry. Just use level two tiles instead.
Now, let’s talk about what happens if the card says ‘No Event’. In this case, even though there’s no event happening, you still need to do the movement check. Don’t skip this step!
Movement of Old Ones
So, here’s the deal: I’m going to break down how to check if the Old Ones will make a move. First, you draw an Old One card to find out which Old Ones are in play. Take note of the ones that appear in a circle. Now, here’s what happens next: all the Old Ones of that type are going to move ONE hex. Simple, right?
Now, pay attention to these rules:
- An Old One always moves towards the closest Port or un-blighted Farm.
- If there are multiple Ports/Farms at the same distance or different routes leading to the closest target, check the top of the card for a number. Use the compass plan at the bottom of the map to decide which way to go.
If the direction indicated isn’t one of the possible routes, don’t worry. Just go clockwise or anti-clockwise until you reach the first hex where the Old One could potentially move to. Here, take a look at this image for reference: 
You need to do this movement check TWICE every time the Old One disc moves one space.
Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- If an Old One goes into a hex where there’s a Farm, that Farm will be turned to its blighted side. The Old Ones don’t affect Railways.
- Any Damage cubes that are on an Old One tile will stay on it when it moves.
- If two Old Ones move onto a Farm, they do it at the same time, before it gets blighted.
- If an Old One moves into a Port hex, the combat will happen after all the other movements have been resolved. The Old One that moved into the Port won’t move any further. If you want more information about defending your Port, take a look at page 12.
- The last check for Old One movement happens when the purple disc lands on ’53’.
 When you play Auztralia, assassinations eliminate the two players who are farthest from the deck. |
Temples never budge, so no need to stress about checking if they’re moving when they’re the only Old Ones you can see on the board.
How They Move
The Old One cards show how fast each type of Old One can move. Zombies are slow, Mi-go are quick, and everything else moves at a regular speed.
The Perks
Allow me to tell you about the advantages you can enjoy when playing the astonishing game of Revelation cards. These perks are applicable to everyone involved, except for the Old Ones themselves.
Wrap-Up Time
When playing the game, there are a few ways for the game to end:
- The game ends when all the discs, including the Old One’s disc, have reached or passed 53 on the Time Track. Once a player reaches or passes 53, they can no longer take any more actions.
- The game also ends if one player loses their Port to the Old Ones. Scoring starts immediately in this case.
To calculate your Victory Points, you need to consider the following:
- Each non-blighted Farm is worth 2 VPs.
- Each Phosphate you have in your hand is worth 3 VPs.
- Bonuses from your Personality cards.
- Victory Points from the Old One tiles you have acquired.
- Victory Point tokens you have in your hand.
The Old Ones also score Victory Points. Their points are calculated as follows:
- Each revealed Old One tile still on the board is worth the number of points indicated on it.
When you play the game, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, the Old One tiles are worth double the number of points shown on them, but only when they remain face down. Next, each blighted farm is worth 1 Victory Point. Keep track of your Victory Points by using the player discs on the Time Track. If your score exceeds 55, reset the marker to 0 and continue scoring from there. Remember, you don’t earn points for unused resources or Gold.
The player who has the highest total Victory Points is the winner of the game. It’s worth noting that the Old Ones can also be considered players in this context. In the event of a tie between players and the Old Ones, the Old Ones take precedence. And if there is still a tie, the tied players will share the victory.