The Enigmatic Rules of the Dark Tales Game

Greetings! So, you’re curious about the rules of the Dark Tales game, eh? Well, let me enlighten you on this fascinating subject. Strap yourself in for a wild ride through the realm of mystery and intrigue!

Setting the Stage

First things first, let’s talk about the magical world of Dark Tales. Picture a place where imagination takes center stage, where stories come to life with an enchanting twist. In this realm, the characters of classic fairy tales are brought together in unexpected encounters, creating a tapestry of suspense and wonder.

Unveiling the Objectives

Now, listen closely as I unveil the objectives of the game. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to cleverly combine the right items and characters to complete your Tale cards. These cards hold the key to victory, and by completing them, you’ll earn valuable points. The player who amasses the most points shall be crowned the master storyteller!

A Dance of Cards

Let us now engage in a delicate dance of cards. You’ll start with a hand of five splendidly illustrated cards. These cards represent the characters, items, and events that will shape your story. Oh, but be prepared, dear friend, for the cards can be both a blessing and a curse, for they hold secrets that only the most cunning can unravel.

Tales Untold

As the game unfolds, you’ll find yourself diving headfirst into a realm of tales untold. Each Tale card presents a unique story to complete, full of twists and turns. By judiciously combining the characters, items, and events at your disposal, you’ll progress towards fulfilling the requirements of these captivating tales.

The Power of Discard

Ah, the power of the discard. In Dark Tales, you have the ability to send unwanted cards into the discard pile. But beware, for the discarded cards hold potential for your adversaries. They may seize the opportunity to snatch up these leftovers and use them to steer their own narratives towards greatness.

The Strategic Choices

Prepare yourself for strategic choices as you plot your moves in the game. Will you focus on completing a tale at all costs, or will you play the long game, laying down the groundwork for future endeavors? It’s up to you to decide how to wield your cards and craft your path to victory.

Mindful of Timing

Timing, my friend, is everything. Keep a watchful eye on the state of the game, for the right moment to strike will arise at unexpected times. Perhaps you’ll swoop in to snatch a crucial card from your opponent’s clutches, or maybe you’ll seize the opportune moment to complete a tale in one fell swoop. Stay alert, for fortunes can change in the blink of an eye!

The Dark Tales Await

As I conclude my narrative, I invite you to enter the enigmatic realm of Dark Tales. Let your imagination soar as you navigate the intricate web of stories waiting to be woven. Will you emerge as the master storyteller, or will your tales fade into obscurity? The choice is yours, adventurer. Best of luck on your thrilling quest!

• You’ll find 48 Playing cards;
• There are also 6 setting cards
• As for the equipment, you’ll have 8 Gold Coins;
• Moreover, you’ll be equipped with 4 Swords;
• There are also 4 Armors;
• And let’s not forget the 4 Magic Wands;
• To keep track of your points, you have 66 victory points tokens
• Of course, we can’t forget to include the Rulebook

Let’s Get Started

First things first, we need to separate the Setting cards from the Playing cards. Then, let’s shuffle Setting cards A and B separately. Once we’re done, we’ll draw one card randomly from each set. Those two cards will be placed face up in the middle of the table, so that everyone can see them. For now, we’ll remove the rest of the setting cards from the game. Don’t worry, you’ll learn more about the cards soon enough.

Now, let me explain what the A card is all about. You see, it shows which Items you can use during the game, and it also gives you a glimpse of what their effects will be. On the other hand, the B card displays which items are worth victory points at the end of the game. You’ll definitely want to pay attention to that if you want to score big!

Let’s play a game with playing cards. First, we take out one Night card and place it face up in the middle of the playing area. Then, we shuffle the rest of the deck and give each player three cards face down. The leftover deck goes next to the Night card. Now, everyone takes their cards in their hands.

Next, we need to organize the Items. We put them face up in separate piles, sorted by type. The victory point tokens should be kept in a pile that’s easy to reach. Remember, you can only take an item if it’s available in the supply. The number of items is limited, so you can’t take one that’s not there.

You can earn victory points in the game, and there’s no limit to how many you can get. But just in case we run out of victory point tokens, we can use something else as a substitute.

Let’s Play!

Hey there! So you’ve decided to join the game, huh? Great choice! Now, let me explain how it all works. It’s actually pretty simple. First things first, we need to determine who goes first. We can either choose someone or leave it up to chance – you decide!

Now, the game is played in turns, going clockwise. So, when it’s your turn, there are a few phases you need to go through in order. Let me break it down for you:

1. Phase 1: Draw one Card

Here’s the deal, you’re gonna draw the top card from the deck and add it to your hand. But hey, don’t worry if the deck runs out. We’ll get to that in a bit.

Phase 2: Play one Item (optional)

Alright, during this phase, you have the option to play one item that you have. Simply return it to the supply and then activate the effect(s) listed on the A Setting card. Cool, right?

Oh, and one important thing to remember: this phase comes before Phase 3. So, any items you gain from playing a card this turn can’t be played just yet. Gotta wait for the next round, my friend.

Phase 3: Play one Card

Last but not least, it’s time to play a card! Pick one from your hand and give it a go. Simple as that.

And that’s the game! Now you know exactly what to do when it’s your turn. So, are you ready to jump right in and have some fun? I sure hope so! Let’s get this game started!

Example: “The Battle of the Forgotten Moors” Setting card is in play, and you have a Sword in front of you.

If you want, you can play it (by returning it to the supply). By doing so, you can discard any Villain from play. It doesn’t matter if the Villain is in front of you, in the common area, or in front of another player. When you discard a Villain this way, you score 3 victory points. Just remember, if there are no Villains in play, then you can’t play the Sword.

Phase 3. Play one Card

In this phase, you have to choose a card from your hand to play. Look at the instructions and icons on the card to figure out how many victory points it’s worth, where it goes (the discard pile, the common area, or in front of you), and what special effects it has.

Every card is usable in any situation. However, you have to follow as much of the card text as you can. So, pay attention to the details and use the cards wisely!

Example: So let’s take a look at how the “Dragon” card works. When you play this card, you have to discard one Place and one Male from play. For each card you discard, you score 2 victory points. Now, here’s where it gets interesting – even if there are no Places or Males in play, you can still play the “Dragon” card. The catch is that you won’t score any points. But hey, at least you get to make a move!

If there are only Places (or only Males) in play, you can choose to discard one of them and score 2 points. But if both Places and Males are on the table, you have to discard one of each, and this time you score 4 points. It’s all about finding the right balance.

Remember, any Items you gain should be kept face up in front of you. And those victory point tokens you earn? Keep them face down in a pile in front of you. If you ever need change, you can always trade in five 1-point tokens for one 5-point token.

Once you’ve played your card, your turn is over. It’s time for the player to your left to take their turn. The wheel keeps on turning!

Example: So here’s what happens – you become a “Wizard” and put it in the middle of the table. Now, it’s time to reveal the top card from the deck, and guess what? It’s an “Enchantment”! Right away, you can play it by placing it in the discard pile and grab 1 Item from the supply.

Your next move is to select a Magic Wand, which you can use starting on your next turn. Cool, right?

When you complete your turn, you’ll gain 3 victory points from the supply. You’ll receive 2 points for the “Wizard” card and 1 point for the “Enchantment” card. These points will be added to your face-down pile. Your turn will then come to an end.

Now, let’s talk about the cards themselves. There’s an important rule to keep in mind: if a card contradicts the rules, the card’s instructions always take priority.

First, let’s focus on the playing cards.

Name: The card’s name is the complete name of the card. Sometimes, certain card effects will mention specific card names.

Illustration: The illustration is a picture on the card that doesn’t affect the game. It’s just there to look nice.

Summary Bar: The summary bar gives a quick explanation of what the card does and how many victory points it’s worth. This summary might not have all the details, so you should always read the text box for the full information. When you play the card, you’ll collect the number of victory points listed on the card and keep them face down in front of you as tokens.

What: This icon shows the type of the card. Sometimes, card effects will mention specific types of cards:

Text Box: Here is the complete description of gameplay effects for this card.

Where: You can see where the card goes when you play it:

• If you want to get rid of the card, discard it into the common discard pile.
• If you want to keep the card, place it face up in front of you. It might have a continuous effect that applies each turn (for example, “Old Sage”) or it might not (for example, “Ogre”). This card is yours and it is considered to be “in play”.

I’ll start by rewriting the provided text:

put the card face up in the middle of the table. Keep the cards separated but you can put identical cards together. These cards are in play but they don’t belong to any player.

Set and Card Quantity: This is a code made of letters or symbols, and a number:

Letters: “B” is for “Base Set” (in expansions, you’ll find a different letter). This code helps when sorting the cards.

Number: Tells you how many cards of that type are in the deck.

Here are some things you should know about the cards:

Dragon / Ogre / Princess: You can choose cards from the common area, from your own cards, or from another player’s cards.

Dark Lord: The Dark Lord doesn’t count towards your points.

Gypsy: When you play the Gypsy card, you have to show your cards to everyone. After the effect is resolved, each player takes back their cards. You always score 1 victory point (VP), plus 1 VP for each Place card that has been revealed (so if 3 Place cards are revealed, you score a total of 4 VP).

Witch: If you have the Witch card in play, you can’t draw cards anymore. But some cards, like Princess or Secret Helper, have special effects that let you take a card from play or look and add a card to your hand. These effects still apply even if you have the Witch card.

The Setting Cards

“Setting cards” are special cards that affect the game as it progresses or at its conclusion. There are two types: “A” setting cards and “B” setting cards. Let me explain.

The “A” setting cards come into play during the game. There are three of them: “The Battle of the Forgotten Moors,” “Sorceries at Dusk,” and “The Test of the Knights.” Each of these cards brings its own unique twist to the game.

On the other hand, the “B” setting cards have an impact at the end of the game. There are also three of these: “The Iron Army,” “The Dragon’s Treasure,” and “The Forge of His Majesty.” These cards add an extra layer of excitement as you approach the game’s conclusion.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The combination of an “A” setting card and a “B” setting card determines the title of the Dark Tale you’ll be playing. To create the title, simply read the two parts together, linking them with the word “and.” Just imagine the possibilities and the stories you can create! For instance, if you choose to play with “The Test of the Knights” and “The Dragon’s Treasure,” your Dark Tale would be called “The Test of the Knights and the Dragon’s Treasure.”

Lastly, a crucial rule to remember is that you can only count or discard items you actually possess, unless a card specifies otherwise. It’s important to keep track of what you have and use it wisely. Now, let the game begin!

If you have a “one Villain,” it means you have that Villain right in front of you. However, if it says “any one Villain in play,” it refers to any Villain on the table, whether it’s your Villain, someone else’s Villain, or a Villain in the common area.

Ending the Game

When the deck of cards runs out, nobody gets to draw any more cards. Keep playing until one player starts their turn with no cards left in their hand. That’s when the game ends, and that player doesn’t get another turn.

After that, follow the instructions on the B Setting card. Finally, all players reveal their victory point tokens, and the player with the highest score wins the game!

If there’s a tie, the tied player with the most Items and cards in their hand is the winner. If they still have the same total, then the victory is shared.

Example: The “Iron Army” Setting card is currently on the table. By the end of the game, you have 1 Night Creature, 2 Swords, 1 Magic Wand, 3 Gold Coins, 2 cards in your hand, and 31 victory point tokens.

Thanks to the combination of Sword + Creature, you earn 3 points. The other Sword and Magic Wand do not contribute to your score. With 3 Gold Coins and 2 cards in your hand, totaling 5, you secure the second spot (the player in first place has 6) and earn an additional 5 points.

Your final score is: 31 (victory points) + 3 (Sword + Creature) + 5 (Gold Coins + hand cards) = 39.