Welcome to the World of Last Bastion

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to defend the last stronghold of humanity against hordes of monstrous creatures? In Last Bastion, you’ll find out! Prepare yourself for a thrilling adventure as you navigate through challenging gameplay and strategic decision-making.

Last Bastion is a cooperative board game designed for 1-4 players. As a player, your goal is to protect the last bastion from the onslaught of evil forces. You’ll face a wide range of enemies, each with its own unique abilities and weaknesses. To succeed, you’ll need to work together with your fellow players, utilizing your individual strengths and coordinating your actions.

Understanding the Game Components

Before jumping into the action, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the game components. Last Bastion includes a game board, enemy and hero cards, action tokens, dice, and various tokens representing health and power. These components are used to track and resolve gameplay elements, from character actions to enemy movements.

Each player takes on the role of a hero, choosing from a diverse selection of characters with their own special abilities. As a hero, you’ll be battling against monstrous creatures and using your unique powers to aid your team in combat. Your success depends on how well you strategize and coordinate your actions with the other players.

Gameplay and Strategy

The gameplay in Last Bastion revolves around a series of turns, where you’ll take actions to defend the stronghold and defeat enemies. You’ll need to plan your moves carefully, considering both the immediate threats and the long-term consequences. Communication and teamwork are crucial for success, as you’ll need to coordinate your efforts and devise strategies together.

As you progress through the game, you’ll face increasingly difficult challenges and powerful enemies. You’ll need to adapt your strategy and make tactical decisions to overcome the odds. Will you prioritize defense or offense? Which enemies should you target first? These are just some of the questions you’ll need to answer as you strive to protect the last bastion.

Victory and Defeat

The ultimate goal in Last Bastion is to defeat the final boss and emerge victorious. However, this is no easy task. The game is designed to be challenging, and success is not guaranteed. Your decisions and actions will directly impact the outcome of the game. Victory requires careful planning, effective communication, and a bit of luck.

On the other hand, if the last bastion falls to the enemy forces, you’ll face defeat. But don’t worry! Defeat is just a stepping stone to future success. Each playthrough offers valuable lessons and insights that will help you improve your strategy in future attempts.

Embrace the Challenge

Last Bastion is a game that tests your strategic thinking, teamwork, and adaptability. It’s a thrilling adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you navigate through the twists and turns of the gameplay. Are you ready to face the challenge? Gather your friends, choose your heroes, and prepare to defend the last bastion!

• You will receive 8 Hero figures.
• There are also 4 bases.
• You get 8 Hero boards.
• There are 64 cards.
• 4 monster boards are included.
• You will receive 9 bastion tiles.
• There are 4 enclosure tiles.
• 15 figures are included.
• You will receive 47 tokens.
• There are 5 dice.
• 1 scoresheet is included.
• You will receive a power description booklet.
• There is a rulebook included as well.

Let’s Get Started

So, here’s the deal: we’re all heroes, and we have an important mission. We’re defending the ancestral Bastion from the monstrous hordes of the Baleful Queen. And to win, we need to take down the leader of this army, the Warlord.

Getting Everything Ready

Level of Difficulty: Normal (recommended for your first game), 4-player game

1. Let’s start by forming the Bastion using the 4 Enclosure tiles.

2. Now, it’s time to randomly place the 9 Bastion tiles in order to create a 3 by 3 square within the enclosure.

3. To set up the game, we need to place the 4 Horde boards – one on each side of the enclosure.

4. Now, let’s prepare the hero elements:

Each of us will choose a Hero and place our corresponding Hero board in front of us, right under the Horde board.

Make sure to grab the figure that matches your Hero board and the color base that corresponds to the Horde board in front of you. Insert the Hero figure into the base and place it on the central Bastion tile.

Lastly, place the following items in front of you:

• 3 Life tokens;
• 1 Equipment token of your hero’s color;

Imagine you’re joining a group of friends to play a thrilling game called Bastion. I’ll guide you through the setup process, step by step. First, you’ll need some materials:

– 1 Call to Arms token.

– A group of people, preferably 4 players.

– The game consists of various figures, like the Standard, Trap, and Net figures.

– A deck of cards consisting of 50 Monster cards and 10 Warlord cards.

Once you have everything ready, let’s begin setting up the game:

1. Take the Call to Arms token and keep it nearby. You’ll need it later.

2. Find the Standard figure and place it on the corresponding symbol on the Standard Bastion tile. This figure represents a crucial element of the game.

3. Locate the Trap figure and position it on the corresponding symbol of the Dwarven Quarry Bastion tile. Keep an eye on this figure; it can spring a surprise!

4. Now, identify the Net figure and put it on the corresponding symbol of the Trebuchet Bastion tile. Remember, this figure can trap your opponents and give you the upper hand.

5. Prepare the deck for 4 players. Start by shuffling the 50 Monster cards. Take 8 of these cards and set them aside for now. Shuffle the remaining 42 Monster cards together.

6. It’s time to deal with the Warlord cards. Shuffle all 10 of them and draw 1 without looking at it. Place the chosen Warlord card on top of the 8 Monster cards that you set aside earlier.

7. Finally, take the remaining 42 Monster cards and place them on top of the Warlord card, completing the deck. The order, from top to bottom, should be: the Warlord card, followed by the 8 set-aside Monster cards, and then the remaining Monster cards.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up the game. Now, it’s time to dive into the world of Bastion and start your thrilling adventure! Good luck, and may the best player win!

• I’ve got 42 Monster cards
• There’s 1 Warlord card
• Oh, and there are also 8 more Monster cards

I’ll just place the deck close to the central board, so it’s easy to grab.

Just so you know: How you set up the deck depends on how many players there are and how hard you want the game to be.

Alright, next step.

Let’s make a little reserve near the game board. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Tokens that aren’t given out yet (that includes Equipment and Life)
• Those 5 Standard tokens
• Some Grasp of Evil figures
• And don’t forget the Combat dice and the Corruption die

Now, take any leftover stuff and put it back in the box. We won’t need it for this game.

Here’s how to play the game:

So, the person who was the last to defend someone or something honorable goes first. After that, we take turns going clockwise. Each turn has 2 parts: Horde phase and Hero phase.

First, let’s talk about the Horde Phase:

1. The Horde Cards in Action

When it’s my turn, I need to make sure I activate the recurring effects of the Horde cards on my Horde board. These effects are found in the central zone of the cards.

If I don’t have any Horde cards on my board, there won’t be any effects to activate. This usually happens at the beginning of the game.

If I have multiple effects to apply during a phase, I get to decide the order in which I activate them. It’s up to me!

2. Using the Horde Board

Now, it’s time for me to take action with my Horde board. There are two options available to me:

Hey there! Let’s talk about an interesting rule in a game called Horde. I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating!

In this game, if a player has all three spaces on their board filled with Horde cards, something special happens. The board itself has a unique effect that kicks in.

Did you catch that? It means that when you have all three spaces on your board taken up by Horde cards, something cool happens!

If you don’t have a card that matches the phase action, you have to carefully consider your options. But what should you do? It’s a tough decision. Let me tell you, it’s not easy. When you’re in a tight spot like this, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

First of all, you need to take into account the known rules of the game. These rules dictate what you can and can’t do. Understanding them is crucial for making the right move. And if you like winning, then you’ll love following the rules.

Secondly, you have to think about the cards in your hand. What options do they offer? Are any of them compatible with the phase action? You need to carefully consider each card and its potential impact.

Next, you should consider the cards on the table. Are there any matches or possibilities there? Sometimes the cards in play can give you a hint about what to do next. It’s like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

And finally, you need to trust your instincts. Sometimes there’s no right or wrong answer, and you have to go with your gut. Take a deep breath, trust yourself, and make a decision. It might just be the winning move.

So, my friend, when you find yourself in a difficult situation and don’t have a matching card for the phase action, remember these tips. Consider the rules, think about your cards, look at the table, and trust your instincts. With these factors in mind, you’re sure to make the right call.

Otherwise, if all else fails, the player takes the first Horde card from the deck and places it into play according to the placement rules. It might not be the ideal move, but it’s better than being stuck and not moving forward.

Hey there! Let me explain a rule that’s important to remember when playing the game. It’s about the Horde and Hero boards, and how they’re connected.

A Closer Look at the Horde

What the Horde Cards Do

The Horde cards represent different Monsters and Warlords. These powerful creatures attack your Bastion from specific spots on the Horde boards.

Entrance Effects

Ongoing Effects

In the game of Last Bastion, there are special cards called Horde cards. These cards are found at the bottom center of the game board and can be identified by their Infinity symbol. When a Horde card is played, it has ongoing effects that affect all players until it is defeated.

Recurring Effects

Exit Effects

Placement Rules for Horde Cards

• If you have a red, green, blue, or yellow Horde card, you can place it on any open space on the corresponding colored Horde board.
• If you have a black Horde card, you must place it on your own Horde board.
• If all three spaces on a Horde board are already occupied, you can choose another open space on the board.

When every space on every Horde board is full with cards, and I need to play a card, unfortunately, I can’t put it into play. Instead, it has to stay on the deck, and I lose a Life token.

If a Horde card has an entrance effect and I play it onto a Horde board, I have to endure that effect right away, regardless of the color on the board.

Here’s an example for you: I’m playing as Gary, and I just drew the “Hollow Summoner” Horde card. It’s a blue Monster, so I’ll place it on my blue board.

Now I need to activate the entrance effect at the bottom left of the “Hollow Summoner” card. That means I get to play another Horde card. I draw a black Monster card. Since it’s black, I’ll put it on my own Horde board, which is the yellow one.

About Warlord Cards

Warlords are special cards in the Horde. They’re not affected by the Tomb of the Ancient Kings, Trebuchet, or Dwarven Quarry Bastion tiles. Remember, you’ll see an icon on these 3 Bastion tiles.

But, they can be affected by the other Bastion tiles, like the Strategist’s Tower, the Divine Fountain, or the Standard.

Grasp of Evil

When you place a Grasp of Evil figure on a Bastion tile or a Hero board, it goes to the Icon zone.

Once the figure is there, you can’t activate the tile or use its power. If there’s an element (Net, Standard, Enchantment…) in the Icon zone, it goes to the reserve. It’ll go back to the corresponding icon zone once you remove the Grasp of Evil figure.

Let me explain something to you: An element that’s already on a card or Horde board stays active until the end of its use, when it’s placed in the reserve. Simple as that.

What’s a Neutral Board?

A neutral board is a Horde board that isn’t linked to any hero. There are two situations when this can happen:

• If a player’s hero gets taken out, their Horde board becomes neutral.
• In games with fewer than 4 players, any Horde board not linked to a player is considered neutral.

Now, here’s the deal with the Horde phase of a neutral board: it’s resolved just like a normal Horde phase, except that no card is drawn or played if the Horde board isn’t full. Got it?

Hey there! I wanted to talk to you about an important rule that you should keep in mind when playing the game. It’s all about what happens on a Horde board that is not linked to a Hero board. I’ll explain it to you!

So, during the game turn of a neutral board, there are no active players. This means that any effects that may happen on that board must be suffered by one of the players who can be affected. And guess what? They have to suffer each effect separately! It can get pretty tough, right?

Let me give you an example to make it clearer. Imagine Gary just finished his turn, and there’s a neutral board on his left. On that board, there’s a “Butcher” Horde card with a recurring effect. Take a look at this image . During the Horde phase of that board, a player must suffer the effect.

Okay, now here’s the tricky part. Only Paul and Amy have at least one round token, so one of them has to suffer the effect. Unfortunately, Gary doesn’t have any round tokens, so he can’t help them out. Tough break!

Now onto the Hero Phase

When it’s my turn to be the hero, I can do two things in any order I choose: act and move.

First, I get to act.

I can only pick one of the following two actions:

If there’s a Bastion tile, I can activate it.

If my figure is on a Bastion tile, I can use its special ability. But there’s a catch: I can’t activate a Bastion tile if there’s a Grasp of Evil figure on it. So, I need to be careful!

Example: I found it fascinating that the red hero has the power to activate the Bastion tile they’re standing on, but the yellow hero can’t because there’s a Grasp of Evil figure on it.

Humans, being the complex creatures we are, have a natural inclination to seek out connection and understanding. We are fascinated by the intricacies of human behavior and the subtle nuances of communication. When we interact with others, we often find ourselves deciphering their words and actions, searching for hidden meanings or underlying motivations. It’s almost as if we’re trying to crack a code, unravel a mystery, or solve a puzzle.

Language, in all its myriad forms, is a powerful tool that allows us to express our thoughts, share our experiences, and connect with others. But it is also a double-edged sword, capable of causing confusion and fostering misunderstanding when used incorrectly or without consideration. It’s important to choose our words wisely, to be mindful of the impact they can have on others, and to strive for clarity and empathy in our communication.

Understanding the meaning behind someone’s words or actions requires more than just surface-level analysis. It requires us to dig deeper, to consider context, to question assumptions, and to be open to different perspectives. It requires active listening, observation, and the willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Communication is not a one-way street. It is a dynamic process that involves both speaking and listening, both sending and receiving messages. It requires us to take into account not only our own thoughts and feelings but also those of the person or people we’re communicating with. It requires us to be present, to be attentive, and to be willing to adjust our approach if needed.

So the next time you find yourself in a conversation, whether it’s a casual chat with a friend or a high-stakes negotiation, remember that communication is a two-way street. It requires effort and intentionality from all parties involved. It requires us to be curious, to ask questions, and to seek clarification when needed. By doing so, we can foster understanding, bridge gaps, and build stronger connections with others.

In conclusion, communication is both an art and a science. It’s a skill that requires practice, patience, and a genuine desire to connect with others. By honing our communication skills, we can navigate the complexities of human interaction with grace and empathy. So let’s embrace the challenge, embrace the opportunity, and commit to becoming better communicators.

Engage in Battle

I can jump right into battle against one or more terrifying Monsters that lurk nearby. They’re always prowling around the Bastion tile where my Hero figure stands, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But fear not, because I have some combat rules in my arsenal.

• Keep in mind that the central Bastion tile is off-limits for combat, unless you happen to be Twindalli.
• If I find myself on a corner Bastion tile, I can take on two Monsters at the same time. Talk about a double dose of bravery!

Move

Hey there! If you want to change your Hero figure’s location in the game, you can move it from one Bastion tile to another. And guess what? You can move diagonally too! But here’s a cool thing: even if there are other heroes on the same Bastion tile, you can still move your figure there.

A Powerful Weapon – Call to Arms

I have a secret weapon at my disposal – the Call to Arms. This special token allows me to take advantage of any Bastion tile, even if I’m not standing on it. It’s a game-changer, especially when evil forces are closing in.

Using a Call to Arms token is like getting an extra action. Whenever I use one, I set it aside for later use.

I can unleash the power of the Call to Arms token at any moment during my turn, whether it’s before or after I move my hero. However, I can’t use it during another action. The best part? I can use multiple Call to Arms tokens in a single turn. And guess what? I can even use a token right after I earn it!

Example: So, there I am, facing off against the terrifying “Nefarious Cannon” Monster (Black, Resistance 3). But I don’t want to go into battle unprepared. I need to get some Equipment tokens first to increase my chances of success.

Now, here’s what I do: I discard my Call to Arms token and activate the Market tile. I roll 2 Combat dice and grab 2 Equipment tokens from the reserve that match the rolls. With my newfound gear, I’m ready to take on the Monster!

Here’s the Deal for Heroes

Prepare for Combat

When it’s time to fight a Monster, you roll the 3 white Combat dice. The trick is to roll a number of faces that match the color of the Monster, and the total must be equal to or higher than its resistance.

Now, here’s the cool part: those white dice have joker faces, which means they can stand in for any color you choose. Talk about handy!

If I don’t roll the faces I need, I have another option. I can spend my Equipment tokens of the right color to make up for the missing result on my Combat dice.

But wait, there’s more! I can also use the Equipment tokens from other heroes who are on the same Bastion tile as me. It’s like a team effort to defeat the monsters. Pretty cool, right? The only thing is, we’re not allowed to trade or give each other Equipment tokens. We gotta use what we have.

Example: Imagine you’re facing a formidable Monster called the “Incubus” (Red, resistance 2). Your goal is to defeat it by rolling the Combat dice and getting at least two red (or white) faces.

I roll the Combat dice and unfortunately, I only get one red face. However, I have a red Equipment token (3) that I can use to defeat the Monster.

Clarification: Sometimes, certain effects can lower a Monster’s resistance (like the Standard Bastion tile and Mylfaar’s hero power). But remember, you can only defeat a Monster by taking the Combat action, even if its resistance is currently at 0.

In the heat of battle, there are two possible combat results:

If I successfully defeat the monster, I need to take care of a few things. First, any exit effects of the Monster need to be resolved. Then, the Horde card goes into the discard pile along with any elements that were placed on it (such as Reserve, Bastion tile, or Hero board), which all need to be returned to their original positions. On the other hand, if my combat fails and I don’t defeat the Monster, nothing happens – it remains in place.

Now, let’s talk about combatting two Monsters simultaneously. If I’m a hero situated on one of the Bastion corner tiles, I’m adjacent to two spaces and have the potential to defeat both Monsters. To do this, I’ll need to use the Combat dice and any Equipment tokens I have to get the total resistance of both Monsters.

If my dice rolls and/or Equipment tokens enable me to defeat one of the Monsters but not both, I can choose which one I want to vanquish. It’s up to me to decide which Monster I prioritize defeating.



Imagine this: I’m standing on a corner tile in a mysterious land. Surrounding me are two fierce Monsters: an “Incubus” and a Hollow Summoner.
Clutching three Combat dice in my hand, I roll them eagerly. A red face, a white face, and a yellow face appear before me.
I know that the yellow face won’t help me in this situation, so I swiftly spend a red Equipment token to combine with the red face, smashing the “Incubus” into oblivion.
Then, with a surge of confidence, I use the white face to conquer the Hollow Summoner.

The Importance of Inventory and Reserve

Now, let’s talk about inventory and reserve. As a player, I can have multiple Equipment, Life, and Call to Arms tokens on my Hero board.

But here’s the catch: these tokens have limited quantities. If I try to gain a token that isn’t available in the reserve, tough luck – I lose out on that gain.
On the flip side, if I’m supposed to lose a token but I don’t have any, no worries – nothing happens and the effect is ignored.

Hero Defeated, But Not Forgotten

If a Hero loses their final Life token, they are defeated. In this unfortunate event, the Hero is removed from the game. All of their tokens, including Equipment and the powerful Call to Arms, are sadly lost and placed in the reserve. The Hero’s figure is placed on their Hero board, separate from the Horde board, to honor their valiant effort. On the bright side, the elements on the Horde board remain undisturbed and fully functional.

Remember: When a Hero is defeated, their Horde board becomes neutral territory until the Hero is healed and ready to rejoin the fight.

Just to be clear: Even though a Hero is defeated, they still contribute to the group’s planning. Their wisdom and experience remain valuable, as they can come back into play when another Hero activates the Dispensary Bastion tile.

When a hero gets healed, they’ll flip their Hero board to show that they’re wounded, and they’ll reconnect it to their Horde board. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to use their power for the rest of the game. But don’t worry, their figure will come back on the Dispensary Bastion tile, and they’ll get 3 Life tokens and a Call to Arms token.

If a hero loses all of their Life tokens again, that’s it for them. They’re dead, and the game is over for them.



The Ultimate Goal

I win the game when I defeat the Warlord in combat.

There are three ways I can lose:

• If all of my heroes are taken out.
• If a third Bastion tile falls under the Grasp of Evil.
• If I have to draw a Horde card when there are no more cards left in the deck.

Remember: Even if I defeat the Warlord, I still have to deal with any exit effects it may have. I only truly win if those effects don’t cause me to lose.

A Series of Defeats?!

If my first few games end in defeat, don’t worry! I can try playing at the Novice level. Last Bastion takes time to learn and conquer, so it might take several games before I can beat the different difficulty levels.

Even if you’re an experienced player, the “Heroic” level will challenge you. It’s tough, but still possible to win. Just remember to follow all the rules, use your powers and the Call to Arms wisely, and most importantly, work together to secure victory.

If any of these three situations occur, the game is over. The heroes have failed, the Baleful Queen has captured the Bastion, and the civilized world meets its end.

Scoring

To measure your performance and track your progress, you’ll find a pad of scoresheets in the box.

Use the following values to determine your score:

• 5 points for winning in Novice mode
• 10 points for winning in Normal mode
• 15 points for winning in Difficult mode
• 20 points for winning in Heroic mode
• For each Life token I have, I get 1 point.
• For each Call to Arms token I have, I get 2 points.
• For each dead Hero, I lose 3 points.
• For each Bastion tile in the Grasp of Evil, I lose 4 points.

Levels of Difficulty



Hey there! I want to tell you all about Last Bastion and its different levels of difficulty. There are four levels to choose from, each with its own special challenges. Let’s take a look at what each level brings to the game:

• Easy: You start by removing four extra Monster cards from the game. Plus, you get an extra black Equipment token, on top of the one that matches your color.
• Medium: This level doesn’t have any special changes. It’s a balanced and fair experience.
• Hard: Things get tough here! You don’t remove any extra Monster cards, and you only have your regular Equipment token.
• Insane: This level is not for the faint of heart. It’s the ultimate challenge! You play without any changes to the game setup.

So there you have it! Four difficulty levels to choose from. Each level comes with its own set of rules to make the game more or less challenging. Have fun and good luck!