Contents
Welcome to the Terror Below Game Rules!
I am here to guide you on your adventure in the fantastic game of Terror Below, a thrilling experience where you face off against creatures lurking beneath the ground. Brace yourself for the suspense and excitement that awaits!
In Terror Below, you will take on the role of a brave survivor trying to outsmart and outmaneuver these terrifying subterranean creatures known as Graboids. These fearsome creatures are relentless in their pursuit of food, and you must do everything in your power to escape their clutches.
To begin, place the game board on a flat surface. This board represents the area where the Graboids are causing havoc. Graboid and Nest tokens will be placed on various locations on the board during the game, so keep an eye out for them.
Each player will control a survivor figure, which they will move across the board to gather valuable items and complete mission cards. These mission cards will give you specific objectives to accomplish, such as collecting certain items or reaching certain locations.
On your turn, you can perform up to three actions. These actions can be used to move your survivor, gather items, or attack the Graboids. Be careful though, as making noise can attract the attention of these creatures. Sometimes it’s best to stay quiet and avoid their detection!
Throughout the game, you will also encounter special events that will challenge you and test your skills. These events can range from earthquakes that shift the locations of the Graboid tokens, to stampedes that force you to quickly react and take cover.
As you progress in the game, the Graboids will become more cunning and aggressive. They will move across the board, searching for their next meal. If a Graboid reaches a survivor, they will cause damage and hinder your progress. Your goal is to survive the onslaught of these creatures and complete your mission cards before time runs out.
Remember, teamwork is crucial in Terror Below. You can strategize and coordinate with other players, sharing valuable information and resources. Together, you can increase your chances of survival and overcome the terror that lies beneath.
Now that you have a basic understanding of the game rules, it’s time to embark on your adventure and face the terror below. Prepare yourself, gather your wits, and let the game begin!
- 3 Target tokens
- 16 Victory Point tokens
- 28 Eggs
- 50 Rubble pieces
- 5 Player pawns
- 1 Game board
- 2 Dice (1 Red, 1 Blue)
- 5 Location tiles
- 42 Bounty cards
- 24 Item cards
- 23 Weapon cards
- 5 W.O.R.M. standees
- 37 W.O.R.M. cards
- 6 Player Aid cards
- 16 Character cards
- 54 Vehicle cards
- Rulebook
Object of the Game
The main aim of Terror Below is to become the first player to gather 20 Victory Points (VP) by finding Worm Eggs and delivering them to various Locations across town. Alternatively, you can achieve this by eliminating those savage Worms.
Hey there! When you play the game, me and my group of unexpected heroes will explore different areas in the tiny desert town. We’ll be on the hunt for bounties, searching for weapons, and doing our best to stay alive while trying to distract the Worms.
But watch out, because those pesky Worms will eventually launch an attack. And if you happen to be in their way, get ready for a big showdown!
Game Preparation
- First, put the board in the middle of the table with the side that doesn’t have the Canyon facing up.
- Next, place the Location tiles on their designated starting spaces. Look for the spaces marked with a bull skull.
- After that, shuffle the Bounty deck, Weapon deck, Item deck, Character deck, and Vehicle deck separately.
- Take out the 4 starting Worm cards (these have black borders and don’t have any health or card limit numbers). Shuffle the Worm deck and put it close to the Terror zone.
- Put the Bounty deck near the Government Facility. Flip over 4 cards and arrange them face up to create the Bounty Line at the top of the board.
- Keep the Weapon deck next to the State Police.
- Place the Item deck close to the General Store.
- Make sure the Vehicle deck is within reach of all players.
Let me walk you through the steps to set up the game:
First, you need to place the 3 Target tokens in the Worm card slots on the Terror zone of the board. Make sure they fit snugly.
Next, organize all the remaining tokens and pieces into separate piles next to the board. For some added excitement, you can also place any of the W.O.R.M. standees around the board or near the Terror zone.
Now, let’s move on to player setup:
Each player should receive a pawn and player aid in their chosen color. These will help you keep track of your progress throughout the game.
Deal each player 1 Item card and 1 Weapon card. Be sure to keep these cards hidden from the other players – it’s all part of the strategy.
Each player should also draw 3 Vehicle cards to form their starting hand. Remember, you can only have a maximum of 3 cards in your hand at any given time.
Lastly, each player draws 3 Character cards to form their squad. Take a look at all the characters and choose 1 to be your starting Leader. Place this Leader face up in front of you, and stack the remaining characters face up underneath in any order you prefer. If there are any unused Character cards, just put them back in the box.
Now that everyone is set up, you’re ready to dive into the exciting world of the game. Good luck and have fun!
When I first start playing a game, I usually like to have a good set up. That means I want all the important elements in place before I even start playing. The initial worm, egg, and rubble setup is crucial for a successful game. Let me explain why.
When you begin the game, the initial setup is like laying the foundation for your entire strategy. The worm, egg, and rubble all play important roles in the game, so it’s important to make sure they’re set up properly.
The worm is your main character, and it’s what you’ll be controlling throughout the game. The worm has its own unique abilities and characteristics that make it different from other characters. By starting with a strong worm, you’ll have an advantage over your opponents right from the beginning.
Next, the egg is another important part of the setup. The egg is what the worm hatches from, and it’s where the worm grows and develops. If you neglect the egg or don’t give it enough attention, your worm may not hatch properly, and you’ll be at a disadvantage. Taking care of the egg is crucial for a successful game.
Finally, the rubble is the environment in which your worm will be navigating. The rubble can include things like rocks, debris, and other obstacles. By strategically placing the rubble in strategic locations, you can create barriers and obstacles for your opponents to overcome. This can give you a significant advantage in the game.
In conclusion, the initial worm, egg, and rubble setup is an essential part of any game. By taking the time to set up these key elements properly, you can give yourself an advantage right from the start. So remember, when you’re starting a new game, don’t forget about the importance of the initial setup. It can make all the difference in your success.
Wondrous Worm Cards
Imagine a deck filled with magical cards, each one home to a unique and marvelous creature known as a worm. These worm cards are no ordinary cards, my friend. They come in five different types, each more extraordinary than the last. And guess what? Each worm card also flaunts one of four mesmerizing egg colors. Quite a sight, isn’t it?
But let me tell you, these worm cards are not just pretty faces. Oh no, they possess a secret power. Each one represents a sneaky worm that will surely come after you at some point in the game. Yes, you read that right. These worms will jump right out of their cards and onto the game board to give you a run for your money.
Now, take a closer look at each worm card. Do you see those starting coordinates? Well, those numbers are no joke, my friend. They actually correspond to the grid on the game board. So, when a worm card attacks, you’ll know exactly where it’s coming from. Isn’t that something?
When I reveal a Worm card, I need to find an open numbered spot in the Terror zone to place it. Once it’s in the spot, I also need to put the corresponding Target token on the board, following the starting coordinates on the card.
At some point, the Worm will attack. The Target token represents the center space on the grid shown on the card. I should put an Egg of the same color as the card in the space with the Target token.
Next, I should place pieces of Rubble in the shaded spaces displayed on the card. If there’s already Rubble in those spaces, I just need to add more. But remember, no more than 2 pieces of Rubble per space.
But wait! You can’t put Eggs and Rubble just anywhere. It’s not allowed.
If you try to place Rubble on a spot, or even off the edge of the playing field, don’t even bother. It’s a no-go.
If you want to put an Egg on a spot, hold your horses. First, place all the Rubble. Then, roll the dice and find out where the Egg goes based on the result.
Getting Eggs and Rubble Ready
Alright, now that you know how Worms attack, grab those 4 Starting Worm cards and let’s get to work. For each Worm, use the coordinates on their card to launch an attack.
Don’t forget to put an Egg and the right amount of Rubble on the board. Since the Worms are doing the attacking, there’s no need for any Target tokens.
- If you’re playing with 3 players, you need to draw 1 extra Worm from the Worm deck and deal with an attack.
- If you have 4 players, you’ll need to draw and resolve 2 extra Worm attacks.
- For 5 players, draw and deal with 3 additional Worm attacks.
After that, create a discard pile next to the Worms using any cards you used to attack.
Preparing the Worms
Grab a Worm card from the Worm deck and put it face up in the lowest-numbered spot in the Terror zone.
Next, place the Target token with the matching number on the board coordinates stated on the Worm card. Repeat this for all 3 spots in the Terror zone.
When I defeated a Worm in combat, I became the starting player. It’s a thrilling position to be in, knowing that I have the first move.
After me, the other players took their turns, but in reverse order. One by one, they placed their pawns on different Locations. We all wanted to start in a unique spot to gain an advantage.
Now It’s Time to Play
Now it’s my turn to shine. As the starting player, I have the honor of going first. I have three steps to follow: play a Vehicle card, resolve its effects, and then replenish my hand.
Once I finish my turn, we check if a Worm Attack is possible. The tension rises as we anticipate the outcome. If we’re safe, the next player takes their turn, moving clockwise.
Step 1: Choose a Vehicle Card
I browse through my hand of cards, looking for the perfect Vehicle to play. I select one and place it face up in the Terror zone below my chosen Worm. It’s a strategic move that sets the tone for the rest of the game.
When you look at each Worm card, you’ll notice a number in the bottom right-hand corner. This number tells you how many Vehicle cards can be played on that Worm. It’s important to keep in mind that you can’t play a card on a Worm that has already reached its card limit.
Step 2: Resolve the Played Card
Now let’s resolve the card you played. We can do this in three simple steps: Distraction, Perform Actions, and Resolve Special Ability.
Distraction
Take a look at the bottom of each Vehicle card. You’ll see a set of arrows. These arrows represent a Distraction. They show which direction the Target token of the Worm will move after you play the card.
Start by resolving the leftmost arrow icon, then move to the right, one arrow at a time. Each arrow tells you to move the Target token of the Worm you Distracted this turn one space in the indicated direction.
If the movement caused the Target token to leave the game board, don’t worry about it. Just ignore that movement and move on to the next arrow.
Remember, the Target token will never leave the playing field. There are some Vehicle cards that don’t have any Distraction arrows, so the Target token won’t move when you play those cards.
Perform Actions
When you play the game, you are given Action Points based on what the card shows. These Action Points are used to do different things. You can use them all at once or spread them out.
You can use your Action Points until you run out or until you decide to stop and pick up all the eggs. Once you do that, this step is done.
For 1 Action Point, you can:
-
Move 1 space in a straight line. You can’t move into a space with Rubble. You can move through spaces with other players, but you can’t move to a space occupied by another player. - Ramp another player: If there is a player’s pawn next to mine, I can jump over it as long as there is an empty space next to their piece. My pawn can change direction during this move.
Remove 1 rubble: I can remove 1 rubble from a space next to my pawn. I need to place the rubble on my Leader. If I collect 3 rubble, I have to discard them right away and draw a Weapon or Item card.
- Pick up Eggs: I can pick up all the eggs in my space and put them on my Leader. I can carry as many eggs as I want. But remember, after picking up the eggs, I cannot perform any other actions.
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Delivery Bonus
Hey there! Let me tell you what happens when you deliver an Egg in the game. It’s pretty cool! First things first, to deliver an Egg, you need to have one in your possession and be in a Location.
Now, if you deliver an Egg without a Bounty, you earn yourself 1 Victory Point. That’s great! You can take a VP token as a reward and give back the Egg to the supply.
But here’s where it gets even more exciting! If the Egg you deliver matches one of the 4 Bounties displayed at the top of the board, or maybe a Hidden Bounty card you have, you score extra points! No VP tokens, though. Instead, you discard the delivered Egg and place the Bounty card under your Leader, showing only the amount of points it’s worth. And don’t forget, if there are less than 4 Bounty cards, draw a new one to refill the Bounty Line.
Oh, and just so you know, you can only complete one Bounty per Egg. Even if there are two Bounties of the same type, you can only choose one. So make sure you choose wisely!
That’s it for the Delivery Bonus! It’s a neat way to earn points and spice up the game. Have fun delivering those Eggs!
When you deliver an Egg, whether it’s with or without a Bounty, you’ll get a Bonus based on where you deliver it. Even if you make multiple deliveries in one go, you’ll only receive 1 Delivery Bonus per turn. Here’s what you can expect:
If you deliver to a General Store: You get to draw an Item card.
If you deliver to a Motel: You’ll receive 1 VP token.
If you deliver to a State Police: You’ll get to draw a Weapon card.
If you deliver to a Government Facility: You get to draw a card from the Bounty Line or from the top of the Bounty deck and place it face down near your Leader card. This becomes your very own Hidden Bounty. After that, if needed, you can draw a new Bounty card to fill up the Bounty Line with 4 cards.
Hidden Bounty cards are special Bounties that only you can complete.
And don’t forget: When you deliver an Egg, you have the option to fulfill the requirements of a Bounty that’s on display or a Hidden Bounty card that you have in your possession.
Hospital: Heal a fallen teammate by reviving them and bringing them back to life. Simply flip the card so it’s face up again and put it under your current Leader card.
Using Special Abilities
Every Vehicle card has a unique power that you can activate.
The abilities on higher-numbered cards can have negative effects, while lower-numbered cards offer positive effects.
To activate an ability, simply follow the instructions on the card.
Item and Weapon Cards
When you collect 3 Rubble, you have to give them back and draw a card from the Item or Weapon deck.
You can’t use Items and Weapons right away. Worms always attack in between turns, so if a Worm attacks right after your turn, you can use any new Weapons you acquired against it.
Keep your Item and Weapon cards hidden until you play them. Make sure to read each card carefully to understand how and when you can use its ability.
Item cards usually have special abilities that you can use on your turn to break the rules. Sometimes, they even give you Victory Points for doing so. Weapon cards are mainly used during a Worm Attack to hunt Worms.
3. Get 3 New Cards for Your Hand
When it’s my turn in this game, I have to draw Vehicle cards until I have 3 in my hand again.
But before the next player takes their turn, I need to check if there’s a problem.
Worm Attack
Each Worm card has a card limit printed in the lower right-hand corner. This number tells me how many Vehicle cards I can play on a Worm before it attacks.
If there are already that many Vehicle cards on a Worm, it attacks before the next player takes their turn.
To Deal with a Worm Attack:
In the game, there are a few steps to take when dealing with an attacking Worm. Let me break it down for you:
- First, I check if there are any face-down cards on the Worm. If there are, I flip them over and resolve them like I would during the Distraction step. If there are multiple face-down cards, I resolve them in the order they were played.
- Next, I place an Egg that matches the color of the Attacking Worm on the space where the Target token is currently located. If it’s The Queen, I place a Rubble piece in the center and an Egg of each color in the adjacent space as shown on the card. If there’s already Rubble on that space, I add another piece. Remember that each space can only have a maximum of 2 pieces of Rubble.
- Once the Worm Attack has been fully resolved, I discard the Worm and draw a new Worm card to replace it. I then place the new Worm’s Target token on the appropriate grid coordinates.
That’s it! Now you have a clear understanding of what to do when dealing with an attacking Worm in the game.
Hey there! So, I noticed you’re interested in understanding how things work in this cool game. Let me break it down for you. It’s pretty exciting, trust me!
First things first, let’s talk about a rule you need to remember – Rubble and Eggs can never be placed on a Location. Sounds simple, right? But wait, there’s a twist! If an Egg would be placed on a Location, all the Rubble in that spot gets resolved normally. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. You roll those dice, both of them, and the Egg goes into the space you get from the result. But, if it’s Rubble that’s supposed to appear, well, tough luck, my friend. No Rubble for you!
Now, onto something else. If you’ve got your pawn hanging out in a space where Rubble or Eggs come into play, there’s a chance you might get caught in the crossfire. Yeah, it’s like a battle arena out there! If you’re caught in the Worm’s attack, your Leader might be in danger of dying. But, hey, don’t sweat it too much. There’s a way out – you gotta defeat that Worm or use some handy Items to protect yourself. Oh, and let me just add a little side note – if you’re inside a Location, you don’t have to worry about getting attacked by a Worm, unless that sneaky little Target token lands smack dab on your Location. Oops!
Hunting a Worm
Okay, now this is where it gets real exciting! If the Worm comes for you, you have a chance to fight back. Use any Weapons you’ve picked up and follow the instructions on those nifty Weapon or Item cards. But remember, if your attack fails, your Leader pays the ultimate price. So, choose your moves wisely!
When multiple players get caught in a Worm Attack, things can get pretty intense. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. You see, if several players find themselves in this predicament, the last person to take their turn gets a special opportunity. They have the chance to strike the Worm first, followed by the next player in line, and so on, going clockwise.
But how do you defeat a Worm?
Well, it’s all about the Worm card. This card reveals the health of the Worm you’re facing. To defeat it, you need to deal enough damage to bring its health down to zero or below. Simple, right?
If all the players caught in the attack manage to dish out enough damage to meet or exceed the Worm’s health, congratulations! You’ve defeated the Worm and saved the day. All the players caught in the attack can breathe a sigh of relief. The game doesn’t end there, though. You still need to do the usual stuff, like placing Rubble and Eggs.
Now, here’s the exciting part. The player who delivers the final blow, the killing blow, becomes the hero of the day. They receive credit for defeating the Worm and, as a reward, they are granted 1 VP token. Talk about a well-deserved victory!
Well, almost. There’s a tiny catch. If one of the Hunting Bounties in the Bounty Line matches the type of the Worm you defeated, or if you happen to have a Hidden Bounty that matches, you won’t receive a VP token for your achievement. Fair’s fair, right? But hey, defeating a Worm is still pretty sweet, regardless of the accolades you receive.
Hey there! Let me break down some juicy information for you. This bounty is pretty important, so I’m gonna show it off to everyone by sliding it under my Leader. Gotta make sure those points are visible, right? Oh, and if this Bounty gets snagged from the Bounty Line, no worries, just draw a new card to fill it back up to 4 cards.
By the way: You can only complete one Bounty per kill, even if there are two Bounties of the same type on display. Bummer, I know!
Now let’s talk about Death.
If any players get caught in the Worm’s attack and can’t take it down, their Leader bites the dust. It’s a harsh reality, I know. Take all the Rubble and Eggs you’re carrying and drop them on your current space. Easy peasy.
But hold on, if placing Rubble would mean there’s more than 2 pieces per space, you’ll have to return the extra Rubble back to the supply. No hoarding allowed! Also, any cool items or weapons you have face-up near your Leader? Yeah, those get tossed too. And to top it all off, say goodbye to your player pawn as you remove it from the board. Tough break, buddy.
When one of my characters meets a terrible fate, I can’t help but feel a mix of sadness and determination. I flip them over to their deceased side and set them aside, ready to move on with a new leader from my remaining squad members. I choose someone I trust, someone who can step up and lead us to victory.
As I begin my next turn, I place my pawn on an unoccupied Location of my choice. It’s a crucial decision, one that will set the tone for the rest of the game. With my pawn in position, I go about my turn as usual, strategizing and making calculated moves.
The game comes to an end
The game is intense, and I can feel the tension building. Victory is within reach for one of us, but only if they manage to reach 20 Victory Points. It’s a race against time, as we all push ourselves to the limit.
But there’s another way for the game to end, a more unfortunate way. If any player’s entire squad is wiped out, they are eliminated from the game. It’s a harsh reality, but in this world, there’s no room for weakness. However, the battle isn’t over for the remaining players. They each receive one final turn, a chance to prove themselves and emerge victorious.
If there happens to be a tie, we turn to the completed Bounties for a tiebreaker. The player with the most completed Bounties will be crowned the winner. If there’s still no clear winner, we share our victory, because in the end, the bonds we’ve formed are what truly matter.