Arcadia Quest
2014
Immerse yourself in Arcadia Quest, a thrilling game where 2 to 4 players lead guilds, battle monstrous forces, accomplish quests, and unlock unique gameplay features in a changing campaign.
60
minutes
2 - 4
player(s)
13+
Medium
About the game
Arcadia Quest is an exhilarating and adventurous board game that combines the thrill of PvP and PvE into a unique gaming experience. Set in the magical city of Arcadia, once a place of peace and beauty, now plunged into chaos by the invasion of the evil Lord Fang, players are tasked with reclaiming the city and restoring peace.
The game is a blend of strategy, action, and adventure, with a strong focus on player choice and customization. Each player leads a guild of intrepid heroes on an epic quest to dethrone the vampire lord and reclaim the city. The game is played over a series of campaigns, each with its own unique challenges and objectives.
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Setup and rules summary
Game components Unboxing the fun!
Arcadia Quest is a thrilling board game filled with strategy and adventure. The game includes several components, each with a specific role that contributes to the overall gameplay. Below is a detailed list of every component included in Arcadia Quest:
1. Hero Figures
Each player in Arcadia Quest controls a guild of three unique heroes. These hero figures represent the players on the board. They have different abilities and statistics that influence combat and other in-game interactions. Players must strategically use their heroes to fight monsters, complete quests, and collect treasure.
2. Monster Figures
Monster figures represent the various enemies that players encounter during their quests. They are controlled by the game itself and have their own set of rules for movement and combat. Players must defeat these monsters to progress in the game.
3. Guild Dashboards
Each player has a guild dashboard that helps in tracking the status of their heroes. This includes their health, gold, upgrades, and equipped items. The guild dashboard is crucial for managing resources and planning strategies throughout the game.
4. Hero Cards
The hero cards provide detailed information about each hero, including their abilities, health, defense, and attack power. These cards are used in conjunction with the hero figures and are essential for planning and executing strategies.
5. Monster Cards
Similar to hero cards, monster cards give details about the various monsters in the game. This includes their health, abilities, attack power, and rewards for defeating them. Players use this information to plan their attacks and anticipate the challenges they might face.
6. Quest Cards
Quest cards outline the objectives that players must complete in each scenario. Completing these quests is integral to progressing in the game and winning scenarios. Each quest card provides specific instructions and rewards.
7. Upgrade Cards
Upgrade cards represent various enhancements that players can purchase for their heroes using gold collected during the game. These upgrades can improve a hero’s attack power, defense, or provide special abilities. Choosing the right upgrades can give players an edge in combat and quests.
8. Dice
The game includes several dice that are used for combat, determining the outcome of certain events, and other random elements in the game. The results of dice rolls can greatly influence the progression of the game.
9. Game Tiles
Game tiles are used to build the game board, representing different locations in the city of Arcadia. They include various features like walls, doors, spawn points, and treasure spots, which all affect movement and interaction within the game.
10. Tokens
Arcadia Quest includes a variety of tokens to represent in-game resources and effects. These include gold tokens, wound tokens, death curse tokens, and exploration tokens. Each type of token has its own specific use and rules in the game.
Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go
Arcadia Quest is an exciting, adventure-driven board game that allows players to control a guild of three unique heroes. To set up the game properly, follow the steps below:
1. Player Roles:
Each player chooses a guild and takes the corresponding Guild Dashboard. They then pick three heroes to form their guild. Each hero has its own special abilities and stats.
2. Board Placement:
The scenario book determines the board setup. Tiles are placed in the configuration shown in the scenario book. Doors, spawn points, and other elements are also placed as shown in the scenario book.
3. Initial Resources:
Each player starts the game with a certain number of coins determined by the scenario book. These coins can be used to buy equipment and upgrade heroes.
4. Random Elements:
Monster cards are shuffled and placed on the monster dashboard. The top card of each deck is turned face up. These monsters will be the initial enemies the players will face.
5. Cards Setup:
- Quest Cards: Based on the chosen scenario, place the corresponding Quest cards next to the board.
- Monster Cards: Shuffle the Monster cards and place them next to the board. Reveal the top card of each Monster deck.
- Upgrade Cards: Shuffle the Upgrade cards and place them in a face-down deck next to the board.
6. Tokens Setup:
Place the Death tokens, Wound tokens, Coin tokens, Guild tokens, and other tokens in piles next to the game board.
7. Death Curse Cards:
Shuffle the Death Curse cards and place them in a face-down deck next to the board. When a hero dies, they will draw from this deck to receive a penalty for their next life.
Once the setup is complete, you’re ready to start your adventure in Arcadia Quest!
Game flow Round and round we go
Arcadia Quest is a thrilling board game where 2-4 players lead their guilds of loyal heroes on a quest to bring down the vampire lord and reclaim the magical city of Arcadia. The game is played in a series of campaigns, each with different scenarios. Let’s break down the overall structure and phases of Arcadia Quest.
The game operates on rounds and turns. A game round continues until all players have activated all their heroes or have chosen to pass. Player turns can consist of a variety of actions, including moving, attacking, resting, and exploring. Here’s a more detailed look at each phase:
1. Setup Phase:
- Each player chooses a guild and takes the corresponding guild dashboard.
- Players draft heroes to their guilds, up to a maximum of three heroes each.
- Each player receives a set of starting equipment cards.
- Players set up the game board according to the chosen scenario in the campaign book.
2. Activation Phase:
In this phase, players take turns activating their heroes. During a hero’s activation, they may perform up to three actions:
- Move: The hero may move up to three spaces.
- Attack: The hero may attack a monster or another hero within their range.
- Rest: The hero may rest to recharge their abilities and heal damage.
- Explore: The hero may explore the area, opening doors and discovering treasures.
3. Monster Phase:
After all players have activated their heroes or chosen to pass, the monsters on the board get their turn to move and attack.
4. Reset Phase:
Once the Monster Phase is complete, the game moves to the Reset Phase. Here, all exhausted cards are readied, all death tokens are removed from heroes, and the first player token is passed to the next player.
5. Upgrade Phase:
After every scenario, players enter the Upgrade Phase. Here, they can use gold coins earned during the game to purchase new equipment and upgrade their heroes. The equipment deck is shuffled and six cards are drawn and placed face up.
After the Upgrade Phase, the next scenario is set up, starting a new game round. The game ends when a guild has completed the final scenario in the campaign.
Players'turn One turn to rule them all
In Arcadia Quest, players take turns to perform various actions with their heroes in order to complete quests and defeat enemies. Understanding how a turn works in Arcadia Quest is crucial in strategizing and playing the game effectively.
Each player’s turn consists of the following phases:
- Start of Turn: At the very start of your turn, if your hero is resting, you should remove any wound tokens from the hero’s card. If your hero is KO’d, they are now back in play and can be activated on this turn.
- Activation: During the activation phase, you can choose one of your heroes to activate. An activated hero can perform up to three actions: Move, Attack and Rest. You don’t have to perform all three actions, and you can choose to perform them in any order.
- Move: A move action allows your hero to move up to a certain number of spaces, depending on their speed stat. During this move action, you may also choose to open or close doors.
- Attack: An attack action allows your hero to attack an enemy in the same space or an adjacent space. You can choose from a variety of weapons and abilities for your attack. The effectiveness of your attack is determined by dice rolls.
- Rest: A rest action allows your hero to recover from wounds and recharge their abilities. It also allows you to redistribute your equipment amongst your heroes.
Strategically, players should consider the following when deciding which actions to take on their turn:
- Positioning: Moving strategically can allow you to attack more effectively, avoid enemy attacks, or complete quests more easily.
- Attack Selection: Choosing the right weapon or ability to use in an attack can make a big difference in the outcome of the battle. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of your hero and the enemy.
- Rest Timing: Timing your rest actions effectively can allow your hero to recover from wounds at the right time, and also allows you to make the most of your abilities.
- Equipment Management: Managing your equipment effectively can allow your heroes to be more powerful and versatile. Consider which equipment is best suited to each hero’s abilities and the current situation.
The choices made during each player’s turn can greatly impact the course of the game. Careful strategy and planning can help players to complete their quests and ultimately win the game.
End of the game All good games must come to an end
Arcadia Quest is a thrilling adventure-style board game that allows you to lead a guild of intrepid heroes in the magical city of Arcadia. The game ends and the victory is determined after the conclusion of a campaign, which is typically composed of six different scenarios.
The campaign in Arcadia Quest is a bit different from many other games as it doesn’t follow a linear path. Instead, players get to choose their path through the campaign, leading to different scenarios and outcomes. Each scenario has its own unique victory conditions, which are specified in the scenario’s description.
Ending the Game
The game of Arcadia Quest ends when one player completes the scenario’s primary quest. Usually, these quests involve killing a certain number of monsters or retrieving specific items. Once a player has achieved this, the game concludes, and the players then proceed to the Upgrade Phase.
Upgrade Phase
In the Upgrade Phase, players can spend the gold they’ve earned during the scenario to buy new gear and level up their heroes. This is an essential part of the game, as it allows players to prepare for the upcoming challenges in the campaign.
Victory Conditions
The victory in Arcadia Quest is determined at the end of the campaign. After completing the final scenario of the campaign, players count their Guild Tokens, which they have collected throughout the campaign. The player with the most Guild Tokens is declared the winner. If there’s a tie, the player with the most gold wins.
Guild Tokens can be earned in a few different ways:
- Completing the primary objective of a scenario
- Killing enemy heroes
- Completing side quests
It’s important to note that while players can attack and kill each other’s heroes, the primary focus of the game is on completing quests. This is because killing heroes only yields a temporary advantage and a small amount of Guild Tokens, while completing quests yields more substantial rewards and progress towards winning the game.
Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?
Arcadia Quest is a competitive board game where players aim to score the most points by completing quests, defeating monsters, and acquiring gold. The scoring system is as follows:
I. Completing Quests:
- Each quest completed by a player scores 1 point.
- If a player completes the guild quest, they score 1 additional point.
II. Defeating Monsters:
- Each monster defeated by a player scores 1 point.
- If a player defeats the final boss, they score 2 additional points.
III. Acquiring Gold:
- Every 5 gold coins a player has at the end of the game scores 1 point.
Tie-Breaking Rules:
In the event of a tie, the following rules are applied in order:
- The player who completed the most quests wins.
- If still tied, the player who defeated the most monsters wins.
- If still tied, the player with the most gold wins.
- If still tied, the player who completed their guild quest first wins.
- If a tie still persists, all tied players share the victory.
Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?
Arcadia Quest is a thrilling board game with a variety of unique rules and special circumstances. A thorough understanding of these rules can significantly improve your gameplay. Here are some of the special rules and exceptions you should keep in mind:
1. Death Curse Cards:
In the event of a Hero’s death, a Death Curse card is dealt to the player. It’s a permanent negative effect that lasts until the end of the campaign. However, there is an exception. If a player has a resurrection spell or item, the Death Curse card can be removed.
2. Guild Dashboard:
The Guild Dashboard is an important tool in Arcadia Quest. It helps to keep track of the heroes, their items, and their status. It’s worth noting that a Guild can have a maximum of three heroes and each hero can only carry one weapon.
3. Attack and Defense:
The attack and defense mechanisms in Arcadia Quest are unique. When a player attacks, they roll as many dice as the attack value of their weapon. The defense value of a hero or monster determines how many dice they roll when defending.
- Attack Dice: A sword symbol signifies an attack success. A crit symbol can be considered as a double success.
- Defense Dice: A shield symbol blocks an attack success. A crit symbol blocks an attack success and gives the defender a chance for a counter-attack.
4. Exploration Tokens:
Exploration tokens are special items that can help or hinder your progress. They can only be revealed when a hero ends their movement on the token’s space.
5. Player vs Player (PvP) Rewards:
When a hero kills another hero, the attacking player receives a coin from the bank. However, the same hero cannot be targeted by any of the other player’s heroes in the same turn.
6. Monster Spawn:
Monsters spawn at the end of a player’s turn, in the monster’s spawn space. But, a monster cannot spawn if a hero is occupying its spawn space.
7. Portal Usage:
Portals provide a fast way to travel across the board. A hero can move into a portal space for one movement point and exit from any other portal for one additional movement point. But, a hero cannot initiate an attack or rest on a portal space.
Understanding these special rules and exceptions can greatly enhance your Arcadia Quest experience.
Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!
Arcadia Quest is a highly engaging and competitive board game that demands strategic planning and careful execution of moves. The following are some tips, strategies, and mistakes to avoid when playing this exciting game.
Advanced Strategies:
- Plan Your Campaign: Arcadia Quest is a campaign-based game where the outcome of one game can affect the next. Therefore, it’s crucial to plan not just for the current game, but also keep in mind how your actions might impact future games.
- Manage Your Wounds: Avoid taking too many wounds too quickly. If a character takes too much damage, they will be out of the game, leaving you at a disadvantage.
- Utilize Your Heroes Effectively: Each hero has unique abilities. Use them to your advantage by deploying them strategically based on the situation.
Beginner Tips:
- Learn the Rules Thoroughly: Arcadia Quest has a vast array of rules. Spend enough time understanding these rules to avoid confusion during gameplay.
- Start with Basic Heroes: Starting with basic heroes will allow you to learn the game mechanics before moving on to more complex heroes with unique abilities.
- Practice: Like any other game, practice is key to getting better at Arcadia Quest. Play several practice games before competing in a campaign.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Ignoring Quest Objectives: Many new players focus too much on combat and forget about the quests. This can be a critical mistake as completing quests can provide significant advantages.
- Not Utilizing Equipment: Equipment can significantly enhance your heroes’ abilities. Neglecting them can put you at a disadvantage.
- Not Planning Ahead: As mentioned earlier, Arcadia Quest is a campaign-based game. Any poor decisions you make can affect your future games. Always plan ahead.
Ways to Optimize Gameplay:
- Use the Environment: The game board is not just for movement. Use the environment to your advantage by blocking paths or setting up traps.
- Pace Your Attacks: Don’t rush into battles. Instead, pace your attacks and wait for the right moment to strike.
- Upgrade Wisely: Make wise decisions when upgrading your heroes. Don’t just go for the most expensive upgrades. Instead, choose upgrades that complement your heroes’ abilities and your overall strategy.