Lacrimosa

2022

In Lacrimosa, players travel through time, support Mozart's compositions, and aim to be remembered as his greatest patron. A strategic game of resources and reputation!

90
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Lacrimosa is an immersive and strategic board game that transports players into a richly-woven narrative of intrigue, mystery, and adventure. Set in the hauntingly beautiful realm of Lacrimosa, a world teetering on the brink of twilight, players must navigate this complex landscape, filled with ancient relics, shadowy figures, and enigmatic puzzles.

The heart of the game revolves around the core mechanics of exploration, resource management, and cooperative strategy. Players take on the roles of distinct characters, each with unique abilities and backstories, and must work together to achieve their individual and collective goals.

Game flow Round and round we go

The game of ‘Lacrimosa’ is an engaging board game that involves strategic and tactical thinking. It is typically played by 2 to 4 players. The game comprises of three main phases in each round: the Preparatory Phase, the Action Phase, and the Resolution Phase.

Preparatory Phase:

The Preparatory Phase starts each game round. During this phase, players prepare for the upcoming round by performing the following actions:

Draw Cards: Each player draws three cards from the main deck. If the deck runs out, shuffle the discard pile to form a new deck.
Place Characters: Players take turns placing their characters on the game board. The placement of the characters can influence the outcome of the game, making it a strategic decision.
Prepare Abilities: Players check their characters’ abilities and prepare them for use in the Action Phase.

Action Phase:

During the Action Phase, players take turns to perform one action at a time. The actions that can be performed include:

Move: Move a character to an adjacent position on the board.
Attack: Use a character’s abilities to attack an opponent’s character. The attacked character is removed from the board if its health reaches zero.
Use Ability: Use a character’s special ability. These abilities vary between characters and can have various effects on the game.
Draw Card: Draw a card from the deck. This action can only be performed once per turn.

Resolution Phase:

The Resolution Phase concludes each round. The following actions are performed:

Check Victory Conditions: If a player has met the victory conditions of the game, they are declared the winner. If not, the game proceeds to the next round.
Discard Excess Cards: If a player has more than six cards in their hand, they must discard cards until they only hold six.
Reset Characters: All characters’ abilities are reset, and any temporary effects are removed.

The game continues with the Preparatory Phase of the next round until a player meets the victory conditions and wins the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Lacrimosa is a strategy-based board game that invites players to navigate through a labyrinth of choices and actions. During each turn, a player has the opportunity to undertake a variety of actions to advance their position or hinder their opponent’s progress. These actions form the backbone of the game’s strategy and greatly impact the overall gameplay.

The following breakdown provides a detailed look at each possible action:

Move: A player may move their piece any number of spaces in any direction, as long as the path is unobstructed. Moving wisely is a key strategic element as it can open or close potential paths for both the player and their opponents.
Block: A player can choose to place a barrier on any two adjacent spaces on the board, preventing any piece from passing through. This can be used to block an opponent’s path or to protect one’s own piece.
Attack: If a player’s piece is adjacent to an opponent’s piece, they can choose to attack. This initiates a dice roll, with the higher roll winning the confrontation. Losing pieces are returned to their starting point.
Power Up: A player can choose to spend a turn powering up, which allows them to roll two dice in their next attack. This can be a risky move as it leaves the player vulnerable for a turn, but can potentially tip a crucial battle in their favor.

Each of these actions carries its own risks and rewards, and the strategic choices players make can drastically alter the course of the game. For instance, aggressively attacking opponents might eliminate threats, but it could also leave a player’s piece in a vulnerable position.

Similarly, using blocks to create a protected path towards the goal might seem like a good strategy, but if a player becomes too focused on defense, they might find themselves unable to respond effectively to their opponent’s moves.

Ultimately, the key to victory in Lacrimosa lies in balancing aggression with caution, and in cleverly navigating the ever-changing landscape of the game board.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘Lacrimosa’ ends when one of two conditions is met:

Exhaustion of the deck: When the draw pile is completely depleted and no more cards can be drawn, the game ends immediately after the current round is completed.
Completion of the Lacrimosa Mosaic: If a player succeeds in completing their personal Lacrimosa Mosaic, which consists of specific sets of cards, they may declare the end of the game. The game then ends after the current round is completed, allowing all other players an equal number of turns.

Regardless of how the game ends, scoring then takes place to determine the winner. The following points are taken into consideration:

Card points: Players add up the points on all cards they have in their Lacrimosa Mosaic and on their hand. Certain cards have negative points, and these are subtracted from the total.
Completion bonus: If a player has completed their Lacrimosa Mosaic, they receive a completion bonus of 20 points.
Special cards: Some cards provide additional scoring opportunities. These are scored as per the instructions on the card.

After all points are counted, the player with the highest score is declared the winner. In case of a tie, the player who triggered the end of the game wins.

Before the final scoring, players should take the following actions:

Reveal all cards: Each player must reveal all the cards in their hand and Lacrimosa Mosaic.
Calculate scores: Each player should then calculate their score, taking into account the points on their cards, any completion bonuses, and the rules of any special cards.
Confirm scores: Players should confirm each other’s scores to ensure accuracy. Any disputes should be resolved before the winner is declared.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Lacrimosa’, scoring is a crucial part of the gameplay. The game is set in a surrealistic, dream-like world where players compete for the highest points.

How points are awarded

Points in ‘Lacrimosa’ are awarded based on several factors:

Exploration: Players earn points by exploring the unknown territories in the game. Each territory explored is worth 2 points.
Collecting Dream Fragments: Dream Fragments are valuable items in ‘Lacrimosa’. Each Dream Fragment is worth 3 points. However, a complete set of all five types of Dream Fragments awards the player an additional 10 points.
Completing Challenges: Challenges are tasks set by the game. They vary in difficulty and the points they award. Simple challenges may award 2 points while complex challenges can award up to 10 points.
Defeating Nightmares: Nightmares are the antagonists in ‘Lacrimosa’. Each defeated Nightmare is worth 5 points.

Tie-Breaking Rules

In the case of a tie, ‘Lacrimosa’ has specific rules to determine the winner:

Firstly, the player who has explored the most territories is the winner.
If still tied, the player who has the most complete sets of Dream Fragments wins.
If the tie persists, the player who has completed the most challenges is the winner.
Finally, if the tie cannot be broken by the above methods, the player who has defeated the most Nightmares is declared the winner.

It is crucial to remember that ‘Lacrimosa’ is a game of strategy and risk-taking. Players must balance their efforts between exploring, collecting Dream Fragments, completing challenges, and defeating Nightmares to maximize their points and chances of winning.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Lacrimosa is a complex board game that requires strategic thinking and careful planning. While the basic rules are relatively straightforward, there are a few rare or special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that players need to understand.

1. The Dormant Phase:

During the game, players can choose to enter a ‘Dormant Phase’. This is a special state where a player’s actions are limited, but they gain increased defense against other players’ maneuvers. However, this phase can only be entered once per game, per player.

2. The Lacrimosa Card:

The titular ‘Lacrimosa Card’ is a unique aspect of the game. If a player draws this card, they can choose to either play it immediately or keep it hidden. If played, it forces all other players to reveal their hands. If kept hidden, it can be revealed at any time to immediately end the game. The player with the Lacrimosa card at this point wins, regardless of the current score.

3. The Ghost Rule:

If a player is eliminated from the game, they become a ‘ghost’. Ghost players are still part of the game but cannot win. They can, however, influence the outcome by aiding or hindering other players. This rule is subject to a lot of debates as it can significantly influence the game’s balance.

4. Rule Clarifications:

Trading: Players can trade cards, items, or points, but only during their turn. Trades can involve multiple players and do not have to be reciprocal. However, all trades must be completed within the trading player’s turn.
Card Limits: Each player can only have a maximum of seven cards in their hand at any time. If a player draws a card and already has seven cards, they must discard a card before the next player’s turn begins.
Point Calculation: At the end of the game, if no player has the Lacrimosa card, the winner is the player with the most points. Points are calculated based on the number of cards in hand, items owned, and specific card combinations.