Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set

2013

Uncover ancient evil in Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords - Base Set. A thrilling cooperative strategy card game for 1-4 heroes, filled with magic, mystery, and epic battles.

90
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

13+

Medium

About the game

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a thrilling, cooperative game for one to four players, set in the fantastical realm of Varisia, a land teeming with ancient wonders, mystical artifacts, and unspeakable horrors.

Theme and Setting:

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The ‘Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set’ includes a number of components that are integral to the gameplay. Each component has a specific function and interacts differently with the game mechanics.

1. 500+ Cards

Adventure Deck: This is a set of cards that represent the various challenges players will face during their adventure. Each card can represent an enemy, item, spell, or location. The interactions with these cards determine the progression of the game.

Character Cards: These cards represent the player’s characters within the game. They contain information on the character’s abilities, skills, and equipment. Players use these cards to overcome challenges presented by the Adventure Deck.

2. 7 Class Mats

These mats are for players to organize their character cards, equipment, and other items. Each mat is specifically designed for a class in the game, such as fighter, rogue, or cleric. The mat helps players manage their resources and plan their strategies effectively.

3. 7 Plastic Playing Pieces

These pieces represent the players’ characters on the game board. They allow players to visualize their characters’ movement and interactions with the game world.

4. Rulebook

This provides detailed instructions and guidelines for playing the game. It includes everything from setting up the game, to the turn structure, to resolving conflicts and challenges.

5. Scenario Cards

These cards set the stage for the game, outlining the specific objectives, enemies, and rewards for each game session. They provide the narrative framework within which the game unfolds.

6. 30-sided Dice

The dice are used to resolve actions in the game, such as combat, skill checks, and other challenges. The outcomes of these actions are often determined by rolling the dice and adding relevant modifiers.

7. Tokens

Damage Tokens: They are used to track damage to each player’s character. When a character takes damage, they receive damage tokens equal to the amount of damage taken.

Exploration Tokens: They are used to track the number of explorations a player has left. Players can spend these tokens to explore new locations or face challenges.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a cooperative strategy game for 1-4 players. The following guide will help you set up the game correctly.

Step 1: Player Roles

Every player chooses a character card. Each character has unique abilities and skills. Players take the corresponding character token and place it in front of them. Players also get a deck of cards specific to their character, which represents their resources (items, allies, blessings, etc.).

Step 2: Board Placement

Arrange the locations in a circle in the middle of the play area. The number of locations depends on the number of players. For 1-2 players use 3 locations, for 3-4 players use 4 locations. Place each location deck on its corresponding card. The Blessings deck goes in the middle of the circle.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Every player starts with the cards in their character deck. They draw a hand of cards from their deck: 4 for a 4-player game, 5 for a 3-player game, and 6 for a 1-2 player game.

Step 4: Villain and Henchmen

Take the villain card and a number of henchmen cards equal to the number of locations minus one. Shuffle these cards together and deal one face down to each location deck. Then shuffle each location deck separately.

Step 5: Remaining Setup

Place the rest of the henchmen and monsters in a deck to the side of the locations. This is the blessings deck. Turn over the top card of the blessings deck to start the game.

Step 6: Random Elements

At the start of each player’s turn, the top card of the blessings deck is revealed and its effects applied. This adds a random element to each turn.

Now you are ready to start the game. Each player’s turn consists of moving to a new location, exploring that location, and then using or discarding cards. The goal of the game is to defeat the villain before the blessings deck runs out.

Enjoy your adventure in the world of Pathfinder.

Game flow Round and round we go

The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a cooperative strategy game where players embark on adventures as they combat monsters, acquire new abilities, and discover magical treasures. The game is composed of several rounds, each divided into phases.

Setting Up the Game:

Choose an Adventure: Players begin by choosing an adventure scenario, which sets the story and objectives for the game.
Set Up Locations: Depending on the number of players and the specific adventure, a certain number of location decks are set up on the table. Each location deck is made up of monsters, barriers, weapons, spells, armors, items, allies, and blessings.
Choose Characters: Each player selects a character and takes the corresponding character card and token. Players also construct their character’s initial deck based on the instructions on their character card.
Place Villains and Henchmen: The villain and a number of henchmen, as dictated by the selected scenario, are shuffled into the location decks.

Gameplay:

Each player’s turn during a round consists of the following phases:

Beginning of Turn: Players may perform any abilities that specifically mention they can be done at the start of a turn. They also check their hand size at this point. If a player has more cards than their character’s hand size, they must discard down to their hand size.
Give a Card: The active player may give one card from their hand to another player at the same location.
Move: The active player may move their character token to a different location.
Explore: The player flips over the top card of the location deck where their character is present. Depending on the card, they may have to fight a monster, overcome a barrier, or they may acquire a new item, ally, or blessing.
End of Turn: The active player may play cards, use powers, and/or reset their hand. The player then ends their turn and play passes to the next player.

Winning the Game:

The players win the game if they manage to defeat the villain. However, to do so, they first need to defeat the villain’s henchmen and temporarily close all other locations, ensuring the villain has no place to escape. If the players manage to do this before the blessings deck runs out, they win the game. If the blessings deck runs out before they can accomplish this, the players lose the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a cooperative strategy game where players assume the roles of fantastical adventurers. On each player’s turn, they can take several actions, each of which has an impact on the game’s overall progression.

At the start of a turn, players refresh their hand to its maximum size and advance the blessing deck, which acts as the game’s timer. They then proceed to the following actions:

1. Give a Card:

This action is optional. The active player may give one card from their hand to another player at the same location. This strategy can be beneficial if another player can make better use of a card.

2. Move:

This action is optional. The player may move their character to a different location. The location a player chooses can affect the type of encounters they have and the resources available to them.

3. Explore:

This action is mandatory. The player explores their current location by revealing the top card. Depending on the card, they may need to battle a monster, overcome a barrier, acquire a boon or confront the villain or henchman.

Battle: Players use their cards and abilities to overcome the revealed monster. The outcome of the battle can affect the player’s health and resources.
Barrier: Players face challenges which they must overcome using their character’s skills or cards. Failing to overcome a barrier may have negative effects.
Boon: These are beneficial cards that players can try to acquire, such as items, allies, spells, or weapons.
Villain or Henchman: Confronting these cards leads to major battles. Defeating them is key to closing locations and ultimately winning the game.

4. Reset Hand:

This action is mandatory. At the end of their turn, players must reset their hand back to its maximum size. This often involves discarding excess cards or drawing more cards if they have fewer than their hand size.

Throughout their turn, players will need to make strategic decisions based on their character’s abilities, the cards in their hand, and the current state of the game board. These choices will influence the game’s progression and the team’s chances of defeating the villain and winning the game.

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

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is an immersive cooperative game which ends when players either meet the victory conditions or succumb to defeat. The game’s conclusion is determined by the players’ ability to complete scenarios, which in turn complete adventures, and ultimately the adventure path.

The Victory Conditions of the game are as follows:

Scenario Victory: A scenario ends in victory when the players have fulfilled the requirements specified in the ‘When You Win’ section of the scenario. This often involves defeating a villain and successfully cornering them by temporarily closing all other locations.
Adventure Victory: An adventure is won when all the scenarios in that adventure have been successfully completed. The victory rewards for the adventure are then given to the players, often including new cards and abilities.
Adventure Path Victory: The Adventure Path is won when all the adventures in the Adventure Path have been successfully completed. This represents the end of the game and the ultimate victory for the players.

Before the final scoring, players must complete the following actions:

Ensure that all the villains and henchmen have been defeated and there are no open locations where they can escape.
If the scenario has other specific winning conditions, these must be completed. For example, certain scenarios require the players to acquire a specific item or ally.
Once the victory conditions for the scenario are met, players receive the rewards listed in the scenario’s ‘Reward’ section. These rewards often include drawing new cards or gaining new abilities.
After the completion of all scenarios within an adventure, the rewards for the adventure are given. This is similar to the scenario rewards but usually more significant.
Finally, when all adventures in the Adventure Path have been completed, the players win the game.

The game ends in defeat if the players are unable to meet the victory conditions within the time limit (when the Blessings deck is depleted) or if all the characters are dead. If the villain escapes because there are open locations, the scenario must be replayed.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set, scoring primarily revolves around the progression and development of your character rather than a traditional point system. Successful completion of scenarios and adventures allows players to improve their characters, which can be considered as scoring in the game. Here’s how scoring works in this game:

1. Character Advancement:

One main way players ‘score’ is through the advancement of their characters. This involves the gaining of new abilities, spells, allies, weapons, and other equipment which strengthen the player’s character. These advancements are key indicators of a player’s progress in the game.

2. Scenario Rewards:

Completing a scenario often grants rewards. These can include new cards, which can be added to a player’s deck, thus improving their character’s capabilities. Also, certain scenarios award the players with specific character advancements. These rewards can also be viewed as ‘scoring’ within the game context.

3. Adventure Rewards:

At the end of each Adventure, players receive specific rewards. These often include a card feat, which allows players to add more cards to their deck, and thus better equip their characters for future challenges.

Tie-breaking Rules:

Given the cooperative nature of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, there are no explicit tie-breaking rules. The game is designed for players to work together to overcome challenges rather than compete against each other. Therefore, the concept of a ‘tie’ doesn’t traditionally apply in this game.

However, in situations where players might want to compare their characters’ progress or ‘score’, they could consider factors such as the number of completed scenarios, the amount of acquired rewards, or the overall strength and versatility of their character decks.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a cooperative strategy game where players take the roles of adventurers using their unique abilities to overcome various challenges. However, the game does have certain special rules and exceptions that players need to be aware of for a successful playthrough:

1. Burying Cards: In some scenarios, you may need to ‘bury’ a card, which means it is removed from your hand for the rest of the scenario. Unlike banished cards, buried cards are not permanently removed and will return to your deck at the end of the scenario.

2. Closing Locations: When you have explored all the cards at a location, you have the option to close it. However, each location has a specific requirement that must be met to close it, listed on the location card. If you fail to meet this requirement, the location remains open.

3. Exploring Multiple Times: Players can only explore once during their turn. However, certain cards allow you to explore again. Note that this does not count as playing a card.

4. Temporary Closures: When attempting to permanently close a location, you may temporarily close other locations to prevent the villain from escaping. However, these locations will reopen at the end of your turn.

5. Encountering Villains: If you encounter a villain, you must attempt to temporarily close all other open locations first. Only if you succeed in closing all other locations does defeating the villain result in closing the current location permanently.

6. Dying: If a character’s deck ever runs out and they must draw a card, that character dies. Dead characters are out for the rest of the scenario and must start a new character if they wish to continue playing in future scenarios.

7. The Blessings Deck: The blessings deck acts as a timer for the game. If this deck runs out before you can complete your objective, you lose the scenario.

8. Role Cards: After completing a certain number of scenarios, players can choose a Role Card for their character. This provides new powers and abilities, but players must follow the restrictions on the role card.

These are some of the special rules and exceptions that make Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set a challenging and engaging game. Always make sure to follow the instructions on the scenario and location cards as they can often introduce new rules or exceptions for the duration of the scenario.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a fascinating game that offers players a rich and immersive experience. Below are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies:

Focus on optimizing your character’s deck throughout the game. The goal is to improve your character’s abilities and skills continually. This can be done by acquiring new cards during gameplay and replacing less effective cards.
Teamwork is key. You should always aim to collaborate with other players to defeat monsters and overcome obstacles. This can be particularly useful when facing powerful bosses that can be hard to defeat alone.
Manage your time wisely. The game is essentially a race against the clock, so be sure to consider time constraints when planning your moves.

Beginner Tips:

Take time to fully understand the rules before playing. This is a complex game with many nuances, so a solid understanding of the rules will greatly enhance your gaming experience.
Start by playing a few games with only one character to get a feel for the game mechanics. Then, gradually add more characters as you become more comfortable.
Take advantage of the character-specific abilities. Each character has unique abilities that can be used to overcome challenges. Use these abilities wisely to maximize your chances of success.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don’t hoard cards. You might be tempted to hold onto cards for future use, but this can hinder your progress. Instead, use your cards to gain a tactical advantage in the game.
Avoid rushing through the game. While it’s important to keep an eye on the clock, rushing through the game without a clear strategy can lead to unnecessary mistakes.
Don’t underestimate the importance of teamwork. This game is designed to be played cooperatively, so working together with other players is crucial for success.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Balance your deck. Make sure your character’s deck has a good mix of weapons, spells, allies, and blessings. A well-balanced deck can help you overcome a variety of challenges.
Communicate with your team. Sharing information about your cards and discussing strategies with your team can greatly enhance your chances of success.
Prioritize defeating the villain. The main goal of the game is to defeat the villain, so focus your efforts on this task whenever possible.