Dungeon Lords

2009

Dungeon Lords is a strategic board game where players build, manage and defend their own intricate dungeon from an onslaught of heroic invaders.

90
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

12+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the enthralling world of Dungeon Lords, a board game that masterfully combines strategy, role-playing, and resource management. This game transports you to an immersive fantasy realm where you’re not the typical hero but a dungeon lord, tasked with the exciting job of building and defending your dungeon against pesky adventurers.

The game is set in the mystical lands of the Dungeon Lords universe, where magic, monsters, and mayhem are a part of everyday life. As a dungeon lord, you will construct your dungeon, recruit monsters, set traps, and do whatever it takes to protect your treasure.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

In the game of ‘Dungeon Lords’, there are several components that each play a specific function in the gameplay. The following is a detailed list of these components and a description of their roles:

1. Game Board:

The game board is the main playing area where players plan their strategies and actions. It has different areas designated for various actions such as mining, tunneling, and setting traps.

2. Order cards:

Each player has a set of order cards. These cards are used to determine the sequence of player’s actions. The order cards are revealed simultaneously and the actions are performed in the order of their numbers.

3. Dungeon Boards:

Each player has a Dungeon board. This is where players build their dungeons. The Dungeon board has spaces for rooms, tunnels, and traps.

4. Monster cards:

Monster cards represent the monsters that will invade the dungeons. These cards are drawn randomly and determine the strength and abilities of the monsters.

5. Room tiles:

Room tiles are used to build rooms in the dungeons. Each room tile has a specific function and provides certain benefits to the player.

6. Tunnel Tiles:

Tunnel tiles are used to connect rooms in the dungeons. They are also used to determine the path of the invading monsters.

7. Trap Tiles:

Trap tiles are used to set traps for the invading monsters. When a monster encounters a trap, it suffers the consequences indicated on the trap tile.

8. Combat cards:

Combat cards are used during the combat phase of the game. They are used to determine the outcome of the battles between the dungeon lords and the monsters.

9. Minion Tokens:

Minion tokens represent the minions that work for the dungeon lords. They are used to perform various actions such as mining, building rooms, and fighting monsters.

10. Imp Tokens:

Imp tokens represent the imps that work in the dungeons. They are used to perform various tasks such as digging tunnels and setting traps.

11. Food Tokens:

Food tokens are used to feed the minions. If a player does not have enough food tokens, their minions will not be able to perform their tasks.

12. Gold Tokens:

Gold tokens represent the wealth of the dungeon lords. Gold is used to buy various items and resources in the game.

13. Damage Tokens:

Damage tokens are used to track the damage inflicted on the monsters. If a monster receives damage equal to its health, it is defeated.

14. Player Markers:

Player markers are used to track the player’s position on the scoring track. The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

All these components interact to create a complex and strategic game. The goal of each player is to build the most efficient and deadly dungeon, while managing their resources and fighting off the invading monsters.

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

Dungeon Lords is a strategic board game that requires careful planning and resource management. Here’s a step by step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Board Placement

Place the main game board in the center of the table. Make sure the side corresponding to the number of players is face up. Next, put the Progress board next to the main board. Place the Dungeon board in front of each player. The side with one tunnel should be face up.

Step 2: Player Roles

Each player takes on the role of a Dungeon Lord with the goal of building the most impressive dungeon. Players will need to employ monsters, set traps, and dig tunnels to protect their treasures and defend against heroes.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player receives one Imp figure, one Food, one Gold, and a set of three Room tiles. Imps are your workers in the game, Food is used to feed monsters, and Gold is used to pay for various expenses. The Room tiles are used to expand your dungeon.

Step 4: Prepare Game Components

Place the round marker on the first space of the Progress board. Arrange the Monster, Trap, Room, and Combat cards in separate stacks on their designated spaces on the game board. Reveal the top card of each stack.

Step 5: Random Elements

Shuffle all the Event tiles and draw two. Place them face up on their designated spaces on the Progress board. These will add unpredictable elements to the game.

Step 6: Prepare Player Order

Each player takes one player order token and places it on the player order track in the order they will play. The initial order is determined randomly.

Step 7: Start of the Game

The player who last visited a dungeon becomes the starting player. Now, you’re ready to start the game!

Game flow Round and round we go

Dungeon Lords is a strategic game set in a fantasy world where players take on the role of dungeon lords, constructing and defending their dungeons against invading adventurers. The game lasts for two game years, each consisting of four seasons or rounds, culminating in a final scoring phase.

Spring, Summer and Autumn Rounds:

Order of Play Selection: During these rounds, each player selects an order of play card. This determines the sequence of play for the current round.
Action Phase: Players take turns to place their minions on the central board to perform various actions such as digging tunnels, mining for gold, hiring minions, buying traps, getting food, and acquiring magic spells. Each action space can accommodate only a limited number of minions.
Production Phase: At the end of every round, players check their food production. Each food symbol in the player’s dungeon produces one food token.

Winter Round:

Adventurer Phase: During the winter round, adventurers are attracted to the dungeons. The type of adventurers attracted depends on the actions performed by the players during the year.
Combat Phase: The attracted adventurers invade the dungeons. Players use their minions, traps, and spells to defend their dungeon. Combat is resolved through a sequence of rounds until either all adventurers are defeated or they successfully navigate through the dungeon.
Year-End Phase: At the end of the winter round, players must feed their minions. If they cannot feed a minion, they lose reputation. The player with the most reputation points at the end of the winter round becomes the starting player for the next year.

Final Scoring:

After two game years, the game ends. Final scoring takes place, where players gain or lose points based on the conditions of their dungeons, the number of adventurers defeated, and their remaining resources. The player with the highest score wins the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the board game ‘Dungeon Lords’, each player’s turn comprises various stages and actions. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Order of Play:

At the start of each turn, the player with the start player token decides the order of play for that round. They can choose to play first, last, or any position in-between. The order of play can significantly affect gameplay as it determines who gets to choose actions first.

2. Choosing Actions:

Each player selects two actions from the following options:

Imps: Used to mine gold, dig tunnels, or build rooms.
Food: Used to buy food which is needed to hire monsters.
Trap: Used to build traps that can hurt the adventurers.
Room: Used to build rooms which provide various benefits.
Spell: Used to purchase magic spells which can help in various ways.
Monster: Used to hire monsters that can fight the adventurers.

3. Resolving Actions:

Starting with the first player, each player resolves their chosen actions. The order in which actions are resolved can impact the game as some actions may no longer be available if another player has taken them first.

4. Pay Day:

All players must pay their monsters and imps. If a player can’t pay, they suffer penalties. This requires strategic planning to ensure you have enough resources to cover your expenses.

5. Fighting Adventurers:

Adventurers come to attack your dungeon. You can use your monsters, traps, and spells to defeat them. The outcome of these battles can affect your final score.

6. End of Turn:

If there are any unclaimed actions, they are removed from the board, and the next round begins with the order of play step.

The strategic choices made during a player’s turn can greatly affect the outcome of the game. Choosing the right actions, managing resources, and defending your dungeon are all key aspects of gameplay in ‘Dungeon Lords’.

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

The game of Dungeon Lords is designed to last for two game years, with each year consisting of four seasons. The game ends at the conclusion of the second Winter season, following the resolution of the second Adventuring phase.

When the game ends, players will proceed to the final scoring. However, before the final scoring, players must perform certain actions:

Reveal Orders: Players must reveal all remaining orders behind their screens.
Resolve Final Combat: If there are any Adventurers left in a player’s dungeon after the second Adventuring phase, they must be defeated using traps and monsters. Any remaining Adventurers inflict damage as usual.

After these actions, players can calculate their final scores based on the following victory conditions:

Imps and Trolls: Each Imp and Troll in a player’s dungeon at the end of the game is worth 1 point.
Gold: Every 5 gold pieces a player has at the end of the game are worth 1 point.
Food: Every 5 food units a player has at the end of the game are worth 1 point.
Rooms: Each room in a player’s dungeon is worth a number of points equal to the number of room tiles in that room.
Monsters: Each monster in a player’s dungeon at the end of the game is worth a number of points equal to its combat value.
Adventurers Defeated: Each adventurer defeated in a player’s dungeon is worth a number of points equal to its combat value.

In addition to the above, players should also subtract points for any damage in their dungeon, with each damage token costing them 1 point. The player with the highest score wins the game. In the event of a tie, the player with the most gold wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In Dungeon Lords, players earn points through various activities and strategies throughout the game. At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins. Here is the detailed scoring system:

1. Dungeon Rooms:

Each room in a player’s dungeon contributes to their total score. The points awarded are based on the type of room:

Basic rooms: These award 1 point each.
Special rooms: These award 3 points each.
Trap rooms: These earn 2 points each.

2. Monsters:

Monsters that survive the adventurers’ assaults also contribute to a player’s score. The points awarded are:

Imps: Each imp earns 1 point.
Trolls: Each troll awards 2 points.
Demons: Each demon earns 3 points.
Ghosts: Each ghost earns 4 points.

3. Gold:

Each piece of gold a player has at the end of the game is worth 1 point.

4. Food:

Each piece of food a player has at the end of the game is worth 1/2 point, rounded down.

5. Evilometer:

Players can also earn negative points based on their position on the Evilometer. The player with the most evil points gets -3 points, the second most gets -2, and the third most gets -1. The player with the least evil points does not lose any points.

6. Unsatisfied Monsters:

Any monsters in a player’s dungeon that are not satisfied at the end of the game deduct points from the player’s total score. Each unsatisfied monster deducts -1 point.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the tie-breaking rules are as follows:

The player with the fewest unsatisfied monsters wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most gold wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who is least evil wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

In the board game Dungeon Lords, there are a few rare or special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that are important to understand to ensure smooth gameplay. Here’s a comprehensive list:

Rule Clarifications:

In the Event phase, players draw an event card and apply its effects. However, if the drawn card has an immediate effect and the effect cannot be applied – for example, a card that destroys a tunnel when there are no tunnels – the card is discarded and a new one is drawn.
In the Combat phase, when a player’s dungeon is being attacked, if there are not enough adventurers to attack all players, the player with the most Evil points is attacked first.
If a player cannot pay their monsters at the end of a year, they must pay with their reputation. If their reputation is already at zero, they cannot pay and their monster leaves the dungeon.

Special Rules:

The Ghost monster cannot be hit by adventurers. It can only be defeated if all other monsters in the room are defeated.
The Dragon monster cannot be bought. It can only be acquired through special events or trap cards.
The Thief adventurer, if not defeated, will steal a random resource from the player’s dungeon.

Exceptions:

The Paladin adventurer is immune to most traps. However, the pitfall trap is an exception and can defeat the Paladin.
During the Order of Play, the player with the most Evil points usually goes first. However, in the first round of the game, the order of play is determined randomly.
Normally, players cannot have more than one of the same type of monster in their dungeon. However, if a player has a Troll Room, they can have multiple Trolls.