Dungeon Petz

2011

Dungeon Petz is a captivating game of strategy and wit, where players raise magical monsters, cater to their different needs, and sell them to Dungeon Lords. Be ready to enter contests, score points, and navigate the hilarity of pet ownership!

90
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

13+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the enchantingly quirky world of Dungeon Petz, a strategic board game set in a captivating fantasy universe. You’re about to embark on a journey filled with magical creatures and a bustling pet market, all while nurturing your very own collection of adorable, yet occasionally monstrous, pets.

The game takes place in the bustling city of Dungeon, a realm teeming with magical creatures and the notorious Dungeon Petz pet shop. The setting perfectly blends whimsy with an entrepreneurial spirit, as you take on the role of an ambitious pet shop owner, seeking to grow their business by nurturing and selling a host of charming, yet occasionally unruly, magical pets.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The game of ‘Dungeon Petz’ is a dynamic board game that includes a variety of components, each having its own significance and role in the game. Here is a list of the game components and a description of their function:

1. Game Board:

The game board is the central component of Dungeon Petz. It is divided into various sections where players can take actions, buy petz, sell petz, and more. The game board is also used to track rounds and keep score.

2. Player Boards:

Each player receives a player board, which acts as their personal playing area. It is used to house their petz, imps, and gold. It also provides a reference for the various actions available during the game.

3. Petz Cards:

These cards represent the different petz that players can acquire during the game. Each card has unique characteristics and needs, which players must meet to keep their petz happy and healthy.

4. Cage Cards:

Cage cards are used to house the players’ petz. Different cages provide different benefits and drawbacks, and players must choose their cages wisely to best meet the needs of their petz.

5. Imp Figures:

Each player has a set of imp figures. These are used to take actions on the game board, such as buying petz or cages, gathering resources, or participating in exhibitions and contests.

6. Gold Tokens:

Gold is the currency in Dungeon Petz. Players can spend gold to buy petz, cages, and other upgrades. Gold can also be earned by selling petz and winning contests.

7. Food Tokens:

Food tokens represent the various foods that petz can eat. Players must manage their food supply to ensure that their petz are well-fed.

8. Need Cards:

Need cards represent the various needs and desires of the petz. These needs must be met by the players to keep their petz happy and prevent them from running away or getting sick.

9. Exhibition and Contest Cards:

These cards represent the various exhibitions and contests that take place throughout the game. Participating in these events can earn players prestige and gold.

10. Mutation Tokens:

Mutation tokens are used to mutate your petz. These mutations can make your petz more valuable and desirable, but they can also introduce new challenges and needs.

11. Suffering Tokens:

Suffering tokens are used to track the suffering of your petz. If a pet suffers too much, it can run away or even die.

12. Cage Add-Ons:

Cage add-ons are upgrades that players can buy for their cages. These can provide additional benefits and help players better meet the needs of their petz.

13. Platform and Progress Board:

The Platform and Progress Board is used to track the progress of the game, including the current round and the upcoming exhibitions and contests.

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

Dungeon Petz is a unique and entertaining board game where players raise monsters and sell them to Dungeon Lords. Here’s a step-by-step guide to set up this game:

Step 1: Setting up the Central Board and Player Boards

Place the central board in the middle of the playing area. Each player then receives a player board (burrow), which they place in front of them. The player boards contain information about the actions and resources available to the player.

Step 2: Distributing Starting Resources

Each player starts with one adult imp worker, two imp workers, and one gold coin. Place these items on your player board. The round marker should be placed on the first round spot of the central board.

Step 3: Setting up the Pets

Shuffle the pet egg deck and draw six cards. Place these cards on the six pet market spaces on the central board. The rest of the deck should be set aside for now.

Step 4: Setting up the Needs Cards

Separate the needs cards into four decks based on their backs (play, hunger, anger, and disease). Shuffle each deck separately and place them next to the central board.

Step 5: Setting up the Platform tiles

Shuffle the platform tiles and place three face-up next to the central board. The remaining tiles form a draw pile.

Step 6: Setting up the Cage Cards

Shuffle the cage cards and place four face-up next to the central board. The remaining cards form a draw pile.

Step 7: Setting up the Customer Cards

Separate the customer cards into two decks based on their backs (regular customers and end-game customers). Shuffle both decks separately. Draw two cards from the regular customer deck and place these face-up on the customer spaces on the central board. The rest of the cards should be set aside for now.

Step 8: Random Element – Artifact Cards

Shuffle the artifact cards and place four face-up next to the central board. The remaining cards form a draw pile. These artifacts add a random element to the game and can give players special abilities or advantages.

Step 9: Player Roles

Each player takes on the role of a petz owner. The aim is to raise and sell the most valuable pets to the Dungeon Lords. Players must balance the needs of their pets with the demands of the market and their resources.

Step 10: Starting the Game

The youngest player (or the player who last fed a pet) goes first. Play proceeds clockwise from this player. The game continues for five rounds until all the pets have been sold and the player with the most victory points is the winner.

Game flow Round and round we go

In the board game, Dungeon Petz, players take on the roles of imp families that are trying to rise in rank by buying, breeding, and selling various types of monsters. The game is played over several rounds, each of which is divided into six phases. Each phase represents a different aspect of running a successful monster pet shop.

1. Preparation Phase:

Restocking the Board: New items are placed on the game board, including pets, cages, add-ons, artifacts, and customers.
Group Creation: Players form their families into groups. The number of imps and the amount of gold in each group determines the group’s strength.

2. Shopping Phase:

Players take turns placing their groups on the action spaces of the board. The strength of the group determines who gets to perform the action first.
Some of the possible actions include buying pets, cages, or add-ons, acquiring artifacts, selling pets, and attracting customers.

3. Needs Phase:

Each pet has a deck of needs cards. Players draw a number of cards equal to the pet’s age and then choose one to play.
The chosen card determines what the pet needs for this round, such as food, play, magic, or anger management.

4. Exhibition Phase:

There are two exhibitions during the game. Players present their pets and score points based on how well their pets meet the exhibition’s criteria.

5. Business Phase:

Players sell their pets to customers. The customer’s preferences and the pet’s characteristics determine the selling price.
Players can also use this phase to buy new imps and gold, or to discard unwanted cards.

6. Aging Phase:

All pets age by one round. Older pets have more needs but are also worth more points.
Players then prepare for the next round by restocking the board and forming new groups.

The game ends after a certain number of rounds (determined by the number of players). The player with the most points, earned from selling pets and winning exhibitions, is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Dungeon Petz is a strategic board game that revolves around buying, raising, and selling magical creatures. Each player’s turn involves several stages, each with its own set of options and strategic considerations.

The game progresses in rounds, with each round consisting of four phases: Setup Phase, Shopping Phase, Needs Phase, and Exhibition Phase. During each player’s turn in these phases, they can perform various actions.

1. Setup Phase:

Age your pets: All pets on your board get older. The age of a pet can influence its behavior, needs, and value.
Refresh the boards: You refill the Central Board and Progress Board with new items and pets. This refreshes the options available for the Shopping Phase.

2. Shopping Phase:

Group your imps: You can place your imps and gold into groups. The number of imps and the amount of gold in a group can influence your shopping power during this phase.
Buy from the Central Board: You can buy pets, food, artifacts, cages, or potions from the Central Board. What you buy can influence your strategy, as different items have different uses and benefits.
Buy from the Progress Board: You can also buy upgrades from the Progress Board. These upgrades can provide long-term benefits and shape your overall strategy.

3. Needs Phase:

Draw Needs cards: Each pet has needs that must be met. During this phase, you draw Needs cards for your pets. The needs can be various, from food to play, and meeting these needs can influence your pet’s behavior and value.
Meet your pets’ needs: You then try to meet the needs indicated on the cards. Failing to meet a pet’s needs can lead to penalties, while successfully meeting them can lead to rewards.

4. Exhibition Phase:

Participate in exhibitions: There are exhibitions where your pets can compete. Participating in an exhibition can earn you points, but each exhibition has different requirements, which can influence which pets you choose to enter.
Sell your pets: You can choose to sell your pets to Dungeon Lords. The price you get for a pet is influenced by its age, behavior, and the needs you have met.

Each of these actions and strategic choices can greatly affect the outcome of the game. Successful strategy in Dungeon Petz involves careful planning and resource management, as well as adapting to the ever-changing needs of your pets and the demands of the market.

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

Dungeon Petz is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of imp families managing pet shops in a magical city. The game ends after the completion of the 5th exhibition and the 5th customer visit, which happens after the fifth round of play.

Before moving on to the final scoring, players must take a few important steps. These include:

Returning Pets: All pets remaining in the player’s pet shop must be returned to the central game board.
Discarding Needs Cards: Any remaining needs cards in a player’s hand should be discarded.
Clearing Cages and Add-Ons: All cages and add-ons should be cleared from the player’s pet shop board.

Once these actions have been performed, players can proceed to final scoring. The victory conditions in Dungeon Petz are based on the total number of points a player has accumulated throughout the game. Points can be earned from several sources, including:

Selling Pets: Players score points for each pet sold during the game. The number of points awarded for each pet is determined by the pet’s selling price.
Exhibitions: Points are awarded based on a player’s ranking in each exhibition. The player with the highest ranked pet in each exhibition earns the most points.
Customer Satisfaction: Players earn points for each satisfied customer in their pet shop. This is determined by the number of needs cards successfully matched to a pet’s needs.
Pet Maturity: Points are also awarded for the age of the pets at the end of the game. The older the pet, the more points it is worth.
Remaining Resources: Any remaining resources (gold, food, artifacts, etc.) are converted into points at the end of the game.

The player with the highest total score at the end of the game is declared the winner. If there is a tie, the player with the most remaining gold wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most unsold pets wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In Dungeon Petz, points are earned through various actions and achievements throughout the game. At the end of the game, all points are added up to determine the winner.

Points are awarded as follows:

Exhibitions and Competitions: Points are awarded based on your pet’s performance in exhibitions and competitions. The better your pet performs, the more points you earn.
Selling Pets: When you sell a pet to a Dungeon Lord, you earn points equal to the selling price.
Need Cards: At the end of the game, you score points for each Need card still in your hand, with the points based on the number of icons on the card.
Artifacts: Certain artifacts award points at the end of the game.
Unused Gold: Each unused gold piece is worth 1 point at the end of the game.
Cages and Add-ons: Some cages and add-ons award points at the end of the game.

Tie-breaking rules are as follows:

The player with the most remaining gold wins the tie.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most unsold pets wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most cages wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most leftover food wins.
If there is still a tie, then the player who went first in the last round of the game wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Dungeon Petz is an immersive strategy board game with many intricate rules and exceptions. Understanding these nuances can greatly enhance your gaming experience. Here are some rare or special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that might be important:

1. Pet Aging:

Typically, each pet ages by one week after each round. However, there’s an exception when a pet is sold or runs away. These pets do not age during the round they leave the player’s pet shop.

2. Exhibition and Sale:

Although the Exhibition and Sale phases usually happen sequentially (Exhibition first, then Sale), a player can choose to sell a pet before participating in the Exhibition. But remember, once a pet is sold, it cannot participate in the Exhibition.

3. Multiple Player Actions:

Players can perform multiple actions during their turn, but they must finish one action before starting another. For example, a player cannot start a new Purchase action before completing their current one.

4. Cage Limitations:

Each cage can only house one pet at a time. If a player purchases a new pet but their cages are all occupied, they must let one pet run away before the new pet can be placed in a cage.

5. Need Cards:

Each pet has specific need cards that must be met. If a player cannot meet a pet’s need (due to lack of resources or other constraints), that pet becomes unhappy and may run away. Note that a player cannot choose to ignore a pet’s need card; they must always try to fulfill it if possible.

6. Magic Pets:

Magic pets are unique in that they can mutate and change their needs. When a magic pet’s mutation symbol appears, the player can choose to change one of the pet’s existing need cards.

7. End of Game:

The game ends after the fifth round of pet exhibitions. The player with the most points from exhibits, sales, and remaining gold is the winner. If there’s a tie, the player with the most remaining gold wins. If there’s still a tie, the player who played last in the final round wins.

By understanding these special rules and exceptions, players can develop more strategic gameplay and fully enjoy the complexities of Dungeon Petz.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Gradual Progression: Try to gradually increase the size of your pet cages, rather than buying the largest cage from the start. This will allow you to accumulate more money for later rounds.
Focus on Exhibitions and Contests: Pay close attention to the upcoming exhibitions and contests. Tailor the needs of your petz accordingly to score maximum points.
Imbued Cage Strategy: Acquire an imbued cage as early as possible in the game. The additional magic these cages provide can give you a significant advantage in the mid to late game.

Beginner Tips:

Understanding Needs: Make sure you understand the needs of your petz well. Different petz have different needs and it’s important to cater to those needs to keep the petz happy.
Use of Imps: Use your imps wisely. Make a balance between assigning them to take care of petz and sending them to the market for purchasing items.
Plan Ahead: Always plan ahead for the next round. This helps in deciding whether to spend or save your gold coins.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring Exhibitions and Contests: Ignoring the exhibitions and contests can cost you valuable points. Always strive to participate in these events.
Neglecting Petz Needs: Neglecting the needs of your petz can lead to them becoming unhappy or even running away. Always ensure your petz are well taken care of.
Saving Too Much Gold: Saving too much gold for later rounds can be a disadvantage. It’s better to spend gold wisely in each round to gain benefits.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Market Strategy: Try to dominate the market early in the game. This gives you an edge in terms of resources and the ability to influence game progression.
Balance: Maintain a balance in taking care of your petz, meeting their needs, and participating in exhibitions and contests.
Utilize Add-Ons: Utilize the add-ons from the expansions. They provide additional strategies and ways to score points and add a lot of variety to the gameplay.