Keep the Heroes Out!

2022

Embrace your monstrous side in an asymmetric, cooperative board game for 1-4 players. Battle invading heroes, protect treasures and survive threats to win!

40
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium

About the game

‘Keep the Heroes Out!’ is a thrilling board game that flips the traditional fantasy narrative on its head. Instead of playing as the brave heroes embarking on an epic quest, you take on the roles of the dungeon’s monstrous inhabitants. Your mission? To protect your home and its treasures from the relentless onslaught of greedy, dungeon-delving heroes.

The game’s setting is a classic fantasy dungeon, teeming with winding corridors, hidden rooms, and deadly traps. Each player’s dungeon is filled with unique monsters, all of whom have their own abilities and special moves. These monsters form your last line of defense against the marauding heroes, who are hell-bent on plundering your precious treasure.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

‘Keep the Heroes Out!’ is a thrilling board game which includes several components that interact to make the gameplay intriguing and engaging. Each component serves a unique purpose and contributes to the overall gaming experience. The components are as follows:

1. Game Board

The game board is a map of the dungeon in which the game is set. It includes various rooms and corridors where the gameplay takes place. The board is divided into squares, each representing a space where a hero or a monster can be placed.

2. Hero Tokens

These are the tokens that represent the heroes in the game. Each token is uniquely designed to represent a different kind of hero – warrior, mage, rogue and cleric. They are moved around the board to explore the dungeon and fight monsters.

3. Monster Tokens

These tokens represent the monsters that the heroes have to fight. There are different types of monsters, each with its unique abilities. The players controlling the monsters move these tokens in an attempt to defeat the heroes.

4. Dice

The game includes six-sided dice that are used to determine the outcome of battles between heroes and monsters. The dice are also used to determine the movement of the heroes.

5. Hero Cards

Each hero has a corresponding card that describes their abilities and health points. These cards are used to keep track of the abilities used and the remaining health points of the heroes.

6. Monster Cards

Like the hero cards, each monster has a corresponding card that describes their abilities and health points. These cards are used to keep track of the abilities used and the remaining health points of the monsters.

7. Treasure Cards

These cards represent the treasures that heroes can find in the dungeon. When a hero lands on a space with a treasure, they draw a treasure card which could give them a powerful item or a helpful boost.

8. Trap Cards

These cards are used to set traps in the dungeon. When a hero lands on a space with a trap, a trap card is drawn and the effects of the trap are applied to the hero.

9. Objective Cards

These cards set the objective for each game. The objective could be to defeat a certain monster, find a particular treasure, or simply survive for a certain number of turns.

The interplay of these components creates a dynamic and exciting gaming experience. Players must strategize and make smart decisions based on the abilities of their heroes or monsters, the layout of the dungeon, and the objectives of the game.

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

Keep the Heroes Out! is a thrilling board game that requires strategic thinking and careful planning. The following steps will guide you on how to set up the game:

Player Roles:

In ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’, each player takes on the role of a Dungeon Master, who’s primary task is to protect their dungeon from the invading heroes. The game can be played by 2 to 4 players.

Board Placement:

Set the game board in the center of the table where it is easily reachable by all players. The board represents the dungeon with various rooms and hallways. Each player chooses a corner of the board to be their starting area.

Initial Resources:

Shuffle the Dungeon Master cards and deal five to each player. These cards represent the different traps, monsters, and treasures that can be placed in your dungeon.
Each player starts with a total of 10 gold coins. Gold coins can be used to buy additional cards or resources throughout the game.
Each player also starts with an initial set of three monster tokens and two trap tokens, which they can place in their dungeon.

Random Elements:

The Hero deck: Shuffle the Hero cards and place them face down next to the game board. These cards represent the heroes who will try to invade your dungeon. The top card of the deck is revealed at the start of each player’s turn, introducing a new hero into the game.
The Treasure deck: Similarly, shuffle the Treasure cards and place them face down. These cards are drawn when a Hero successfully enters a room with a treasure icon.
The Trap deck: Shuffle the Trap cards and place them face down. These cards represent the traps that can be placed in the dungeon. When a Hero enters a room with a trap, the top card of the Trap deck is revealed to determine the effect.

Once the decks are placed, the player who most recently visited a real-life dungeon goes first. All set, let the game begin!

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Keep the Heroes Out!’ is a strategic board game where players take on the role of dungeon masters trying to protect their treasures from invading heroes. The game is structured in a series of rounds, each consisting of several distinct phases. In each round, players will have the opportunity to build their defenses, deploy monsters, and fend off the heroes.

Setup: To start the game, each player will set up their dungeon by placing their starting monsters and traps, and drawing their initial hand of cards.

The game proceeds in rounds, with each round having the following phases:

Draw Phase: Each player begins their turn by drawing a card from the deck. These cards can be traps, monsters, or special abilities that can be used later in the round.
Building Phase: Players can then spend their resources to build up their dungeon. This can include adding new rooms, placing traps, or summoning monsters. The goal is to create a maze-like dungeon that will delay or deter the heroes.
Hero Phase: After building, the heroes enter the dungeon. The number and strength of the heroes are determined by the current round. Each hero will navigate through the dungeon, triggering traps and battling monsters along the way.
Fight Phase: If a hero encounters a monster, a fight occurs. Players can play cards from their hand to influence the outcome of the fight. If the hero wins, they continue through the dungeon. If the monster wins, the hero is defeated and removed from the game.
Loot Phase: If a hero makes it to the treasure room, they steal a piece of treasure and then leave the dungeon. The goal of the game is to protect your treasure for as long as possible.

After the Loot Phase, the round ends. If any player has lost all their treasure, the game ends and the player with the most remaining treasure is the winner. If no player has lost all their treasure, a new round begins with the Draw Phase.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In the exciting board game ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’, players take on the role of dungeon masters trying to defend their lair from invading heroes. Each player’s turn is crucial in this strategic game. Here is a thorough breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn:

1. Draw Phase:

Players begin their turn by drawing a card from the dungeon deck. This card could be a trap, a monster, or a treasure. Each card type has its own unique impact on the game:

Trap Cards: These cards can be set in any room of your dungeon. When a hero enters that room, the trap is triggered and can weaken or eliminate the hero.
Monster Cards: These cards can be placed in any room. The monster will fight any hero that enters its room, potentially harming or defeating the hero.
Treasure Cards: These cards can be placed in any room. They attract more heroes but can also be used to lure heroes into traps or monsters.

2. Action Phase:

After drawing a card, players perform one action. Actions can be placing a drawn card, moving a monster, or discarding a card to draw a new one. Each action can drastically influence the game:

Placing a Card: If a player chooses to place the card they drew, they must decide where in their dungeon to put it. The strategic placement of traps, monsters, and treasures can influence the path that heroes take.
Moving a Monster: A player may choose to move a monster from one room to another. This can be a strategic choice to better defend against incoming heroes.
Discarding a Card: If a player doesn’t want to place their card or move a monster, they can discard the card to draw a new one. This could potentially provide a better card, but also wastes an action.

3. Hero Phase:

At the end of their turn, the player draws a hero card and places the hero at the entrance of their dungeon. The hero then moves through the dungeon, triggering any traps, fighting any monsters, and collecting any treasure in its path. The hero phase impacts the game in the following ways:

Triggering Traps: If a hero triggers a trap, the effects of the trap are applied immediately. Depending on the trap, the hero might be weakened or defeated.
Fighting Monsters: If a hero encounters a monster, they fight. The outcome of the fight can result in the hero or the monster (or both) being defeated.
Collecting Treasure: If a hero finds a treasure, they will stop to pick it up, which can slow them down or lead them into traps or monsters.

In ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’, strategic planning and the clever use of resources are key to keeping your dungeon safe. Each player’s turn is filled with crucial decisions that can greatly affect the outcome of the game.

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

The game of ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’ ends under two circumstances. First, the game concludes when the deck of hero cards is depleted and there are no more heroes to enter the dungeon. Second, the game ends prematurely if all players’ dungeon rooms are completely filled with heroes and no player can accommodate any more.

Victory Conditions:

Defeat All Heroes: If a player successfully defeats all the heroes in their dungeon without the dungeon getting completely filled at any point, they are declared the winner. Note: The player must have at least one room in their dungeon free at the end of the game.
Fewest Heroes: If the game ends because the hero deck has been exhausted, the player with the fewest heroes in their dungeon is the winner.
Hero Points: In the event of a tie, the player with the most hero points (as indicated on the hero cards they have defeated) wins the game.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Before final scoring, players must perform the following actions:

Count Heroes: Each player must count the number of heroes left in their dungeon.
Tally Hero Points: Players should tally up the total hero points from the hero cards they have defeated.
Check Dungeon Status: Players should confirm if they have any free room in their dungeon. This is essential for the ‘Defeat All Heroes’ victory condition.

After all these steps have been completed, the player who meets any of the victory conditions is declared the winner of ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the fascinating board game ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’, scoring takes into account a variety of factors. These include the number of heroes kept out, the number of spells used, and the number of magic items collected, among others.

Points are awarded as follows:

Heroes Kept Out: For each hero you successfully keep out of your dungeon, you gain 2 points.
Spells Used: Each spell used in the game awards you 1 point. However, unused spells at the end of the game do not contribute to your score.
Magic Items: Magic items collected during the game award varying points, depending on the item. For example, the Magic Wand grants 3 points, while the Magic Scroll gives 2 points.
Defeated Heroes: Each hero defeated in your dungeon earns you 1 point. However, if a hero escapes, you lose 2 points.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the following rules apply, in this order:

The player with the most defeated heroes wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who used the most spells wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most magic items wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who kept out the most heroes wins.
If a tie still persists, the player who first reached their current score is declared the winner.

Note that these tie-breaking rules only come into play when players have the same total score at the end of the game. It’s all about strategy and quick thinking in ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’, where every point and decision can tip the scales in your favor.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Keep the Heroes Out! is an exciting board game that pits players as dungeon masters trying to protect their treasures from an onslaught of heroes. While the game’s rules are generally straightforward, there are some nuances and exceptions that players should be aware of:

1. Special Character Abilities:

Wizard: The wizard is allowed to cast a spell from any location in the dungeon. This is an exception to the general rule that characters must be in a specific location to perform certain actions.
Thief: The thief can bypass traps without triggering them. This is a unique ability and is an exception to the usual rule where a hero must face the consequences of a trap.

2. Rule Clarifications:

Multiple Heroes in one room: If multiple heroes enter a room with a monster, they must all fight the monster together. This is a slight clarification on the regular combat rules, which typically allow for heroes to fight monsters one-on-one.
Room Capacity: Each room can only hold a maximum of four characters (heroes or monsters) at any given time. This is a limit set by the game designers to prevent overcrowding in the game.

3. Rare Rules and Exceptions:

Double Trap: If a hero triggers a trap that would send them into another trap, they must roll the dice for both traps. This is a rare rule that only comes into play when traps are placed in adjacent rooms.
Victory Conditions: If all the heroes are defeated, the dungeon master wins. However, if even a single hero reaches the treasure room, the heroes win. This is an exception to most games where the victory condition is typically more complex or requires achieving multiple objectives.

Understanding these rare rules, exceptions, and clarifications can greatly enhance your game experience and help you strategize better in ‘Keep the Heroes Out!’

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for ‘Keep The Heroes Out!’

1. Optimal Resource Management: Always keep a close eye on your resources. It is essential to keep your defenses strong while also having enough resources to launch attacks. Be balanced in your spending.

2. Anticipate Opponent Moves: Try to predict the moves of your opponent. This will help you decide where to bolster your defenses and when to attack.

3. Use Spells Wisely: Spells can turn the tide of the game. However, they are limited, so use them wisely and at the right moment.

Beginner Tips for ‘Keep The Heroes Out!’

1. Learn the Game Mechanics: Familiarize yourself with the game rules and mechanics. Understand how each character and their abilities work.

2. Start with Defense: In the beginning, focus more on building your defenses. It will give you a solid foundation and buy you time to plan your attacks.

3. Practice: The more you play, the better you get. Participate in as many games as possible to gain experience and improve your strategy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in ‘Keep The Heroes Out!’

1. Over-focusing on Offense: While attacking is important, neglecting your defenses to focus solely on offense can leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.

2. Poor Resource Management: Spending too much on unnecessary upgrades or defenses can leave you with insufficient resources when you need them the most.

3. Ignoring Opponent’s Strategy: Failing to consider your opponent’s strategy can lead to unexpected surprises. Always keep an eye on their moves.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in ‘Keep The Heroes Out!’

Map Awareness: Always be aware of the entire map. It will help you identify weak points in your defense and opportunities to attack.
Flexible Strategy: Don’t stick to a single strategy. Be flexible and ready to adapt according to the situation.
Communication: If you’re playing in a team, communication is key. Coordinate with your teammates to plan and execute strategies.