Return to Dark Tower

2022

Immerse in an epic quest with 1-4 players in Return to Dark Tower. Gather resources, defeat monsters and use unique tech interfaces to vanquish the ancient evil!

120
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

10+

Medium

About the game

Return to Dark Tower is a thrilling board game that immerses players in an epic struggle against a menacing threat looming over their kingdoms. Set in a fantastical world filled with mystery and danger, the game blends strategy, cooperation, and storytelling elements to provide a unique gaming experience.

The game takes place in a beautifully detailed, dark fantasy universe, populated by mythical creatures, fearless warriors, and powerful wizards. Each player rules over a kingdom and collaborates with fellow rulers to defend their lands from the Dark Tower’s menacing forces.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The board game ‘Return to Dark Tower’ is packed with numerous components, each playing a pivotal role in creating a thrilling and immersive gameplay experience. Here is a comprehensive list of every component included in the game and their respective functions:

1. Game Board:

The game board serves as the main arena where the entire gameplay unfolds. It is divided into four quadrants, each representing a different kingdom.

2. Dark Tower:

The Dark Tower is a central piece and the main attraction of the game. This electronic tower keeps track of in-game events, manages resources, and responds to players’ actions.

3. Hero Figures:

Each player gets a hero figure that represents them on the game board. The figure moves around the board according to the player’s actions.

4. Buildings:

Players can build structures like Sanctuaries, Guilds, and Fortifications in their respective kingdoms which provide various benefits and help defend against threats.

5. Ally Cards:

These cards represent various allies that players can recruit to aid them in their quest. Each ally provides unique abilities and advantages.

6. Quest Cards:

These cards represent the quests that players can undertake. Completing these quests can yield rewards and advantages.

7. Monster Cards:

These cards represent the monsters that players will encounter. Each monster poses a unique challenge and requires specific strategies to defeat.

8. Treasure Cards:

These cards represent the treasures that players can discover. Treasures provide powerful benefits and can turn the tide of the game.

9. Resource Tokens:

These tokens represent the resources that players can collect and spend during the game. Resources are essential for actions such as building structures and recruiting allies.

10. Skull Tokens:

These tokens represent the threats that the Dark Tower unleashes. When the tower drops a skull, it lands in a kingdom, causing various negative effects.

11. Player Boards:

Each player has a player board that tracks their resources, allies, and buildings. It also provides information about the player’s special abilities.

12. Dice:

The dice are used to resolve various actions such as combat with monsters and resource collection. The outcomes can be influenced by the players’ decisions and abilities.

13. Plastic Trays:

These trays are used for organizing and storing the game components. They ensure that the game setup and cleanup are quick and easy.

Each component interacts with the game in its unique way, collectively shaping the narrative and the flow of the game. Players need to strategically utilize these components to overcome challenges, complete quests, and ultimately, save their kingdom from the Dark Tower.

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

Return to Dark Tower is a cooperative game designed for 1-4 players. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game.

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player selects a hero to play. The heroes available are Warrior, Scout, Healer, and Sorcerer. Each hero has unique abilities and starting resources. Place the matching hero figure on the starting space of the realm you are defending.

Step 2: Setting Up The Board

Place the tower in the center of the play area. Turn the tower on by pressing the power button on the bottom. Each player places their hero’s board in front of them, with their hero’s figure on their starting location on the board. Arrange the four quadrants around the tower, matching the symbols on the quadrants with those on the tower.

Step 3: Placing Buildings and Ruins

Each player’s quadrant contains three building spaces and one ruins space. At the start of the game, each player should have one building on each building space and one ruins on the ruins space.

Step 4: Initial Resources

Each player starts with three warriors, two food, and one treasure. Place these resources in their respective spaces on your hero board.

Step 5: Set Up the Monster Tray

Sort the monster tokens by type and place them in their corresponding spaces on the monster tray.

Step 6: Setting Up the Quests

Shuffle the quest cards and draw three. Place them face up in the quest spaces on the board.

Step 7: Random Elements

Once the board is set up, select a random turn token for each player and put them in the turn bag. The color of the turn token extracted from the bag will determine the turn order for the first round.

Step 8: Starting the Game

Once everything is in place, press the start button on the tower. The tower will light up and make a sound, indicating the start of the game. Begin play according to the turn order determined by the draw from the turn bag.

Game flow Round and round we go

Return to Dark Tower is a highly strategic game where players work together to conquer a corrupted kingdom. The game is divided into rounds, each consisting of multiple phases. During each phase, players perform specific actions to progress in the game.

Overall Structure:

Every game of Return to Dark Tower begins with the setup, where the game board is prepared, components are distributed, and the Dark Tower is activated. After the setup, rounds begin. Each round consists of four main phases: Hero Phase, Tower Phase, Attack Phase, and Draw Phase.

Hero Phase:

During the Hero Phase, each player in turn order performs up to three actions. Actions can be repeated and include Move (to an adjacent space), Gather (collect resources), Heal (recover health), Build (establish structures), and Quest (resolve quest cards).

Move: The player moves their hero to an adjacent territory on the board.
Gather: The player collects resources from the territory they are currently in. The type and amount of resources depend on the territory.
Heal: The player recovers health points, up to their maximum.
Build: The player constructs a building in their current territory, provided they have the necessary resources.
Quest: The player attempts to resolve a quest card. The quest card may require a skill test, a specific resource, or a particular location.

Tower Phase:

After all players have taken their actions, the Tower Phase begins. In this phase, players interact with the Dark Tower which reveals new threats and challenges that affect the game board and players’ strategies.

Attack Phase:

During the Attack Phase, the Dark Tower unleashes Monsters and Brigands onto the game board. Players must collectively decide how to deal with these threats, either by battling them or strategically avoiding them, depending on their current resources and health levels.

Draw Phase:

The Draw Phase concludes the round. In this phase, each player draws a new quest card to add to their hand, preparing for the next round of play.

The game continues in this cycle until players either successfully cleanse the Dark Tower, or the kingdom succumbs to corruption. The players win or lose together, making strategic cooperation critical to the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Return to Dark Tower is a cooperative game where players must work together to defend their realms from a menacing tower. Each player’s turn comprises multiple actions that influence the course of the game. This detailed breakdown will help to understand the nuances of gameplay.

Firstly, the active player can move their hero to an adjacent space on the board. The strategic choice of where to move can impact the resources available, the threats faced, and the quests that can be undertaken.

Resource Spaces: By moving to a space with resources, players can gather essential items like warriors, gold, or food. These resources can later be used to trade, build, or perform heroic feats.
Threat Spaces: Some spaces contain threats that must be confronted. Moving to these spaces can potentially lead to battles.
Quest Spaces: These spaces allow players to undertake quests, which, if completed successfully, can provide valuable rewards.

After moving, the player can perform one action in their current location. The available actions depend on the type of space they have moved to. Actions can include gathering resources, battling threats, undertaking quests, or building defenses. Each action has its own strategic implications and can significantly impact the game’s progression.

If the player chooses to battle a threat, they must roll dice to determine the outcome. The results can range from victory and rewards, to defeat and penalties, adding an element of luck to the gameplay.

The player can also choose to build defenses, such as fortifications or sanctuaries. These structures can provide benefits like protection from threats or the healing of allies. The strategic placement of these buildings can greatly influence the defense of the realm.

Finally, the player’s turn ends with the Dark Tower phase. During this phase, the tower may unleash various effects on the game board, such as spawning threats, inflicting curses on players, or altering the game state. This unpredictable element adds tension and challenge to the gameplay, requiring players to adapt their strategies accordingly.

Thus, in ‘Return to Dark Tower’, each player’s turn involves a series of decisions that can shape the game’s direction. From where to move and what actions to take, to how to respond to the tower’s threats, every choice can have significant strategic implications.

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

Return to Dark Tower is a thrilling cooperative game that embodies the spirit of adventure. The game ends when one of two conditions is met, leading to either the players’ victory or defeat.

The game ends in Victory when:

Players have successfully sealed all three realms by placing keys in the Dark Tower. After this, they must confront and defeat the adversary on their final turn.
The adversary is defeated in the final battle. This occurs when the players have collectively reduced the adversary’s health to zero. The adversary’s health is tracked using the health dial on the Dark Tower.

Before the final scoring, players must take these actions:

Ensure all adversaries’ minions on the board have been defeated.
Check that all three keys have been placed in the Dark Tower.
Calculate the total health of the adversary using the health dial on the Dark Tower.
Engage in the final battle with the adversary. All players participate in this battle and it continues until either the adversary is defeated or all players are defeated.

The game ends in Defeat when:

The adversary’s corruption spreads entirely across the game board. This happens when all the spaces on the corruption track are filled.
All the players are defeated in the final battle with the adversary. This occurs when the health of all players is reduced to zero.

It is important to note that in Return to Dark Tower, players must work together strategically to gather resources, defeat minions, seal the realms, and finally overcome the adversary. The game encourages cooperation, tactical decisions, and brave confrontation of challenges.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Return to Dark Tower is a strategic board game that involves score accumulation through various means. The sum of all these points determines the winner of the game. Here is a detailed breakdown of the scoring system:

1. Defeating Enemies:

Each time a player successfully defeats an enemy, they are awarded 2 points.
If a player manages to defeat an enemy in a province where a tower stands, they receive an additional 1 point.

2. Building Towers:

Building towers is another way to earn points. Each tower built awards the player 5 points.
However, if a tower is built in a province that was previously destroyed, the player receives an extra 2 points.

3. Collecting Artifacts:

Artifacts hold great value in the game. Each artifact a player collects during the game gives them 3 points.

4. Completing Quests:

Players are awarded 4 points for each quest they successfully complete.

At the end of the game, all the points are summed up to determine the winner. The player with the highest score wins. However, in case of a tie, the following tie-breaking rules are applied:

Tie-Breaking Rules:

If two or more players have the same score, the player with the most completed quests wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most built towers wins.
If a tie persists, the player who has collected the most artifacts wins.
If there is still a tie after applying all the above rules, the player who initiated the game (the first player) is the winner.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘Return to Dark Tower’ is an epic board game that introduces players to a challenging yet exciting world of adventure, strategy, and cooperation. While its rules are mostly straightforward, there are certain rare, special rules, exceptions, and clarifications that players might want to consider for a better gameplay experience.

1. Quests:

In this game, quests are not mandatory. However, completing quests can offer great benefits to players. It’s important to note that players are not allowed to be on more than one quest at a time. Once a quest is completed, a new one can be started.

2. Heirlooms:

Heirlooms are special items that players can find during the game. They offer unique abilities that can significantly boost a player’s performance. However, an heirloom can only be used once per turn and only by the player who owns it.

3. Combat:

Combat in ‘Return to Dark Tower’ is resolved through the use of dice. However, the tower can interfere during combat, potentially causing negative effects for the player. The tower’s interference is not always a guarantee, but it’s something players should consider when planning their strategy.

4. Building Structures:

Building structures in the game requires resources. If a player lacks the necessary resources, they cannot build. However, players can also destroy their own structures to regain some resources. This can be done only once per turn.

5. Ally Cards:

Ally cards provide players with additional abilities and advantages. However, a player can only have one ally card at a time. If a player picks up a new ally card while they already have one, they must choose which ally to keep and which to discard.

6. Resource Gathering:

Players can gather resources from regions they control. However, the Dark Tower can place skull tokens on regions, making them unproductive until the skull tokens are removed.

7. Tower Attacks:

The tower can attack at random intervals, causing various effects. These attacks are unpredictable and can significantly alter the state of the game. Players should always be prepared for potential tower attacks.

8. The End Game:

The game ends when either the players successfully defeat the Dark Tower, or when the corruption in the kingdom becomes too widespread. If the corruption track reaches the end before the players defeat the tower, it’s an immediate loss for all players.

These rules and exceptions enhance the unpredictability and strategic depth of ‘Return to Dark Tower’, making each game a unique experience.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for ‘Return to Dark Tower’:

Understanding the game mechanics in-depth is crucial. The dark tower game is a game of strategy and chance where players need to carefully plan their moves and adapt to unexpected challenges.
Players should keep in mind that resources are limited, and their use should be strategic. It’s not enough to just gather as many resources as possible; you must know when and how to use them.
Scouts are valuable in this game. Using them to explore the unknown territories can open up new opportunities and paths to victory.
Cooperation between players can be a key to success. Even though it’s a competitive game, there are situations where a temporary alliance can be beneficial.

Beginner Tips:

Be patient and take time to understand the game. It may seem overwhelming at first, but as you play more, you’ll get a feel for the strategies and tactics that work best.
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help from more experienced players. They can provide valuable insights and tips that can improve your gameplay.
Try different strategies and see what works best for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy in ‘Return to Dark Tower’, so experiment and find your own style.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Don’t neglect your defenses. It can be tempting to focus on offense and exploration, but without a strong defense, you’ll be vulnerable to attacks.
Avoid hoarding resources. While it’s important to have enough resources to carry out your plans, hoarding can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
Don’t ignore the dark tower. It’s a major part of the game and can have a big impact on the outcome. Make sure you have a plan to deal with it.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Plan your moves in advance. This will help you make the most of your turns and avoid wasting resources.
Keep an eye on your opponents. Knowing what they’re planning to do can help you anticipate their moves and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Use your resources wisely. Make sure you’re using them in the most efficient way possible to achieve your goals.