Too Many Bones: Undertow

2018

Dive into the action-packed Too Many Bones: Undertow! Battle new enemies, encounter unique challenges and strategize on land and raft in this standalone sequel.

180
minutes

1 - 2
player(s)

12+

Heavy

About the game

Join new playable Gearloc characters Stanza and Duster as they journey down the Sibron River in search of answers in this standalone expansion/sequel to Too Many Bones! Too Many Bones: Undertow allows for 1-2 players out of the box, but by bringing in additional Gearlocs from the original game or adding in characters like Ghillie, Nugget, and Tink, you can create an adventure for up to four players. Undertow features all new baddies, encounters, tyrants, and a double-sided battle mat. Battles take place both on land and on your raft, adding even more variety and brain-bending tactics.

Setup and rules summary

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The board game ‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ comes with a variety of components. Each component serves a unique purpose and contributes to the gameplay in different ways.

1. Encounter Cards:

There are 20 unique Encounter cards included in the game. These cards dictate the circumstances of a round, including what kind of enemies players will face, what their rewards will be if they win, and potential penalties if they lose.

2. Baddie Chips:

These 31 chips represent the various enemies that players will face throughout the game. They are drawn from a bag during combat encounters and their abilities are based on the stats and symbols printed on the chips.

3. Two Gearloc Mats:

These mats represent the two new characters in Undertow – Duster and Nightshade. They are used to track a character’s health, skill progression, and inventory.

4. Dice:

The game includes a large set of custom dice. These dice are used for combat, skill checks, and other random elements of the game. Each character has their own set of dice that correspond to their unique skills and abilities.

5. Tyrant Mats and Chips:

There are 2 Tyrant mats and corresponding chips that represent the bosses of the game. These are more powerful than regular Baddie chips and provide a significant challenge to players.

6. Reference Cards:

4 Reference cards are included to help players keep track of the rules and symbols used in the game.

7. Loot Cards:

These 15 cards represent the rewards that players can earn from winning encounters. Loot can include items, weapons, and other bonuses that can be used to enhance a character’s abilities.

8. Adventure Map:

This is a large, neoprene map that serves as the game board. It is used to track the players’ progress through the game, and where encounters and battles take place.

9. Chips and Pegs:

Health chips and pegs are used to keep track of a character’s current health on their Gearloc mat. They are added or removed as a character gains or loses health.

10. Lane Markers and Stands:

These are used to organize the Baddie chips during combat. They help to keep track of the order of turns and the position of enemies on the battle mat.

11. Neoprene Mats:

These mats are used for individual battles. They have spaces for players and enemies, and lanes to keep track of the order of turns.

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

‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ is an engaging board game designed for 1-2 players that combines strategy, skill, and chance. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

1. Player Roles:

At the start of the game, each player must choose a Gearloc to play as. Each Gearloc has a unique set of skills and abilities that will influence the player’s strategy throughout the game. A player’s chosen Gearloc will determine the dice they get to use, their health pool, and the specific tactics they should employ.

2. Board Placement:

Place the main game mat in the center of the play area. This mat serves as the communal battle area where encounters will take place. Each player should then place their Gearloc mat in front of them, with their health chip on the highest value of their health track. The Day Counter, Progress Point Counter, and Adventure Map should also be placed within easy reach of all players.

3. Initial Resources:

Each player starts with a set of basic Gearloc dice. The type and number of these dice depend on the specific Gearloc the player has chosen. Players also begin with a certain number of health points, again determined by their chosen Gearloc.

4. Random Elements:

Shuffle the Encounter cards and draw the top card to determine the first encounter. Also, shuffle the Loot Cards and place them face down to create the Loot deck. The Baddie Chips should be mixed up and placed in the Baddie Stash, face down.

5. Game Set Up:

Finally, place all the Gearloc dice, both basic and skill, in their respective areas on the Gearloc mats. Set the Adventure Map on the first day and begin the game with the first Encounter Card. Each player should also have a reference sheet handy to consult during gameplay.

These are the basic steps to set up ‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’. Once the set up is complete, players can start their adventure, battling enemies, acquiring loot, and discovering uncharted territories.

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ is a cooperative adventure board game designed for 1-2 players. The game is divided into several rounds, and each round consists of multiple phases. The primary objective is to survive encounters and battles to finally defeat the tyrant boss.

Each game round is broken down into the following phases:

Adventure Phase: This is the first phase of the game, where players decide between undertaking an encounter or resting at their current location. Encounters can either be battles or non-battle scenarios, which are resolved by following the instructions on the encounter card.
Encounter Phase: During this phase, if the players chose to have an encounter, they will resolve the scenario as described on the encounter card. Encounters can be battles, puzzles, or negotiation scenarios. In the case of battles, players will set up the battlefield using the indicated baddies and proceed to the Battle Phase.
Battle Phase: This phase only occurs if the encounter is a battle scenario. Players will use their gearlocs (characters) and their unique dice to fight against the baddies. The order of play is determined by the initiative order and players can perform several actions like attacking, defending, using skills, or aiding allies. The battle ends when all enemies are defeated, all gearlocs are knocked out, or if a specific condition on the encounter card is met.
Recovery Phase: After the encounter or battle is resolved, players enter the Recovery Phase. Here, they can choose to either heal their gearlocs, search for better loot, or attempt to scout the area to get information about upcoming encounters. In the case of a defeated encounter, players must also decide whether to stay at their current location or move to a new one.
Progression Phase: The final phase of the round is the Progression Phase. Here, players check their progress on the adventure map. If they have met the necessary requirements, they can decide to face the tyrant boss. If not, they start a new round with the Adventure Phase.

Each player’s actions and decisions at each phase will determine their progress and survival in the game. The game continues until the tyrant boss is defeated, or all gearlocs are knocked out.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In ‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’, a player’s turn is full of strategic decisions and actions that can greatly affect the overall gameplay. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens during a turn:

1. Start of Turn:

At the beginning of your turn, confirm if you have any start-of-turn effects to resolve. These could be from your gear or skill dice, or from a baddie’s effect on you.

2. Roll Dice:

Next, you roll your dice. You can choose to roll any combination of the following:

Attack dice: These dice can deal damage to baddies.
Defense dice: These dice can prevent damage from baddies.
Skill dice: These dice can provide various benefits depending on the skill.

3. Apply Dice:

You then apply the results of your dice rolls:

Defense dice are placed on your Gearloc mat and can be used to prevent damage.
Attack dice are used to deal damage to baddies. If a baddie’s hit points go to zero, it is defeated.
Skill dice are applied according to their specific instructions.

4. End of Turn:

After you’ve applied your dice, your turn ends. Any end-of-turn effects are resolved, and then play passes to the next player or baddie.

The strategic choices in ‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ come from how you choose to allocate your dice during your turn. You might decide to focus on defense if you’re low on hit points, or you might go all-out on attack if you think you can defeat a baddie. The skills you’ve chosen for your Gearloc can also greatly affect your strategy, as they can provide a variety of unique benefits and abilities.

Remember, the goal of the game is to defeat all the baddies in a battle and ultimately survive the adventure. Your choices during your turn should always be made with this goal in mind.

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

‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ is an adventurous board game that ends when players have successfully completed the adventure they are on, or when all the Gearlocs in the party are knocked out. The game has multiple victory conditions which are determined by the type of adventure the players have chosen. It is important to remember that the game requires strategic planning and skillful execution of actions.

Victory Conditions:

The game offers several ways for players to achieve victory. These include:

Defeat the Tyrant: The primary victory condition in ‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ is to defeat the Tyrant. Each adventure has a specific Tyrant that players must defeat to win the game. The Tyrant is usually revealed after certain days of adventure, which varies depending on the chosen adventure.
Complete the Adventure: Another way to win is by completing all the progress points required in the chosen adventure. This often involves overcoming encounters and acquiring necessary progress points.
Special Conditions: Some adventures have special victory conditions that must be fulfilled. These conditions are clearly specified in the Adventure Map and can range from collecting specific loot to defeating specific types of baddies.

Actions before Final Scoring:

Before the final scoring, players must complete certain actions. These are:

Resolve Encounter: If players are in the middle of an encounter when they meet the victory conditions, they must resolve the encounter before proceeding to final scoring. This typically involves defeating all baddies on the battle mat.
Check Loot: Players should check their loot to ensure they have met any specific victory conditions related to loot. For example, some adventures require players to collect a certain type of loot to win.
Confirm Victory Conditions: Finally, players should thoroughly review their adventure to confirm they have met all the specified victory conditions. This includes ensuring they have defeated the Tyrant (if applicable), completed all progress points, and fulfilled any special conditions.

In conclusion, ‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ offers a thrilling board game experience with multiple paths to victory. Whether by defeating the Tyrant, completing the adventure, or fulfilling special conditions, players have a variety of ways to emerge victorious in this exciting game.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Too Many Bones: Undertow’ is an innovative and immersive adventure board game that offers a unique approach to the scoring system. The scoring system is comprehensive and includes different aspects of play, based on the completion of encounters, the acquisition of loots, and the defeat of the Tyrant. Here is a detailed look at how players earn points in the game.

1. Completion of Encounters:

Day Progression Points: At the end of each day, players are awarded points equal to the day’s number. For instance, if it’s day 5, players receive 5 points.
Bonus Points: Certain encounters provide bonus points upon their successful completion. These points are additional to the day progression points.

2. Acquisition of Loot:

Trophy Points: Players earn trophy points from the loots they acquire. Each loot has a trophy point value, and these points add up to the player’s total score.

3. Defeat of the Tyrant:

Tyrant Points: The ultimate goal of the game is to defeat the Tyrant. Upon achieving this, players receive a significant number of points, usually in the range of 20-30, depending on the specific Tyrant.

In case of a tie, the game has specific tie-breaking rules:

The player with the most unspent loot points wins the tie.
If there is still a tie, the player with the highest number of remaining hit points is the winner.
If the tie persists, the player who last took their turn wins.

By strategically navigating through encounters, effectively utilizing loot, and ultimately defeating the Tyrant, players can accumulate the most points and win the game.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Too Many Bones: Undertow is a standalone expansion to the base game of Too Many Bones. It introduces a new set of rules and mechanics along with its own set of exceptions and clarifications. Here are some of them:

Locking in Dice: When you decide to lock in a dice, the dice goes to the Locked slot. It’s important to note that dice in the Locked slot cannot be removed by Gearlocs’ skills or abilities that would normally remove dice. The dice will only be removed at the end of your turn.

Waterlogged: Waterlogged is a unique condition for Undertow. A Gearloc that is waterlogged cannot use any Innate+1 abilities for the round. They are also unable to use any consumable dice.

Clarification: If a Gearloc is waterlogged, it can still use its Innate ability, but not the upgraded Innate+1. This condition can be removed by a skill that removes negative effects.

Boat Travel: While traveling by boat, you will encounter different types of encounters compared to land travel. During boat travel, you may have to deal with challenges like Raiders, Waterlogged, and Capsize.

Clarification: During a Capsize, Gearlocs must roll their Dexterity dice. If they fail, they become waterlogged. If they succeed, they avoid the condition.

Player Knockout: If all Gearlocs are knocked out during a battle, the party will lose that encounter. However, the game does not end. The party will need to try the encounter again on the next day.

Clarification: If a player is knocked out during a battle, they do not lose their Locked dice. They will only be reset at the end of the day.

Stun Effect: A Gearloc or Baddie that is stunned cannot roll attack dice during their turn. They can only roll defense dice and skill dice.

Clarification: Stunned Gearlocs can still use their Locked dice. Baddies that are stunned cannot use their skills that require attack dice.