# Castle Combo: Out of the Oubliette!

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2025
- **BGG Rating**: 8.0
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 10-25 min
- **Weight**: 1.82 / 5
- **Designers**: Grégory Grard, Mathieu Roussel
- **Artists**: Stéphane Escapa
- **Publishers**: Catch Up Games, Engames, Evrikus, Feelindigo, GateOnGames, Hachette Boardgames UK, KOSMOS, MINDOK, Pandasaurus Games, Reflexshop, Siam Board Games, White Goblin Games
- **Categories**: Card Game, Expansion for Base-game, Medieval
- **Mechanics**: End Game Bonuses, Multi-Use Cards, Open Drafting, Set Collection, Tags, Tile Placement

## Verdict
Enjoyed the original Castle Combo and want more? This expansion introduces a new mechanic that supercharges combos and makes you think more about your plays!New strategic combosAdds tactical depthExpands the base gameFast and funRequires the base gameSlightly increases complexityFOR GENRE FANS

## Description
Hey board game enthusiasts! Ready for another dose of medieval fun? "Castle Combo: Out of the Oubliette!" arrives to add that extra spice to your base game, bringing 12 brand-new cards and a mechanic that will make you think twice before acting: padlocks! You know those game-changing cards? Now you can hold onto them, delaying their effects for a more strategic moment. This opens up a range of crazy combos and master plays that will leave your opponents stunned. We're talking about an expansion that maintains the fast-paced and fun feel of the original game, ideal for those who enjoy set collection, multi-use cards, and planning the perfect move. With the addition of padlocks, the complexity increases slightly, but in a good way, you know? The kind of challenge that keeps you thinking about how to optimize every turn. If you already enjoy "Castle Combo" and want more strategy and twists, this expansion is a perfect fit. It's like upgrading your race car: more power, more control, and more chances to cross the finish line first. Get ready to free these 12 outlaws and create epic combos that will echo through the kingdom's dungeons! It's guaranteed fun for those who like to think fast and devise brilliant strategies.

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
The dungeon's doors hold 12 outlaws, whose felonies are debatable. Players aim to free them soon enough for them to join their party.

Preparation (Setup)
Simply add all 12 cards from this expansion to their respective decks, then set up the game as usual. A small icon on the cards denotes the cards from this expansion. The game includes 6 Village cards with a brown back and 6 Castle cards with a gray back.

Fluxo do Jogo
Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

Ações e Como Jogar
Lock Abilities
This expansion introduces a new type of abilities: Lock abilities. These are one-time use abilities you can choose to trigger whenever you wish. When you buy a character with a Lock on the left side of its ability, place a Key from the supply on the card. You may spend this Key (and this Key only!) to activate the corresponding effect once during the game.
You may activate up to a single Lock ability per turn you take (including the turn you buy the card with a Lock ability). It is resolved alongside your normal actions for the turn:

    EITHER just before deciding whether to use a Key to trigger the Messenger (before step 1 of the turn sequence);
    OR after using a Key (between step 1 and step 2);
    OR at the very end of your turn, after refilling the rows (after step 4).

If any Keys remain on your Lock cards at the end of the game, add those to your Keys before counting your score.
Card Abilities

    Printer: if at least 1 per Art Forger, activate the ability of an adjacent card.
    Peddler: Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.
    Discard 3 face up cards: Discard all 3 face up cards in the Castle or in the Village, then immediately reveal 3 cards to refill that row.
    Activate adjacent card ability: Choose an (orthogonally) adjacent card and activate its ability. A Lock ability activated this way does not require you to spend a Key from that card (nor does it require the presence of a Key). As they are always active, discount abilities cannot be chosen this way.
    Card with a Lock ability: Activate the ability of an adjacent card if at least 1 is missing.


Fim de Jogo e Pontuação
This expansion introduces new scorings, which are explained at the end of this rulebook.
Scoring Criteria

    Craftsmanship shields: For each Craftsmanship shield on the cards you just discarded.
    Purse icon: For each card with a purse in its scoring scroll that you just discarded.
    Discount ability: For each card with a discount ability that you just discarded.
    Sum of costs in a row: Sum of costs of all 3 cards in this row. Example: cost 7 + cost 3 + face-down card = 10 points.
    Different costs in tableau: For each different cost in the cards of your tableau. Example: costs of 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 7, 8 and two face-down cards = 5 different costs. 3x5 = 15 points.
    Scholarship shield in column: If you have at least 1 Scholarship shield in that column.
    No face-down cards: If you have no face-down cards in your tableau.

If any Keys remain on your Lock cards at the end of the game, add those to your Keys before counting your score.

Dicas para Vencer

    Strategically activate Lock abilities at the optimal time during your turn to maximize their impact, considering the three available timings.
    When activating an adjacent card's ability, prioritize Lock abilities as they do not require spending a Key when triggered this way, effectively giving you a "free" activation.
    Pay attention to the new scoring opportunities introduced by the expansion, especially those related to discarding cards with specific icons (Craftsmanship shields, purse, discount ability) and the variety of card costs in your tableau.

## FAQ
### Do I need the "Castle Combo" base game to play with this expansion?
Yes, "Castle Combo: Out of the Oubliette!" is an expansion and requires the base game to be played.

### How many players does this expansion support?
The expansion maintains the player count of the base game, which is for 2 to 5 players.

### Does the playtime change much with the expansion?
The playtime remains similar, between 10 and 25 minutes, but the new strategies might make you think a bit more on each turn.

### Does the new padlock rule make the game much more complicated?
The padlock mechanic adds an extra layer of strategy, but it's quite intuitive and doesn't make the game excessively complex, keeping the fun accessible.

### What are the main new components the expansion brings?
The expansion adds 12 new cards and introduces the padlock rule, which allows you to delay card effects.

### Is this expansion good for someone new to board games?
If the person has already played and enjoyed the base game, this expansion is a great choice to add more depth. For total beginners, it might be better to start with the base game first.

## Price Comparison
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