How to Play Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) – Manor of Ravens

1. Game Objective

In Manor of Ravens, players face the mystery of the forgotten manor of the late high mage Ithyndrus. An artificial guardian named Skarn has awakened, and dark forces are gathering to assist him. The heroes' goal is to locate and banish this creature before its power and size become limitless. The Overlord, in turn, seeks to strengthen his forces and ensure the guardian fulfills his nefarious purpose. Victory is achieved by completing the specific objectives defined in each mission (Quest) in the game guide.

2. Setup

To integrate this expansion into your Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition collection, follow these steps:

• Incorporate Cards: Add the new Class, Condition, Shop Item, Relic, Overlord, Monster, and Lieutenant cards to your available set.
• Prepare Rumor Cards: Combine the Rumor cards from this expansion with those from other expansions. If you do not own any others, create a deck using only those from this box.
• Additional Components: Add the Hero Tokens, hero and monster figures, all tokens, and the Map Tiles to your respective supplies.
• Special Cards: Keep the Servant and Advanced Quest cards in the box until the game instructs you to use them.

Note: Players should finish ongoing campaigns before incorporating the components of Manor of Ravens.

3. Game Flow

The game progresses through missions that can be integrated into existing campaigns via Rumor cards, played as a mini-campaign, or played as standalone missions. During a campaign, the flow follows the standard Descent phases:

• Campaign Phase: The Overlord may play a maximum of one Rumor card per phase. If a Rumor card is played, the heroes must resolve its text immediately.
• Choosing the Next Mission: Players may choose any available mission, whether on the campaign map or on a Quest Card that is in play.
• Travel: When choosing a mission from a card, players ignore the campaign map and resolve the travel icons present at the top of the quest card, from left to right.

4. Actions and How to Play

This expansion introduces specific mechanics:

• Tracking Token: Used exclusively by the Bounty Hunter hero class. The player places the token on the base of a monster to "track" it. Only one monster can be tracked at a time. When the monster is defeated, the token returns to the hero's play area.
• Monster and Universal Relics: The Overlord can equip monster groups with Monster Relics (one per group). Universal Relics are placed in the Overlord's play area and remain there for the rest of the campaign.
• Summon Cards: The Overlord purchases these cards during the Spend Experience Points phase. When using the card, he places a Servant token on the map, which is treated as a minion monster.
• Overlord Card Actions: Some cards remain in play in the Overlord's area, near the affected monster group, until the encounter ends or the card instructs to discard it.

5. End of Game and Scoring

The game ends when the current mission objectives are met by the heroes or the Overlord.

• Card Missions: Missions originating from Rumor or Advanced Quest cards do not count toward the total number of missions required to complete a campaign act.
• Victory/Defeat: After completion, the winner stores the quest card as a reminder. Rewards (if any) are described in the "Rewards" section of the Quest Guide.
• Mini-Campaign: Consists of four fixed missions. At the end of each mission, each player receives 1 additional experience point. If the heroes win, one hero receives a random shop item; if the Overlord wins, he receives 1 extra experience point.

6. Tips for Winning

• Rumor Management: The Overlord must decide carefully when to play Rumor cards, as he does not draw new rumor cards regularly. Plan their strategic use for crucial moments in the campaign.
• Relic Synergy: Since Monster Relics remain with the group until the end of the encounter, choose wisely which monster group will receive the bonus to maximize the difficulty for the heroes throughout the combat.
• Use of Servants: Use Summon cards to position servants strategically near monsters, taking advantage of the damage or support abilities they offer to control the battlefield.