Objective of the Game

Welcome to Frosthaven, adventurer! Your ultimate goal in this sprawling campaign is to guide your party of characters through a multitude of challenging scenarios, encounter diverse events, and continuously improve the outpost of Frosthaven itself. You'll level up your characters, craft powerful gear, and even retire seasoned heroes to make way for new blood. While there's an overarching narrative that culminates in an ending, the world of Frosthaven is yours to explore beyond that point, replaying scenarios and uncovering hidden content. Success in a scenario means achieving its specific goal, while failure often means returning to Frosthaven to regroup and try again. Prepare for a grand adventure where every decision matters!

Preparation (Setup)

Setting up Frosthaven can seem daunting at first, but let's break it down into manageable steps to get you into the action:

1. Campaign Overview: Begin by familiarizing yourself with the core campaign components. You'll use the Map Board to track unlocked scenarios and built buildings, the Scenario Flowchart for a detailed overview of scenario connections, the Building Deck for building information, Character Sheets for individual character progression, and the Campaign Sheet for overall campaign variables like the Campaign Calendar, Frosthaven Supply, Inspiration Value, Total Defense Value, Soldiers, Morale Track, and Prosperity Track.
2. Unlock Initial Scenarios: Open the scenario book and read the introductory text. This will unlock Scenario 0 and Scenario 1. Locate their corresponding stickers in the Scenario Flowchart windows and affix them to the Map Board at the specified coordinates, matching the artwork.
3. First Scenario Choice: If you're new to the Gloomhaven system, play Scenario 0 first. It's a low-risk, short scenario designed to teach you the ropes. If you're a veteran, you can skip to Scenario 1, the official campaign opener.
4. Initial Buildings: The starting Building Deck consists of the Barracks (level 1), Craftsman (level 1), Alchemist (level 1), and Workshop (level 1). Apply any one-time effects indicated on these cards. Keep the building cards in sequential order by reference number.
5. Character Setup: Each player chooses a character and takes their corresponding Character Sheet. Record your character's name, track their Level, Experience, Gold, and Resources. Note your unique Masteries and Perks.
6. Monster Components: For each monster type present in the scenario, you'll need a double-sided Monster Stat Card. Insert this card into a Stat Sleeve at the appropriate scenario level. Gather the corresponding Monster Standees (normal and elite) and their unique Monster Ability Deck.
7. Item Supplies: Separate your items into the Available Supply and Unavailable Supply, further divided into purchasable and craftable items. Initially, only specific Gloomhaven items (10, 25, 72, 105, 109, 116) are available for purchase if you own Gloomhaven.
8. Town Guard Deck: Assemble the initial Town Guard Deck with the specified cards (x6 0, x5 10, x5 -10, x1 20, x1 -20, x1 Success, x1 Wreck).

The Game Turn

A round in Frosthaven is a dynamic dance between your characters and the monsters. Here's a simplified breakdown of how it flows, focusing on monster actions:

After characters have selected and revealed their ability cards, the monsters spring to life:

1. Monster Ability Card Draw: For each monster set with at least one figure on the map, draw one Monster Ability Card. This card dictates their actions and initiative for the round.
2. Initiative Order: Monsters act based on the Initiative Value on their drawn ability card. Within a monster set, elite monsters act first in ascending standee number order, followed by normal monsters in ascending standee number order. Each monster fully completes its turn before the next one acts.
3. Monster Focus: At the start of its turn, a monster determines its Focus. This is the enemy it can attack using the fewest movement points.
   • For melee attacks, they find the shortest path to an adjacent hex from which to attack.
   • For ranged attacks, they find the shortest path to a hex within range.
   • If unable to attack, they focus as if for a single-target melee attack.
   • If multiple enemies are equally close, they focus on the one earliest in the initiative order.
   • Monsters prioritize paths that avoid negative hexes (traps, hazardous terrain), even if it means a longer route.
   • No Focus: If a monster cannot find a valid hex to attack, it won't move or attack, but will perform other abilities.
4. Monster Movement: A monster only moves if "M ± X" is listed on its ability card. They gain movement points equal to their base move stat (from their Stat Card) modified by X.
   • Monsters always use the fewest movement points to maximize their attacks.
   • If a monster cannot attack its focus this turn, it only moves if it shortens the path to its focus.
   • Ranged monsters attacking an adjacent target will try to move away to avoid disadvantage.
   • When attacking multiple targets, they move to hit the most targets with the fewest disadvantaged attacks.
5. Monster Attacks: A monster only attacks if "A ± X" is listed on its ability card. They use their base attack stat (from their Stat Card) modified by X.
   • The attack range is specified on the ability card; if none, it's a melee attack.
   • Monsters only attack their focus (or foci for multiple targets).
   • If a monster kills its focus and has attacks remaining, it finds a new focus.
6. Other Monster Abilities: Monsters can have various other abilities:
   • Active Bonuses: From stat cards are always active; from ability cards activate after the monster's turn and last until the end of the round.
   • Heal Abilities: Target the monster within range with the greatest difference between current and maximum hit points.
   • Loot Abilities: Monsters can loot all loot tokens within range (unlike characters, they don't loot at the end of their turn and don't drop loot when they die). They cannot loot treasure tiles.
   • Negative Targeted Abilities: Use focus rules to find targets, but don't affect movement.
   • Positive Conditions: Target the closest monster without the condition (or earliest in initiative if tied).
   • Summon Abilities: Place new monster summons in an empty hex adjacent to the summoner and as close to an enemy as possible. Summons don't act the round they are summoned.
   • Monsters and Elements: Monsters can infuse and consume elements. Infusion happens when the last monster of a set ends its turn; consumption happens when the first monster of a set starts its turn and benefits all monsters of that set.
7. Revealing and Spawning Monsters: Monsters can be added to the map by being Revealed (new rooms) or Spawned (scenario rules). Unlike summons, these monsters act in the same round they are added. If their set doesn't have an ability card, draw one. Their initiative token is placed after the acting figure if their initiative is lower, or in its normal position if higher.
8. Named Monsters & Bosses: These are special monster types. Named Monsters and Bosses are placed in red bases, are not considered normal or elite, and act before elites of the same type. Bosses have unique stat cards and ability decks.
9. Monster Damage and Death: Damage is tracked on the Stat Sleeve. When total damage equals or exceeds HP, the monster dies, is removed from the map, and drops a Loot Token.

After all figures (except newly summoned ones) have taken a turn, the End of Round step begins:

1. Trigger end-of-round effects.
2. Shuffle discard piles if a shuffle icon was drawn.
3. Move character ability cards with round bonuses to discard or lost piles.
4. Characters with two or more cards in their discard pile may perform a Short Rest.
5. Move infused elements one column to the left on the element board.

End of Game and Scoring

A scenario concludes when either a Loss Condition or a Completion Condition is met. Play continues until the current round is over, then the scenario officially ends. If both conditions are met in the same round, the scenario is lost.

Lost Scenario

If the scenario is lost (all characters exhausted or other loss conditions met):

• Characters recover all ability cards and items, reset HP, and remove conditions.
• All attack modifier cards are reset.
• Battle goals are shuffled back.
• Any loot tokens or treasure tiles on the map are lost.
• Characters keep all experience, gold, and treasure gained.
• The party chooses:
  • Return to Frosthaven: Gain resources from loot cards, keep all experience/gold/treasure. Proceed to the Outpost Phase. Then, attempt any available scenario (including the lost one), resolving a road event if necessary.
  • Replay the Scenario: Do not gain resources from loot cards, but keep all experience/gold/treasure. Skip the Outpost Phase. Attempt the scenario again, but do not resolve a road event.

Completed Scenario

If the scenario is completed (specific goal achieved):

1. Looted Resources: Each character gains resources from their loot cards, tallied on their character sheet.
2. Battle Goals: Characters gain checkmarks for achieving their battle goals. Every three checkmarks grant a Perk Mark.
3. Masteries: Characters gain one perk mark for each new mastery achieved.
4. Scenario Conclusion: Read the conclusion in the section book.
5. Scenario Rewards: Gain any listed rewards (unlocks, experience, gold, items, etc.). Rewards can only be gained once per campaign. Unlocked scenarios get their stickers affixed to the map board.
6. Inspiration: Gain inspiration equal to 4 minus the number of characters.
7. Updated Map: Mark the scenario as completed on the map board.

After completing a scenario, the party normally returns to Frosthaven for an Outpost Phase. However, if another scenario is linked, they may skip the Outpost Phase to play it immediately. If it's force-linked, they *must* play it. If this isn't the first completion of the scenario, all links are ignored, and you must return to Frosthaven.

The Outpost Phase

The Outpost Phase is where you spend time in Frosthaven between scenarios, managing your campaign. It consists of five steps:

1. Passage of Time: Mark the next unmarked box on the Campaign Calendar. This tracks weeks and can trigger section readings or seasonal changes (summer/winter).
2. Outpost Event: Draw and resolve the top card of the active outpost event deck (summer or winter, depending on the season). This can include Attack Events where you defend Frosthaven.
   • Defense Checks: For each targeted building, draw a card from the Town Guard Deck and add its bonus to Frosthaven's total defense. Losing soldiers can grant advantage and reduce the attack value.
   • Damaged Buildings: If a defense check fails, the building is damaged. Pay its repair cost with material resources from the Frosthaven Supply or personal supplies, or lose 1 morale.
   • Wrecked Buildings: If a building is wrecked, flip its card to the wrecked side. Its wrecked effect will resolve during the Building Operations step until rebuilt.
3. Building Operations: Resolve the effects of all buildings in the Building Deck sequentially.
4. Downtime: Interact with buildings (e.g., craft items at the Craftsman).
5. Construction: Build new buildings or upgrade existing ones.

Tips for Winning

1. Master Monster Movement and Focus: Understanding how monsters move and choose their targets (their "focus") is paramount. They always seek the shortest path to attack, prioritizing avoiding negative hexes. Use this predictability to your advantage by positioning your characters strategically to bait attacks, protect weaker allies, or force monsters into traps. Remember, they don't need line-of-sight to find focus, only a path!
2. Prioritize Scenario Goals and Resource Management: Frosthaven is a campaign game, and every scenario has a specific goal. Don't get sidetracked by trying to clear every monster if the objective is simply to escape or activate a mechanism. Also, pay close attention to the Outpost Phase. Managing your Frosthaven Supply, building upgrades, and character progression are crucial for long-term success. Don't underestimate the power of a well-timed building upgrade or a strategic short rest!