# Gloomhaven: Forgotten Circles

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2019
- **BGG Rating**: 7.7
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 60-120 min
- **Weight**: 4.29 / 5
- **Designers**: Isaac Childres, Marcel Dragomir
- **Artists**: Alexandr Elichev, Josh T. McDowell
- **Publishers**: Cephalofair Games, Albi, Albi Polska, Feuerland Spiele, Galápagos Jogos, Hobby World, Korea Boardgames
- **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures
- **Mechanics**: Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Cooperative Game, Grid Movement, Hand Management, Hexagon Grid, Modular Board, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game, Simultaneous Action Selection, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
If you love Gloomhaven, the fresh storyline and the Aesther class will give you even more tactics and narrative depth.Well‑designed new scenariosUnique class with fresh abilitiesAdditional monsters and bossesDynamic modular boardSteep learning curveRequires extensive translationGames can run longHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Gloomhaven: Forgotten Circles is the first expansion for the celebrated Gloomhaven and adds twenty new scenarios that take place after the original campaign. The centerpiece is the new Aesther Diviner class, a seer who strives to stop an approaching calamity. Each scenario is split across multiple pages, creating more dynamic and surprising encounters that force the party to constantly adapt. The expansion also introduces seven new monster types—including three brand‑new bosses—and fourteen new items to broaden equipment choices. Core mechanics stay true to the base game: campaign driven by battle cards, simultaneous action selection, hand management, and hex‑grid modular movement. The modular board lets the map be rebuilt for each mission, enhancing the sense of exploration. One to four players can cooperate or play solo, and the 4.3 weight signals a medium‑high complexity, perfect for those who love deep tactics and rich narrative. Components feature detailed miniatures, standees, and an audio narration track that immerses players in the story. In short, Forgotten Circles expands Gloomhaven’s world with fresh storylines, diverse foes, and new tactical tools while preserving the high production values fans expect.

## How to Play
Objective
The Gloomhaven: Forgotten Circles expansion builds on the core Gloomhaven experience, introducing the Aesther Diviner and a new campaign that can be accessed after completing scenario #51 and the Town Records.  The overarching goal is to complete the objectives of each scenario, which may involve defeating monsters, solving puzzles, or achieving specific narrative milestones.  The victory condition is defined by the scenario’s objectives; when all objectives are met, the party wins.  For the exact win/lose conditions for each scenario, consult the manual.

Setup
While the manual provides a detailed step‑by‑step setup, the key points for this expansion are:

  Place the board and all tiles as instructed in the core rulebook.
  Insert the City and Road Event cards that unlock the Aesther Diviner into their respective decks.
  Open the character tuck boxes to retrieve the Aesther Diviner miniature, character board, tokens, and the new Item Cards.
  Place the monster standees, monster stat sheets, and monster ability cards on the board according to the scenario layout.
  Each player receives a character board, character tokens, and the revised character cards for their chosen class.
  Set up the Rift Overlay Tiles and any Event Cards that are part of the scenario.

For the full, step‑by‑step setup instructions, consult the manual.

Game Flow
The flow of a round in Forgotten Circles follows the core Gloomhaven structure with a few expansion‑specific nuances:

  Start of Round
    
      Reduce any element strength effects.
      Optionally perform a short rest: discard one random card and recover the rest.
      Shuffle the monster deck and event deck as required.
    
  
  Monster Actions
    
      Monsters act in initiative order, with elite monsters acting before normal ones in ascending numeric order.
      Each monster follows the AI rules: find a focus, move to an attack‑hex, and execute its abilities from top to bottom.
      Monsters ignore IMMOBILIZE for movement but cannot act if STUNNED.
    
  
  Player Actions
    
      Players draw two cards, then play up to two actions per turn (top and bottom of each ability card).
      Actions may include Attack, Move, Summon, Heal, etc., as defined on the card.
      Players may use items (e.g., Ring of Duality) or Rift Overlay Tiles during their turn.
    
  
  End of Round
    
      Resolve any end‑of‑turn effects, such as Regenerate healing.
      Discard used cards and draw new ones to maintain a hand of two.
    
  

For the complete round structure and any scenario‑specific variations, consult the manual.

Actions and How to Play
Below are the key actions and items that appear in Forgotten Circles.  Each action is described with its effect, when it can be used, and any restrictions.

  Ring of Duality
    After performing the top action of any ability card, you may immediately perform the bottom action of the same card.  This item cannot be used if both actions would trigger a lost card icon.
  
  Minor Antidote
    Prevents the next three times you would gain POISON.  The condition is removed if you are healed.
  
  Elemental Claymore
    During a melee attack, add +2 Attack to a single attack.
  
  Regenerate
    At the start of each turn, a figure with Regenerate performs a Heal 1, Self action.  The token is removed if the figure takes damage.
  
  Teleport
    Moves a figure to a specific location without evaluating the hexes between the start and destination.  It is not a Move ability, so it can be used while IMMOBILIZED.  Teleporting into an unrevealed room is not allowed.
  
  Attack Modifier Cards
    Cards such as Shield, Retaliate, Push, Pull, Pierce, Invisible, Strengthen, Regenerate, and Bless modify attacks or provide defensive effects.  Each has a specific trigger and duration as listed in the Player Reference.
  
  Condition Tokens
    Tokens like WOUND, POISON, IMMOBILIZE, DISARM, STUN, MUDDLE, and CURSE represent status effects.  Their removal rules are detailed in the Player Reference.
  
  Rift Overlay Tiles
    Created by the Aesther Diviner, these tiles remain on the map until removed.  A hex with a rift is not empty and is not negative.  The Diviner can have a maximum of five rifts; placing a sixth requires removing one.
  

For any actions or items not listed here, consult the manual.

End of Game and Scoring
The expansion does not alter the core victory and defeat conditions of Gloomhaven.  Each scenario ends when its specific objectives are met or when the party fails to meet them.  Scoring is handled as described in the core rulebook, with any scenario‑specific adjustments noted in the scenario description.  For the exact end‑of‑game procedure and scoring rules for Forgotten Circles, consult the manual.

Tips to Win

  Use the Ring of Duality wisely: Chain a powerful top action with its bottom counterpart to maximize damage or utility in a single turn.
  Deploy Minor Antidote early: Prevent the first three instances of POISON to keep your party healthy during tough encounters

## FAQ
### How many hours does the expansion take to finish?
It varies by group, but most scenarios run between 1 and 2 hours each.

### Can I play it solo?
Yes, the expansion includes solo rules just like the base game.

### How many players are supported?
From 1 to 4 players, same as the original.

### Do I need any extra components?
Besides the expansion box you need the base Gloomhaven game and the audio track, which is included.

### Is the new Aesther Diviner class balanced?
It offers unique mechanics and fits with the other classes, though it may require a short learning period.

### Are the new monsters tougher?
Some, especially the three new bosses, are tougher, but difficulty can be tweaked via campaign cards.

### Do I have to translate the scenario book?
Most text is in English; fan‑made translations are available online.

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