# Mansions of Madness ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2011 - **BGG Rating**: 7.3 - **BGG Rank**: #614 - **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 5) - **Duration**: 120-180 min - **Weight**: 3.24 / 5 - **Designers**: Corey Konieczka - **Artists**: Anders Finér, Christopher Burdett, Henning Ludvigsen - **Publishers**: Fantasy Flight Games, Arclight Games, Edge Entertainment, Galakta, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Stratelibri - **Categories**: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Horror, Miniatures - **Mechanics**: Area Movement, Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Modular Board, Pick-up and Deliver, Role Playing ## Verdict If you're into a good dose of Lovecraftian horror, mystery, and an RPG feel, Mansions of Madness is a treat. It's an immersive experience that pulls you into the Arkham universe!Immersive horrorEngaging narrativeQuality componentsHigh replayabilityCooperative/asymmetrical experienceLong play timeComplex rulesLanguage dependencyHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to dive into a Lovecraftian nightmare with Mansions of Madness, a game that plunges you headfirst into scenarios of horror, mystery, and madness! Designed by Corey Konieczka, this title is perfect for 2 to 5 players who enjoy a good dose of suspense and adventure, with games lasting from 2 to 3 hours. The premise is simple, but the execution is chilling: horrific monsters and spectral presences lurk in haunted places around Arkham, Massachusetts. Some weave sinister conspiracies, while others await innocent victims to devour or drive insane. It's your chance to be one of the brave investigators who must explore these cursed locations and uncover the truth behind the horrors that reside there. Each game unfolds from a pre-designed story, which comes with a unique map and a series of plot twists. These twists define which creatures the investigators will encounter, the clues they need to unearth, and which macabre ending awaits them. The dynamic is a classic 'one versus many': one player takes on the role of the Keeper, controlling the monsters and evil forces of the story, while the other players are the Investigators, seeking answers and fighting to keep their sanity intact. Do you dare to face the Mansions of Madness? ## How to Play Unraveling the Madness: Your Guide to Mansions of Madness (Keeperless!) Welcome, brave investigators, to the chilling world of **Mansions of Madness**! Forget everything you thought you knew about sanity, because tonight, we're diving into a house where shadows whisper and horrors lurk. This guide will walk you through the revised scenario rules for playing **Mansions of Madness** without a **Keeper**, letting you and your friends face the Eldritch terrors together. Grab your lanterns, steady your nerves, and let's get started! Objective of the Game: Survive the Lynch House! In **Mansions of Madness: The Fall of House Lynch**, you and your fellow investigators have been drawn to a foreboding mansion after a rather unsettling fortune-telling session. Your goal? To uncover the dark secrets within, confront the horrors unleashed, and, most importantly, survive! The specific objective will be revealed as you explore the house, but rest assured, it will involve stopping Walter Lynch, escaping the mansion, or preventing a monstrous summoning. Victory means achieving your objective before the house claims your sanity and your lives! Preparation (Setup): Setting the Stage for Horror Getting ready to face the unknown is half the battle. Here’s how to set up your game: Board Setup: Instead of seeding the board with pre-determined elements, you'll place an **unexplored token** in each room. On top of every room's **unexplored token**, except for the starting room, place a **lock unchecked token**. If you're using double-sided tokens, one side can represent the **lock unchecked tokens** and the other for the **unexplored tokens**. Card Deck: Prepare a random deck using the following cards: **Whiskey, Sedative, Nameless Cults, Ruby of R’lyeh, 5x Nothing of Interest**. The Fortune Teller's Prophecy: Instead of choosing an objective, you'll delve into a chilling introduction. Resolve the following rolls once (not for each investigator): First Card (Past): Roll a die. 1-3: The Hanged Man 4-6: The World 7-9: Death 10: Reroll Second Card (Present): Roll a die. Odd: The Moon Even: The Star Third Card (Future): Roll a die. Odd: The Fool Even: The Emperor The final card is always **The Tower**. Make sure to write down the results of your rolls, as these "drawn" cards will influence events later! To increase replayability, you can choose to make these rolls the first time a paragraph asks for them. Keeper Cards: Gather the following cards for the automated Keeper: Mythos cards: Door, Stairs up, Bat. Keeper Actions Cards: Evil Presence, Command Minion, Take Sample, Uncontrollable Urges, Maniac Attacks. The **Keeper** starts with 1 **Mythos** and 1 **Threat**. Tokens: You'll need two different kinds of tokens (or one kind of double-sided token) as additional material, one for each room on the board. The Game Turn: Navigating the Mansion's Horrors The game unfolds in a series of turns, alternating between the **Investigators' Turn** and the **Keeper's Turn**. Investigators' Turn: Your Moment to Act When the game begins, read paragraph **#E0** for the introductory text. During your turn, investigators can perform actions like moving, exploring, and interacting with the environment. Moving into a Locked Room: When an investigator moves to a room with a **lock unchecked token**, read the corresponding **L paragraph** for that room (check the room guide). Remove the **lock unchecked token**, and either place the indicated **lock card** on the room or move the investigator into the room if there's no lock or it's already solved. Exploring a Room: When an investigator explores a room with an **unexplored token**, read the corresponding **R paragraph** for that room (check the room guide) and remove the token. If you find an **obstacle** that isn't immediately solved, note down the paragraph that will be read when the obstacle is solved and place it on the room under the **obstacle card**. Gloria Goldberg's Remote Viewing: If Gloria Goldberg successfully uses her "Remote Viewing" skill, read the corresponding **G paragraph** for the chosen room. No Mythos Cards: Remember, you don't play any **Mythos cards** during the **Investigator's Turn**; they're reserved for the **Keeper's Turn**. Keeper's Turn: The Mansion Fights Back The **Keeper's Turn** is when the mansion's horrors come to life. Trauma Cards: Always play **trauma cards** when possible. Randomly select one from the **Keeper's hand** until you draw the correct type of card (**Injury** or **Insanity**) and apply it. Try to check only the top of the card to see if it's playable under the current conditions. When the **Keeper** has a choice, they will first choose the most prejudicial option for the investigators, then determine the choice randomly (e.g., when moving one of two zombies in the same area, decide randomly which one moves). Keeper Action Step: This is where the automated **Keeper** takes its actions. You'll find the instructions on the last 4 pages of the document. The first page is used before the objective is revealed, and the other three once it has been revealed. Read every step in order and take the action if it fulfills all requirements (including the **Threat cost**). If a step ends with the ⟳ symbol, repeat that step. The **Keeper Actions phase** finishes once the last step has been read or there are no more **Threat points**. Optional Rule: If players agree that a different action would be more appropriate, feel free to apply that instead. Mythos Cards Step (New Step): The **Keeper's hand** of **Mythos cards** is placed face up. Play these after the **Keeper Action** and before **monster attacks**. The card's requirements must be fulfilled, but no **Threat** needs to be paid. If a card stipulates it lasts for one turn, it means the next turn of the investigator. The limit of one card per investigator per turn must be satisfied. The card should be played on the investigator who: a) would suffer the most, or b) has the least negative cards currently attached. Monsters Attack Step: When determining **monster attacks**, if there is a choice, prioritize targets in this order: Unwounded, if 1+ **injury cards** available. The investigator with the highest weapon damage. The investigator with the lowest remaining health. The investigator with the lowest **Luck**. Event Step: When an **event card** reaches its countdown, read the corresponding **#E paragraph** for the number of the event instead of reading the card itself. Then, discard the **event card**. For example, read **#E3** when Event card III should be flipped over. End of Game and Scoring: Did You Survive? The game ends when the investigators successfully achieve their objective, or when all investigators are eliminated (either by losing all health or sanity). There's no complex scoring system; it's a matter of victory or defeat against the encroaching madness! * Victory: The investigators win if they successfully complete the revealed objective. * Defeat: The investigators lose if all of them are defeated before the objective is met. Tips for Winning: Keep Your Wits About You! The Lynch House is a dangerous place, but with a few tactical considerations, you might just make it out alive: Prioritize Exploration (Carefully!): Exploring rooms is how you'll find clues and advance the story, but be mindful of **lock unchecked tokens** and potential **obstacles**. Sometimes it's better to prepare before blindly rushing into a new room. Remember, the "drawn" cards from the setup will influence what you find! Manage Your Items and Obstacles: Pay close attention to the items you find and the **obstacles** you encounter. An **Axe** might be crucial for a combat encounter, while a **Fire Extinguisher** could save you from a burning room. Knowing when to solve an **obstacle** and when to hold off can be key to survival. Adapt to the Keeper's Actions: The automated **Keeper** will always act in a way that is most detrimental to the investigators. Study the **Keeper Actions** sections (especially for when the objective is revealed) to anticipate their moves. Knowing if Walter is trying to move away from you (Objective 1A) or if a Shoggoth is heading for the Foyer (Objective 1B) will inform your strategic decisions. Sometimes, the "optional rule" to agree on a different **Keeper action** can be a lifesaesaver! Good luck, investigators. The horrors of the Lynch House await! ## FAQ ### How many players can play Mansions of Madness? The game is designed for 2 to 5 players. One player takes on the role of the Keeper, and the others are the Investigators. ### What is the average playtime for a game? Prepare for a longer session! Mansions of Madness games typically last between 120 and 180 minutes, which is 2 to 3 hours. ### Is it a complex game to learn? Mansions of Madness has a medium-high complexity (BGG weight of 3.24/5). The rules can take some time to master, especially for the player taking on the Keeper role, but the immersion makes the effort worthwhile. ### Does it require a lot of table space to play? Yes, the game uses a modular board that can expand quite a bit, plus many cards, miniatures, and other components. It's good to have a spacious table to accommodate everything. ### What is the main objective of the Investigators? Investigators need to explore haunted locations, gather clues, solve mysteries, and of course, try to survive the horrors that lurk, all while attempting to keep their sanity intact. ### Does the game have RPG elements? Absolutely! While it's a board game, Mansions of Madness incorporates strong RPG elements, such as role-playing unique characters with distinct abilities, making moral decisions, and a deep narrative that unfolds with each play. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **R$ 99,98**: R$ 99,98 (https://www.comparajogos.com.br/api/redirect?to=56340) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/mansions-of-madness ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 149.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=489130&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/89/mansions-of-madness?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com