# Mice and Mystics: Turtle Shell

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2014
- **BGG Rating**: 7.5
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4
- **Duration**: 60 min
- **Weight**: 2.50 / 5
- **Designers**: Jerry Hawthorne
- **Artists**: JJ Ariosa
- **Publishers**: Plaid Hat Games, Cube Factory of Ideas, Ediciones MasQueOca, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Raven Distribution
- **Categories**: Adventure, Animals, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy
- **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Storytelling

## Verdict
If you love protecting the crew and adding a splash of humor, Turtle Shell is the missing upgrade.Extra defense and humorSimple yet fun strategyAge‑friendly for all playersDiscarded at chapter endRequires character selectionRECOMMENDED

## Description
Mice and Mystics: Turtle Shell is the expansion that gives a little extra push to the classic cooperative adventure game. You’ll still meet brave mice, but now you can use the Turtle Shell, a body armor that boosts defense by +2 and slows rats by 1 while equipped—perfect for shielding the most fragile members of the crew. The rule is simple: choose who dons the armor (Healer, Warrior, or Tinkerer), and the rest of the team adapts to the new challenge. The expansion adds fresh obstacles but keeps the familiar chapter structure, so there’s no steep learning curve. The Turtle Shell has a discard effect at the end of each chapter, reminding you that every choice matters and time is tight. If you enjoy defensive tactics and want a dash of humor, Turtle Shell is a great addition. The game remains cooperative, with dice rolls that keep tension high and the story unfolding engagingly. It’s perfect for fans of Mice and Mystics who want something not too complex but still offers new protection and character interaction mechanics.

## FAQ
### How long does a game with the Turtle Shell expansion last?
Games run about 60 minutes, the same as the base game, since the expansion only adds new components and light rules.

### What exactly does the Turtle Shell do?
It gives +2 defense and slows rats by 1 while equipped, but is discarded at the end of the chapter.

### Which characters can wear the armor?
Healer, Warrior, or Tinkerer; other characters cannot equip it.

### Do I need a translated version of the game to use the expansion?
No, just have the original English or Portuguese version; the expansion doesn’t require additional language packs.

### Does the expansion change the dice‑rolling rules?
No, the dice‑rolling rules stay the same; the Turtle Shell just adds a defense and speed effect.

### Can I play the expansion with a single player?
Yes, Mice and Mystics supports 1‑4 players, so the expansion works with any player count.