# Middara: Unintentional Malum – Act 1

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2019
- **BGG Rating**: 8.5
- **BGG Rank**: #592
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 60 min
- **Weight**: 4.13 / 5
- **Designers**: Brenna Moncur, Brooklynn Lundberg, Clayton Helme, Ian Tate
- **Artists**: Alex Hansen, Hector Sevilla Lujan, Jon Troy Nickel, Rhett Mason
- **Publishers**: Succubus Publishing, Hobby World
- **Categories**: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures
- **Mechanics**: Action Points, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hand Management, Modular Board, Role Playing, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game, Solo / Solitaire Game, Storytelling, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
Perfect for those seeking RPG depth within a board game framework, focusing heavily on narrative and character customization.Almost infinite character customizationBranching story with real impactInnovative and tactical combat systemHigh-quality components and miniaturesQuite a steep learning curveHigh dependency on reading/translationRECOMMENDED

## Description
Imagine a ultra-modern fantasy world existing parallel to our own Earth. That's the setting of Middara: Unintentional Malum. You and up to three friends step into the shoes of adventurers in an epic journey where the story isn't just flavor text—it's the core of the experience. We're talking about a massive campaign with over 90 hours of content, where every decision you make truly matters. You know those 'what if' moments? In Middara, your choices can save allies or lead them to their doom, fundamentally altering the plot's direction.

Combat is where the innovation shines. Forget simple 'hit or miss' rolls. The system uses dice combinations based on your character's equipment and abilities. Each die face features specific symbols that you spend to boost attacks and deal devastating damage. With nine different types of dice and hundreds of abilities and equipment options, the customization possibilities are endless. Best of all, there are no rigid classes; a point-buy progression system lets you build your hero exactly how you want, focusing on what you actually enjoy.

To bring this world to life, the game utilizes a modular board with various locations—from magical forests to airships—and enemies controlled by a smart AI, ensuring every encounter is a unique challenge. If your campaign group isn't available, the game also offers standalone scenarios to scratch that gaming itch. It's the perfect blend of tabletop RPG depth and modern board game convenience, all wrapped in a vibrant, anime-inspired aesthetic.

## How to Play
Game Objective
In Middara: Unintentional Malum Act 1, players control a group of Adventurers on a narrative mission filled with tactical combat and strategic decisions. The main objective varies depending on the chosen game mode:

    Adventure Mode: Progress through a story with multiple endings, completing Encounters and meeting specific victory conditions in each scenario.
    Crawl Mode: Focus on combat and loot collection, with victory achieved by completing all Encounters in the chosen scenario.

Consult the manual for details on the specific objectives of each mode.

Setup

    Choose the Mode: Decide between Adventure Mode (narrative) or Crawl Mode (tactical combat).
    Assemble the Adventurers: Each player selects an Adventurer (such as Nightingale or Rook) and receives their corresponding card, starting items, and Stamina Points (SP) tokens.
    Prepare the Board: Use the Tiles and Terrain Tokens according to the Encounter diagram in the manual. Position the Combatants (enemies) and Objective or Loot tokens.
    Initiative: Shuffle the Initiative Cards of the Adventurers and Combatants to form the Initiative Track.

Consult the manual for details on specific scenario setups.

Game Flow
The game is divided into Rounds, with each figure acting according to its position on the Initiative Track. An Adventurer's turn has 5 phases:

    Start of Turn: Resolve abilities or effects that activate at the start of the turn.
    Status Phase: Apply effects with the STATUS tag.
    Recovery Phase: Recover SP and unexhaust cards.
    Action Phase: Spend SP to perform actions such as Move, Attack, or use abilities.
    End of Turn: Resolve effects that activate at the end of the turn.

Combatants act according to their own cards, following predefined behaviors.

Actions and How to Play
During the Action Phase, Adventurers can spend SP to:

    Move: Move up to your Movement value. Cost: 1 SP (+2 spaces per additional SP).
    Attack: Use the Combat Dice of the equipped weapon. Cost: 1 SP.
    Re-equip: Swap items or pick up items from adjacent allies. Cost: 1 SP.
    Dodge: During an enemy attack, roll the BLACK die to add +1 to Defense for each ☐ rolled.
    Counterattack: If an attack deals 0 damage, spend 1 SP to retaliate.

Discipline abilities (such as Animism) can be used if the Adventurer has learned them.

End of Game and Scoring
The game ends when an End Condition is met, such as:

    Victory: Fulfilling the objectives of the Encounter (e.g., defeating all enemies or reaching an exit token).
    Defeat: All Adventurers being Defeated or accumulating 4 Urgency tokens.

Rewards include XP, Gold, and items, as listed in the manual for each scenario.

Tips for Winning

    SP Management: Prioritize essential actions and use the Recovery Phase to replenish resources.
    Positioning: Take advantage of terrain and effects like Barrier to protect allies.
    Combat: Counterattacking after successful dodges reduces costs and maximizes damage.

Consult the manual for specific strategies for each Adventurer.

## FAQ
### Is the game too complex?
Yes, it has a high weight (4.13). It's not a 'learn in 5 minutes' game; it requires dedication to master the combat and progression mechanics.

### Can I play it solo?
Absolutely! The game has solid solo rules, allowing you to experience the entire campaign on your own.

### How long is the campaign?
The full experience is massive, potentially exceeding 90 hours of gameplay, depending on your group's pace.

### Do I need a Game Master?
No. The game uses an AI system to control monsters and NPCs, so everyone plays cooperatively.

### Do choices actually change the story?
Yes, significantly. Decisions impact who survives and which paths the plot takes, making every campaign unique.

### Does it come with miniatures?
Yes, the game is centered around miniatures to represent the heroes and the perils of the world of Middara.

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