# Return to Dark Tower: Alliances

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2022
- **BGG Rating**: 8.4
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 100-120 min
- **Weight**: 2.86 / 5
- **Designers**: Brian Neff, Isaac Childres, Justin D. Jacobson, Noah Cohen, Rob Daviau
- **Artists**: Nastya Lehn, Qistina Khalidah
- **Publishers**: Restoration Games, Broadway Toys LTD, Choo Choo Games, Lucky Duck Games
- **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy, Fighting
- **Mechanics**: Area Movement, Cooperative Game, Events, Random Production, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game, Trading, Variable Player Powers, Variable Set-up

## Verdict
If you already enjoy Return to Dark Tower and want more of that epic adventure vibe with cooperative elements, this expansion is a must-have! Alliances adds strategic layers and options that will make your games even richer.New heroes with unique powersInfluence resource adds strategyMore complex treasures and alliesExpands base game replayabilityRequires the full base gameCan increase complexityModerate language dependencyHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Hey everyone! Ready to supercharge your Return to Dark Tower experience? The Alliances expansion is here to give your adventure an extra boost, bringing more depth and variety for those who've already mastered the base game. Check out the new additions: two brand-new heroes are entering the fray! We have the Archwright, a master at fortifying kingdoms and protecting the people, and the Haunted Recluse, who dabbles in darker, forbidden lore to gain sinister power. 

To top it off, 'Influence' emerges as a new resource, opening up a range of options. With it, you can forge strategic alliances with powerful guilds or, perhaps, find ways to thwart the plans of the nobles, who aren't always trustworthy. And for those who enjoy collecting treasures and allies, the expansion also brings new items and companions with more intricate abilities, perfect for seasoned players looking for an extra challenge. 

Alliances is for those who want to expand the Return to Dark Tower universe, adding more strategic layers and replayability. It's the perfect fit for fans of cooperative games with a touch of fantasy, adventure, and that campaign feel. Get ready for new alliances, new dangers, and, of course, more epic fun!

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
In Return to Dark Tower - Alliances, you and your fellow heroes face off against apocalyptic forces of blight, omen, fire, and frost. The Tower has corrupted the four guilds of the Four Kingdoms: the Arcane Scouts, Paladins Order, Druids Circle, and Thieves Guild. The people now cower from those who should protect them, and strange magics affect the land. Your goal is to exert your influence to sway these guilds to become allies once again, while battling the adversary and its destructive forces. This expansion makes the cooperative game more challenging.

Preparation (Setup)
Follow the base game setup with the following changes:

    Heroic Action Overlays: Give each player an overlay to place over the heroic actions section of their hero board.
    Guild Boards: Decide whether to use the easier “A” side or harder “B” side for each guild board (you may use a mix of “A” and “B” sides). Then randomly assign one to each kingdom.
    Guild Markers: Place a guild marker on the “rank 1” space of each guild board.
    Guild Flags: Each guild has its guild hall in a different building. For each guild, insert their flag into the specified building in the kingdom where the guild is located.
    Companions: Each guild has 3 associated companions. For each guild, shuffle these companions and randomly place them face up in the rank 2, rank 3, and rank 4 card slots below the guild board.
    Treasures: Shuffle the 20 new treasure cards into the treasure deck. When you create the treasure market, reveal 4 cards (instead of 3).
    Influence: Add the influence tokens to the general supply. Take 8 influence from the general supply and place them on the influence vessel to form the heroes’ influence pool.
    Skulls: Put the 24 regular skulls into the skull bag. The app will tell you to replace some with power skulls, based on the selected adversary and foes. Return all unused skulls to the game box.


Fluxo do Jogo
Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

Ações e Como Jogar
Influence
Influence is a new resource shared by all heroes, unlike warriors and spirit which are personal. It is used to return the guilds to your side. The shared pool is kept on the influence vessel. When you gain influence, take it from the supply and add it to the vessel. When you spend influence, return it from the vessel to the supply. Influence is unlimited; use a proxy if the supply runs out.
Influence Action
While you are at a guild hall, you can gain two influence by taking the new heroic action: Influence. As a heroic action, you also gain two spirit after taking it.
Guild Ranks
Each guild has four guild ranks (1–4), starting at rank 1. Ranks can increase or decrease due to hero actions or other game effects like quest outcomes. Move the guild marker accordingly. If a guild's rank would increase above rank 4, it stays at rank 4, and every hero in that guild’s kingdom gains two spirit. If a guild's rank would decrease below rank 1, it stays at rank 1, and every hero in that guild’s kingdom loses two spirit (gaining a corruption if they cannot fully resolve the loss).
Reinforce Action (to increase Guild Rank)
You can increase a guild’s rank by taking the Reinforce action at the corresponding guild hall and spending five influence. You do not gain the building’s normal reinforce effect (e.g., gaining a gear or treasure at a bazaar). However, this still counts as the Reinforce action, so you may roll the haggle die first and receive other benefits from items, virtues, and companions.
Guild Effects
Each guild has an ongoing guild effect that applies to all heroes while they are in that guild’s kingdom. These effects vary with the guild’s rank, with lower ranks causing negative effects and higher ranks granting positive effects.
Guild Companions
Each guild has three guild companions that heroes can recruit. They are randomly assigned to card slots below the guild board at the start of the game. When you increase a guild’s rank, if there is a companion in the card slot below the new rank, you immediately recruit them. Place the companion card next to your hero board and press the guild companion button in the app to activate their events. Only three companions can be recruited from each guild: one at rank 2, one at rank 3, and one at rank 4. If a guild’s rank decreases and then later increases to a rank with an empty card slot, no companion is recruited.
Power Skulls
There are four new types of skulls, collectively known as power skulls, which hinder heroes. During setup, the app specifies how many of each type to use. Skulls are drawn randomly from the skull bag. When you enter a space with a power skull, resolve its effect. Skull effects cause you to lose resources or items. If you cannot fully resolve the losses, you gain a corruption. If multiple power skulls are on a space, resolve each effect one at a time in the order of your choice, potentially leading to multiple corruptions. If a power skull is placed on a building where your hero is already located, do not resolve its effect.

    Blight (green): Lose 1 item when you enter a space with a blight skull.
    Omen (purple): Lose 1 influence when you enter a space with an omen skull.
    Fire (red): Lose 4 warriors when you enter a space with a fire skull.
    Frost (blue): Lose 1 spirit when you enter a space with a frost skull.

Treasures
There are 20 new treasures. Unlike base game items, many of these new treasures have passive effects that trigger at other times, such as the end of the month.

Fim de Jogo e Pontuação
Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

Dicas para Vencer

    Focus on increasing guild ranks to gain positive guild effects and recruit powerful companions. Spending 5 influence at a guild hall for the Reinforce action is key to this strategy.
    Manage your influence pool carefully. Remember that the heroes gain influence equal to the number of buildings without skulls at the end of each month, so keeping buildings clear is beneficial.
    Be prepared for power skull effects. Plan your movement to avoid spaces with multiple power skulls if your resources are low, as failing to resolve their effects can lead to corruption.

## FAQ
### Do I need the Return to Dark Tower base game to play with Alliances?
Yes, absolutely! Alliances is an expansion and requires the Return to Dark Tower base game to be played.

### How many players does this expansion support?
The Alliances expansion maintains the player count of the base game, which is for 1 to 4 players.

### Does the game become much harder with this expansion?
Alliances adds more strategic options and complexity, which can increase the challenge. It's designed for those already familiar with the base game and seeking more depth.

### What are the main new components included in the box?
The expansion includes two new heroes (Archwright and Haunted Recluse), a new resource called Influence, as well as new treasures and allies with special abilities.

### Does this expansion introduce a new campaign or just add content to the base game?
Alliances adds new elements and options that can be integrated into base game sessions, increasing variety and replayability, but it does not introduce a completely new, separate campaign.

### Do I need to translate anything to play in Portuguese?
The expansion has a moderate language dependency. It's recommended to have a translated version of the cards or use a reference sheet to make the most of the experience.

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