How to Play Underwood

Goal of the Game

In Murder Mystery Party Case Files: Underwood Cellars, players are transported to a magical world of forests where miracles happen in secret. A giant network of mycelia from various mushrooms is constantly expanding to generate new growth. Only the most resourceful and strongest mushroom species prevail and displace weaker competing species.

Every player tries to expand their own mycelium and mushroom colony as extensively as possible to secure the survival of their species. However, overgrowth by foreign colonies is a constant threat. The goal is to gain majorities on individual forest floor tiles through skillful expansion. The tiles on which you have the majority will earn you points at the end of the game. The player with the most points after the final scoring wins the game.

Preparation (Setup)

1. Lay out the playing area: Randomly select the number of forest floor tiles based on the player count and lay them face up in the middle of the table.
   • 2 Players: 11 Forest floor tiles
   • 3 Players: 14 Forest floor tiles
   • 4 Players: 17 Forest floor tiles

   The forest floor tiles must be laid out in such a way that they connect directly without any gaps. You decide on the shape and structure. Put the remaining forest floor tiles back in the box; they are no longer needed for this game.

2. Distribute mushroom tiles: Each player chooses a color and receives the mushroom tiles in that color. Place them in front of you as your personal supply with the mycelium side facing up. This way, all players can see at any time how many tiles you and your opponents still have available.
3. Determine starting player: Whoever picked mushrooms in the forest last becomes the starting player (otherwise decide randomly).
4. Starting setup: Starting with the player sitting to the right of the starting player, players take turns counter-clockwise placing one tile each (with the mycelium side up) on any empty space on the board. Repeat this until each player has placed exactly 4 starting tiles.

IMPORTANT: Your starting tiles must not be placed adjacent to an already placed opponent's tile. There must always be at least one empty forest floor space between tiles of different colors. You may also place your own tiles adjacent to each other. As soon as all tiles are placed correctly, the game can start. The game is played in turns clockwise. The starting player begins.

Fluxo do Jogo

The game is played in turns, clockwise. The starting player begins. On your turn, you must grow a mushroom to expand your colony. Passing is not allowed.

Expand Colony

On your turn, you spread your mushroom colony by following these steps:

1. Grow mushroom: Flip exactly one of your mycelia already on the board to the mushroom side. From this mushroom, your colony can now spread and form new mycelia.
2. Choose target area: You may now only spread on one forest floor tile. To do this, choose either the forest floor tile on which your newly flipped mushroom lies, or a forest floor tile that is directly adjacent to this mushroom.
3. Spread mycelia: You must now place mycelia from your supply onto all allowed spaces of the chosen forest floor tile that are adjacent to the mushroom. If you do not have enough mycelia in your supply to cover all spaces, you cannot perform the action on this target area at all.

IMPORTANT: You must always be able to place at least one new mycelium from your supply. You may not flip a mushroom without letting the colony grow!

Ações e Como Jogar

Expand Colony

As detailed in the "Fluxo do Jogo" section, this is the core action of your turn. It involves three steps:

1. Grow mushroom: Flip one of your existing mycelia on the board to its mushroom side. This newly grown mushroom is the origin point for your colony's expansion.
2. Choose target area: Select a single forest floor tile to expand into. This can be the tile where your new mushroom is located, or any tile directly adjacent to it.
3. Spread mycelia: Place mycelia from your personal supply onto all valid spaces on the chosen target forest floor tile that are adjacent to your newly grown mushroom. You must have enough mycelia to cover all such spaces; if not, you cannot perform this action on the chosen target area. You must place at least one new mycelium.

Rules for Covering Spaces

• Allowed spaces: You may only place your tiles on empty forest floor spaces or on spaces that contain opponent mycelia (i.e., opponent tiles with the mycelium side facing up).
• Forbidden spaces: You may never place a new mycelium tile on your own mycelium tiles or on mushrooms (whether yours or an opponent's).
• Covering opponents: If you cover opponent mycelia, you must give the affected player one of your own mycelia from your supply as compensation for each covered space. These received tiles remain in the opponent's supply until the end of the game and can bring them victory points.
• The covered opponent's tile remains on the space but is worthless for the rest of the game. You can later turn your overlying mycelium into a mushroom as usual.
• If an already stacked space is covered again, only the player whose mycelium is currently visible (i.e., at the very top) receives compensation. Tiles underneath are ignored.

Fim de Jogo e Pontuação

The game ends immediately as soon as a player cannot take their turn. This happens if a player has no mycelia of their own left in their supply or cannot perform the action Expand Colony. This is followed by the scoring:

1. Determine Majorities

Now determine individually for each of the forest floor tiles who has the majority there.

• Count the mushrooms (tiles with the mushroom side up) on each forest floor tile. Whoever has the sole majority wins the tile.
• If no one has placed a mushroom or if there is a tie for the mushroom majority, the majority of mycelia decides. This is only determined among the players involved in the tie. Whoever leads here receives the forest floor tile.
• If there is a tie here as well, then no one gets points for this forest floor tile.
• Collect all won forest floor tiles.

2. Count Points

• Spaces: Add up all the individual spaces on your won forest floor tiles. Each space is worth 1 victory point.
• Tile Supply: Count all mycelium tiles that you have in your supply at the end (your own remaining ones as well as those won from opponents). For every 2 tiles (rounded down) you receive 1 additional victory point.

Whoever collected the most victory points wins the game. In the event of a tie, the player who collected more opponent tiles in their supply wins. If there is still a tie, you share the victory.

Dicas para Vencer

• Focus on skillfully expanding your mycelium to gain majorities on individual forest floor tiles, as these tiles are your primary source of points at the end of the game.
• Strategically choose which mycelia to flip into mushrooms, as this determines where your colony can spread and form new mycelia.
• Pay attention to your opponents' mycelia. Covering opponent mycelia not only expands your own colony but also provides you with compensation tiles that can contribute to your final score.