Objective of the Game:
In "Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion," players work cooperatively to complete missions, defeat monsters, and unfold the story of Gloomhaven through a campaign book. The main objective is to successfully complete scenarios together and experience the unfolding narrative.
Game Components:
- A game board and 25 double-sided "scenario books"
- 16 unique monster types
- 4 playable characters, each with a unique campaign deck
- A selection of item cards collected throughout the campaign
- Various tokens acting as status and effect markers
- Cardboard standees for characters and monsters
Setup: 1. Choose your characters and take the corresponding character and ability decks. 2. Each player gets a personal character board containing all the key character information (health, attack, stamina, etc.). 3. Read the first scenario in the campaign and set up the board according to the "scenario book" instructions. This involves setting up the game cards and placing the standees. 4. Prepare the monster cards and their action cards. 5. Shuffle the item cards, ensuring each player receives suitable starting equipment for their level.
Round Structure: The game proceeds in a sequence of rounds with the following phases:
- Card Selection: Each player simultaneously selects two cards from their hand to determine their actions for the round. Each card has two sections, and the player can perform one top action from one card and one bottom action from another.
- Initiative: Players reveal their selected cards to determine initiative (usually based on the number in the middle of the card). Actions are performed in the order of lowest to highest initiative.
- Perform Actions: Players and monsters take turns executing actions, including movements, attacks, and deploying special abilities. Enemies have their own action cards that dictate their moves for the round.
- Check Exhaustion: At the end of each round, players check if they are exhausted. If no cards can be drawn or played, the player is exhausted and cannot participate for the rest of the scenario.
- Reset Status: Repeat effect settings, reset card statuses, and prepare for the next round.
Winning and Losing Conditions:
- Victory: A scenario is won if its mission requirements are completed.
- Defeat: A scenario is considered lost if all characters become exhausted or if dictated by the scenario conditions.
Special Rules and Tips: - Consider the elements and status effects triggered by cards and enemies. - Careful card hand management is vital, as poor decisions can lead to exhaustion. - Coordination and communication with other players are essential; plan every action within the context of the group's strategy.
As characters level up, unlock new scenarios, and invest in new items, the gameplay deepens, and the narrative experience expands further.
