Objective:
Monte Bank is a board game where players act as thieves trying to amass the most money by robbing banks and securing their loot. The objective is to be the wealthiest player at the end of the game.
Setup:
- Each player chooses a color and receives the associated thief figures and action cards.
- Set up the game board in the center of the table. The game board shows a city with multiple banks, a vault area, and various paths connecting the banks.
- Bank chips are placed on their designated spots on the board.
- Each player receives a starting amount of cash (in play money) as instructed in the rulebook.
- Shuffle the action cards and place them as a face-down deck.
Gameplay:
The game is played over rounds, and each round consists of several phases:
- Round Start:
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Reveal an event card that may change specific conditions for the round.
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Action Phase:
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Players take turns performing one or more of the following actions:
- Move: Move their thief figure on the board by one space.
- Rob: Attempt to rob a bank where their thief figure is located. This attempt costs a certain number of action cards.
- Card Use: Play one or more action cards to initiate special actions like escape, setting traps, or others.
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Retreat Phase:
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Players may attempt to escape to their hideout with their stolen money, using specific action cards.
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End of Round:
- A new round begins unless an end-condition event occurs.
Special Rules and Strategies:
- Bank Defense: Different banks may have varying degrees of security, some requiring specific action cards to overcome.
- Cooperation: Players can temporarily ally to overpower stronger opponents or rob particularly difficult banks.
- Bluffing: Since many actions are done in secret (with cards played face down), it is crucial to bluff and deceive the other players.
End of the Game:
The game ends when a certain event, as described in the rulebook, occurs, or when all banks have been robbed. The player with the most money wins.
