Lovecraft Letter

Objective:

Lovecraft Letter is a card game for 2 to 6 players, inspired by the popular game Love Letter, but incorporating the mythical and eerie elements of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. The objective is to win two rounds before any other player by either being the last player standing or having the highest value card at the end of the round.

Components:

• 16 game cards with clue cards for each player
• 10 Insanity Tokens
• 1 Reference card
• 1 Cloth bag for storage

Setup:

1. Each player receives a reference card and clue cards to familiarize themselves with the card effects.
2. Shuffle all 16 game cards and place them face-down in the center of the table.
3. In a 2- to 4-player game, remove the top card from the deck and place it face down without revealing it to anyone. Skip this step in games with more than 4 players.
4. Each player draws one card to form their starting hand.
5. Place the Insanity Tokens within reach.

Gameplay:

Players take turns going clockwise, with a randomly determined starting player.

1. Draw: Draw the top card from the deck into your hand, so you have two cards.
2. Play: Choose one of the two cards to play, placing it face-up in front of you and executing the action described on it.
3. Resolve Effects: After the action is complete, the card remains face-up for the rest of the round.
4. The next player begins their turn.

End of the Round:

1. Elimination: Players eliminated by card effects or unable to protect themselves are out for the round.
2. Round Winner: The round ends when only one player remains or the draw pile is empty. The last standing player or the player with the highest value card wins the round.
3. Tokens: The winner receives an Insanity Token.

Winning the Game:

A player instantly wins the game when they collect two Insanity Tokens. Beware: gaining a token while being "insane" (due to certain card plays) can trigger powerful but risky game actions.

Card Breakdown:

Each card has a value and an effect. Typical effects include card elimination, guessing other players’ hands, or other tactically valuable actions. A hallmark of this version is the "insane" condition that unlocks powerful but risky card abilities when certain cards are in play.

Tips and Strategies:

• Memory: Keep track of cards played by opponents to better deduce remaining cards in play.
• Risk Management: Decide if playing "insane" cards is worth the risk due to their potentially powerful effects.
• Tactical Loss: Sometimes it's strategic to lose a round, observing and planning for a stronger comeback in subsequent rounds.

Enjoy the game and may the Cthulhu Mythos treat you kindly!