choose not to close locations?


Rules Questions and Gameplay Discussion


The group i am playing are pretty greedy people. We try to explore as many cards as possible. The question is that when we have defeated a henchman, can we choose not to close the location since it is written "you may attempt to close this location".


Fundamental rule of the game: cards mean what they say.

"May" is not "must", so you don't have to close the location. Very common strategy if you think you still have plenty of turns to find the villain.


That's correct. You do not have to attempt to close the location, ever... even if all cards of the location deck have been depleted. Much of the time it is to your benefit to close locations as soon as possible, but there are cases where its a good choice to not close right away.

Scarab Sages

This is a fine thing to do...I personally am all about the loot...but it's very much not recommended in 5-6 player games.


Yeah that's how we are playing it. Just needed some confirmation. But we almost lost a scenario due to our greed and we barely won by temporarily closing locations. This is particularly obvious in scenarios which doesn't grant you any blessings. You won't be able to explore as much as you like in those scenarios


+1 for don't get greedy ;)

Had a few close ones cause my 12 yo daughter was too busy farming at the general store or such and not hunting. lol


I'll second that on not messing around in larger games. We're playing some 4-character scenarios (2 per player | highly recommend) and it pretty much comes down to the lat 1-2 cards in the blessing deck. Super intense!

I'm playing with a group of six on Saturday and I can only imagine what a crazy race against the clock that's gonna be. #gulp


Make sure you build your own decks, Cheez. The pre-built decks have way too many allies that don't give you extra explores which you have to have in a 6-player game.


For the case that we defeat a villain, we "must" close the location, right?


frostshoxx wrote:
For the case that we defeat a villain, we "must" close the location, right?

As in when you defeat the Villain but he is able to escape to an open location. The rule book doesn't seem to give an option that the location may be left open.

Page 18 "If you Defeat the Villain, Close the Villain's Location". Unlike the situation when you defeat a Henchman on page 17 "When you defeat a henchman from a location deck, you may immediately attempt to close that location...", where it says you may close the location.

There have been times where I would like the location to remain open but I've played it that the location must be closed.

If you defeat the Villain and there is nowhere for him to escape, then you have won and you proceed to "After the Scenario". Rule book offers no options there either.


frostshoxx wrote:
For the case that we defeat a villain, we "must" close the location, right?

Yes - that's right.

If you REALLY want to leave the location open then you'll have to lose to the villain ;)

Liberty's Edge

I'll add to the caution of not closing a location when given the opportunity. We lost a scenario last night, partly because of poor die rolls against the villain but also because the druid didnt want to close a location (he really wanted to find a snake).


Side note: snake isn't very good for a druid, they don't have the Melee skill, so it defaults to a d4... Snake makes it 2d4, effectively. I would rather just roll a d10 (by discarding a card).


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Markon wrote:
Side note: snake isn't very good for a druid, they don't have the Melee skill, so it defaults to a d4... Snake makes it 2d4, effectively. I would rather just roll a d10 (by discarding a card).

+1 for this :)

Now, if they were trying to find that elusive tiger I would have more sympathy!

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