Runebound

Runebound
Runebound box
Designer(s)	Martin Wallace, Darrell Hardy
Publisher(s)	Fantasy Flight Games
Years active	2004 to present
Players	1-6
Age range	12+
Setup time	30 minutes
Playing time	Varies
Random chance	Dice rolling, card drawing
Skill(s) required	Dice rolling, Simple arithmetic

Runebound is a 1-6 player high fantasy adventure board game published by Fantasy Flight Games in 2004. A second edition was published in 2005. In Runebound, players take the roles of adventurers who seek out quests (indicated by markers on the map). The quests are then resolved with either victory for the player, or a loss of some item. Curiously, there is usually little direct conflict between the players. Each player is seeking quests and trying to gain experience which results in greater power and combat skill.

Runebound is one of a number of fantasy board games published by FFG, others include Talisman, Descent: Journeys in the Dark and licensed games Warcraft, World of Warcraft and several The Lord of the Rings games. Runebound shares the same heroes and artwork and (some) items with Descent:Journeys in the Dark and Runewars and is set in the same world as the card game Rune Age'.

The first large expansion, to Runebound, Runebound: Island of Dread, was released in 2005. Many other expansions to Runebound have been released by FFG, some are just sets of cards, others contain new maps and rule changes. Only one "large" expansion or adventure variant deck can be used at a time.

Gameplay

Each player assumes control over one hero of the land. These heroes can attempt weak quests, medium quests, hard quests or game-winning quests (colored respectively green, yellow, blue and red). In the scenario included in the base game, "The Rise of the Dragonlords," the first hero to complete three of the game-winning quests wins the game. Many small box expansions listed below offer variants changing the victory conditions, themes, monsters, and items available.

Most quests features a battle with a monster. Each monster has a skill in each of three masteries: ranged combat, melee combat, and magical combat. A single hero can only attack in one of these mini-battles, and must defend in the other two. However, a hero can recruit one or two allies who can attack during the other two phases of the battle.

The heroes are able to use a few items which enhance their abilities such as magic swords, enchanted armor, and healing potions. However, the main way that heroes gain strength is by adding to their starting abilities through use of experience tokens. Experience tokens are exchanged for increased combat power, or more life. As heroes grow more powerful this allows them to tackle more difficult quests (yellow, blue, and finally red quests). Various expansion card decks change the basic game as you can gain familiars, banners, and new powers.

Finishing a game can take many hours but the rules book offers some variant rules to speed up play.

Expansions

FFG has released many expansions for the game. The following is a complete list as of March 2010. This includes the following:

Board Expansions

The Island of Dread - Released in 2005. Was the first expansion released for Runebound. It features a new partial map and many new quests and treasure reward cards. It is not a stand-alone game. Most of the new map consists of sea locations with their own adventure deck.

Midnight - Released in 2006. This is a different type of expansion in which one player takes the role of the evil Night King while the other players try to gain power such that they can beat the final host of the Night King. It is not a stand-alone game. Midnight is based on the role-playing game Midnight, a modification to Dungeons and Dragons created by FFG in 2003. This expansion is currently out of print and will most likely never see the light of day again.

Sands of Al-Kalim - Released in 2007. It is a large expansion with a new board with an Arabian theme on which players compete to finish Story cards.

The Frozen Wastes - Released in 2009. This expansion has an ice region as a theme and features new weather rules.

Mists of Zanaga - Released in 2010. This expansion has a jungle theme and introduces rituals involving Primal Gods.

Item & Ally Card Set Expansions

Artifacts and Allies (2005) - This is a simple addition of more items (and allies) which the heroes can purchase from the various towns on the board. One new element added with this card set are familiars. Each hero can have one familiar in addition to the two allies. Familiars aren't very powerful but they can do useful things.

Relics of Legend (2005) - This set of cards defines more powerful items which can be purchased by the heroes. It can be added to any Runebound game. The new items in this card set are banners, items that grant extra bonuses to your hero is you first complete a quest which charges the banner with energy.

Champions of Kellos (2006) - This is a set of cards which define new allies and items available for purchase in the towns.

Walkers of the Wild (2006) - New allies and item card set.

Rituals and Runes (2008) - New allies and item card set.

Weapons of Legend (2008) - New allies and item card set.

Challenge Card Set Expansions

The Dark Forest (2005) - Set of cards which have extra effects if played in forest hexes.

Terrors of the Tomb (2005) - Set of cards which are all undead monster challenge quests.

Drakes and Dragonspawn (2006) - This set of cards is designed to be added to any Runebound game. It contains more quests, and events for the heroes to conquer.

Shadows of Margath (2006) - This set of cards is designed to be added to any Runebound game. It contains more quests, and events for the heroes to deal with. One version of this card set was created for the first version of Runebound (from 2004) but the card set was updated and reissued to be compatible with the 2nd edition rules.

Beasts and Bandits (2008)

Traps and Terrors (2008)

Adventure Variants

Crown of the Elder Kings (2005) - This is a deck of cards which are designed to replace many of the quest cards found in the normal game of Runebound. It creates a different story from the normal game of Runebound. This variant ends the game in a direct confrontation between players rather than battles against powerful dragons.

The Scepter of Kyros (2005) - Another adventure deck from 2005. This variant involves invading giants.

Avatars of Kelnov (2006) - This is a deck of cards which are designed to replace many of the quest cards found in the normal game of Runebound.

Cult of the Rune (2006) - This is a set of 30 cards and tokens which are designed to replace many of the cards found in the normal game of Runebound. It creates a different story from the normal game of Runebound.

The Cataclysm (2008)

The Seven Scions (2008)

Character Decks

Battlemage (2006) - This is a set of cards for individual heroes to change their abilities. Allows you to add the powers of the Battlemage to your hero character.

Blade Dancer (2006) - This is a set of cards for individual heroes to change their abilities. Allows you to add the powers of the Blade Dancer to your hero character.

Runemaster (2006) - This is a set of cards for individual heroes to change their abilities. Allows you to add the powers of a Runemaster to your hero character.

Shadow Walker (2006) - This is a set of cards for individual heroes to change their abilities. Allows you to add the powers of Shadow Walker to your hero character.

Spiritbound (2006) - This is a set of cards for individual heroes to change their abilities. Allows you to add the powers of the Spiritbound to your hero character.

Wildlander (2006) - This is a set of cards for individual heroes to change their abilities. Allows you to add the powers of a Wildlander to your hero character.

All Releases

2004

Base game
- Runebound (discontinued)
Expansion deck
- Shadows of Margath (discontinued)

2005

Base game
- Runebound (2nd edition)
Expansion decks, wave 1
- Adventure variants
  - Crown of the Elder Kings
  - The Scepter of Kyros
- Challenge cards
  - The Dark Forest
  - Terrors of the Tomb
- Items and ally cards
  - Artifacts and Allies
  - Relics of Legend
Board expansion
- The Island of Dread

2006

Expansion decks, wave 2
- Adventure variant
  - Avatars of Kelnov
  - Cult of the Rune
- Challenge cards
  - Drakes and Dragonspawn
  - Shadows of Margath (2nd edition)
- Items and ally cards
  - Champions of Kellos
  - Walkers of the Wild
Board expansion
- Midnight (discontinued)
Class deck expansions
- Battlemage
- Blade Dancer
- Runemaster
- Shadow Walker
- Spiritbound
- Wildlander

2007

Board expansion
- Sands of Al-Kalim

2008

Expansion decks, wave 3
- Adventure variant
  - The Cataclysm
  - The Seven Scions
- Challenge cards
  - Beasts and Bandits
  - Traps and Terrors
- Items and ally cards
  - Rituals and Runes
  - Weapons of Legend

2009

Board expansion
- The Frozen Wastes

2010

Board expansion
- Mists of Zanaga