Map Elements · Tiles & Fields
How the map works
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Map Elements
The map is built from 4 tile types; you start on your Faction's (I) tile.
Four tile types: Starting (I), Far (II-III), Near (IV-V) and Center (VI-VII). The roman numeral shows the difficulty of Neutral Units and how many rewards to expect - Starting tiles are easiest, Center the hardest. Face-down tiles are chosen randomly from the Scenario's pool and kept hidden.
Map Tiles
Each tile has 7 Fields; entering one, you Visit it (or fight first).
A Hero moving onto a Field must immediately Visit it if unguarded, or first fight the Neutral enemies guarding it. Empty Fields do nothing. A solid yellow edge cannot be crossed. A roman numeral on a Field means it is guarded. A Blocked Field cannot be entered, but can be exited.
Fields
Spend 1 MP to reveal an adjacent tile or place a Far (II-III) tile.
For 1 MP a Hero reveals an adjacent face-down tile, or places a Far (II-III) tile from their supply. New tiles go adjacent to that Hero, must connect to at least two existing tiles, and must leave a valid path to all tiles. You may always rotate a tile when placing or revealing it.
Placing & discovering
Fields come in three kinds: Visitable, Flaggable, Revisitable.
Visitable - after you Visit, place a Black Cube; treat it as Empty while the Cube is there (you place it even if you skip the effect). Flaggable - capture with your Faction Cube for a passive benefit; an enemy who Visits replaces your Cube with theirs. Revisitable - no Cube; pay 1 MP to Visit again.
Field categories
optional: Map Tile anatomy (7 Fields), PDF p.30
Map Elements · Symbols on the map
Search and cost Fields are optional - but you still place a Black Cube when you Visit a Visitable Field, even if you skip the effect.
A Roman numeral (I-VII) on a Field means it is guarded by Neutral Units of that Level. You must defeat the guards in Combat before you may Visit the Field and take its effect, so the numeral warns you how tough the fight will be.
Difficulty I-VII
a Field guarded by Neutral Units of that Level - fight to Visit
A Field where you roll a Treasure Die to receive the bonus it shows - results include Gold, Experience, rolling a Resource Die, or Searching the Artifact deck. Visiting it spends your Visit and rolls for the reward.
Treasure Die
roll a Treasure Die for a bonus (gold, experience, etc.)
A Field where you roll a Resource Die to gain the Resources it shows, such as Gold, Building Materials or Valuables. Some of these Fields let you roll two dice and choose the better result, making them valuable economy stops.
Resource Die
roll a Resource Die for resources
A Field that grants your Main Hero one Experience Point when Visited. Experience builds toward Levels, which raise your Hero and increase how many Expert Effects you can use each Round.
Experience
gain 1 Experience Point
A Field that lets you Поиск(2) the shown Deck - look at the top two cards and take one, or take the top of that deck's Discard Pile. It is always optional, so you may Visit and skip it, but it is a reliable way to dig for a needed Artifact or Spell.
Search Artifact / Spell
Поиск(2) the Artifact or Spell Deck
A Field that grants Morale when Visited - Positive Morale (a useful Token or card) or Negative Morale, as printed on the Field. Positive Morale gives flexible bonuses, while Negative Morale is a penalty you will have to work off.
Positive / Negative Morale
gain Positive or Negative Morale
A Field that grants 1 extra Movement Point, usable only on the turn you Visit it. It helps you reach a little further this turn but does not carry over, so plan your route to spend it right away.
+1 Movement
gain 1 Movement Point this turn
Increase the production of the indicated Resource. If you flag it for the first time, you also gain that amount immediately. See Mines and Settlements.
Resource production
increase a resource's production; first to flag also gains it now
+Resource - immediately gain the shown Resource. Cost - pay the shown Resource to gain the Field's effect. A 2x symbol means perform the action twice.
+Resource / Cost
gain a resource now, or pay a resource to use the Field
A question-mark symbol marks a Field with a special effect that does not fit the standard icons. Its rule is explained under Settlements, Revisitable, or Other Fields, so check those sections when you Visit one.
? Special
a special effect - see Settlements, Revisitable or Other Fields
optional: symbol legend, PDF p.77
Map Elements · Key locations
Many more visitable locations exist (Universities, Conflux, Sea Chest and more). Open the Map Elements browser for the full list.
Towns sit at the center of a Starting (I) tile. Flagging an enemy Town blocks their Secondary Heroes from spawning there and their Main Hero from retreating there, can cause Player Elimination, and grants you a Faction Cube from the owner. The owner keeps their Town Board and functions; you do not gain their units.
Town
center of a Starting tile; flagging one can eliminate a player
Mines are flaggable Fields that increase a specific Resource's income when flagged. The first player to flag one also gains its income immediately. Each shows a mine symbol and the Resource it produces.
Mine
flaggable; raises a resource's income (and pays out on first flag)
Settlements spawn Secondary Heroes, give a defeated Main Hero somewhere to move, and prevent Player Elimination. When you flag one, choose: increase gold, building materials or valuables income by one (first flag pays it out now, mark with a Resource Token), OR immediately reinforce a Bronze or Silver unit at half cost rounded up (free if you flagged first).
Settlement
spawn point, safe retreat, prevents elimination
A flaggable location whose effect depends on the Scenario you are playing - often tied to finding the Grail or a Scenario goal. When you flag an Obelisk you do not remove other players' Faction Cubes, so several players can hold a Cube here at once.
Obelisk
flaggable; scenario-dependent, shared by players
A Visitable location that sells Experience: pay 3 Valuables or 10 Gold to gain 2 Experience. It is a steady way to push your Main Hero toward the next Level when you have resources to spare.
Tree of Knowledge
pay 3 valuables or 10 gold for 2 Experience
A Visitable location for reshaping your Ability cards. Choose one: remove an Ability card from your hand, or look at the top card of the Ability Deck and put it into your hand or its Discard Pile - useful for dropping a weak skill or fishing for a better one.
Witch Hut
swap an Ability card
optional: location icons, PDF p.80-83