Machina Arcana – Rules Summary

Goal of the game: Resolve chapter by chapter until you reach the endgame scenario.

Game Round: 1. Explorer Phase -> 2. Monster Spawn -> 3. Horror Phase -> 4. Monster Action
1.) Explorer Phase
Every action costs stamina. You can perform as many actions as possible in any order as long as you
have enough stamina to do so.
Stamina
Action Effect Important Notes
Notes
Cost
• Diagonally spaces count as adjacent as
long as there is no wall blocking.
1 per
Move • Action spaces (but not unsealed
space monster spawns) count as obstacles.
You cannot move onto them.
• Attack ranged or adjacent monsters. • Line of sight (LOS): Draw a line from
Weapon- center to center with no interruption.
Attack • Action spaces do not block LOS (but
specific
rubble, walls, doors and barriers do).
• For apparel items: You cannot
• Equip, unequip, augment, or upgrade any number
Use inventory 3 of items.
upgrade an augment item with
another augment item.
• Use an explorer marker to indicate
Drop item 1 • Drop an item on an adjacent space.
where you have dropped the item.
• Gain 1 essence.
• Draw two treasure cards. • The collected card remains
Gain treasure 3 • Take 1 card or give it to an adjacent explorer. unequipped.
• Destroy the other drawn card or put it on top of • Place an explored token on the space.
the treasure deck.
Trade with • Trade any number of items with adjacent
2 • The traded cards are unequipped.
explorer explorers.
• Explorers can open closed doors for 2
Place door token 2 • Place a door token on an open door space. stamina.
• Units can destroy doors for 4 stamina.
• Each unit on top of a trap space gets attacked by 3 • Traps are also triggered if a unit gets
Trigger trap 2 black dice. pushed or pulled onto a trap space.
Use recharge
1 • Roll the recharge die and follow the result. • Place an explored token on the space.
space
• Draw 4 treasure cards.
• Swap any number of cards with cards in your hand.
• Take 1 drawn card or give it to an adjacent • You can equip the drawn cards
Use workbench 3 explorer. immediately.
• Use your inventory. • Place an explored token on the space.
• Destroy cards and put the rest (if any) onto the
treasure deck.
• Gain 1 essence.
• Quests go into the explorer's hand.
Use event space 3 • Draw an explorer event card and follow its
• Place an explored token on the space.
instructions.
When it is UNLIT: • You do not enter the Howling
• Lose 3 essence to activate the chapter space. Mountain tile unless the next chapter
Use chapter • Put the chapter card on the chapter discard pile. cards says so.
3 • The game board does not change –
space When it is LIT (light token on top of it):
• Flip the chapter card and follow the instructions on the game just continues.
the new chapter card. • Place an explored token on the space.
• Lose 4 essence.
• Monster spawn with an explored
Seal monster • Decrease monster threat by 1.
3 • Light chapter on the same map tile.
token on it counts as an obstacle.
spawn • Place an explored token on the space.
• Destroy a monster on top of this monster spawn.

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 Machina Arcana – Rules Summary

2.) Monster Spawn

Every explorer rolls the game die.
die If the rolled number is equal to or greater than the monster rating, spawn
one monster on the closest (to the rolling explorer) monster spawn.
Reset the monster rating.
Important notes:
1) Monsters spawn on the explorer's map tile even if there is a closer monster spawn on another map tile.
To determine which is the closest monster spawn just count the spaces ignoring walls, rubble and
obstacles.
2) Never spawn on a map tile with no explorers on it.
3) Only spawn a monster on monster spawn spaces on the explorer`s tile. So do not spawn any monster
when there is no open spawn space on the explorer`s map tile even if there is another open monster
spawn space on a different map tile!
4) When there are 4 monsters on the explorer's map tile, do not spawn a new monster but increase the
monster threat by 1.
5) If the closest monster spawn is occupied, place the monster on an adjacent space to that
spawn point.
If the roll is less than the monster rating, reduce the monster rating by 1.

3.) Horror Phase

One player rolls for the horror
horror rating.
rating If the rolled number is equal to or greater than the horror rating,
draw one horror event card and follow its instructions. Additionally, increase the monster threat
level by 1.
Reset the horror rating.
If the roll is less than the horror rating, reduce the horror rating by 1.

4.) Monster Action

A. Activate the monsters in the order you drew them.
B. Every monster follows its script. Using their abilities has a higher priority than movement. Usually they
target the nearest explorer. If there are more targetable explorers, the monster chooses the one with the
least HPs remaining. If there is a tie again, it chooses the explorer who is easier to hit. On another tie, it
is the player's choice.
They use their abilities as often as their stamina allows it. (I.e. a monster with 5 stamina adjacent to an
explorer will attack the explorer 2 times, when one attack costs 2 stamina.)
C. If it cannot use its abilities, it moves. The monster chooses the shortest path to the nearest explorer.
After each space, check again if the monster can use its abilities. To determine who is nearest just
count the spaces ignoring barriers, closed doors and units.
D. Monsters prefer paths with best line of sight and will try to face explorers in a
straight direction.
E. When blocked by other monsters, etc. the activated monster uses stamina to move as
close as possible.

5.) Essence – What is it good for?

A. Lose 1 essence instead of 1 health.
B. After your attack roll or any other attack roll on your turn – increase the result with essence.
C. Play abilities using essence.
D. Seal a monster spawn with 4 essence.
E. Activate an unlit chapter space with 3 essence.
F. Gain 1 essence on treasure chests or event spaces.

Beckikaze – visually optimized

optimized by Rodzilla68 2 v.1.3-
v.1.3-14.8.14
14.8.14
 Machina Arcana – Rules Summary

6.) Spaces and Line of Sight

Sight
NOTE: Obstacles block line of sight and units count as obstacles therefore it is not possible to attack
through units unless your weapon has the icon on it.

Space You can move onto it… Conclusion for LOS

Occupied space by unit NO Only with ability
Wall, closed door, barrier, rubble NO NO
Passable space YES YES
Action space (workbench, trap activation space,
barrel, recharge space, treasure, event space, NO Only with ability
chapter space)
Monster spawn YES YES
Sealed monster spawn NO Only with ability
Pit NO YES
Trapped Space YES YES

7.) Equipment
There are five different types of items you can collect during the game:

A. Apparel
Apparel: You can equip one item for torso, one item for legs and one item for the
head. For each armor/will symbol, increase the explorer's armor/will. Only one
upgrade item can have an augment symbol on it.

For example, you cannot combine the two items on the right with each other
because both of them have an augment slot.

B. Weapons:
Weapons You can equip multiple weapons as long as you do not exceed the hand limit (2 hand
symbols).
NOTE: You can have a two handed rifle, that is augmented, and is upgraded with a gun, that is
augmented.
C. Artifacts: They have to be equipped before use. NOTE: Artifacts generally increase will when
Artifacts:
equipped.
D. Consumables:
Consumables They do not have to be equipped before use.
E. Augments:
Augments You can improve items with augments but the augment symbols have to match each other.

Right: Wrong:

Beckikaze – visually optimized

optimized by Rodzilla68 3 v.1.3-
v.1.3-14.8.14
14.8.14