Blade Rondo: Night Theater

Blade Rondo: Night Theater Rulebook

Table of Contents

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing "Blade Rondo: Night Theater". Please read this manual before starting the game and enjoy it with the correct way of playing.

Manual x 1
Cards x 61
Parameter boards x 2
Parameter dice x 6
Life stones x 2

Object of the Game

This game is a head-to-head card game for 1 to 2 players. Each player fights with a hand of 7 "Swords" (sword cards) that he or she has chosen, and the player who reduces the opponent's life to 0 wins. The rules are explained first for 2 players, but when playing solo, please also read from here in order.

Game Setup

Each player prepares his or her own area as shown in the diagram:
- Parameter dice: Place each die in the circle of the corresponding color with its 0 face up. (Note: the die at ATTACK shows your Attack power, the die at VOLTAGE shows Voltage, and the die at DEFENCE shows your Defence power.)
- Life stone: Place it on 15 of the life track.
- Parameter board: Place it so that both players can see it easily, connecting the top edge of your board to the opponent's board.
- Breathing Technique cards: Place one each of "Heating Technique" (加熱法) and "Protection Technique" (加護法) face up in front of you.
If you are playing for the first time, please first read "The First Battle" on p.17 (printed page number).
Shuffle the 40 sword cards face down and deal 15 to each player. The remaining 10 cards are not used; set them aside face down without revealing them.
Each player chooses 7 of the dealt 15 cards to be his or her hand. The remaining 8 cards are not used; set them aside face down without revealing them.
Decide the first and second player as fate leads. The second player receives the "Pulse Technique" (鼓動法) card, places it in front of himself or herself, and also sets his or her Attack power to 1. When the above preparations are done, the battle begins.

If you want to fight with your favorite swords... If each player owns one copy of this game, each player can also fight using a hand of 7 cards prepared in advance. You may include up to 2 cards of the same name in the hand. In this case, steps 2 and 3 above are skipped.

Flow of the Game

Until one of the players wins, the first player and the second player take turns alternately, each turn proceeding as follows.

1. Processing at the Start of the Turn

Increase your Voltage by 1. Voltage cannot become 10 or more; if it is already 9, you and lose 1 life. (If the total of your and your opponent's Voltage is 11 or less, it is the "Day" (sun icon) state; if it is 12 or more, it is the "Night" (moon icon) state.)
Resolve the "at the start of your turn" effects of cards attached to you.
Resolve the "at the start of your turn" effects of your subordinates.

2. Action

Use any number of cards, as long as the total cost does not exceed your Voltage.

To use a card: Choose one Breathing Technique card in front of you, or one sword card in your hand, and put it onto the field. If the card has "Response (Z)", put it face down; if not, put it face up. At this time you are considered to have paid the cost written at the upper left of the card (1 cost for a card with "Response (Z)", and for "Protection Technique" the cost you decided yourself). Paying a cost does not itself reduce your Voltage. After that, resolve the effect of the card put out face up. The place where used cards are put is called the Play Area.

3. Processing at the End of the Turn

For each of your own face-up cards placed in the Play Area, do the following:
- Card with the Limited icon (L): put it into the discard pile.
- Sword card without the Limited icon: return it to your hand.
- Breathing Technique card without the Limited icon: return it to the front of you.
If there are face-down cards in the opponent's Play Area, the opponent returns them to his or her hand.

When a parameter or life changes: Change the die's top face, or the position of the life stone, to that value. The upper limit of each parameter is 9, and the upper limit of life is 15. However, Attack power and Defence power may temporarily exceed the upper limit through the effect of a sword card. In this case it is not necessary to change the top face of the parameter die.

The Field

Each player's area consists of:

Set Area: where subordinates and cards attached to a player are placed.
Breathing Technique area: where your own Breathing Technique cards are kept.
Play Area: where used cards are placed.

The parameter board (Attack, Voltage and Defence dice, plus the life track) sits next to these areas; the two players' boards are connected so that both can see them.

How to Read the Cards

Breathing Technique cards and sword cards are displayed as follows:

Card name.
Cost: the cost necessary to use this card.
Limited icon (L): a card bearing this icon becomes a discard when used, at the end of the turn. (Only if it is in the Play Area at the end of the turn.)
Symbol: the card-type symbol.
Text: the effect when this card is used.
Flavor: a summary of the story or legend. It is not used in the game.

Note: other things at the bottom of the card, such as the card number and the name of the character depicted in the illustration, have no relevance to play.

Breathing Technique cards and sword cards have different backs.

Card Types

The game is fought using Breathing Technique cards and sword cards. These classifications place no condition on the use of cards.

Breathing Technique (呼吸法) - arts that raise oneself

Cards that raise your own parameters; they are placed in front of you. "Heating Technique" and "Protection Technique" are always possessed by each player, and "Pulse Technique" is obtained by the second player.

Sword cards

Physical (物理) - the basic form of attack. Cards with the effect "Physical Attack", whose power changes according to your Attack power.
Magic (魔法) - a finishing attack that ignores defence. Cards with the effect "Magic Attack (X)", which deals damage ignoring the opponent's Defence power.
Support (補助) - support effects that make the battle advantageous. Cards that support life recovery or raising parameters, and cards with the effect "Summon (Y)", which calls a subordinate.
Preparation (布石) - preparing against the enemy's attack. Cards with the effect "Response (Z)", which can be used in reaction to the opponent's action.
Special (特殊) - unconventional special actions. Cards with several different effects. (Only among Maria's swords in solo play.)

Keyword Abilities

Some effects within cards are abbreviated and shown as keywords.

Physical Attack: Deals the opponent damage equal to your (or your subordinate's) Attack power minus the opponent's Defence power.
Magic Attack (X): Deals the opponent X damage.
Summon (Y): After use, this card becomes a subordinate Y with the parameters and text written below it, and is placed in your Set Area. Even if it has the Limited icon, it does not become a discard at the end of the turn.
Response (Z): When you use this card, place it face down in the Play Area so that the opponent cannot see its front side. This card does not return to your hand at the end of your own turn, and does not become a discard either. If an action bearing the Z symbol is performed during the opponent's turn, you may turn it face up; if you do, process its effect. If you use several "Response (Z)" cards whose conditions are satisfied at the same time, process them face up in any order you like. A card whose effect has been processed becomes a discard at the end of the opponent's turn. A card that remained face down without being processed until the end of the opponent's turn returns to your hand.
Add (追加): Process this effect only if the effect of this card dealt 1 or more damage to the opponent.
Alchemy (錬成): When you use this card, you may process this effect before paying the cost. (It is optional, so you do not have to process it.)
Sacrifice (代償): When you use this card, process this effect at the same time as paying the cost. (It is compulsory, so you must process it.)
Day / Night icons (sun icon / moon icon): When these icons appear in text, the effect written to the right of the sun icon is processed during Day (when the total of your and your opponent's Voltage is 11 or less), and the effect written to the right of the moon icon is processed during Night (when the total of your and your opponent's Voltage is 12 or more). The same applies to subordinates, but when the Attack power has these icons, treat it as having the Attack power written at the lower right of the sun icon during Day, and the Attack power written at the upper left of the moon icon during Night.

Glossary

You (あなた): The player who used that card, or the player to whom that card is attached.
Subordinate (配下): A card placed in the Set Area through the effect of Summon (Y).
Action (行動): A general term for cards and for effects bearing a symbol written in cards.
Attack (攻撃): Among actions, a general term for those bearing the Physical or Magic symbol.
- Example: "Corroded Spear-Tail" is an action, and it is an attack. (Its text: "At the start of your turn, do the following: Physical Attack. Add: the opponent chooses 1 card in his or her hand and discards it.")
Negate (無効化する): To cancel that card, or an action. All effects other than "Sacrifice" of the action are cancelled. The cost of a cancelled card is not returned, and if it is a card with the Limited icon, it becomes a discard at the end of the turn.
Ignore (無視する): To treat the numerical value of the target parameter as 0, or to negate the target effect.
Deal (receive) damage (ダメージを与える(受ける)): To reduce the life of the target player. This is distinct from "losing life".
Respond (レスポンスする): During the opponent's turn, when a card bearing the Z symbol (or an action bearing the Z symbol, such as one of a subordinate) is used, to turn face up a card with "Response (Z)" that you placed face down in the Play Area, and process its effect before the opponent's card.
Attach (付与する): To place this card in the Set Area of the target player. While it is placed, the target player receives the effect of the text written on it. An attached card does not become a discard at the end of the turn even if it has the Limited icon.

Detailed Rules

1. Hand

Hand refers only to the sword cards held in the hand. Breathing Technique cards, and cards placed in the Play Area, are not regarded as the hand.

2. Parameters

Attack power and Defence power may exceed the upper limit of 9 through the effect of a card.

Example: Player A, whose Attack power is 9, uses "Cantata Guiding the Sunlight" (陽光導くカンタータ). In this example, Player A's Attack power becomes 11 until the end of the turn.

3. Damage

3.1 When damage cannot be dealt, it is regarded as having dealt 0 damage.

Example: 1. Player A, whose Attack power is 0, uses "Will-Breaking Cleaver" (意志砕きの鉈). 2. Player B, whose Defence power is 2, receives 0 damage. 3. Player A uses the effect of "Phosphorescence" (燐光).

In this example, the damage dealt to the opponent by "Will-Breaking Cleaver" becomes 1, and the "Add" effect of "Will-Breaking Cleaver" is processed.

3.2 Losing life is not the same as damage. The effect of "Phosphorescence" cannot be used against life lost through "Burst" or "Poison".

4. Response

4.1 When processing the effects of cards with "Response (Z)" placed face down, turn them face up one at a time, and decide whether to process the effect of another card with "Response (Z)" after processing that card's effect.

4.2 The effect of a card with "Response (Z)" can only be processed during the opponent's turn.

4.3 Unless there is a special description, you cannot interrupt an action with a card that does not have "Response (Z)" and process it first.

4.4 A card that does not have "Response (Z)" cannot be placed face down in the Play Area. (Except for the outside draw in solo play.)

5. Order of Processing Effects You Can Choose to Use

5.1 "Phosphorescence" (燐光): you decide whether to use it each time damage occurs. When damage occurs through a responded action, the decision of whether to use "Phosphorescence" is made after all the responses have finished being processed.

5.2 When both players have effects they can choose to use at the same time, the choice is made in order starting from the turn player.

Example: 1. Player A uses "Pitiful Poison Blade" (お気の毒の刃). 2. Player B responds with "Moonlight Rutile" (月光のルチル). 3. Player A uses the effect of "Phosphorescence". 4. Player B uses the effect of "Phosphorescence".

In this example, Player A cannot use the effect of "Phosphorescence" before confirming that Player B does not use the effect of "Phosphorescence".

6. Attached Effects

6.1 It is possible to attach multiple effects of the same name.

6.2 An attached effect may be placed in a place that is not the normal one. Even in that case, the attached effect is processed.

Example: Player A used "Pitiful Poison Blade", and Player B responded with "Sealed Agate" (封厄のアゲート). Player B received 1 damage from the effect of "Pitiful Poison Blade". In this example, "Pitiful Poison Blade" is placed under "Sealed Agate", but Player B is regarded as having had "Poison" attached.

6.3 A card placed under "Sealed Agate" becomes unusable immediately afterward.

Example: 1. Player A uses "Dance Sword" (舞踏剣). 2. Player B responds with "Sealed Agate". In this example, "Dance Sword" cannot be reused through the effect of "Dance Sword".

6.4 When the effect of "Sealed Agate" is processed against the attack of subordinate Y, subordinate Y is placed under "Sealed Agate" after the attack ends, and including subordinates of the same name attached to the same player, it can no longer perform any action.

6.5 Even if a "Brand" (刻印) is attached, you can revive with "Diamond of Absolute Abandon" (絶命棄却のダイヤモンド).

7. Subordinates

7.1 The description "opponent" does not refer to subordinates.

Example: 1. Player A's "Bull-Man" (牛人) uses "Bull Arm" (牛豪腕). 2. Player B responds with "Mist-Spinning Pearl" (霧紡ぎのパール). In this example, if Player A pays 1 cost, "Bull Arm" will no longer be negated.

7.2 "Doll Musical" (ドール・ミュージカル) cannot be chosen by the effect of "Conductor Sword" (指揮剣).

7.3 If you respond with "Alexandrite of Light and Dark" (明滅のアレキサンドライト) to an action of "Doll Burlesque" (ドール・バーレスク), "Doll Burlesque" performs the other action instead.

The Apostle of Roses (Solo Play)

Your sword pierces the giant goddess at the back of the theater, who had been turning people into dolls. The goddess's scream echoes, and the nightmare theater collapses without a trace.

The stillness that descends for a while is suddenly torn by a bright voice. "You defeated Sheol? You are strong, aren't you. Amazing, amazing! I am confident in my skill too. So... don't run away." The girl proclaims loudly, raising the "Rose Crest" on the back of her right hand. "In the name of the Apostle of Roses, I challenge you to a duel. Now, let's dance!" The girl, who has set several swords circling around her, seizes one of them and attacks.

-- Draw your sword too. She is a skilled Sordia!

Solo Play Setup

Prepare your area and Maria's area as in the diagram of "Game Setup" on p.3. However, do not place "Breathing Technique" cards in Maria's area.
Shuffle Maria's 15 sword cards face down to make the "deck".
Shuffle the 40 sword cards face down and draw 15. Choose 7 of them to be your hand.
You are the second player. Set your Attack power to 1, receive the "Pulse Technique" and begin the battle. If you can reduce Maria's life to 0 before your own life becomes 0, you win.

A first test: First try fighting Maria with these 7 cards in hand: "Night Dream Sword" (夜想剣), "Black Sword" (黒の剣), "Rose Bullet" (ローズバレット), "Grim Scarabaeus" (グリムスカビオス), "Window-Standing Musical" (窓辺立つミュージカル), "Alexandrite of Light and Dark" (明滅のアレキサンドライト) and "Amethyst Seeing Through Phenomena" (事象透過のアメジスト). Maria underestimates you, so on the very first turn of this battle she does not draw a card and does not use "Heating Technique"!

Solo Play Field

Deck: Maria's deck of sword cards.
Maria's parameter board: (your own area is in front; see p.6).
Action List: the place where Maria's card and Maria's sword cards other than Preparation cards are placed.
Response List: the place where Maria's sword cards that are Preparation cards are placed.

How to Read the Cards (Maria)

Maria, your opponent in solo play, is displayed as follows:

Card name.
Flavor: Maria's line. It is not used in the game.
Maria's basic action: the name of the basic action Maria performs every turn.
Text: the effect of the basic action Maria performs every turn. (On the Maria card the basic action is "Heating Technique": Maria's Attack power becomes +1.)

Maria's sword cards are displayed as follows:

Symbol, card name.
Preliminary Action (予備動作): When you draw a card bearing this mark, process the following in order:
1. Substitute the value of Maria's Voltage for Maria's Defence power.
2. Place this card face up on top of the "deck". On Maria's next turn, instead of drawing a card from the "deck", add the card placed on top of the "deck" to the end of the Action List.
Limited icon: A card bearing this icon becomes a discard at the end of the turn once used.
Text.

Note: other things at the bottom of the card, such as the card number and the name of the character depicted in the illustration, have no relevance to play.

Solo Play Rules

You are the second player, and take turns alternately with your opponent Maria. For the flow of a turn, see "Flow of the Game" on p.4.

Rules Applied to Maria

Maria's initial parameters are Attack power 0, Defence power 0, Voltage 0 and life 15.
Maria has a dedicated 15-card "deck" and an "Action List". At first only "Maria" is placed in the "Action List".
When Maria processes the effect of a card with the Limited icon, it becomes a discard.
Maria performs the following in order on her own turn:
1. Perform the "Processing at the Start of the Turn" of p.4 (Voltage +1, etc.).
2. Draw 1 card from the "deck" and add it to the end (rightmost) of the "Action List".
3. Perform all the actions in order from the head (leftmost) of the "Action List".
When a Preparation sword card is drawn from the "deck", instead of adding it to the "Action List", place it at the end of the "Response List". When you or a subordinate perform an action that is a target of the response, process the effects in order from the card at the head of the "Response List".
When a card bearing the "Preliminary Action" mark is drawn from the "deck", instead of adding it to the "Action List", perform the following in order:
1. Substitute the value of Maria's Voltage for Maria's Defence power.
2. Place that card face up on top of the "deck". On the next turn, instead of drawing a card from the "deck", add this card placed on top of the "deck" to the end of the "Action List".
During Night (moon icon), if you respond with "Alexandrite of Light and Dark" to "Absolute Sword" (絶対剣) or the like, the effect of that sword card is lost, but since it has the Limited icon it becomes a discard.

Rules Applied to You

Some of the effects of the sword cards you use are changed as follows.

"Mocking Picaresque" (嘲笑するピカレスク) [L] - Summon (Doll Picaresque): subordinate, Attack power 2/5 (sun/moon). At the start of your turn, do the following: Physical Attack (Corroded Spear-Tail). Add: 1 sword card to the right of Maria in the "Action List" is not performed on Maria's next turn.

"Silent Crystal" (静寂のクリスタル) [L] - Response (physical and support symbols): If that action is by the card at the end of the "Action List", negate that action.

The First Battle

The free-spirited Maria and the discipline-minded Sonya are again disagreeing and crossing swords today. Why not first try borrowing their favorite swords and fighting?

Player A receives 10 of Maria's cards, and Player B receives 10 of Sonya's cards.

Maria's cards: No.21 Night Dream Sword (夜想剣), No.23 Fang-Castle-Breaking Spear (牙城崩しの槍), No.25 Great Axe of the Demon-Meeting Hour (逢魔刻の大斧), No.26 Rose Bullet (ローズバレット), No.28 Bloody Dahlia (ブラッディダリア), No.30 Enveloping Bolero (包み込むボレロ), No.31 Soaring Cannon (高揚するカノン), No.35 Runaway Burlesque (奔走するバーレスク), No.38 Amethyst Seeing Through Phenomena (事象透過のアメジスト), No.40 Silent Crystal (静寂のクリスタル).

Sonya's cards: No.22 Black Sword (黒の剣), No.24 Conductor Sword (指揮剣), No.27 Grim Scarabaeus (グリムスカビオス), No.29 Finaria (フィナーリア), No.32 Blooming Scherzo (開花するスケルツォ), No.33 Window-Standing Musical (窓辺立つミュージカル), No.34 Cutting Extra (切り刻むエキストラ), No.36 Mocking Picaresque (嘲笑するピカレスク), No.37 Alexandrite of Light and Dark (明滅のアレキサンドライト), No.39 Substitute Tourmaline (身代わりのトルマリン).
Each player shuffles those 10 cards and makes a hand of 7 randomly chosen cards. The remaining 3 cards are set aside face down without being revealed.
Perform steps 1 and 4 of "Game Setup" (p.3) and begin the battle.
When the battle is settled, next try choosing 7 cards yourself from the 10 cards received in step 1 and fighting.

Mixed Play

If you own the previous game "Blade Rondo", you can also mix it with this game and play.

Example: "Blade Strom" (Blade Rondo; 2 copies each of the following 20 kinds of cards): No.01 Slashing Sword (斬撃剣), No.02 Dance Sword (舞踏剣), No.03 Dark Black Sword (闇黒剣), No.04 Pitiful Poison Blade (お気の毒の刃), No.05 Will-Breaking Cleaver (意志砕きの鉈), No.06 Absolute Sword (絶対剣), No.12 Phosphor-Lit Etude (燐灯るエチュード), No.14 Cantata Guiding the Sunlight (陽光導くカンタータ), No.18 Moonlight Rutile (月光のルチル), No.19 Sealed Agate (封厄のアゲート), No.21 Night Dream Sword (夜想剣), No.22 Black Sword (黒の剣), No.23 Fang-Castle-Breaking Spear (牙城崩しの槍), No.24 Conductor Sword (指揮剣), No.25 Great Axe of the Demon-Meeting Hour (逢魔刻の大斧), No.31 Soaring Cannon (高揚するカノン), No.33 Window-Standing Musical (窓辺立つミュージカル), No.34 Cutting Extra (切り刻むエキストラ), No.39 Substitute Tourmaline (身代わりのトルマリン), No.40 Silent Crystal (静寂のクリスタル).

April 2020 Revision Sheet

The official revision sheet of April 2020 shows a corrected text for the card "No.39 Charlotte". The corrected text reads: "You may discard 1 of your subordinate 'Doll' as a discard. If you discard it, until the end of the turn, the damage you receive is -3." (The sheet shows two identical-looking strips of card text, with the card footer "No.39 Charlotte"; no further explanation is printed.)