Crossroads of Heroes Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Terminology
• Symbology
  • The Five Elements
• Game Components
• Main Characters
  • Emei Sect
  • Shaolin Sect
  • Beggar Sect
  • Wudang Sect
  • Kunlun Sect
• Game Setup
• Player Setup
• Game Objective
  • The Renown Chart
• The Virtuous Path
  • Victory Condition
  • Grand Master of Wulin
• The Evil Path
  • Victory Condition
• Game Start
  • Choosing the First Player
• Player Turn Actions
• 1. Draw Action
• 2. Complete Training
• 3. Card Action
• 4. Main Action
  • Train a Technique
  • Duel with a Player
    • Winning Duels
    • Losing Duel Rounds/Duels
    • Fighting to a Draw
    • Admit Defeat
    • Technique Modifiers
    • Duel Demonstration
  • Travel the Jianghu
    • Visiting Sect Guardians
    • Facing a Wulin Master
    • Defeating a Wulin Master
• Stratagems
  • Yin Stratagems
  • Yang Stratagems
  • Taiji Stratagems
• Items
  • Card Action Usable Items
  • Duel Items
• Sect Guardians
• Wulin Masters
• Free Exploration
• Special Items
  • Gan Tanfu Rare Herb
  • Chan Kuniu Special Items
  • Sect Artifacts
• Evil Scum
• Qi & Death
  • 1st Round with no Qi
  • 2nd Round with no Qi
  • 3rd Round with no Qi
  • Player Death/Elimination
• FAQ

Terminology

Crossroads of Heroes is a 2-5 player strategy board game that takes about 45-90 minutes to play.

To preserve the integrity of the wuxia theme, many transliterated wuxia specific terms are used frequently in both the game and this game manual. For a better grasp of the story and game rules, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the following terms:

• Wuxia (Wuxia, 武俠) - Wuxia is a popular genre in Chinese literature that tells adventure stories of martial arts heroes. Besides martial arts action, honor and retribution are also common themes found in most wuxia stories.
• Wugong (Wugong, 武功) - Better known in the western world as kung fu or wushu, wugong is a broad term that includes the many fighting styles and training methods that were often inspired by ancient Chinese philosophies or animal mimicry. A sect, school or family would usually focus on mastering one such specific style.
• Jianghu (Jianghu, 江湖) - Literally translates as "rivers and lakes". In the wuxia genre, it is a general term often used to describe and hint at the dangerous environment outside of one's safe home, where people have chosen to live by their own moral principles and do not always adhere to the mainstream societal laws.
• Wulin (Wulin, 武林) - Literally translates as "martial forest". It is a term commonly used in wuxia to represent the thriving community of martial artists living in the Jianghu. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the broader term Jianghu.

Symbology

Besides terminology, it is equally important to study the symbols that are used in the game. Knowing at a glance what each symbol represents will not only improve the pace of your game, but will also help you in planning your strategy.

• Wugong (武功) - Explained in Terminology, this is a symbol of wugong. The number inside the symbol represents the martial arts rating of a character or technique in the game.
• Qi (氣) - Literally translates as "air". In traditional Chinese medicine, qi represents the life force (or energy flow) in all living things. When the flow of qi within a body is disrupted, it will gradually lose its normal functions if left unchecked.
• Yin (陰) - In Chinese philosophy, yin symbolizes the dark, negative and feminine force that is contrary to yang.
• Yang (陽) - In Chinese philosophy, yang symbolizes the light, positive and masculine force that is contrary to yin.
• Taiji (太極) - The combination of yin and yang forms a taiji. Taiji symbolizes balance and is the representation of how two seemingly opposing forces are in fact complementary and interdependent of each other in the natural world.
• Xie (邪) - Evil, nefarious and demonic. In Chinese culture, xie is sometimes used to describe methods that are deviant, unorthodox or of a heretical nature.
• Yu (譽) - Renown.
• An Qi (暗器) - Concealed Weapon.

The Five Elements

Metal (Jin), Wood (Mu), Water (Shui), Fire (Huo), Earth (Tu).

Game Components

• Jianghu Game Board x 1
• Game Manual x 1
• Quick Reference Card x 5
• Poison Token x 5
• Qi Token x 33
• Xie Token x 20
• Yexun Yibai Token x 1
• Win/Draw Token x 2
• Stratagem Deck (60 cards)
• Item Deck (60 cards)
• Travel Jianghu (10 cards)
• Reward Deck (22 cards)
• Sect Guardians (5 cards)
• Five sect suites (Emei, Shaolin, Beggar, Wudang, Kunlun), each consisting of a character card, technique cards (3 levels plus a Signature Technique), 4 tokens and a character standee/marker.

Main Characters

There are five sects/characters that you can choose to play in the base game. Here is a quick introduction to each of them:

Emei Sect

• Name: Jing Lian
• Base Wugong: 1
• Maiden's Swordplay
  • Level 1 (1 qi to train): Maiden's Dance. Elemental Properties: Metal, Water
  • Level 2 (1 qi to train): Butterfly Flutters. Elemental Properties: Metal, Fire
  • Level 3 (2 qi to train): Crescent Sword. Elemental Properties: Water, Fire
• Special Ability: SPEED - When traveling the Jianghu, you may skip your 1st card for free. Expend 1 qi to skip your 2nd.
• Emei Sect Signature Technique (3 qi to train): Maiden's Five Flowing Methods - "Using flowing movements, you are able to subdue an evenly matched opponent for the duel round." In other words, no opponent can fight to a draw with you when this technique is used. You always win even when your opponent has an equal wugong as yours.
• Emei Sect Artifact: Maiden's Bodkin
• Favorite Food: Roast Flatbread

Jing Lian starts the game relatively weak because of her young age and gender. However, her advantage is her speed, which gives her a greater chance at finding what she seeks when traveling the Jianghu. Opponents who underestimate her abilities are often left in the dust!

Shaolin Sect

• Name: Huai Xun
• Base Wugong: 2
• Demon Suppressing Staff
  • Level 1 (1 qi to train): Spirit Banishing Wheel. Elemental Properties: Wood, Earth
  • Level 2 (1 qi to train): Evil Exorcise Frenzy. Elemental Property: Wood
  • Level 3 (2 qi to train): Pillar of Buddha. Elemental Properties: Metal, Earth
• Special Ability: BUDDHIST - Once per turn, you may discard any 2 cards from your hand to gain 1 renown.
• Shaolin Sect Signature Technique (3 qi to train): Bodhidharma's Vajra Body - "Your hardened body is impervious to all concealed weapon attacks. Draw Metal to boost its wugong." Using this technique, concealed weapons (e.g. Poison Darts, Throwing Knives, etc.) will have no effect against you whatsoever.
• Shaolin Sect Artifact: Wooden Fish
• Favorite Food: Arhat's Delight

Huai Xun's advantages are his strong basic fighting skills and his ability to gain renown using passive means that are only available to a Buddhist monk. However, since Buddhist monks are reputed vegetarians, he will suffer a small penalty to renown if he consumes meat or wine.

Beggar Sect

• Name: Shu Laozi
• Base Wugong: 3
• Dog Clobbering Stick
  • Level 1 (1 qi to train): Doggie Scram. Elemental Property: Wood
  • Level 2 (1 qi to train): Whack the Mongrel. Elemental Properties: Wood, Water
  • Level 3 (2 qi to train): Heavenly Hound Hustle. Elemental Properties: Wood, Earth
• Special Ability: SCAVENGE - Before the draw action, discard a stratagem to pick top card from the item discard pile.
• Beggar Sect Signature Technique (3 qi to train): Dragon Palm Fury - "When facing extreme poverty (no item in hand), wugong = 6, otherwise wugong = 3." To achieve the full potential of this technique, you must not have any Item(s) in your hand at the start of a duel. So, even if your hand is disposed of its last Item because you have used it during your duel, Dragon Palm Fury will remain a 3 wugong.
• Beggar Sect Artifact: Beggar's Bowl
• Favorite Food: Wine

Shu Laozi's age and experience grant him a stronger base wugong than the others. Being a beggar, he also has the ability to draw from the Item discard pile. However, beggars are notorious for falling into complacency when holding items of value. As such, Shu Laozi will fall short of his full fighting capacity when he possesses one or more Items during a fight!

Wudang Sect

• Name: Song Qingyao
• Base Wugong: 2
• Eight Trigrams Sword
  • Level 1 (1 qi to train): Qian Gua Sword. Sign Property: Taiji
  • Level 2 (1 qi to train): Kun Gua Sword. Sign Property: Taiji
  • Level 3 (2 qi to train): Tun Gua Sword. Sign Property: Taiji
• Special Ability: TAOIST - When drawing signs (from stratagem deck) to determine card effects, you have 2 tries.
• Wudang Sect Signature Technique (3 qi to train): Clouds Parting Taiji Palm - "Draw a sign to determine wugong for this technique. Yin / Yang wugong = 4; Taiji wugong = 8." Unlike techniques from other sects, which gain their wugong boost from Elements, Wudang Sect's fighting techniques receive their boost from Taiji Signs.
• Wudang Sect Artifact: Bagua
• Favorite Food: Taiji Pills

Being a student of Taoism and an adept practitioner of taiji, Song Qingyao understands that maintaining a harmonious balance of yin and yang is vital in the way of nature. This knowledge aids him in training and in achieving a well-balanced state of mind and body at all times.

Kunlun Sect

• Name: Xiao Jingtian
• Base Wugong: 2
• Heart Drilling Divine Palm
  • Level 1 (1 qi to train): Vortex of Chaos. Elemental Properties: Water, Earth
  • Level 2 (1 qi to train): Thunderous Tremor. Elemental Property: Earth
  • Level 3 (2 qi to train): Supreme Strike. Elemental Properties: Metal, Earth
• Special Ability: AMBITION - Your grand aspirations allow you to start the game with 5 stratagems in hand.
• Kunlun Sect Signature Technique (3 qi to train): Coalescence of Seven Chakras - "When you are holding seven stratagems in hand, wugong = 7, otherwise wugong = 5." You must have exactly 7 Stratagems in hand for this technique to reach its maximum effect. Item cards do not count!
• Kunlun Sect Artifact: Weiqi Board
• Favorite Food: Lamb Stew Pot

In order to maximize the wugong of his famed Sect Signature Technique - Coalescence of Seven Chakras - Xiao Jingtian must hold seven Stratagems at all times. Even though he is a well-learned master of strategy, a reckless use of Stratagems will put a strain on his mental focus and weaken him quite significantly.

Game Setup

Set up the play area according to the illustration below. (For the sake of simplicity, we are using a 2-player game setup as an example.)

1. The 5 Sect Guardian cards (Travel Jianghu "Sect Guardian" cards) are placed faceup on the top row.
2. The 5 Free Exploration cards (Travel Jianghu "Free Exploration" cards) are placed facedown on the bottom row.
3. The Reward deck is placed inside the area on the left part of the board.
4. Shuffle the Stratagem and Item deck separately and place them slightly apart from each other on a spot within easy reach of all players. Draw 1 card from each deck to start off its own discard pile (faceup).
5. Line up the participating characters' standees on the Journey Start block of the renown chart, starting each character on a separate lane.
6. Like all players, Yexun Yibai starts at the renown level of Adventurer. His token is placed on the Adventurer icon on the renown chart.
7. The 5 Wulin Masters are set aside for later use in the game.
8. Set aside the Qi, Xie, Poison and Win/Draw tokens for later use.

Player Setup

After you have chosen your sect, you will be given your character's entire suite (Character card + Basic Techniques + opponents' Nemesis tokens).

During play, you can use the illustrated guide to organize your play area. (However, keep in mind that this is only a guide and not a rule.)

1. This is your Character card. The wugong symbol on the lower left corner represents your base wugong and below it is your Special Ability.
2. To the left of your Character card are placed techniques that you possess but have not yet trained. (These are always kept facedown.)
3. Trained techniques are placed faceup to the right of your Character card. All technique cards, once obtained, stay permanent and cannot be stolen or removed from the game in any way.

Variant Rule: To shorten the duration of a game, players can choose to start the game with everyone's Basic Technique Level 1 trained and ready.

4. Nemesis tokens (of your opponents) are placed here. At the start of the game, these should all be placed with the Neutral (black-and-white) faces up. However, after being defeated by a player in a duel, flip the Nemesis token of that player over to its Nemesis (colored) side, as a reminder of your painful defeat. (See "Losing Duels" on page 21.)
5. If you are poisoned during the game, you will receive a Poison token.
6. You gain a Xie (evil) token for using any cards marked with a Xie symbol.
7. Each player is given 6 Qi tokens, which is also the maximum qi capacity for each player during the game.

Game Objective

There are two different paths that you can take to victory:

1. The Virtuous Path: Gain renown and attain the ultimate title of Grand Master of Wulin.
2. The Evil Path: As Evil Scum, kill a virtuous player in a duel or defeat the Grand Master of Wulin in a final duel!

The Renown Chart

The renown chart is used to track the renown level of every player in the game. It has four zones, left to right: Adventurer, Hero, Legend and Grand Master of Wulin. Players start at the Journey Start block on the left.

There are 4 renown levels:

1. Adventurer
2. Hero
3. Legend
4. Grand Master Of Wulin

As players gain renown during the game, their corresponding characters' standees will advance 1-3 squares on the renown chart.

Unless stated otherwise on card text, the number of squares a player can advance is dependent on the renown level of that player.

As a General Rule:

• Adventurer level players advance 3 squares
• Hero level players advance 2 squares
• Legend level players advance 1 square

The Virtuous Path

In the base game of Crossroads of Heroes, all five playable characters are upstanding members of virtuous sects and therefore, when playing them, you must also start the game as being virtuous.

Starting as virtuous characters, the Character cards are played with their virtuous faces up.

Virtuous characters will only fight honorably and they never seek to kill their opponents (good or evil) in duels. (See "Qi & Death" on page 37.)

Victory Condition

Playing as a virtuous character, your goal is to gain renown in the Jianghu and attain the title of Grand Master of Wulin.

The first player to reach the renown level of Grand Master of Wulin will take up the title and also activate the final round of the game.

In this final round, other players will have one last chance (and turn) to catch up and must reach the renown level of Grand Master of Wulin equally to be entitled to a duel challenge for the title.

The duel will take place immediately after the renown level is reached. No Main Action is required to initiate the duel.

The winner of the duel will take up the title of Grand Master of Wulin and the loser will be eliminated from the game.

At the end of the final round, when all other players have taken their turns, whoever is the Grand Master of Wulin wins the game!

Grand Master of Wulin

Upon taking up the title of Grand Master of Wulin, you must take your End Action immediately but will receive the following benefits with it:

• You are cured of poison (if any) and your qi is fully restored.
• You are immune to yin Stratagems. (You are simply too wise, powerful and revered in the Jianghu to be harmed by them!)

The Evil Path

While always starting the game as a virtuous character, you will have the choice to take an evil path to victory if you desire so.

Whenever you play cards marked with a Xie (evil) symbol, you will gain a Xie (evil) token. When you gain your 4th Xie token, you will turn Evil Scum!

Whereas renown represents your outward reputation in the Jianghu, xie represents the level of corruption and wickedness in your heart!

As you turn Evil Scum, turn your Character card over to its Evil Scum side! On the game board, move your character's standee to the Evil Scum zone!

The following will apply after you turn Evil Scum:

• Your Character card is switched over to its Evil Scum side.
• Move your character's standee to the Evil Scum zone on the game board.
• When traveling the Jianghu, you cannot visit Sect Guardians.
• Your acquired Sect Guardian will abandon you (leave game) immediately.
• You can no longer use your Sect Artifact's Basic Function.
• You are immune to yin Stratagems. (They become cheap tricks to you!)
• You must accept all duel challenges and shall never admit defeat.
• You can kill a player by taking out their last qi in a duel.

Victory Condition

To win as Evil Scum, you must kill a virtuous player in a duel. If all players turn Evil Scum, then you must be the last player standing in order to win!

Unlike winning as the Grand Master of Wulin (virtuous path), winning as Evil Scum (evil path) is instant and there is no need for a final round.

However, if you kill a virtuous player in the final round when the Grand Master of Wulin is present, then a duel between the two of you must take place immediately. Whoever loses such a duel will be killed outright!

Game Start

Before the game starts, each player is dealt 3 Stratagems facedown from the Stratagem deck. This will be the starting hand.

If Xiao Jingtian is present in the game, he is dealt 5 Stratagems due to his Ambition Special Ability.

The last player is allowed to redraw up to 2 Stratagem cards and the second-to-last player is allowed to redraw 1 Stratagem card.

In both cases, the unwanted cards are discarded. (Discarded cards are always placed faceup on top of its corresponding discard pile.)

In a 2-player game, the first player is allowed 1 redraw and the 2nd player is allowed 2 redraws.

No Item cards are dealt since these must be found and picked up during the course of the game.

Any Stratagem or Item cards picked up during the game will be added to your hand.

REMINDER: Each player is given 6 Qi tokens, which is also the maximum qi capacity for each player during the game.

Choosing the First Player

If Jing Lian is present in the game, she will always be the first player to start the game (since she is the speediest one). However, if she is not in the game, a random player is chosen to start the first round.

The game then commences in a clockwise manner.

There is no set limit of turns or rounds. The game will continue until a player is declared the winner.

Player Turn Actions

During your turn, you must take actions in the following order:

1. Draw Action: Draw 1 card each from the Stratagem and Item decks. Keep 1 card and discard the other. (To discard a card, place it faceup on top of its corresponding discard pile.)
2. Complete Training (if any): (If you chose Train a Technique in the previous round, this action completes it.)
3. Card Action: Play any number of Stratagem or Item cards from your hand. WARNING: you are not allowed to play identical Stratagem cards within the same turn. (After acquiring your Sect Guardian, you may skip this action to use your Sect Guardian's Guardian Ability.)
4. Main Action (skip if paralyzed): You may perform only 1 Main Action per turn. This can be one of the following:
   • Train a Technique
   • Duel with a Player
   • Travel the Jianghu
5. End Action: Before you can end your turn, you must do a check:
   • If you are poisoned, you lose 1 qi.
   • If you possess more than 7 Stratagems, discard down to 7.
   • If you possess more than 3 Items, discard down to 3.

1. Draw Action

During your turn, your first action is the Draw Action.

Some Special Abilities (such as Shu Laozi's Scavenge) may allow extra action(s) that may be performed before or in place of the Draw Action. Other similar abilities may be granted by certain Sect Artifacts/Special Items.

Draw 1 card from each deck. You can only keep 1! Weigh your options carefully. Is having the Item more advantageous than playing a Stratagem?

Draw 1 card each from the top of the Stratagem and Item decks. Look at both cards that you have drawn. Decide which one of the two cards you wish to keep. Add it to your existing hand and discard the other card (faceup) on top of its corresponding discard pile.

Whenever the Stratagem deck or the Item deck is drawn out of cards, pick up its discard pile and shuffle it to renew the deck. Draw its top card to start off a fresh discard pile. (This can be done as many times as necessary.)

2. Complete Training

This action is only necessary if you chose Train a Technique as your Main Action in the previous turn. (See "Train a Technique" on page 19.)

Expended Qi tokens are returned to the Qi pool. For example, if 2 qi is expended (returned to the qi pool) to complete the training of Shaolin Sect's Basic Technique Level 3 - Pillar of Buddha, the card is then flipped over to its trained side.

To complete your training of a technique, you must pay its qi cost. Depending on the difficulty level of a technique, 1-4 qi may be required. After that, flip your trained technique card over and be proud that you have successfully mastered a new technique!

If you do not have adequate qi to complete your training, you must wait until your next turn or when you have recovered enough qi to do so.

3. Card Action

For your Card Action, you may play zero or more cards from your hand. These can be Stratagem or Item cards.

WARNING: You cannot play identical Stratagems within the same turn. For example, after playing the Stratagem Assassin during your Card Action, you may still play other Stratagems such as Slander or Forgiveness but not another Assassin within the same turn.

Item cards can be used freely as long as the Item type allows it. (For example, some Items are strictly for use during duels only.) (See "Stratagems" on pages 27-28 and "Items" on pages 29-30.)

When acquired, Guardian Abilities may be used by skipping the Card Action. (See "Visiting Sect Guardians" on page 24 and "Sect Guardians" on page 31.)

4. Main Action

The Main Action represents your physical action in the Jianghu that will shape your growth as a martial arts hero (or villain). For your Main Action, you may perform one of the following:

• Train a Technique
• Duel with a Player
• Travel the Jianghu

In the next section, we will present a detailed description of each of the above action. It is strongly advised that you study and understand how each action is performed.

Once you have a good understanding of all your options, you will be well on your way to become a true martial arts hero (or villain) in the Jianghu!

Train a Technique

Training is extremely important if you wish to have any success in duels. Without trained techniques, you will have no way to fight other than with your character's measly base wugong.

The steps to train are simple, but remember this: all Basic Techniques must be trained in the right order, starting with Level 1 and ending with Level 3.

Sect Signature Techniques, however, may be trained independently of Basic Techniques. Sect Signature Technique manuals are received as reward from Sect Guardians. (See "Travel the Jianghu - Visiting Sect Guardians" on page 24.)

The qi symbol(s) displayed on the back of each technique card represent(s) its qi cost for training.

To start training, deposit the required amount of Qi tokens on top of the card and go to your End Action.

The deposited Qi tokens act only as a reminder of your training. They are not yet expended by any means.

Normally, training a technique will take an entire round. You must wait until your next turn to complete its training. (See "Complete Training" on page 17.)

WARNING: You should never use your last remaining Qi token for training. Doing so may prove fatal!

Before your training is complete, if you lose your last qi (due to Stratagem effects, poison, losing duels, etc.) and fall into a critical state, you will lose all the progress of your training. So, even if you are revived later in the game, you must start your training from scratch. (See "Qi & Death" on page 37.)

REMINDER: You can train only 1 technique per turn. If you use the Stratagem - Training Assist - to train a technique during your Card Action, you will not be allowed to choose Train a Technique as your Main Action in the same turn. (See "Stratagems - Training Assist" on page 28.)

Duel with a Player

You can use your Main Action to challenge any 1 player to a duel.

Duels are fought in the best of 3 duel rounds. (A Win/Draw token is used to track the result of each duel round.)

Starting each round, both players must secretly decide which technique(s) to use. When both sides are ready, the challenger calls "Fight!" and both players must unleash their chosen technique(s) simultaneously!

Each player is allowed to use 0-2 techniques in each duel round.

The wugong of the techniques used are added up to determine the winner for each duel round.

The side with the higher wugong wins the duel round!

Only trained techniques can be used in duels!

Each technique can only be used once in a duel. So, if a certain technique was used in Round 1, it cannot be used in Round 2 nor Round 3.

For Round 1 of every duel, the combined wugong of your 0-2 techniques is added to the base wugong shown on your Character card. (Your base wugong will not be used in Round 2 nor Round 3!)

Winning Duels

Winning duels is one of the many ways to gain renown. From winning:

• Adventurer level players gain 3 renown (3 squares)
• Hero level players gain 2 renown (2 squares)
• Legend level players gain 1 renown (1 square)

Strict Rule: You do not gain renown from winning a duel with a player when you are already that player's Nemesis.

Losing Duel Rounds/Duels

The loser of each duel round must deposit 1 Qi token on top of their Character card (to indicate qi damage). When the duel ends, all deposited Qi token(s) from both sides are lost and must be returned to the Qi pool.

Any player who defeats you will become your Nemesis.

Quickly turn that player's Nemesis token from its Neutral (black-and-white) side over to its Nemesis (colored) side!

Your Nemesis will no longer gain renown from defeating you in duels.

If you are able to defeat a Nemesis in a later duel, you must turn their Nemesis token back to its Neutral (black-and-white) side as you become the Nemesis of your former Nemesis!

If you lose your last Qi token during a duel, you immediately lose the duel!

Fighting to a Draw

When both sides have the same combined wugong in a duel round, the round ends in a draw and neither player loses qi.

If the entire duel also ends in a draw, neither player will gain renown nor become a Nemesis of the other player.

Admit Defeat

When being challenged to a duel by a virtuous player, if you do not wish to fight, you may admit defeat. Although this is frowned upon by the people of Wulin, it may sometimes be necessary and a wise move.

In admitting defeat, you lose 1 renown for being a coward while your challenger gains renown normally as if they have won the duel.

Unlike losing duels the hard way, admitting defeat will not gain you a Nemesis, so think carefully before you make your move.

Strict Rule: You can only admit defeat to a virtuous player/character. Evil Scum and Wulin Masters are not quite as merciful to allow surrenders!

Strict Rule: Both the Grand Master of Wulin and Evil Scum must accept all duel challenges and shall never admit defeat under any circumstances!

Technique Modifiers

Now that you understand the basic rules of fighting duels, let's take a look at technique modifiers.

All Basic Techniques (and some other specific techniques) have Elemental or Sign properties attached to them.

These properties, if triggered, will give a small boost to the wugong of the techniques.

To achieve this, you must draw a matching Element (from the Item deck) or Sign (from the Stratagem deck).

To draw an Element, draw a card from the top of the Item deck and flip it over, placing it faceup on the Item discard pile.

If the Element at the top right corner of the Item card matches an Element on your technique, then the technique will gain a wugong boost.

Wudang Sect differs from other sects in that their techniques do not draw their power from Elements but from Taiji Signs that must be drawn from the Stratagem deck.

You may only draw a maximum of 1 Element and 1 Sign per duel round, regardless of the number of techniques you are using for that round. For example, if you are using 2 different techniques, 1 enhanced by an Element and 1 by a Sign, you must draw 1 card from each deck to determine your wugong for both techniques separately.

The duel challenger always draws for a wugong boost first.

Duel Demonstration

In this demonstration, Shu Laozi challenges Song Qingyao to a duel.

Round 1

• For Round 1, Shu Laozi uses "Doggie Scram" (wugong = 2). (His base wugong = 3.) The technique receives +1 wugong boost from the Wood Element.
• For Round 1, Song Qingyao uses "Tun Gua Sword" (wugong = 3). (His base wugong = 2.) The technique receives +1 wugong boost from the Taiji Sign.

DUEL STEPS:

• The Character cards are placed next to each other in the center.
• Each player decides in secret the techniques that they will use for Round 1.
• Each player selects 0-2 techniques for Round 1.
• For Round 1, the combined wugong of the techniques used are added to the base wugong (shown on the Character cards).
• When both players are ready, the challenger (Shu Laozi) calls "Fight!" and both sides must unleash their selected techniques at the same time.
• After the techniques are unleashed, it is time to draw for wugong boost.

Shu Laozi (being the challenger) draws for wugong boost first (from the Item deck) and reveals an Earth Element. But since his technique "Doggie Scram" requires a Wood Element to receive a (+1) wugong boost, its wugong remains a 2. Therefore, his combined wugong for Round 1 is (2+0+3) = 5

Song Qingyao draws next (from the Stratagem deck) and reveals a Taiji Sign. In doing so, he is able to receive a +1 wugong boost to his technique "Tun Gua Sword". Therefore, his combined wugong for Round 1 is (3+1+2) = 6. Song Qingyao wins the round and gains a Win token. Shu Laozi loses and deposits a Qi token on his Character card.

Round 2 & Round 3

Round 2 and 3 are played out exactly like Round 1 except that the Character cards and the base wugong on them are not used. After a winner of the duel has been decided (in the best of 3 duel rounds), the deposited Qi tokens are lost and returned to the Qi pool.

REMINDER: Each technique can only be used once for the entire duel.

Travel the Jianghu

You may use your Main Action to travel the Jianghu.

The Jianghu is represented by the top and bottom rows of cards on the game board.

To travel the Jianghu, pick one of the cards from either the top or bottom row and play it (flip it over faceup if it is a facedown card).

Visiting Sect Guardians

At the start of the game, the top row is occupied by Sect Guardians. (Sect Guardian cards are always placed and left faceup throughout the game.)

As a virtuous character, you are free to seek an audience with any 1 of the Sect Guardians and benefit from their Guardian Abilities.

Eventually, when you have reached the renown level of Hero, you can visit your specific Sect Guardian (of your own sect) to receive your Sect Signature Technique manual as a reward!

You will find your Sect Signature Technique manual in the Reward deck.

After that, your Sect Guardian will leave the game board to stay by your side. Henceforth, you may skip your Card Action to use your Guardian Ability. (See section "Sect Guardians" on page 31.)

As a Sect Guardian leaves the game board to join a player, the empty spot left behind by the Sect Guardian is immediately taken up by a Wulin Master. Pick a random Wulin Master card and place it facedown.

WARNING: Sect Guardians will not entertain Evil Scum, so if you wish to acquire your Sect Signature Technique manual, do so before turning evil!

Facing a Wulin Master

A random Wulin Master will enter the Jianghu whenever a Sect Guardian or defeated Wulin Master leaves an empty spot on the game board.

Unlike Sect Guardians, Wulin Masters are placed facedown when they enter the game. (After each reveal/play, they must be shuffled.)

To challenge a Wulin Master, flip a card over to reveal his/her identity!

In your duel with a Wulin Master, instead of fighting the best of 3 duel rounds, the duel is fought in 1 decisive round, by combining your base wugong with the wugong of all your trained techniques. (If draws for wugong boost are required from both sides, you must always draw first!)

You cannot admit defeat to a Wulin Master.

Defeating a Wulin Master

If you are strong (or lucky) enough to defeat a Wulin Master, you will gain renown just like you would after defeating a player in a regular duel.

Furthermore, you will acquire the technique manual(s) which belonged to the Wulin Master you have defeated. Like your sect techniques, these must be trained before you can use them in duels.

Search for the manuals in the Reward deck.

After being defeated, a Wulin Master will leave the Jianghu and will be removed from the game.

If you lose a duel against a Wulin Master, you will lose 1 qi for every 3 wugong that you have lost by. (E.g. If you have lost by 1-3 wugong, you will lose 1 qi and if you have lost by 4-6 wugong, you will lose 2 qi, and so on.)

All the other Wulin Masters on the game board (if any) are then picked up, shuffled and put back (facedown) in a random manner.

Strict Rule: After defeating a Wulin Master, a player is not allowed to challenge a 2nd Wulin Master.

Free Exploration

In addition to visiting Sect Guardians and dueling with Wulin Masters, you may also explore the Jianghu and encounter various personas and events.

These are represented by the bottom row of cards facedown on the game board. Just pick any 1 card and play it by flipping it over faceup.

Exploring the Jianghu will offer you chances to gain renown and receive other benefits. However, remember that the Jianghu is not without its dangers and there will always be a price to pay to get what you want.

(See "Free Exploration" on page 33.)

Jianghu Rules of Encounter

IMPORTANT: After revealing or playing a Wulin Master or Free Exploration card, all cards from that group must then be shuffled and put back facedown in a random manner. The identity of these cards must always be kept secret!

Whenever you choose to Travel the Jianghu, if you do not like the 1st revealed card, you may expend 1 qi to skip it and reveal a 2nd card. The 2nd card must be played. With this rule, you may even skip a Wulin Master to reveal a Free Exploration card or vice versa.

Jing Lian breaks this rule because of her Speed Special Ability, which allows her to skip her 1st card for free and she may then expend 1 qi to skip her 2nd card!

Main Action Breakdown

To recap, for your Main Action, you may perform 1 of the following:

• Train a Technique
• Duel with a Player
• Travel the Jianghu
  • Visit a Sect Guardian (virtuous only)
  • Challenge a Wulin Master
  • Free Exploration

Stratagems

Usable only during your Card Action, Stratagems play a crucial part in your success or failure. It is important for you to study them and know when to employ which Stratagems in order to maximize their benefits to you. Played Stratagems are discarded after use.

Yin Stratagems

Yin Stratagems are used to harm other players and impede their progress. The effect is immediate and you gain a Xie token for each use.

The Grand Master of Wulin and Evil Scum are immune to yin Stratagems.

ASSASSIN Card Text: Target a player. That player loses 2 qi. You hire the service of an assassin in attempt to injure an opponent. Any victim of Assassin loses 2 Qi tokens immediately as a consequence.

SLANDER Card Text: Target a player. That player loses 1 renown. You circulate lies and rumors throughout the Jianghu to damage an opponent's reputation.

POISON SMOKE Card Text: Target a player. That player is poisoned. You stealthily poison an opponent with poison smoke. Any victim of Poison Smoke is poisoned and receives a Poison token.

Yang Stratagems

Yang Stratagems are used mostly for self-improvement and best suited for players who plan to take on the virtuous path to victory.

GALLANT DEED Card Text: You gain renown, but lose 1 qi. (Adventurer +3; Hero +2; Legend +1) You risk your life to fight for justice. Word of your heroic deed spreads throughout the Jianghu. The effect is immediate.

TRAINING ASSIST Card Text: Train a technique instantly. You cannot train again during this turn. With help from an old master, you train a technique quickly. You cannot choose Train a Technique as your Main Action this turn.

FORGIVENESS Card Text: Forgive a nemesis and gain renown. (Adventurer +3; Hero +2; Legend +1) Flip 1 Nemesis token back to its Neutral (black-and-white) side and gain renown in the process. The effect is immediate.

Taiji Stratagems

Taiji Stratagems are somewhat neutral and may have dual effects and purposes that are well suited for various circumstances.

PARALYZE/RELEASE Card Text: Paralyze - Skip next main action. Release - Negates Paralyze. To play Paralyze, put it on a player. That player can either remove it with Release during their Card Action or they must skip their Main Action. (The played card is then discarded.)

INFORMATION Card Text: Peek at any 3 Travel Jianghu cards and then put them back facedown. Before you travel the Jianghu, it is always a good idea to first seek information on the whereabouts of your objectives in mind.

TRAINING MISHAP Card Text: Yin / Yang: Player fails training and loses 1 qi; Taiji: Training is normal. Use Training Mishap on a player who is training. Targeted player must immediately draw a Sign to determine their fate.

VOW REVENGE Card Text: Receive a +3 boost to base wugong in your next duel against a nemesis. Use Vow Revenge during your Card Action. It will stay in effect until your End Action, when it must be discarded.

Items

The Item deck contains various Items that will be helpful to you in your quest. Knowing in advance what they do will help you greatly in planning your journey.

Card Action Usable Items

These are Items that can be used during your Card Action to grant you instant benefits. You may use as many of these Items as you wish during your Card Action.

SECT FAVORITE FOOD

• Emei Sect: Roast Flatbread
• Shaolin Sect: Arhat's Delight
• Beggar Sect: Wine
• Wudang Sect: Taiji Pills
• Kunlun Sect: Lamb Stew Pot

Depending on which sect/character you are playing, your Favorite Food will be different. Eating your Favorite Food will help you recover lost qi a lot faster.

REGULAR FOOD

• Steamed Buns, Snow Pears, Roast Chicken

Regular Food Items do not offer any special qi recovery benefits to any particular sects or characters when eaten.

ANTIDOTE Card Text: Cures poison. If you are poisoned, use Antidote during your Card Action to cure yourself of poison (and remove the Poison token).

SILVER INGOTS Card Text: Draw 3 items. Keep 1 and discard the rest. Draw 3 Item cards from the Item deck. After looking at them, keep 1 of them (adding it to your hand) and discard the rest onto the Item discard pile.

STRATEGY BOOKS Card Text: Draw 2 stratagems. You educate yourself in the art of strategy by reading various books written about it. Draw 2 Stratagem cards and add them to your hand.

Duel Items

These Items can only be used in duels against players or Travel Jianghu characters such as Wulin Masters or Yexun Yibai. Each Item card can be used only once and must be discarded immediately after use.

THROWING KNIVES Card Text: Sneak attack with Throwing Knives at any point during a duel round to boost wugong by 2. Throwing Knives can be used (after techniques are unleashed in a duel round) to further boost your wugong.

POISON DART Card Text: Sneak attack with Poison Dart to boost wugong by 1. (Opponent who suffers qi damage is poisoned.) Your opponent will only be poisoned if they lose qi at the end of the duel. You gain a Xie token from using Poison Dart.

CHAINMAIL VEST Card Text: Win or lose, you can use this item at the end of a duel to cancel all injuries (qi damage) suffered. Chainmail Vest offers protection against all injuries suffered in duels. (Although this item can protect you against injuries, it will not prevent you from losing a duel round/duel!)

Concealed Weapons are used for sneak attack late in a duel round to boost your wugong and surprise your opponent. There is no limit to the amount that you can use. You can either use them all at once or one at a time to counter your opponent's own sneak attack.

Sect Guardians

After acquiring your Sect Guardian (explained on page 24), you may then use your Guardian Ability once every turn by skipping your Card Action. (This is entirely optional and is useful if you do not have a card in your hand that you wish to play during your Card Action.)

Variant Rule: Your Sect Guardian's ability can only be used once, at any time during your turn (outside of duels). Your Sect Guardian then leaves the game.

Each Sect Guardian's Guardian Ability is described below:

Emei Sect Guardian: Fan Hua Guardian Ability: INQUISITIVE Card Text: Discard up to 2 stratagems and draw an equal amount from the stratagem deck.

Shaolin Sect Guardian: Abbot Xuan Ling Guardian Ability: DELIVERANCE Card Text: Discard a yin stratagem and gain 1 renown. (You can do this only once per turn.)

Beggar Sect Guardian: Lu Jin Guardian Ability: DRUNKEN MASTER Card Text: Search for Wine in the item deck or item discard pile and take it.

Wudang Sect Guardian: Zhang Zhenren Guardian Ability: TAIJI Card Text: Draw a sign. If you draw Taiji, you recover 2 qi. If you draw Yin / Yang, you recover only 1 qi.

Kunlun Sect Guardian: Fu Yanlin Guardian Ability: FEUD Card Text: Designate a player with a higher renown than you as your newfound nemesis.

Wulin Masters

To further your growth as a martial arts hero and to impress the people of the Jianghu with your greatness, you may eventually want to challenge a Wulin Master. Before you do that, however, it may be wise for you to study the strengths and weaknesses of each Wulin Master.

• Name: Heifeng Guai. Wugong: Yang 9, Taiji 14, Yin 18. In your duel with Heifeng Guai, draw a Sign to determine her wugong. Defeat her to acquire Yin Sutra from the Reward deck.
• Name: Yang Chao. Wugong: Yin 10, Taiji 13, Yang 19. In your duel with Yang Chao, draw a Sign to determine his wugong. Defeat him to acquire Divine Skill of Yang from the Reward deck.
• Name: Duan Zhenxuan. Wugong: 16. Defeat Duan Zhenxuan to acquire Spirit Finger from the Reward deck. (When using Spirit Finger in a duel, you may expend up to 2 qi to boost its wugong once at any point during a duel round.)
• Name: Bailian Ziluosha. Wugong: 17. Defeat Bailian Ziluosha to acquire both volumes of Bauhinia Forbidden Classic from the Reward deck. Volume 1 must be trained first.
• Name: Chijin Mowang. Wugong: Water 12, Metal/Wood/Earth 15, Fire 19. In your duel with Chijin Mowang, draw an Element to determine his wugong. Defeat him to acquire all 3 parts of Buddha's Fiery Palm from the Reward deck. These techniques must be trained in numeric order.

Free Exploration

In the base game of Crossroads of Heroes, there are 4 Jianghu personas and 1 event that you may chance upon when traveling the Jianghu. These probable encounters are explained here.

• Name: Heroes' Meeting. You take part in a meeting of heroes and gain renown. Adventurer level players gain 3 renown; Hero level players gain 2 renown; Legend level players gain 1 renown.
• Name: Gan Tanfu - Divine Healer. Upon meeting Gan Tanfu, you will be cured of any poison and your qi will be fully restored. If no healing is needed (for qi nor poison), you will receive Gan Tanfu Rare Herb as a gift!
• Name: Chan Kuniu - Junk Collector. Upon meeting Chan Kuniu, you may trade an Item from your hand with him for your Sect Artifact, a Chan Kuniu Special Item or any 1 Item from the Item discard pile. (See "Special Items" on page 34 and 35.)
• Name: Tiemian Qixia - Iron-Masked Pilgrim. Upon meeting Tiemian Qixia, draw a Sign to determine the outcome of the encounter. Yang: Draw a card; Yin: Discard a card (Stratagem or Item); Taiji: Swap your entire hand of cards with a player.
• Name: Yexun Yibai - Wandering Duelist. Wugong: Adventurer 8, Hero 12, Legend 16. Duel and defeat Yexun Yibai to gain renown (like you would with a Wulin Master) or admit defeat (lose 1 renown). Yexun Yibai will level up in renown and wugong each time he is defeated, until he eventually becomes and his will reach its peak. will never leave the no matter how many times he is defeated!

Special Items

Special Items and Sect Artifacts have dual purposes:

1. Basic Function - The ability described in the card text.
2. Elemental/Sign properties - When you are in desperate need of a wugong boost and after failing an attempt to draw your desired Element or Sign, you may shatter your Sect Artifact/Special Item (removing it from the game) for the same effect!

Special Items and Sect Artifacts do not count as part of a hand. Once acquired, they cannot be stolen, removed or exchanged by other players.

Gan Tanfu Rare Herb

This very rare item can only be acquired during an encounter with Gan Tanfu - Divine Healer. Only 1 lucky player who does not require healing (for qi nor poison) may receive this item as a gift.

MILLENNIAL GINSENG Card Text: Your maximum qi capacity is increased by 2. (Thus, your qi will be fully restored to 8.) Millennial Ginseng is consumed as you receive it, thus it does not carry any Elemental property and cannot be shattered for a wugong boost.

Chan Kuniu Special Items

These items can only be acquired through barter with Chan Kuniu - Junk Collector. You may trade for each with any 1 Item card from your hand.

ABACUS Card Text: Alternatively, for your draw action, you may draw 2 items, keep 1 and discard the other. Elemental Properties: Metal, Wood

PAINTING SCROLL Card Text: Give Painting Scroll to a player. In return, take any card (stratagem or item) from that player's hand. Elemental Properties: Wood, Water

CHANKUNIU'S HANDBOOK Card Text: After your draw action, if the topmost card of the item discard pile is not a food item, pick it up. Elemental Properties: Fire, Earth

Sect Artifacts

These are sect-specific items that can only be used by a member of their specified sects. They can be acquired from Chan Kuniu through barter.

EMEI SECT: MAIDEN'S BODKIN Card Text: This concealed weapon can be used once per duel. It is always retrieved after the duel has ended. After you turn Evil Scum, you cannot use the above function. Elemental Properties: Metal, Fire

SHAOLIN SECT: WOODEN FISH Card Text: Skip your draw action, use Wooden Fish to chant Buddhist sutras and cleanse yourself of 1 xie token. After you turn Evil Scum, you cannot use the above function. Elemental Properties: Metal, Wood

BEGGAR SECT: BEGGAR'S BOWL Card Text: Skip draw action. Beg for an item from a Legend, who must either offer charity or lose 1 renown. After you turn Evil Scum, you cannot use the above function. Elemental Properties: Wood, Earth

WUDANG SECT: BAGUA Card Text: When a yin stratagem is targeted at you, you can negate its effect by successfully drawing Taiji. After you turn Evil Scum, you cannot use the above function. Sign Property: Taiji

KUNLUN SECT: WEIQI BOARD Card Text: Every turn, after your draw action, you may draw an extra stratagem. After you turn Evil Scum, you cannot use the above function. Elemental Property: Earth

Evil Scum

After turning evil, your character's Special Ability will change to one with an evil nature. Study the Evil Ability of each character and plot your evil schemes ahead of time!

Evil Scum: Jing Lian - Evil Ability: SLY Card Text: Discard a yang stratagem, then take any yin card from the stratagem discard pile and play it. Tired of moving fast all the time, Jing Lian would now rather rely on her cunning and sinister schemes to gain an upper hand.

Evil Scum: Huai Xun - Evil Ability: BRIGAND Card Text: Before the start of each duel, grab an item card from your opponent's hand! Why give up when you can gain? Huai Xun will gladly strip you of any belongings before a fight.

Evil Scum: Shu Laozi - Evil Ability: SAVAGE Card Text: After winning a duel, deal 1 additional qi damage to your defeated opponent. Shu Laozi has had it with collecting scraps for a living. Mercy is only for the weak and he swore never to make that mistake again!

Evil Scum: Song Qingyao - Evil Ability: TYRANT Card Text: Discard a yang stratagem, then grab a card (stratagem or item) from a player's hand. Song Qingyao has learned that the only way is the tyrannical way. Why go with the flow when you can have absolute control?

Evil Scum: Xiao Jingtian - Evil Ability: AGGRESSION Card Text: Skip your draw action, grab a card (stratagem or item) from a player's hand. Fueled by anger, Xiao Jingtian makes sure that his opponents will find no peace in his relentless assault and intimidation.

Qi & Death

Although qi represents your health, in most cases, losing all your qi does not necessarily mean that you are dead. It only means that you have fallen into a critical state from serious injury. (Eating food will not help.)

IMPORTANT: While you are in this critically injured state, your opponents cannot challenge you to duels or slow you from recovery with Paralyze.

Without qi, you can only wander the Jianghu in the hope of finding Gan Tanfu. If you find him, your qi will be fully restored plus poison cured (if any) and you can immediately continue with your turn like normal!

You will have a chance for an early recovery if you can find Gan Tanfu in the first 2 rounds of your critical state.

1st Round with no Qi

You have 1 attempt to find Gan Tanfu. Flip over 1 card on the bottom row of the game board. If the card revealed is Gan Tanfu, your qi will be fully restored plus poison cured (if any) and you can immediately continue your turn like normal, starting with your Draw Action. If not, shuffle the cards and put them back facedown in a random manner.

2nd Round with no Qi

Same as the 1st round except that you now have 3 attempts. (You can flip over 3 cards on the bottom row of the game board.)

3rd Round with no Qi

It is assumed that over time, you have finally found Gan Tanfu. Your qi will be fully restored plus poison cured (if any) and you can immediately continue your turn like normal, starting with your Draw Action.

Player Death/Elimination

A player is eliminated from the game when killed by Evil Scum in a duel or after losing a duel with the Grand Master of Wulin in the final round. However, if all players turn Evil Scum, then each player must attempt to kill all other players or be the last player left alive in order to win the game!

FAQ

Q: Instead of drawing from the Item deck for an Element, can't I just discard an Item card with the desired element from my own hand? A: No. However, you may shatter your Sect Artifact or a Chan Kuniu Special Item that you possess for that effect.

Q: Both techniques that I am using in a duel round require a different Sign to boost its wugong. Do I draw a separate Sign for each technique or am I only allowed to draw only once for both techniques? A: Just remember that no matter what combination of techniques you have decided to use for a duel round, you may only draw a maximum of 1 Element and 1 Sign in each duel round to boost wugong.

Q: I am playing as Jing Lian. After using Maiden's Bodkin in a duel round, can I still shatter it for its Elemental properties within that round or in a later round of the same duel? A: No, once you have used Maiden's Bodkin for its Basic Function, you will not be able to reuse or shatter it for the rest of the duel.

Q: I am playing as Shu Laozi. Dragon Palm Fury states that I must not have any item(s) in my hand in order to reach its full potential. Does my Sect Artifact or Chan Kuniu Special Item count as an item? A: No, neither of them counts. Only regular Item cards do.

Q: I am playing as Shu Laozi and have turned Evil Scum. My Savage ability allows me to deal 1 extra qi damage to a player after defeating him in a duel. If my opponent loses his last Qi token because of it, do I kill him? A: Yes, dealing the extra qi damage would be counted as part of the duel.

Q: Information card text states that I can peek at 3 Travel Jianghu cards. Can it be a mix of Wulin Master and Free Exploration cards? A: Yes, absolutely.

Q: After revealing a Wulin Master, can I draw their Element/Sign first before I decide whether to skip them? A: No, since by drawing, you already commit yourself to a duel. Besides, challengers always draw first in duels.

Q: I know that I am not allowed to use Paralyze or duel with a player who is in a critical state, but can I use other Stratagems (e.g. Forgiveness, Slander) or Evil Abilities (e.g. Aggression, Tyrant) on such a player? A: Yes, all card effects that target a player can still be used.

Q: I am out of qi and need to find Gan Tanfu fast, will Jing Lian's Speed Special Ability or Information do me any good at this point? A: Unfortunately, neither will be useful to you in this situation.

Q: Can I forgive a Nemesis who is already eliminated/dead? A: No. We feel that if you are to gain renown by forgiving someone, it should be done when that person is still relevant and living!

Q: My duel with the Grand Master of Wulin ended in a draw? What happens? A: You must clearly defeat the Grand Master of Wulin in a duel to claim the title. If you fought only to a draw, you've lost your chance to win!