Mansions of Madness: House of Fears Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Story Questions
• Distribution
• Setup
• Map Setup
• Investigator Setup

Story Questions

Answer the questions and record the answers with tokens.

1. The true purpose of the film is:

   • A. To absorb the souls of everyone present so that the film lasts forever.
   • B. To summon something from beyond the screen, for which all the viewers must be driven insane.
   • C. To kill all the actors so that they exist only inside the film.

2. The final part of the film is located:

   • A. In the wardrobe.
   • B. On the stairs down to the basement.

3. Marion's storage is located in:

   • A. The study.
   • B. Bathroom 2.

4. Lost souls are directed to:

   • A. The dining room.
   • B. Bathroom 1.

5. Marion was last seen in:

   • A. The gallery.
   • B. The cellar.

Distribution

The scan lists the cards to place in each room, grouped by story question number and answer letter (for example "4A" is question 4, answer A). Items marked (padlock) carry a padlock icon in the scan, and the scan does not say what the icon means, so it is kept as printed. The scan does not print how these groups are applied. Translator's reading, not printed in the source: the "A" group for a question is the one used when the answer is A, and the "B" group when the answer is B. Check this against the English Keeper guide.

• Bathroom 1: 4A: Nothing of interest, Cultist robe, Jammed door (padlock). 4B: Storage key, Clue #3, Locked door (padlock).
• Study: 3A: Crescent sword, Clue #2, Archive storage (padlock). 3B: Nothing of interest, Whiskey, Runic lock (padlock).
• Operating room: 5A: Puppet stage (padlock). 5B: Keypad lock (padlock).
• Cellar: 5A: Nothing of interest, Symbol of the Ancient Light. 5B: Marionettes, Clue #5.
• Library: 5A: Nothing of interest, De Vermis Mysteriis, Keypad lock (padlock). 5B: Silver key, Clue #4, Puppet stage (padlock).
• Bathroom 2: 3A: Nothing of interest, Copper casket, Runic lock (padlock). 3B: Crescent sword, Clue #2, Archive storage (padlock).
• Refrigerator: 5A: Silver key, Clue #4. 5B: Nothing of interest, Tranquilizers.
• Stairs to the basement: 2A: Nothing of interest, Void satchel (?), Mosaic casket (?). 2B: Lost film reel, Clue #1, Prop armor (?).
• Wardrobe: 2A: Lost film reel, Clue #1, Prop armor (?). 2B: Nothing of interest, Void satchel (?), Mosaic casket (?).
• Dining room: 4A: Storage key, Clue #3, Locked door (padlock). 4B: Nothing of interest, Tcho-Tcho talisman, Jammed door (padlock).
• Gallery: 5A: Marionettes, Clue #5. 5B: Nothing of interest, Symbol of the Ancient Light.

Setup

1. Clue cards: Set aside the Clue cards that match your answer tokens to the story questions.
2. Research, Lock and Obstacle cards (?): Set aside all Research, Lock and Obstacle cards marked with the House of Fears expansion icon.
3. Mythos deck: Take the Mythos cards marked with these icons: Rising, Gates and Mystic.
4. Keeper actions: Use the Keeper action cards Break Character, Call of Madness, Fifth Wall, Presence of Evil and Darkness.
5. Objective card: Take the Objective card that matches the answer to question 1.
6. Starting resources: Take 2 Mythos cards, 2 Trauma cards and 2 threat tokens.

Special instructions. The Keeper may place one random Research card in each empty room of their choice.

Special rules.

• If a room is being searched and a Lost Soul card is revealed, place it face up in that room. A revealed Lost Soul card is not considered a Research card and does not take up a space in the room.
• The text on the back of Event cards must be kept hidden from the investigators. Some game effects may force the Keeper to read this text aloud, based on the answers to the story questions.

Map Setup

Place the map tiles, feature markers and sealed door markers as shown below.

Tiles. The tiles form three rows:

• Top row: Corner Corridor, Basement, Laboratory.
• Middle row: Study, Chapel, Nursery, Big Bedroom, Corridor 2 (to the right of the Big Bedroom).
• Bottom row: Gallery, Foyer, Dining Room, Corridor 3 (to the right of the Dining Room).

The scan does not give the names of the rooms inside each tile (for example, the bathrooms, cellar and pantry) clearly enough to place them. Use the names printed on the tiles in the English product.

Markers.

• Hiding space (purple square, Укрытие): in the Basement, in the top-left part of the tile, and in the Dining Room, on its left side.
• Barrier (green square, Преграда): in the Study, in its lower-left part, and in Corridor 2.
• Sealed door (the no-entry icon): on the Big Bedroom's lower wall, between the Big Bedroom and the tile below it.

Start. Investigators begin on the Start space, which is printed in the Foyer.

Investigator Setup

1. Choosing characters. Each player chooses an investigator, and takes that investigator's miniature, character card, experience tokens and characteristic cards.
2. Choosing characteristics. Each player chooses two characteristic cards for their character: one with Strength and one with Intellect.
3. Placing miniatures. Each player places their character's miniature on the Start space (see Map Setup).