Tomb Trader Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Overview
• Setup
• Play Area
• Character Card
• Treasure Card
• Round Card
• Gameplay
  • Gameplay Continued
• Game End
• FAQ
• Ability Reference

Components

• 12 Location Cards (Outer and Inner)
• 52 Tomb Treasure Cards
• 7 Character Cards
• 21 Gold Tokens
• 1 Round Card (Double Sided)

Overview

You and three to six other fake archaeologists sneak into a tomb and have one minute to figure out how to split the goods before the place collapses. The player with the most value wins!

Setup

1. Shuffle the deck of Treasure cards and place the Round Card and the Treasure deck in the center of the table.
2. Each player gets two Location cards, one Inner and one Outer. These indicate which part of the tomb you will go to.
3. Each player gets three gold coins. These are worth 1 point at the end of the game and can be traded mid-game to help make deals for items.
4. Deal each player a character card face-down (do not show these to other players). Each of the treasures listed on your card gives you bonus points at the end of the game. Some have additional effects as well to help you or hinder other players!

Play Area

1. Treasure Deck
2. Outer Tomb
3. Inner Tomb
4. Round Card
5. Character
6. Treasures
7. Location Card
8. Gold Coins

Character Card

Character Cards represent the role you play as a raider of tombs. Each character card is made up of the following parts:

1. Name: The name of the character's role.
2. Treasure List: A list of treasures that give you extra value at the end of the game.
3. Bonus Ability: Some characters have an additional ability listed in this box.

Treasure Card

Treasure Cards represent the riches and dangers hidden within the locations. Each Treasure Card is made up of the following parts:

1. Name: The Name of the Treasure.
2. Effect: The effect of the Treasure in shorthand and with quick reference symbols. Effects will tell you when they happen or when you can use them, though they normally happen upon collecting them or on the next turn. Not all Treasures have effects.
3. Character List: A list of Characters that receive a bonus from that item.
4. Value: The value of the Treasure. Your value determines who wins at the end.

Round Card

The Round card gives the amount of treasure needed in each location each round, based on the number of players. The Round Card is made up of the following parts:

1. Round Number: The number of the round.
2. Treasures: The amount of treasure dealt out in a certain round.
3. Location: The specific location each set of treasures are placed.
4. Player Count: The number of players in the current game. One side is used for three to four players while the other side is used for five to six players.

Gameplay

The game takes place over a series of rounds, seven for 3-4 players and six for 5-6 players. Each round is as follows:

1. Deal treasure into each location, face-up, in its respective location on either side of the Round Card. The amount you deal varies based on the number of players, round, and location. This information is displayed on the Round Card.
2. Everyone chooses whether to explore the Inner or Outer Tomb by playing one of their location cards face-down on the table. After everyone has played a location card, reveal them simultaneously. All players are now considered to be in the location they chose.
3. Players set a timer (not included) for one minute to decide amongst each other who gets what treasures (if any) in the location they are at. Players cannot talk to players in other locations. All players must agree on the decision. You may exchange gold coins with other players during this phase to help make deals amongst each other. You may not exchange treasures you have from previous rounds. All treasures in the location must be taken by someone for the deal to be successful. At the end of one minute, if players have decided, everyone leaves the location with the treasures they decided on.

Example (Player's Decision): Josh and Chris are deciding who gets the three Treasures in this location. Josh really needs the Fortune Deck for his Alchemists' Character Value Bonus. Chris figures this is the case and asks for one of Josh's gold coins to seal the deal. Josh grudgingly agrees to the offer before time runs out. Josh leaves with the Ceramic Jar and Chris leaves with the other two items (Trinket and Treasure Map) and 1 of Josh's gold coins.

Gameplay Continued

If players can't come up with an agreeable division of treasure before the timer runs out, the location collapses! Discard all of the treasure from the location. They will not be obtainable later in the game.

Both the Inner and Outer Tomb locations are explored simultaneously and with the same one-minute timer.

If a player is the only player in a location, they can only take up to half of the treasures, rounded down (round up with three players). The remaining treasures are discarded.

4. Players take the treasure they got that round and put it into their stash face-down in front of them. Do not show the rest of your treasure to the other players. Treasure that has an effect on the next round, like Snakebite or Knife, is kept face-up in front of a player until its effect is over.

Game End

After all rounds are over, players add up the value of all their treasure cards, plus any bonuses on their character card from having specific Treasures (everyone should reveal their Character Cards to verify this). Each gold coin they have is worth 1 point. The player with the highest value wins!

In case of a tie, the player with the most gold coins wins. If there's still a tie, the player with the most treasure cards wins.

Example: Bill ends the game with a Trinket (1 point), Gold Chalice (3 points) and Crown (4 points), for a total of 8. With his two gold coins (2 points) and Gambler character bonus of +2 for the Gold Crown, this makes his final value 12.

FAQ

Q: If more than one card that affects where I go is affecting me in a single round, how do I determine which one applies? A: Only the most recent effect applies. For example, if you have a Snakebite (which randomly determines your location) and someone uses the effect of Knife, making you go to the Outer Tomb, the last effect played applies – so you go to the Outer Tomb instead of the location being determined randomly.

Q: How does timing work for effects that happen at the same time, like Knife and Revolver? A: The person that says they're using their effect first gets to use it first. If you can't agree, randomly determine who gets it.

Q: Do the Collector and Alchemist only get points if they get all of the Treasures listed on their cards? A: No, they get the noted point(s) for each Treasure they collect.

Ability Reference

• [Medical Kit icon] You are immune to Snakebite and Whip while you have this card.
• [Whip icon] Next turn, you may choose another player. You choose their location for them (after revealing treasure, but before location choosing).
• [Dice icon] Flip a coin. If you call it right this Treasure is worth 2 more.
• [Lucky Rock icon] If you have the Lucky Rock, this Treasure is worth 3 more.
• [Knife icon] Next turn, you may choose another player. You choose their location for them (after revealing treasure, but before location choosing).
• [Revolver icon] Next turn, you may choose another player. You choose their location for them (after revealing treasure, but before location choosing).
• [Snake icon] Next turn, choose your location at random.
• [Sarcophagus icon] When you collect this Treasure, flip a coin. If you call it right, this Treasure is worth 5.
• [Card-deck icon] When you collect this card, take the top card of the Treasure Deck face-down (effects don't trigger).
• [Statue icon] If you have the Ancient Statue, this Treasure is worth 2 more.
• [Treasure Map icon] Value is based on how many Treasure Maps you have. This value is cumulative and each Map does not have its own value. One: 1, Two: 3, Three: 6, Four: 10, Five: 15, Six+: 21