Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Film Fatale: Scenario Pack Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Expansion Symbol
• Game Modes
  • Standalone Mode
  • Side-story (Campaign Mode)
• Additional Rules & Clarifications
  • Alert
  • Combination Tests
  • Elusive
  • Patrol
  • Props
  • Vehicles
  • Haunted
• Film Fatale
• Setup
• Interlude: Take Two
• A Cosmic Journey
  • Location Placement for Act 2: A Cosmic Journey
• The Forgotten Island
  • Location Placement for Act 2: The Forgotten Island
• The Abominable Contessa
  • Location Placement for Act 2: The Abominable Contessa
• DO NOT READ
• Fin

Expansion Symbol

The cards in this expansion are identified by this symbol before each card's collector number:

[Expansion symbol: a film camera silhouetted inside a heart shape]

Game Modes

Film Fatale can be played as either a standalone scenario or as a side-story inserted into any campaign.

Standalone Mode

When played as a standalone scenario, follow the steps for Standalone Mode in the Rules Reference. This booklet is the campaign guide for Film Fatale. This scenario has two difficulty modes. Construct the chaos bag with the following tokens:

• Standard: +1, 0, 0, –1, –1, –1, –2, –2, –3, –4, skull, skull, tablet, elder sign.
• Hard: 0, 0, –1, –1, –1, –2, –3, –4, –6, skull, skull, tablet, elder sign.

Note: the chaos token symbols above are transcribed as words, in the order printed on the page. The tablet and elder sign symbols are matched to the printed token glyphs.

Side-story (Campaign Mode)

A side-story is a scenario that may be played between any two scenarios of an Arkham Horror: The Card Game campaign. Playing a side-story costs each investigator in the campaign a certain amount of experience. Weaknesses, trauma, experience, and rewards granted by playing a side-story stay with the investigators for the remainder of the campaign. Each side‑story may only be played once per campaign.

When playing this scenario as a side-story, play it as if you were setting up the next scenario in the campaign, with the same weaknesses, trauma, and story assets previously earned. Always use the Standalone Mode chaos bag for this scenario, however (reset the chaos bag after completion).

Playing the Film Fatale side-story costs each investigator 3 experience.

Additional Rules & Clarifications

Alert

Alert is a keyword ability that appears on some enemies in Film Fatale. Each time an investigator fails a skill test while attempting to evade an enemy with the alert keyword, after applying all results for that skill test, that enemy performs an attack against the evading investigator. An enemy does not exhaust after performing an alert attack. This attack occurs whether the enemy is engaged with the evading investigator or not.

Combination Tests

Some skill tests in Film Fatale, known as combination tests, require an investigator to test combined skills at once (such as "Test [skill icon] + [skill icon]"). A combination test is considered to be a test of both skill types. Cards with either skill icon may be committed to the test, and both icons are considered matching skill icons.

Elusive

Elusive is a keyword ability that appears on some enemies in Film Fatale. If a ready enemy with the elusive keyword attacks or is attacked, after that attack resolves, that enemy immediately disengages from all investigators, moves to a connecting location (with no investigators, if able), and exhausts. This effect occurs whether the enemy is engaged with the attacking investigator or not.

Patrol

Some enemies have the patrol keyword. During the enemy phase (in framework step 3.2), each ready, unengaged enemy with the patrol keyword moves to a connecting location along the shortest path toward the designated location (as described in parentheses next to the word patrol).

• If there are multiple locations that qualify as the designated location, the lead investigator may choose which location the enemy moves toward.
• If an enemy with patrol would be compelled to move to a location that is blocked by a card ability, the enemy does not move.

Props

Investigators may take control of unique Prop story assets during this scenario.

• If a Prop asset is defeated, place it in the victory display instead of discarding it.
• If an investigator who controls a Prop asset is defeated, give control of that asset to the nearest investigator.
• As a [action icon] ability, an investigator may give control of a Prop asset to another investigator at their location. Each investigator may perform this ability only once each round.

Vehicles

An asset with the vehicle keyword represents a vehicle that the investigators may enter or leave. An asset with this keyword is called a vehicle, and follows these rules:

• While an investigator's mini-card is placed overlapping a vehicle, that investigator is in that vehicle. While an investigator's mini-card is placed overlapping their location, that investigator is instead not in a vehicle (even if they are at the same location as a vehicle).
  • As a [action icon] ability, an investigator may enter or leave a vehicle at their location. Move that investigator's mini-card onto the vehicle or out of the vehicle and onto their location to indicate their new position. Each investigator may perform this ability only once each round.
  • An investigator who is in a vehicle is also at that vehicle's location.
  • While an investigator is in a vehicle, that investigator cannot move independently of the vehicle.
• Vehicles generally have one or more abilities that allow them to move to a connecting location. As a vehicle moves from one location to another, all investigators in the vehicle also move with the vehicle.
• Vehicles do not alter enemy movement or enemy engagement in any way unless otherwise noted.

Haunted

Some locations in this scenario feature the haunted keyword. Each time an investigator fails a skill test while investigating a location, after applying all results for that skill test, that investigator must resolve all "Haunted" abilities on that location. A location is "haunted" for the purposes of other card effects if it has at least one "Haunted" ability (printed or otherwise).

Film Fatale

You have arrived in Hollywood at the request of your contact, the silent film actor André Patel. According to André, something strange is happening on Lot C. Cameras and props have gone missing, and a series of accidents nearly halted production. Rumors have spread between the cast members that the films are "cursed." None of it was taken seriously until one of the cast members was found dead.

The late afternoon sun beats down on the hot pavement as you scan the crowd for signs of André. Half a dozen extras in alien masks whisk past you, followed by a stagehand dragging a large dinosaur foot by wagon. Across the lot, you finally spot him standing with a trio of werewolves. His eyes light up, and he strides briskly through the busy lot once he sees you.

"Finally!" he takes a bow. "I thought you'd never arrive. And just in time, too! Please, follow me." As the silent film star leads you across the lot, you catch glimpses of the various sets. A Cosmic Journey features a cheap-looking rocket, a robed wizard, and alien "Saturnites." Meanwhile, The Forgotten Island is filled with crudely painted pyramids and gargantuan paper mache dinosaurs. A bloodcurdling scream echoes out of the gothic horror set for The Abominable Contessa as you walk past.

"I don't think the mishaps lately are just bad luck," André says gravely. "Unfortunately, my reputation has made it difficult to get a straight answer out of the cast and crew. Nobody wants to tell their star actor that something's going wrong on set. Which is why I need you to ask around the film sets. See what they think is really going on."

André's demeanor brightens. "This could be quite fun, actually. I hope you're up to the task."

Proceed to Setup.

Setup

• Gather all cards from the Film Fatale encounter set. This set is indicated by the following icon: [film reel icon]
• Put Central Lot into play, (Quiet On Set) side faceup. Put Space Set, Jungle Set, and Gothic Set into play.
  • Each investigator begins play at Central Lot.
• Gather all three Prop assets, shuffle them together, and place them in a stack, facedown, beneath Central Lot.
• Set the André Patel story asset aside, out of play.
• Set the following encounter sets aside, out of play: Cosmic Journey, Forgotten Island, and Abominable Contessa. These sets are indicated by the following icons: [Cosmic Journey icon: a ringed planet] [Forgotten Island icon: a dinosaur head] [Abominable Contessa icon: a gothic castle silhouette]
• Shuffle each remaining encounter card to build the encounter deck.
• (Note: If you are playing Film Fatale as a side-story, use the Standalone chaos bag instead of your campaign chaos bag for the duration of the scenario.)
• You are now ready to begin.

Interlude: Take Two

Check the victory display. If there are three Prop assets in the victory display, add a "0" token to the chaos bag and choose one Prop to set aside, out of play. Then, if…

• …the Helios Telescope is not in the victory display, proceed to A Cosmic Journey (page 8).
• …the Staff of the Serpent is not in the victory display, skip to The Forgotten Island (page 13).
• …the Accursed Cape is not in the victory display, skip to The Abominable Contessa (page 16).

A Cosmic Journey

"It always does seem as though we are missing an extra around here," André notes. All is quiet on set as you search for the centerpiece prop for A Cosmic Journey. According to some accounts, several fires have mysteriously broken out, each of them near the Helios Telescope. After several minutes of searching, a low metallic growl cuts through the silence, coming from the rocket ship. André puts one hand to the wooden hull. "It's warm," he says quietly. The vessel rattles as the film star opens the hatch.

Following André inside, you feel your footsteps echo on solid metal. What you discover within defies explanation. The ship is far larger and more elaborate inside than out; its paneled walls are covered in metal tubes and glowing consoles. You follow André to a shattered lens cap lying on the floor. "This was part of the telescope, but where is the rest?" he asks. As if in answer, the rocket ship judders to life. You rush to a glass porthole and look outside to see the emptiness of deep space, dotted with stars. André looks outside, disbelieving. "I don't think we're in Hollywood anymore."

• Gather the Cosmic Journey encounter set. This encounter set is indicated by the following icon: [Cosmic Journey icon: a ringed planet]
• Discard each enemy from play. Move each investigator to Space Set and set each other Set location aside, out of play, discarding all tokens and cards at those locations.
• Put each location from the Cosmic Journey encounter set into play (see location placement on page 10).
  • Put the Rocket Ship story asset into play at Space Set. Each investigator enters Rocket Ship.
• Place clues on Space Set up to its clue value.
• Put the Saturnite Monarch enemy into play at High Ruler's Bastion, (Gracious Host) side faceup.
• Add act 2a—A Cosmic Journey and act 3a—From Whence They Came to the current act deck.
• Put the set-aside Helios Telescope story asset into play next to the act deck.
• Shuffle each remaining card in the Cosmic Journey encounter set into the encounter deck, along with the encounter discard pile.
• Gather each single-sided encounter card from the set-aside Forgotten Island and Abominable Contessa encounter sets. Shuffle them together to make the "Reel deck." Place the Reel deck next to the scenario reference card.
• Add 2 [skull] tokens to the chaos bag.
• Continue playing.

Location Placement for Act 2: A Cosmic Journey

The placement diagram on page 10 shows the following cards. The Space Set card is placed at the top of the diagram, with the Rocket Ship story asset beside it. The remaining five locations are placed in two rows.

• Teetawn Passage (Cosmos.) — A narrow passage winds beneath two looming cliffs. You're convinced someone—or something—is watching.
• High Ruler's Bastion (Cosmos.) — The looming walls spring forth from the desert, grasping for the heavens. They're accompanied by floating glass orbs resembling watchful eyes.
• Tothis Barrens (Cosmos.) — The barrens stretch as far as the eye can see. Heavy shadows could easily hide countless enemies, ready to pounce on unsuspecting visitors.
• Ritual Site Teetawn (Ritual Site.) — The lava beneath the timeworn ritual site bubbles and boils. It is calling for sacrifice. (The printed text reads "timeworn itual site"; the missing letter is a glyph error and is corrected to "ritual" here.)
• Ritual Site Tothis (Ritual Site.) — Green energy churns below the ancient ritual site amidst the decaying ruins. What profane rituals were performed here?
• Space Set (Set.) — A beautiful backdrop painted to look like outer space hangs on the wall. A wooden rocket ship sits in the corner, and people in alien outfits and space suits go over their lines with one another. The director continues to call for an actress on set, but she is nowhere to be found.
• Rocket Ship (Asset; Vehicle. Cosmos.) — Rattling with Energy. Spend 1 [clue icon] clues, as a group: Blast off! Move Rocket Ship to a Cosmos location. Reveal a token from the chaos bag. If a symbol token is revealed, each investigator leaves Rocket Ship. Then, flip this card over. It seems bigger on the inside.

The Forgotten Island

The Forgotten Island: André follows you through the set dressing of The Forgotten Island: plastic foliage, cheap green turf, the hiss of a fog machine. According to André, one member of the production was found babbling on set with the film's signature prop, the Staff of the Serpent, in hand. As you search for the prop, the ground begins to feel softer underfoot. Looking down, you see your shoe sinking in wet, loamy soil. The air has grown oppressively humid and is filled with the buzzing of cicadas and the cries of distant birds. You look up to see thick green leaves partially obscuring a bright blue sky. You are no longer in the jungle set but in the jungle itself.

"What is this madness?" André wipes his brow, then jumps as a long snake slithers across his shoes and into the underbrush. Recoiling from the serpent, you look beyond to a serpentine path that leads deeper into the jungle. Someone—or something—retreated away from Lot C and ventured into this other world. Based on what you heard, the missing film prop seems to be at the heart of this strange phenomenon.

• Gather the Forgotten Island encounter set. This encounter set is indicated by the following icon: [Forgotten Island icon: a dinosaur head]
• Discard each enemy from play. Move each investigator to Jungle Set and set each other Set location aside, out of play, discarding all tokens and cards at those locations.
• Put each location in the Forgotten Island encounter set into play (see location placement on page 15).
  • Place 4 resources on Ruins of the Serpent King, as seals. Put the set-aside Staff of the Serpent story asset into play at Ruins of the Serpent King.
  • Spawn the double-sided Allosaurus enemy at Jungle River, (Indomitable Predator) side faceup.
• Add act 2a—The Forgotten Island and act 3a—Destroy the Source to the current act deck.
• Shuffle each remaining card in the Forgotten Island encounter set into the encounter deck, along with the encounter discard pile.
• Gather each single-sided encounter card from the set-aside Cosmic Journey and Abominable Contessa encounter sets. Shuffle them together to make the "Reel deck." Place the Reel deck next to the scenario reference card.
• Add 2 [elder thing] tokens to the chaos bag.
• Continue playing.

Location Placement for Act 2: The Forgotten Island

The placement diagram on page 15 shows the following cards. Jungle Set is placed at the center of the diagram, with the Staff of the Serpent story asset beside Ruins of the Serpent King. The other locations are arranged around it.

• Tar Pit (Jungle.) — The surface of the pool is slick with an oily sheen. Numerous bones protruding from the tar indicate that traversing the pool will be dangerous.
• Jungle Set (Set.) — The set is so realistic that if you pause for just long enough, you can almost hear the waves splashing against the shoreline. Not too many people are around, however, as extras and actors on set continue to get sick.
• Western Ridge (Jungle.) — The top of this ridge looks out over a vast jungle below. To the east, a path winds up a green hill to a ruin at its summit.
• Ruins of the Serpent King (Jungle. Ruin.) — The spiraling path up the green hillside leads to the ruins at the very top. The site seems to hum with supernatural energy, an unseen barrier to turn back unwanted visitors. Investigators cannot enter Ruins of the Serpent King while it has 1 or more seals on it.
• Eastern Ridge (Jungle.) — Victory 1. The ridge at the far end of the valley rises sharply into the air, providing a high perch from which to view the dense jungle below.
• Jungle River (Jungle.) — The river rushes through the jungle, churning white water breaking on large black rocks and gnarled tree roots. The scene would feel tranquil were it not for the danger lurking in the shadow of the trees.
• Staff of the Serpent (Asset; Item. Relic. Prop. Cursed.) — Relic of the Past. Damage cannot be assigned to Staff of the Serpent except by the ability below. [ability icon] If it is act 3: Fight. Add your [skill icon] to your skill value for this attack. If this attack defeats an enemy, deal 1 damage to Staff of the Serpent (2 damage instead if the defeated enemy is Elite).

The Abominable Contessa

"Rumor has it that some of the actors on this production have gotten a little too into their performances. But there's more. Just last week, an assistant was nearly strangled by the contessa's Accursed Cape—although they weren't even wearing it." André says, leading you onto the set for The Abominable Contessa. A pale moon shines in a matte sky, casting long shadows on a field of graves. The backdrop depicts a moody gothic castle with towering spires, sneering gargoyles, and stained-glass windows. Your vision begins to swim as the scenery warps before your eyes. The castle and surroundings come into focus. You look up to see the set roof has disappeared, replaced by a starlit sky, and the walls have been replaced with a sprawling forest. Looming over all of it is the dark castle, suddenly real.

"This is impossible," André looks at the bleak landscape. Before you can reply, a howl breaks the stillness. Several nightmarish forms emerge from the nearby trees. Together, you dash up the hill to take refuge in the ominous castle. As the massive doors slam behind you, the sound of maniacal laughter echoes through the vast foyer. A gorgeous woman with pale skin and blood-red lips steps out from the shadows. She holds a large goblet in one hand. "Welcome to my humble home. I am Contessa Demetriou. I assume you are here for the banquet? Unfortunately, it is you who are on the menu!" Cackling, she vanishes in a cloud of bats.

As the sound of gnashing and clawing intensifies outside, André turns to you. "There've been some strange rumors on set about that cape, and now the Contessa is wearing it. Perhaps if we take it from her, we may be able to end…all of this," he gestures at your surroundings.

• Gather the Abominable Contessa encounter set. This encounter set is indicated by the following icon: [Abominable Contessa icon: a gothic castle silhouette]
• Discard each enemy from play. Move each investigator to Gothic Set and set each other Set location aside, out of play, discarding all tokens and cards at those locations.
• Put each location in the Abominable Contessa encounter set into play (see location placement on page 18).
  • Spawn The Contessa at Throne of Blood, (Needlessly Smug) side faceup.
• Place clues on Gothic Set up to its clue value.
• Add act 2a—The Abominable Contessa and act 3a—Bloodbath to the act deck.
• Shuffle each remaining card in the Abominable Contessa encounter set into the encounter deck, along with the encounter discard pile.
• Gather each single-sided encounter card from the set-aside Cosmic Journey and Forgotten Island encounter sets. Shuffle them together to make the "Reel deck." Place the Reel deck next to the scenario reference card.
• Add 2 [cultist] tokens to the chaos bag.
• Continue playing.

Location Placement for Act 2: The Abominable Contessa

The placement diagram on page 18 shows the following cards. Throne of Blood is placed at the top of the diagram, Gothic Set at the center, and the other locations around it.

• Throne of Blood (Castle. Sanctum.) — As an additional cost to enter Throne of Blood, investigators at Gothic Set must spend 4 [clue icon] clues, as a group. Tenebrous shadows stretch like long fingers from the Contessa's throne room.
• Moonlit Garden (Castle.) — Forced – When you reveal this location: Test [skill icon] (3). If you fail, ready The Contessa and move her to this location. There is something very strange about the foliage in this part of the castle…
• Clock Tower (Castle.) — Forced – When you reveal this location: Test [skill icon] (3). If you fail, ready The Contessa and move her to this location. The endless sound of ticking and whirring gears masks the flutter of wings and distant screams. (The printed text reads "istant screams"; the missing letter is a glyph error and is corrected to "distant" here.)
• Gothic Set (Set.) — The realistic lighting and sound effects evoke a far off place on a dark and stormy night. There have been reports that actors who spend extended time on the set seem to lose themselves in their role.
• Castle Hallways (Castle.) — Forced – When you reveal this location: Test [skill icon] (3). If you fail, ready The Contessa and move her to this location. The still halls of the ancient castle are choked with grave dirt and the scent of decay.
• Catacombs (Castle.) — Forced – When you reveal this location: Test [skill icon] (3). If you fail, ready The Contessa and move her to this location. The scent of putresence emanates from below.

DO NOT READ

until the end of the scenario

If no resolution was reached (each investigator was defeated): Whatever madness has gripped Lot C, it has taken you as well. You find difficulty in remembering who you were before today's events. Are you yourself? Are you just playing a part? As you try to find the truth, the end credits begin to roll.

• Each investigator must search the collection for a random basic Madness or Flaw weakness and permanently add it to their deck. This card does not count toward that investigator's deck size.
• Proceed to Fin.

Resolution 1: Furious, the Monarch fires the Helios Telescope wildly at set pieces and extras alike. As you flee the scene, you look behind you to see André disappear in the path of a kaleidoscopic beam. Once outside, all you can hear is an insidious clicking from Lot C. It almost sounds like laughter.

• Remove the André Patel story asset from the game.
• Proceed to Fin.

Resolution 2: André pats you on the back, then rubs his eyes with a sigh. "Bien joué, mon ami. I could not have survived this without you." You hold the telescope, now inert, in your hands as your mind wanders to the amazing things you've just seen. Saturn, the alien creatures, and the vastness of space. You won't need to see A Cosmic Journey when it releases; you've already lived it.

• Proceed to Resolution 5.

Resolution 3: "Those giant creatures!" André exclaims. "I never thought it would be possible to witness such things. And you, you were absolutely brilliant. I cannot thank you enough, dear friend." The film star does not seem rattled in the least at the strange and wondrous horrors you encountered. The remains of the staff's gem lie shattered at your feet. Maybe you're not cut out for Hollywood, you think to yourself.

• Proceed to Resolution 5.

Resolution 4: André brushes a heavy dusting of grave dirt off his vest and begins fidgeting with his cane. "I'm not certain, but The Abominable Contessa may have just lost its leading lady. I'm still not sure quite what happened, or why, but I'm glad you were here to help."

• Proceed to Resolution 5.

Resolution 5: Some hours later, you find André standing over Erika Strand, the producer. She sits against the wall, head held between her hands. "Rough day, my friend?" André leans down and puts a steaming cup of tea next to her. After a tentative sip, Erika looks to André. "What happened? And why do I feel like I just lost a wrestling match with a train?" she asks.

André looks over her as his apprehension gives way to curiosity. "I'm not certain, but you definitely weren't yourself. I suppose we have much to discuss." Erika nods along as the film star relays the strange and fantastical events of the day. After finishing the tale, André snatches his hat and cane from a nearby table. "I must go. It appears the mystery is not yet fully unraveled, but I bid you all adieu." The actor turns just as he walks out the door and smiles mischievously. "Nous nous reverrons, mon ami."

• Proceed to Fin.

Fin

Somewhere off in the distance, a twisted laugh pierces the air. After a few moments, it pauses and yells "… and cut! That's a wrap."

• Each investigator earns experience equal to the Victory X value of each card in the victory display.
  • If "the investigators made their call time," each investigator earns 1 bonus experience.
• If the André Patel story asset was under control of an investigator when the scenario ended, any investigator may add him to their deck for the remainder of their campaign. This asset does not count toward that investigator's deck size.
• If you are playing in Campaign Mode, reset your campaign chaos bag.