Backstories: L'Embrasement
Backstories: L'Embrasement Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Setup
- Separate the play area into the Personal zone of the players (in front of them), the Panorama zone in the middle of the table, the Objective zone, and the Discard zone (where you put the cards you will no longer use).
- Read card 1 of the adventure aloud and apply its effects.
The game can begin!
We recommend leaving the cards in the box and taking them out as you go along.
Important: Do not look at or shuffle the cards of the game before starting the adventure! If this happens (or if you want to replay the adventure after finishing it), reorder the cards by their numbers. Place all the fronts in the same direction (the backs have no number in the top left corner, or have a number followed by "*").
Card Types
Each type of card has its own way of working, which is recalled by its colour (top left corner).
Character / Objective / End Cards
- These indicate at all times what you must do to advance in your adventure.
- They are placed in the Objective zone.
- Character cards let you track the state of your heroes.
Story Cards
- These advance your adventure according to the actions you take.
- In general, they are placed in the Discard zone as soon as you have finished reading them (unless indicated otherwise).
Location Cards
- These visually represent places, people or objects on which you can carry out actions using your Action cards.
- They are placed in the Panorama zone until you are asked to discard them.
- In general, Location cards form a panorama of several cards describing the scene.
Info: When you obtain a new Location card, it may either be added to the other cards already present, or replace an existing card. A diagram at the top of the card explains where to place it. If it replaces a card already in play, discard the previous card. In that case, the number of the card to discard is also indicated.
Action Cards
- These represent intentions, objects, characters or others that will act on the Location cards.
- There are two types: window cards (à fenêtre) and notch cards (à encoche).
- These are the cards you use to play. Place them in the Personal zone.
State Cards
- They are placed under your Character cards, leaving the purple part at the bottom showing.
- They represent states affecting your characters and can have an influence on the rest of your adventure.
Advancing in the Adventure
You will carry out actions using your Action cards to advance the story. Note: you cannot begin a new action until you have fully completed the previous one.
If you are several players, you form a team and must cooperate to win. Organise yourselves in the way that seems most natural to you.
If you prefer a more defined framework: each player performs one action on their turn. The choice of actions may be discussed by the whole group, but the player whose turn it is decides and performs the action. When you have finished your action, it is then the turn of the player on your left to perform an action.
Performing an Action
Choose an Action card from the Personal zone and a Location card from the Panorama zone. Take these 2 cards, place the Action card on the back of the Location card, and turn the 2 cards over, keeping them pressed against each other.
- If the Action card is a window card, read the text appearing in the window and apply any effects.
- If the Action card is a notch card, take from the deck the card whose number appears in the notch. If an icon appears in place of a number, apply the effects of the icon. If nothing appears, nothing happens.
Then put the Action and Location cards back in their respective zones, without looking at the rest of the information on the back of the Location card.
We have noticed that participants tend to focus on window cards and neglect notch cards. If you feel stuck, remember to use your notch cards!
Applying an Effect
An effect is an instruction, identifiable by a coloured frame. These effects let you advance the adventure and give you directions for the smooth progress of the story.
| Effect | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Take 12 (green hand icon) | Take the card whose number is indicated. If you are invited to take a card that is no longer in the deck, disregard this instruction. |
| Discard 4 (red cross icon) | Place the designated card in the Discard zone. |
| Flip this card (blue arrow icon) | Turn over the card on which the pictogram is printed and read on. |
| Put this card back in the deck (yellow arrow icon) | Put this card back in the deck, sorted according to its number, front side facing forward. |
Certain effects may depend on a choice. Example from the sheet:
Make a choice: If you want to give Link in exchange for the gasoline: Flip this card. Otherwise: Move Hector's truck away from the Enclave. / Put this card back in the deck.
Certain effects may depend on a condition. Example from the sheet:
If you have the Crowbar (18): Flip this card without reading further.
If the condition is met, you must do what is asked.
Warning: When a card has several effects, apply them one after the other, as you read them, so as not to forget any. Forgetting an effect could harm your experience or create inconsistencies during your adventure. Take care not to miss anything!
After each action, read the consequences aloud and apply the effects. Then read any new cards you have obtained and apply their effects if there are any. After interacting with a Location card, do not forget to put it back in the panorama (unless you have been asked to discard it).
End of the Adventure
The adventure stops when you obtain an "End" card (Fin). Each scenario has several endings depending on the choices made during the story!
Specifics of This Scenario
- In this scenario, you will play several characters. Organise your play area accordingly.
- Throughout the adventure, you will obtain different cards to slide under each of them. For each card, you will be told which character to place it under. Be sure to follow these instructions.
- Finally, remember that you play several characters: take into account the personality and sensitivities of each one.
- Second particularity of this scenario: at the end of your adventure, you will not receive a single "End" card, but a deck of "End" cards recounting the significant decisions you made throughout your adventure.