Bible Brawl Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Objective
• What's in the Box
  • Character Cards
  • Action Cards
  • Attack / Defence Tokens
• Game Setup
• How to Play
  • The Battlefield
  • Battle Line
  • Back Line
  • Pouch
  • Honor Pile
  • Recruitment Line
  • Marketplace
  • Your Hand
• On Your Turn
  • Recruit a Character
  • Add Character to your Back Line
  • Purchase an Action Card from the Marketplace
  • Brawl
  • Market Place/Recruitment Line Wipeout
  • End-of-turn Bonus Card
• FAQ
  • Action Cards
  • Location Cards
  • Recruitment Line
• Special Character FAQ
• Character/Action Card List
  • Character List
  • Action Card List
• Glossary

Objective

Be the first to reach a predetermined amount of honor gained by defeating your enemy's characters. Strategically play cards to keep your characters alive while being able to defeat other players' cards.

What's in the Box

Character Cards

There are eight different classes of character:

• Warrior
• Priest
• Beast
• Judge
• Prophet
• King
• Giant
• None

Each character card is labelled as follows (labels as printed on the card diagram):

• Action Points (recruiting/brawling cost): the number in the top left corner.
• Honor: the honor value, shown in the top right corner.
• Attack
• Defense
• Class
• Ability
• Bible Reference

Abilities:

• "When revealed" - The action is only used once when the character has been brought to the front line and is now "revealed." When playing this type of character as one of the two characters in the blind reveal start (see "Game Setup" for further explanation), your character's ability is used at the beginning of your first turn.
• "While Revealed" - The character's ability is applied the entire time this character is in your battle line. Any bonuses or extra abilities being used disappear when this character is defeated or removed from the battle line.

Action Cards

There are three different types of action cards:

• Event Cards (blue background): These are one-time-use cards that only last during the battle or moment they are used. They can only be played on your turn (unless otherwise stated on card). It does not cost AP to use an event card that stops an attack from happening or stop a character being defeated.
• Backup cards (green background): These are attached to a character to carry out the effect (place behind the character). Only 1 card can be attached to a character at a time. Any new cards replace the previous one attached.
• Location cards (red background): Depending on the location card, these are placed on your or your opponent's battle line. Only one location card can be active on your battle line. Location cards are removed only by being replaced with another or using specific action cards or character abilities. Location cards do not take up a space on your battle line.

Attack / Defence Tokens

• The defence token (blue) is used for any additional defense bonuses given by character abilities and placed on the card.
• The attack token (red) is used for any additional attack bonuses given by any character abilities and placed on the card.

Game Setup

1. Separate character cards and action cards.

2. Combine and shuffle character cards. In the base game, there are more than 50 unique character cards. Most cards have multiple copies (see page 9 for a complete list of characters). Combine all character cards (including characters from expansion packs) and shuffle well.

   Note: the source's cross-reference says "page 9" for the complete character list; the list is printed on page 10 (section 10, Character/Action Card List).

3. Deal 5 character cards to each player face down.

4. Character Drafting: Look at your five cards and choose one card to keep. Then hand the remaining four cards to the player to your left. You will be given four cards from your right - select one from the group of 4 and hand the remaining 3 to the player on your left. Continue this process until you have five chosen character cards. This process helps ensure a balanced start while allowing some player choice on their starting hand.

5. Deal 2 action cards to each player. After shuffling the action cards well (and placing any expansion pack action cards in), deal two cards to each player (no drafting required).

6. Create the recruitment line and marketplace.

   • Recruitment line: Place the remaining character cards face-down and flip over four characters. These characters are a part of the recruitment line and can be purchased with action points and be added to your back line on your turn. Each time a card is taken, replace it with a new one.
   • Marketplace: Place the remaining action cards face-down and flip over four action cards. These action cards make the marketplace and can be purchased using action points on your turn. Each time a card is taken, replace it with a new one.

How to Play

The Battlefield

The battlefield includes all player's battle lines.

Battle Line

You are only allowed four characters on your battle line at a time (unless a character's ability requires you to add another character(s) to your line and it's full). All characters in the battle line are available to attack or be attacked. There is no cost to move a player from your back line into your battle line, and they come ready to attack and can be used immediately for battle. If you start your turn with no characters in your battle line and have one in your back line, they must be moved up on your turn. If you are left with no characters in your battle line or back line at the start of your turn, you must place a character in your back line or recruit from the recruitment line.

Back Line

These are characters you are getting ready to go to battle. They are placed face down when you are adding from your hand. It costs 1 Action point to add a character to your back line. You can only add a max of 2 characters to your back line in a single turn and have a maximum of 4 characters who can be added to the back line. Characters need to be in the back line for a minimum of 1 turn before they can go to the battle line to attack (but they can stay in your back line as long as you need them to stay there). You can send as many characters as you want/need to the battle line on your turn. Any characters purchased from the recruitment line are added face-up to your back line.

Pouch

Your pouch holds two action cards that were purchased from the marketplace. You pay the required amount of action points on your turn to buy an action card, which is placed in your pouch. Action cards in your pouch do not cost any action points to play, but they must remain in the pouch for a minimum of one turn. You cannot add any action cards from your hand into your pouch.

Honor Pile

Collect all the characters you have defeated in your honor pile. Stack these cards by showing their honor points so you can easily track your number of honor points.

Recruitment Line

Create the Recruitment line by placing four face-up character cards beside the face-down pile of remaining characters. These face-up Character Cards can be purchased by spending the required action points on your turn. A recruited character goes to your Back Line face-up and can be attacked with some character abilities or Action Card. You can purchase as many characters as you can with your available AP.

Marketplace

Like the Recruitment line, the marketplace has four shown cards you can purchase on your turn. These cards must go into your pouch and can't be used until your next turn.

Your Hand

You are only allowed eight cards in your hand. Any extras are placed in the discard pile. All cards are played by spending the required action points on the card.

On Your Turn

You have 5 Action Points to use each turn (you can gain more from some abilities and Action Cards). You do not need to spend all five, but you cannot carry any unused points to the next turn.

Here is a list of what you can do on your turn (complete any or as many of these actions without exceeding your five action point limit):

Recruit a Character

Recruit a character from the recruitment line by spending the required AP to purchase. The character is then placed in your back line, face up. Characters' abilities are not used until moved into your battle line.

Add Character to your Back Line

You can spend one action point to place a character face-down in your back line. You can only place a max of 2 characters in one turn and a maximum of 4. Characters must stay in your back line for a minimum of 1 turn. You can move any/as many characters up to your battle line as you want.

Purchase an Action Card from the Marketplace

Purchase an action card from the marketplace by spending the required AP to purchase. The card is then placed in your pouch, face-up, and can't be used during the same turn it was purchased. You can hold a max of 2 cards in your pouch. Since you have paid the AP to buy the action card, you will not have to pay anything to use a card from your pouch.

Brawl

You must brawl and defeat characters to gain honor and reach the predetermined limit to win the game. The cost to brawl with a character (and also recruit) is the number in the top left-hand corner of the character card. To win a brawl, you must declare whom you are attacking, and your character must have an equal or higher attack amount than the defender's defence stat. You can not split your stats or attack with multiple characters. Your opponent can play action cards to stop the defeat, but if they can't, you place the character in your honor pile. A Character can only attack once (unless otherwise stated), and the player moves into an *exhausted state after an attack. If your attack fails, that battle is finished, the AP spent to attack is used, and your character goes into the exhausted state. Finish your turn using any remaining AP you have left.

The brawl diagram in the source carries these callouts: "Choose who to Brawl" (your battle line to the opponent's card), "Your attack must be higher than opponents defence" (your card to the opponent's card), "Opponents Card", "Your Card", and "After Battle (or attempted Battle)".

*Exhausted State: After an attack (or attempted attack) a character moves into an exhausted state. Place your character sideways until your next turn. Character is at a -1 Def until start of next turn.

Market Place/Recruitment Line Wipeout

If you are looking for a specific character or the characters/action cards in the recruitment line/marketplace haven't changed in a while, you can spend three action points to discard the entire recruitment line OR marketplace and replace it with four new cards.

End-of-turn Bonus Card

At the end of your turn, you collect one action card or character card to add to your hand.

FAQ

Action Cards

Can I have more than 2 Action Cards in my pouch?

You cannot have more than two cards in your pouch, and you cannot swap action cards out. They must be used up to free space for another card to be purchased from the market.

What happens if an action card is used to lower a character's DEF. to 0? Is that card now defeated?

If a Characters' card's DEF. is lowered to 0 through an Action Card or Ability of a character, the character is not defeated unless otherwise stated on the Action card or Ability.

Eruption (Event Card). This card makes all characters on the Battle Line at a -3 defense, and any/all characters who go to 0 DEF are defeated. Keep a maximum of 2 characters to be added to your Victory Pile, and all others are discarded.

Note: the source uses "Victory Pile" in this answer and in the Special Character FAQ (Esau) for the pile described as the "Honor Pile" in the rules above. Transcribed as printed.

Can I play an Action card from my hand and place it in my pouch to use at another time?

No. You must pay the AP cost to play the Action Card on the battlefield in one turn.

What defense cards does Fall of Tyrus stop?

Cards like Fortress and No Pity (NSFSS Expansion) can be stopped by placing the Fall of Tyrus card.

Location Cards

Does a Location card take up space on your battle line?

It does not take up a spot on your battle line.

How do I remove a Location from my battle line?

A Location can be removed by being replaced by another Location card or by a card's ability.

Recruitment Line

If you have four characters already on your battle line, can you recruit a character to replace one?

No, you cannot. Otherwise, you could easily prevent an opponent from defeating one of your characters to gain their honor.

Special Character FAQ

Daniel

Because Daniel does not become exhausted when he brawls, does that mean he can attack multiple times as remaining Action Points allow?

No. A character may only brawl once per turn unless the card specifically says differently.

Esau

What happens to the defeated Beast?

The defeated beast goes into the Victory Pile of the player who revealed Esau.

Ezekiel

What happens if my battle line is full with four characters on it?

You may have a 5th character on your battle line. Once one character is defeated, you are back to the default of having four slots on your battle line.

Eli

What happens to Eli when I draw another Priest?

Eli goes to the discard pile, and the new priest is added to where Eli was.

Gideon

Gideon's ability allows him and other unique judges to attack without using additional AP. Could they all attack a single target?

No. The judges would have to attack a different character on the Battle Line.

Joshua

What happens to the bonus tokens that the returned characters once had?

Any bonus tokens are removed.

Jonah

What happens if my battle line is already full with four characters on it?

You may have a 5th character on your battle line. Once one character is defeated, you are back to the default of having four slots on your battle line.

Moses

What happens if my battle line is full already with four characters on it?

You may have a 5th character on your battle line. Once one character is defeated, you are back to the default of having four slots on your battle line.

Samson

Does Samson fight each character individually on his first attack?

Yes. Each character is attacked individually.

Servants

Does it cost additional AP to attack twice?

Servants can attack twice, but must pay AP for each time.

Character/Action Card List

The source prints the number in parentheses after each card name; these are transcribed as printed.

Character List

• Abigail (3)
• Abishai (2)
• Abraham (2)
• Adam and Eve (3)
• Asahel (2)
• Balaam (2)
• Behemoth (2)
• Benaiah (2)
• Cain (2)
• Daniel (2)
• David (1)
• Deborah (3)
• Delilah (2)
• Ehud (1)
• Eli (3)
• Elijah (2)
• Elisha (2)
• Esau (2)
• Esther (3)
• Ezekiel (2)
• Gideon (2)
• Goliath (1)
• Great Fish (1)
• Habakkuk (3)
• Haman (3)
• Herald (3)
• Ishbi-Benob (2)
• Israelites (3)
• Jael (1)
• Jair (2)
• Job (3)
• Jonah (3)

Action Card List

• Ambush (2)
• Anointing (3)
• Chained Up (2)
• Consumed Altar (2)
• Day of the Lord (2)
• Deception (2)
• Destroyed Temple (2)
• Edom Destroyed (3)
• Fallen Kings (1)
• Fall of Tyrus (2)
• Flood (1)
• Fortress (4)
• Grapes Gathering (2)
• Hail Storm (2)
• Healed Waters (2)
• Holy Ground (2)
• Infestation (3)
• New Moon (1)
• Plunder (1)
• Raid (2)
• Rally Call (2)
• Shattered (3)
• Special Treasure (1)
• Staff to Snake (2)
• Strong Tower (1)
• Stumble (3)
• Thirsty Land (5)
• Trample (2)
• Worship Grounds (2)

Glossary

Honor

The Value of a Character.

ATK

When a character has an ATK bonus, they deal that much additional damage when they brawl.

Discard

When a card is removed from the Battlefield or someone's hand and placed in the discard pile.

Battlefield

All cards that have been played and revealed.

Exhausted

After a character attempts or wins a brawl, they are exhausted, which is signified by turning your card sideways on the battle line. While "Exhausted," they have a -1 DEF until their next turn.

AP

Action Points. Each card has an Action Point cost shown in the top left-hand corner.

DEF

A character with a DEF bonus will take that much additional damage before they can be considered defeated.

Revealed

Any card that is on the battlefield that is face-up.

Defeated

When an opposing character's card ATK is higher than the defending character's.