Bunker Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Goal of the Game
• Setup
• Game Flow
• Round of Play
  • 1. Bunker Exploration
  • 2. Card Reveal Circle
  • 3. Voting (only if indicated in the Rounds Table and on the voting sheets)
• Rounds Table
  • Rules for 2–3 Players
  • Example of Play with 7 Players
• Final of the Game
  • Expanded Final of SURVIVAL HISTORY Mode
    • I. Threat in the Bunker
    • II. Threats of the Expelled
    • III. Result of SURVIVAL HISTORY
• Companion App

Components

Character cards:

• Professions: 50 cards
• Biology: 32 cards
• Health: 32 cards
• Hobby: 32 cards
• Baggage: 32 cards
• Facts: 50 cards

Other cards:

• Special Conditions: 32 cards
• Catastrophes: 20 items on 10 cards
• Threats: 21 cards
• Bunker: 30 cards

Total: 321 cards (63 x 89 mm).

Other components:

• Expulsion sheets: 120
• Rulebook: 1

Translation note: the components list calls these sheets "expulsion sheets", while the setup and voting sections call them "voting sheets". The rulebook uses both names for the same sheets, which players write their candidate for expulsion on.

Goal of the Game

The game has 2 modes with different goals:

	Goal: SALVATION (up to 7 players)	Goal: REBIRTH (8+ players)
BASIC MODE	Get into the bunker	Get into the bunker as a group capable of continuing the species
SURVIVAL HISTORY	Survive, overcoming the Threats and the Catastrophe	Survive as a group capable of continuing the species

BASIC MODE is the version of the game with a short final part. Simply do everything possible to get into the bunker!

SURVIVAL HISTORY is the version of the game with an expanded final. You will find out who overcame the threats and the catastrophe and managed to survive. A team with diverse useful skills will be especially important. Focus not only on the open Catastrophe card, but also be ready for unexpected threats.

The REBIRTH goal differs from the SALVATION goal in that the survivors must include a mixed-sex couple capable of continuing the species. If the age or other characteristics of the characters cast doubt on their ability to continue the species, settle the question by discussion, by vote, or by a coin toss. In any case, having suitable pairs for each other affects the psychological atmosphere in the group and can be an argument during votes.

Setup

1. Deal the Character cards. Deal each player, face down, 1 random card from each of the Profession, Biology, Health, Hobby, Baggage and Facts decks: 6 cards in total. Each round you will reveal Character cards one at a time over the 5 rounds, gradually finding out information about one another. One card of each player stays face down until the end of the game.

   Combining "Bunker" / "Bunker-B" and "Bunker-Alfa": When you combine the games, you get 9 different Character card decks. In this case deal each player 9 Character cards instead of 6, and then during the game reveal 2 cards at a time in the first 3 rounds (in round 1 the Profession and the Superpower are mandatory). The number of rounds does not change. You may also choose any 6, 7 or 8 of the 9 decks, but among them there must be a Profession and/or a Superpower. Similarly: if you dealt 7 or 8 cards, reveal 2 cards at a time in the first 1 or 2 rounds (in round 1 the Profession and/or the Superpower is mandatory).

2. Deal the Special Conditions cards. Deal one face-down card to each player. Special Conditions cards may be played by the players at any moment, according to the text and meaning of the card, even after expulsion. These are usually strong effects that can turn the situation in the game. Use them wisely.

   Study your cards, but do not show them to one another. During the game you will gradually reveal your cards from your hand, placing them on the table in front of you. When arguing for your usefulness and choosing candidates for expulsion, you may rely on cards already revealed and bluff about cards still hidden.

3. Deal the voting sheets. Give each player 1 sheet. You will need a pen or pencil to write on them. You may also vote without the sheets, by simultaneously pointing a finger at the candidate: each person counts aloud the number of votes against them.

4. Reveal a random Catastrophe card. Place the card in the centre of the table. Read the text of the card aloud, or scan the QR code with the companion app (bunker.economicusgame.com) to listen to the actor's voice-over or even watch a video of the catastrophe.

Important: Board games are first and foremost friendly communication. By playing, you practise communication, argument and collective interaction skills. But the game will also contain many dramatic decisions about excluding individual players. Your heroes will have not only pleasant but also negative traits. Remember that this is a game and that you play a character, and that character survives or dies within the game, so keep the emotions within the frame of the game. Explain this to all participants. Understanding by everyone that game emotions will not carry over into real life lets you try different models of communication more fully and immerse yourselves more deeply in the atmosphere of the game.

One of the players is ready to play!

Game Flow

The game lasts 5 rounds. A round consists of Bunker Exploration, a Card Reveal Circle, and may include up to two votes if they are indicated in the Rounds Table and on the voting sheets. At each vote one player is excluded: they become expelled.

The player who dealt the cards becomes the first active player and starts round 1.

Round of Play

1. Bunker Exploration

The first active player of the round reveals any pair of face-down Bunker and Threat cards and reads them aloud. Bunker cards are usually some equipment useful for your survival, and Threat cards are what may await you in the Finale of the game. Although these cards clearly affect the final only in SURVIVAL HISTORY mode, you can still take them into account when arguing for your indispensability.

2. Card Reveal Circle

The active player reveals 1 Character card of their choice in front of them on the table (in round 1 all players must reveal a Profession card) and states why they should get into the bunker. Time limit: 30 seconds per player. Other players may comment, but must not interfere with the active player speaking.

The turn then passes to the next player in the circle, who becomes the new active player, reveals a card and speaks, and so on. Expelled players (if there are any) do not become active players and do not reveal cards; pass the turn to the next player.

When the circle is complete, go to a vote if one is indicated in the Rounds Table and on the voting sheets. If there is no vote, start a new round. The first active player becomes the player after the one who started the current round (the first non-expelled player).

3. Voting (only if indicated in the Rounds Table and on the voting sheets)

Before the vote, all players, including expelled ones, hold a general discussion and may propose candidates for expulsion. Time limit: 1 minute for the general discussion.

Then all players, including expelled ones, simultaneously write in their sheets the Profession of their candidate for expulsion. When everyone has finished writing, players take turns revealing their sheets, showing the entry and explaining their decision. Everyone must voice their decision, even if the overall result is already clear. Each player counts and names the number of votes against them. The player with the most votes becomes expelled.

Alternatively, instead of writing on the sheets, you may vote by pointing a finger at the candidate on the count of "three".

If several players have the same highest number of votes, give them 1 minute for a defence round and hold a repeat vote, choosing only from these candidates. If several players again have the same highest number of votes, take their Profession cards, shuffle them and reveal one at random. That player is considered expelled.

An expelled player immediately reveals all their cards (except Special Conditions cards, which may be played later) and tells about themselves. Expelled players are not removed from the game: they fully take part in voting in all later rounds and try to acquire the best characters for themselves in order to increase their chances of survival.

Hold a second vote in the round if one is indicated in the Rounds Table and on the voting sheets.

After the vote, start a new round. The first active player becomes the player after the one who started the current round (the first non-expelled player).

Rounds Table

Number of players	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Number of votes in the round:
Round 1	–

Rules for 2–3 Players

Use 2 characters for each player and play by the Rounds Table as for 4 players (for 2 players) or 6 players (for 3 players). When playing 2 characters, try to be impartial towards your "own" characters. This is not easy, but it will show you the game from a new side.

Example of Play with 7 Players

Round 1:

• Bunker Exploration: the 1st pair of Bunker and Threat cards is revealed.
• Card Reveal Circle: everyone reveals a Profession card.

Round 2:

• Bunker Exploration: the 2nd pair of Bunker and Threat cards is revealed.
• Card Reveal Circle: everyone reveals a 2nd card of their choice.
• Vote: 1 player becomes expelled; 6 candidates remain for entry into the bunker.

Round 3:

• Bunker Exploration: the 3rd pair of Bunker and Threat cards is revealed.
• Card Reveal Circle: everyone reveals a 3rd card of their choice.
• Vote: the 2nd player becomes expelled; 5 candidates remain for entry into the bunker.

Round 4:

• Bunker Exploration: the 4th pair of Bunker and Threat cards is revealed.
• Card Reveal Circle: everyone reveals a 4th card of their choice.
• Vote: the 3rd player becomes expelled; 4 candidates remain for entry into the bunker.

Round 5:

• Bunker Exploration: the 5th pair of Bunker and Threat cards is revealed.
• Card Reveal Circle: everyone reveals a 5th card of their choice.
• Vote: the 4th player becomes expelled; 3 players get into the bunker!

Finale:

• Everyone reveals their remaining Character cards and discusses the decisions made in the game.

Final of the Game

Players who are not expelled after all 5 rounds get into the bunker! Those who got into the bunker take turns revealing and commenting on their remaining cards (except Special Conditions cards, which may be played at will).

If you played the BASIC MODE: with the goal SALVATION, all who got into the bunker win. With the goal REBIRTH, for victory those who got into the bunker must also have a pair capable of continuing the species.

Expanded Final of SURVIVAL HISTORY Mode

The group in the bunker and the group of expelled players must face a series of threats. Those who got into the bunker overcome only 1 threat from among those revealed during the game, and they can use the Bunker cards available to them. The expelled, however, face 2 unexpected threats and can rely only on themselves. Then all the survivors together try to overcome the Catastrophe.

I. Threat in the Bunker

Carry out the following steps for the group that got into the bunker:

1. Shuffle face down all 5 Threat cards revealed during the game, reveal 1 at random, and read the Threat card aloud.
2. Discuss whether the group can cope with the Threat that came up. If the group has at least 3 Character cards or available Bunker cards useful against this Threat, you have overcome the Threat without consequences: discard the Threat card and skip step 3.
3. If the group has no 3 cards useful against the Threat, resolve the consequences of the Threat:

   • take 1 Profession card from each player in the group;

   • add to them the card of your Threat;

   • shuffle all these cards face down and reveal 1 at random:

     3a. If it is a Character card, that character dies: all their cards are discarded and no longer count for subsequent checks (except Baggage cards, which remain with the group).

     3b. If it is a Threat card, this is a fatal failure and the whole group dies!

In disputed situations concerning whether a Character or Bunker card is useful against a Threat, hold a quick general vote by simultaneously raising or lowering a thumb. All players take part in this discussion and vote, including those in the bunker, the expelled, and even the dead. If at least half of the players support the card's usefulness, consider it useful.

II. Threats of the Expelled

The expelled have managed to find an unfinished shelter, but their chances of surviving here are considerably lower. Reveal 2 random Threats from the deck for the expelled, and for each Threat resolve steps 2–3 of section I for the expelled group.

III. Result of SURVIVAL HISTORY

With the goal SALVATION, all survivors win if the survivors have at least 3 Character cards or available Bunker cards useful against the Catastrophe! With the goal REBIRTH, for victory the survivors must also have a pair capable of continuing the species.

Once the game is over, discuss the results and the decisions you made in the game together. Congratulate one another on the adventure you have survived!

Companion App

A free companion app is available: bunker.economicusgame.com.

Play with additional catastrophes, listen to the actor's voice-over of the introduction and of all catastrophes, watch video catastrophes, use the discussion timer, play thematic music, and play through the interactive finale of SURVIVAL HISTORY, scanning your best cards to overcome Threats and the Catastrophe!