Sticky Cthulhu
Sticky Cthulhu Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 8 sticky tentacles
- 30 Creature tokens (6 types x 5 different colors)
- 30 Deep One tokens
- 5 Investigator tokens
- 12 Curse cards
- 2 dice: 1 Creature die, 1 Color die
- This rulebook
Overview and Goal of the Game
Impress Cthulhu! The master is watching you, and you will need to be quick and precise to get rid of the infernal creatures that pester him! Throw your tentacles to seize the monster designated by your master, but take care not to tangle your tentacles, and not to catch one of those blasted investigators by mistake!
Each correctly captured monster earns you a Deep One token. The first Servant to get 5 of these tokens wins the game!
Game Elements
Sticky Tentacles
The sticky tentacles represent the tentacles of Cthulhu's Servants, that is to say your tentacles, and are the only way to catch Creatures during the game.
Note: It is advised to clean them with cold water without soap after each game to preserve their sticky property.
Creature Tokens
These tokens represent the creatures to catch during the game. There are 6 types of Creatures, each present in 5 colors: Nightgaunt (Maigre Bête de la Nuit), Mi-Go, Spawn of Shub-Niggurath, Chthonian, Cultist, and Cat of Ulthar.
Investigator Tokens
These tokens represent humans who attack the Servants of Cthulhu who touch them. There are 5 different Investigators.
Curse Cards
These cards represent the Curses you suffer when you gain Deep One tokens (see Optional Rule, below).
Deep One Tokens
These tokens represent your level of servitude to Cthulhu, which increases during the game. As soon as a player has 5 Deep One tokens, he becomes Cthulhu's right tentacle and the game ends.
Creature Die
The Creature die shows the type of Creature designated by Cthulhu, the one to attack with your sticky tentacle this turn.
Color Die
The Color die shows the color of the Creature designated by Cthulhu, and therefore the one to attack with your sticky tentacle this turn.
Setup
- Place all the Creature tokens and Investigator tokens randomly on the table. Make sure that no token overlaps another and that the Investigator tokens are spread roughly evenly over the table.
- If you wish to play with the Curse cards, shuffle them and place them near the playing surface in a face-down draw pile.
- Each player takes a sticky tentacle.
- The player who looks most like a Deep One becomes the first player and takes the two dice in front of him.
Course of the Game
The game is played over several consecutive turns until one of the players wins his 5th Deep One token.
Turn Sequence
Each turn has two steps:
- Roll the dice
- Try to catch the Creature indicated by the dice
Roll the Dice
The player with the two dice rolls them on the table, so that all players can easily see them. The Creature die shows which type of Creature to catch, and the Color die shows the color of that Creature. This Creature is the one designated by Cthulhu for this turn.
Example: You roll the two dice. They show that you must catch the green Cat of Ulthar.
Try to Catch the Creature Indicated by the Dice
As quickly as possible, try to catch the Creature designated by the dice with your sticky tentacle. It is strictly forbidden to use anything other than your sticky tentacle to catch a Creature. All players do this step at the same time and as quickly as possible.
ATTENTION! Do not aim at eyes or faces.
When you manage to catch the designated Creature with your sticky tentacle, detach it with your own hand (this is the only time using your hand to take a Creature is allowed). Then put it back on the table and gain a Deep One token.
Apart from the designated Creature, it is forbidden to touch with your own hand the Creatures or Investigators stuck to your sticky tentacle. However, it is allowed to shake your sticky tentacle to make them fall.
Note: As long as the Creature has not been put back on the table, your opponents can still catch it with their sticky tentacle, even if it is already stuck to your sticky tentacle.
If you caught other Creatures at the same time as the designated Creature, that is no problem: simply put them back on the table at the end of the turn.
You must always avoid catching an Investigator with your tentacle. Cthulhu hates them!
If there is an Investigator on your tentacle when you detach the designated Creature to put it back on the table, the turn ends, but you do not gain a Deep One token.
Catching an Investigator without catching the Creature designated by the dice does not make you lose a Deep One token.
Example: You roll the dice, which show the green Mi-Go. With your sticky tentacle you catch this Creature. You detach it with your own hand and quickly put it on the table. You look at your sticky tentacle, which has also caught the blue Cultist and the green Spawn of Shub-Niggurath, but no Investigator. You then gain a Deep One token.
End of the Turn
As soon as a player puts the designated Creature back on the table, the turn ends. He gains a Deep One token if there is no Investigator on his tentacle, and takes the two dice.
Note: As long as the Creature designated by the dice has not been caught by a player, the turn continues, even if the Creature falls on the floor.
All players put back in the center of the table the Creatures they caught or that fell off the table during the turn, and a new turn begins.
End of the Game
The game ends immediately when a player wins his 5th Deep One token. He is declared the winner, and the other players can congratulate him on being Cthulhu's new right tentacle!
Optional Rule: Curse Cards!
Each time you gain a Deep One token, draw the top card of the Curse card draw pile. You must play the next turn(s) applying this Curse, as indicated on the card. If you already have a Curse card, put the old one under the draw pile and apply the effects of the newly drawn card.
If you are caught not respecting your Curse, you lose a Deep One token. If you have no Deep One token, you are not obliged to respect your Curse, but know that Cthulhu will not be very proud of you.
Curse Cards
- Play with one eye closed.
- Play while singing.
- Play standing on one leg.
- Play with two tentacles in the same hand.
- Step back from the table.
- You must have at least one additional Creature on your tentacle to be able to win a Deep One token.
- Play with your wrong hand.
- Play without speaking.
- Play holding your tentacle upside down.
- Start each turn with your tentacle resting on the table.
- Spin your tentacle above your head before your first tentacle throw.
- Spin around once before your first tentacle throw.