Sword Art Online Board Game: Sword of Fellows Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game Overview
• Components
• Description of Contents
  • Character Cards (6)
  • Scenario Cards (10)
  • Item Cards (8)
  • Support Card (1)
  • Dice
• Game Setup
• Simple Start-Up
• Course of the Game
  • 1. Reveal the Scenario
  • 2. Attack
    • 1) Decide the linking partner
    • 2) Roll the dice
    • 3) Choose Sword Skills
    • 4) Counterattack
    • 5) Attack result
    • 6) End of turn
  • Example of a Turn
• Clearing a Scenario
  • 1. Obtain an Item
  • 2. Level Up
  • Character Dice
  • 3. Recovery
  • 4. On to the Next Scenario
• End of the Game
• About the Final Battle
• Adjusting the Difficulty
• Explanation of Special Effects
  • Character Cards
  • Scenario Cards

Game Overview

Play time: 30 minutes / Players: 1-4

Players are characters trapped in the world of the online game "Sword Art Online", Aincrad, and try to overcome various difficulties and escape from that world.

Kirito, Asuna and the other SAO players have mastered various Sword Skills and Abilities. The basic objective of the game is to use them to attack the enemies set in each scenario and clear it. However, fighting an enemy alone in this online game is inefficient and also dangerous. What is demanded of the players is "linking up" with a partner.

When attacking an enemy, a player designates a partner to link with, and the two roll dice. The results combined are the attack: if they match the attack method of each character, the enemy takes damage. If all the dice were used up, the "Switch" lets you avoid the enemy's counterattack. While re-rolling dice and using characters' Abilities to manipulate dice results, cooperate and advance through the online game world.

Can the players overcome the fearsome opponent awaiting at the end and succeed in escaping from this world?

Components

• Cards: 25
  • Character cards: 6
  • Scenario cards: 10 (Lower Floors, Middle Floors, Upper Floors: 3 each; Final Battle: 1)
  • Item cards: 8
  • Support card: 1
• Dice: 14
  • Main dice (black): 4
  • Support dice (white): 4
  • Character dice (light blue): 6
• Tokens: 30
  • Damage (1/2): 10
  • Damage (5/10): 12
  • Bonus (Lisbeth): 1
  • Bonus (Silica): 1
  • Ability Use Count: 4
  • Currently Attacking: 1
  • Blank (spare): 1
• Rulebook: 1

Description of Contents

Character Cards (6)

1. Level: Rises each time a scenario is cleared, strengthening the character's abilities.
2. HP: The amount of damage the character can endure. If this value becomes 0 or less, the character dies.
3. Ability: A special power. It has useful effects such as changing the result of dice.
4. Ability Use Count: The number of times Abilities can be used during one scenario. It varies with the number of players.
5. Sword Skills: The various techniques the character has mastered. In battle, by matching the dice results to those a Sword Skill needs, you can trigger that Sword Skill.

Scenario Cards (10)

These depict the various events that happen in different places in the world of "Sword Art Online", Aincrad. There are four kinds (Lower Floors, Middle Floors, Upper Floors, Final Battle; written on the back of the card), and you attack the scenario of each tier.

1. Dice: The number of dice the players roll on that stage.
2. Enemy: Shows the enemy to be attacked.
3. Stage: Depending on the enemy, it has multiple stages that must be attacked in order to defeat it.
4. HP: The durability the enemy has in each stage. When it becomes 0 or less, that stage is cleared.
5. Damage: The amount of damage received when taking a counterattack from the enemy of that stage.
6. Effect: Some enemies have effects such as dealing damage to everyone, or imposing a penalty on specific characters.

Item Cards (8)

Cards showing the various objects that exist in Aincrad. There are "Consumables", which are lost once used, and "Equipment", which gives a continuing effect. They are obtained by clearing scenarios.

Support Card (1)

A card showing "Yui", a special character the characters meet.

Dice

The normal dice used in common by all players (Main dice (black) and Support dice (white)), and the Character dice (light blue), which have many faces suited to the Sword Skills of each character.

Game Setup

1. Character selection: Each player chooses 1 character from the character cards (2 characters if playing alone). Kirito, the protagonist of the story, must be chosen by someone. Characters not chosen are not used in this game. A player who chooses Lisbeth or Silica also receives the corresponding Bonus token.
2. Scenario creation: Shuffle the scenario cards face down, choose one each of Lower, Middle and Upper Floors, and reveal them face up. Add the Final Battle to make 4 cards, and arrange them face down so that the illustrations on the backs form the shape of Aincrad. Scenario cards not chosen are not used in this game.
3. Shuffle the 8 item cards and set them face down. This is called the "Item Deck".
4. Each player takes an Ability Use Count token and places it with the "1" side up.
5. Place the Main dice and Support dice within easy reach of the players. The Character dice and the Support card (Yui) are not used yet, so set them aside separately.

That completes the game setup.

Simple Start-Up

1. Each player chooses 1 character card (Kirito is mandatory) and sets up by referring to "Game Setup".
2. The player of Kirito starts the game. Choose 1 character as a linking partner, and each rolls 3 dice.
3. You may re-roll the dice up to 2 times after discussing. You can also use Abilities to manipulate the results.
4. Once the results are decided, spend them to activate Sword Skills and deal damage to the enemy. After that you receive a counterattack from the enemy, but if you used up all the dice, there is no counterattack (Switch success!). If the enemy's HP reaches 0, the attack succeeds.
5. The linking partner becomes the new turn player and takes a turn. Repeat this, and if you attack the final battle, you clear the game.

Course of the Game

In this game, players attack scenarios in the order Lower Floors → Middle Floors → Upper Floors → Final Battle. Clearing the Final Battle clears the game.

1. Reveal the Scenario

Reveal the "Lower Floors" scenario card of Aincrad created in setup. This is the enemy the players attack first.

If the enemy has multiple stages, you must always attack in order starting from "Stage 1". Use the "Currently Attacking" token to show the stage currently being attacked.

2. Attack

In the first scenario, the turn begins with the player of Kirito. Each player's turn proceeds in the following order. Also refer to the concrete example later.

1) Decide the linking partner

The turn player decides the partner to link with. The turn player and the linking partner roll dice together, and only the turn player and the linking partner can use Abilities. When playing with 2 players, the linking partner is always the one other character.

Important: Restriction on linking. A character in the "Stiffened state" (described later) cannot be chosen as a linking partner. However, if everyone other than Kirito is in the "Stiffened state", the "Stiffened state" of everyone is released.

2) Roll the dice

The turn player rolls Main dice and the linking partner rolls Support dice, in the number specified by the scenario (the dice numbers 3 to 4 shown on the scenario card), aiming to activate the turn player's Sword Skills with those dice.

Re-rolling dice. Dice can be re-rolled up to 2 times. First, all participating players discuss and decide which dice to re-roll; then the turn player re-rolls the Main dice and the linking partner re-rolls the Support dice simultaneously. On the 2nd re-roll, you may not choose dice that you did not re-roll the 1st time. Dice that you decided to re-roll must be re-rolled, and you may not look at the other player's re-rolled dice and then stop.

Using Abilities. The turn player or the linking partner can use an Ability to manipulate dice (including the other player's dice). When used, reduce the Ability Use Count accordingly. As long as the use count allows, you may use an Ability multiple times in one turn.

3) Choose Sword Skills

Once the dice results are decided, the turn player consumes the dice designated by his or her own Sword Skills and activates any kind and any number of Sword Skills he or she likes (however, a Sword Skill with a level restriction can only be activated at that level or higher; it may be activated several times if the dice allow). Place Damage tokens equal to the damage of the activated Sword Skills on the scenario card. Some Sword Skills have effects other than damage. Dice that were not used remain unused.

Important: Switch. If you can use up all the dice you rolled by using Sword Skills, the "Switch" by gorgeous linking succeeds, and you can skip the enemy's "Counterattack" (next).

4) Counterattack

The enemy counterattacks. The character of the turn player takes the damage written for the enemy on the card, and takes Damage tokens to show it. Note that the counterattack occurs even if the enemy's HP is 0 or less.

5) Attack result

If the enemy's HP is 0 or less, remove all of its Damage tokens and advance the "Currently Attacking" token to the next stage.

Note that even if you dealt large damage to the current stage, damage exceeding its HP is not carried over to the next stage. If it was the last stage, that scenario is cleared.

6) End of turn

The player who was the turn player turns the character card to vertical orientation, entering the "Stiffened state" (not necessary if playing 2 players or fewer). A character in the "Stiffened state" cannot be chosen as a linking partner.

The linking partner becomes the next turn player.

Example of a Turn

Scenario "Assault of the PK Guild", Stage 1 (Minions' battle; HP 20, Damage 3, all-target attack).

The turn player is Kirito, who chose Asuna as the linking partner. Kirito rolled 3 Main dice and Asuna rolled 3 Support dice.

Kirito's dice came out 2, 5, 6 and Asuna's dice came out 1, 2, 3. Kirito's Sword Skill needs matching faces, so he kept the Main 2 and Support 2 (the matching pair) and the Main 6, and decided to re-roll his own 5 and Asuna's 1 and 3.

After the re-roll, Kirito's dice were 3, 2, 6 and Asuna's dice were 4, 4, 2. Asuna's dice had matched, so she did not re-roll, and only Kirito re-rolled the 3. The result was a 3 again, and the dice finally were 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 6.

Kirito used these dice to activate Sword Skills. First, with the pairs 2-2 and 4-4, he activated Vertical Arc twice, dealing 4 points x 2 = 8 points of damage. He also used the 6 to activate Rage Spike, dealing 1 point of damage. The total damage is 9, so Damage tokens totaling 9 points (5, 2, 2) are placed on the scenario card to show this.

Unfortunately, the 3 was left over, so the Switch failed and the enemy counterattacks. Because this enemy has the special effect "all-target attack", all characters take the counterattack damage: Kirito and Asuna (and the other characters) each take 3 damage.

That ends Kirito's turn. Kirito enters the Stiffened state, and Asuna, the linking partner, becomes the next turn player.

Important: Stiffened state. After finishing a turn, the player turns the character card to vertical orientation to show the "Stiffened state". A character in the Stiffened state cannot be chosen as a linking partner.

Clearing a Scenario

When a scenario is cleared, perform several steps before beginning the attack on the next scenario.

1. Obtain an Item

The players obtain spoils of battle. The player who took the last turn reveals one card from the Item Deck.

If it is Equipment, choose 1 character. That character can receive the benefit of its effect. Equipment may be handed to another character at the end of each later scenario.

If it is a Consumable, that item is shared and anyone can use it. Once used, the item is lost.

2. Level Up

Through the scenario, the characters level up. What the level up brings differs according to the tier cleared.

When Lower Floors are cleared (Level 50): The maximum HP (and the Ability Use Count according to the number of players) rises, and you can use new Sword Skills. Also, you obtain your own Character die.

When Middle Floors are cleared (Level 80): The maximum HP (and the Ability Use Count according to the number of players) rises, and you can use new Sword Skills. Also, you obtain the Support card "Yui".

Upper Floors: Clearing them brings no change from level up.

Character Dice

From the Middle Floors on, the special dice called Character dice can be used. During your turn, and during linking, you can exchange 1 normal die for your own Character die. There is no restriction on the number of uses, and the die can also be changed back to a normal die when re-rolling. Each face of the Character die has an illustration of the character; treat that face as a result of 1 to 6, as you like.

Asuna's Character die: For example, you can choose either 1 or 2 for this face.

3. Recovery

Remove Damage tokens, and restore the Ability Use Count to its current maximum. The Stiffened state is also released. If you have Bonus tokens (Silica's or Lisbeth's), return them to their owners.

4. On to the Next Scenario

Reveal the scenario of the next tier. The last linking partner becomes the next turn player and begins attacking the new scenario.

End of the Game

The game ends in the following two ways.

Game Over. If any character dies during a scenario attack, the game ends there. The players fail to escape in despair, and the nightmare in the online game world continues.

Game Clear. If you can successfully clear the Final Battle scenario, the players win. The players log out of the online game world and safely return to the real world.

However, the second stage of the Final Battle uses many exceptional rules, so please read the next section, "About the Final Battle", carefully.

About the Final Battle

The second stage of the Final Battle is the final enemy of the game, and the game is played with special rules. The rules are as follows.

• At the start, everyone's stiffened state is released, and Bonus tokens are returned to their owners.
• Kirito is always the turn player.
• Kirito rolls a total of 5 dice: 4 Main dice plus a Character die.
• All activated Sword Skills are treated as one single Sword Skill, and their damage is totaled before applying the enemy's defense.
• If the enemy's HP becomes 0 or less, the game is cleared immediately.
• The Switch cannot be performed.
• Counterattack damage is received by the linking partner (if there is no linking partner, Kirito receives it).
• The game continues even if the linking partner dies.
• Kirito may swap a Main die for the Character die of a character who has died.
• If Kirito is the only one remaining, the turn is played with the 4 Support dice fixed at any faces you like.

Adjusting the Difficulty

If you are not used to the game or find clearing it difficult, try playing so that in every turn and link both players can always use one Ability each.

Conversely, if you are used to the game and find it easy, adding restrictions such as "reduce the number of Ability uses" or "Character dice cannot be used" will make the game more thrilling.

Explanation of Special Effects

Character Cards

Bonus: +2 / x2 (Lisbeth). Choose 1 other character and give them a Bonus token. That character, on their next turn, applies the token's value as a modification to the damage of "all of their Sword Skills". After that, the token is returned to Lisbeth. The "x2" (multiplication) effect is calculated before other modifications (addition/subtraction). Example: a character with a "+2 token" using two Sword Skills, "Damage 3" and "Damage 1", gets +2 on each, so (3+2) + (1+2) = a total of 8 damage.

Bonus: Shield (Silica). Choose 1 other character and give them a Bonus token. That character, the next time they take damage, completely nullifies that damage. After that, the token is returned to Silica.

Bonus: Dice Manipulation (Silica). Choose 1 other character and give them a Bonus token. That character, on their next turn, can change 1 normal die to any face they like. After that, the token is returned to Silica.

Note on Bonus abilities. A Bonus ability takes effect by giving a Bonus token to another character. If that character already has a token given, using the Bonus ability again has no effect even if the character has a Sword Skill with a Bonus ability. A Bonus cannot be given to oneself.

Heal X (Silica). Choose 1 character and remove X points of their damage.

Pierce X (Klein, Lisbeth). If the value of the enemy's "Defense X" (described later) is equal to or less than this ability, it ignores that "Defense". Example 1: If you attack an enemy with "Defense 3" using a "Damage 3" Sword Skill, the damage is 3 - 3 = 0. However, if you attack with a "Damage 3, Pierce 5" skill, it ignores "Defense 3" and deals 3 damage as it is. Example 2: If you attack an enemy with "Defense 8" using a "Damage 6, Pierce 5" Sword Skill, the damage is 0.

Scenario Cards

All-target attack. When a counterattack occurs, all characters take the damage.

Defense X. Reduces the damage the enemy receives by X for each Sword Skill. Example: if you attack an enemy with "Defense 3" using Sword Skills of "Damage 8" and "Damage 3", each damage is reduced by 3, so (8 - 3) + (3 - 3) = a total of 5 damage.

Re-roll -1. Dice that can normally be re-rolled up to 2 times can be re-rolled only 1 time.

No re-rolling. You cannot re-roll dice.

No Ability use. You cannot use Abilities.

No Consumable use. You cannot use Consumables. (You can still obtain the effects of Equipment.)