The Da Vinci Code Board Game: The Quest for the Truth

The Da Vinci Code Board Game: The Quest for the Truth Rulebook

Table of Contents

Components
First-Time Players
Cards
Decoding Tools
Answer Sheet
Game Board
Game Set-Up
Playing the Game
Clue Card Hints
Winning
Mystery Game Card Placement
Mystery Phrase Solutions and Mystery Questions
Answers to Mystery Questions

Components

200 cards (numbered 0 to 199)
Game Board
Cryptex Decoder with 10 letter strips
Sidebar Decoder
Mirror Decoder
Pad of answer sheets
6-sided die
30-second timer
6 pyramid play pieces in assorted colors
Instructions
Instructional Guide DVD

First-Time Players

If this is the first time you have played this game, you might want to view the Sample Mystery Instructional Guide DVD. The DVD opens with the official movie trailer and a short introduction on how the game is played. You will then see a Menu Screen with four titles: Components, Game Board, Game Set-up and Play and Sample Mystery Game. The DVD uses the Sample Mystery, with Clue cards 40 to 49, to explain how the game is played. It will serve as a training guide, giving you helpful hints that will make the game easier to play.

Cards

There are five different types of cards: Taxi cards, Depository cards, Code-breaking cards, Art cards, and Clue cards.

Taxi Cards (numbered 0 to 5)

There are 6 Taxi cards that may be used when speed is of the essence. If you have a Taxi card, you may save it and use it on any future turn. You may then move to a game board space of your choice. A Taxi card is used in lieu of a die roll.

Taxi cards have four different symbols on the backs. These symbols correspond to a different landmark location on the game board and are where the Clue cards should be placed to set up the game. (The printed text says "Clue cards" in this sentence; this is as printed.)

Depository Cards (numbered 6 to 11)

There are 6 Depository cards that may give you a peek at an opponent's answer sheet. After getting a card, you may play it on any future turn.

When playing a Depository card, select one opponent, and then roll the die.

If you roll any one of the numbers found in that opponent's Depository Code, you may look at the opponent's notes. You may NOT look at the player's 20-space Mystery Phrase area. (Folding down the top of the answer sheet should cover this area.) Your turn then ends.

If the number doesn't match one of the Depository Code numbers, you may NOT look at the opponent's answer sheet, and your turn ends.

Depository cards have four different symbols on the backs. These symbols correspond to a different landmark location on the game board and are where the Clue cards should be placed to set up the game. (As printed: the sentence says "Clue cards".)

Always remember to return used Taxi cards and Depository cards to the bottom of the appropriate piles.

Code-Breaking Cards (numbered 12 to 19)

There are 8 Code-breaking cards. These cards have a key symbol on the backs and are found in the Louvre Library. Each time you land there, you are given 30 seconds to flip through these cards, searching for vital information that will help you decipher clues you have collected.

Art Cards (numbered 20 to 39)

There are 20 Art cards. These cards have a chalice symbol (a triangle) on the backs and are located in the Louvre Gallery. Each time you visit the Gallery, you will have 30 seconds to flip through the Art cards, searching for the one needed to unravel the clues you have collected.

Clue Cards (numbered 40 to 199)

There are 160 Clue cards, made up of 16 sets of 10 cards each, including one Sample Mystery set. Clue cards contain valuable information needed to solve the Mystery Phrase and answer the final five Mystery Questions. Each 10-card set corresponds to a different mystery that you will be called upon to solve. Cards 40 to 49 offer a Sample Mystery for first time players. Ther notes and instructions on each card. (Printed as "Ther" in the source.) This mystery is explained on the Sample Mystery Instructional Guide DVD.

The remaining mysteries use card sets numbered 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, 80 to 89, and all the way up to 190 to 199.

Each 10-card set of Clue cards has four different symbols on the backs. These symbols correspond to a different landmark location on the game board and are where the Clue cards should be placed to set up the game.

The majority of Clue cards have numbers along the top of the card. These numbers represent spaces on the 20-space Mystery Phrase at the top of the answer sheet. When you have solved the clue found on the Clue card, you will have the letters (or blank spaces) that go on your answer sheet. At the bottom of the Clue card, and on the back, is the number of the Clue card. You may want to jot down, on the notes section of your answer sheet, which Clue cards you have seen so you don't pick them up again while traveling around the game board.

Decoding Tools

There are three additional tools that will assist you in deciphering clues.

Cryptex Decoder

To use the Cryptex Decoder, first solve for your keyword. Place the Clue card on the Cryptex Decoder and align the card symbol with the Alignment Marker. Spell out your keyword with the Cryptex Strips. For example, the keyword used above is "D-E-G-A-S." When the Cryptex Strips are placed over the Clue card, your new word and solution will be revealed. The solution above is revealed as "I-S-A-A-C."

To use the Sidebar Decoder, first solve for your keyword. Align your Clue card with the Sidebar Decoder, matching the colored arrows. The keyword in this example is the word "D-R-Y." When transposed on the Sidebar Decoder, the answer and your solution is the word "W-E-T."

Mirror Decoder

You may find Clue cards where the clue is written backwards. You will need to use the Mirror to decipher these types of Clue cards.

Answer Sheet

During the game you will write notes and keep track of clues on an answer sheet. Along the top of the answer sheet are 20 spaces, each corresponding to a number 1 through 20. This is the Mystery Phrase you will try to identify, letter by letter.

Since the Mystery Phrase is not likely to be one 20-letter word, you will also need to find blank spaces used to separate individual words.

Along the right side of the answer sheet are spaces for the 5 Mystery Questions you will have to answer. For each correct answer to the Mystery Phrase and Mystery Questions, you will win points which are written down on the answer sheet. You will subtotal your score and subtract points for cards still held in your hand at the end of the game.

At the bottom of the answer sheet is a Depository Code that must be filled in before you can start the game. Pick three different numbers from 1 to 6. Write one number in each of the three blank spaces. REMEMBER: Each number must be different. The Depository Code works with the Depository cards as discussed on page 3.

The answer sheet layout is as follows:

Your Mystery Phrase answer goes in the spaces numbered 1-20. Your Mystery Phrase score goes in the "Score from Part One" column.
The answers to your 5 Mystery Questions go in the spaces labeled Q1 to Q5. Your Mystery Question scores go in the column beside them.
Sub Total: your score so far.
Minus for Cards Held: deduct points for cards held here.
Final Score: your grand total.
Depository Code: your 3-digit Depository Code goes here.
The Notes space (a large open area) is for general note taking.

Game Board

On each corner of the game board you will find a world landmark:

L'Église de Saint-Sulpice
Temple Church
Westminster Abbey
Rosslyn Chapel

You'll notice that each landmark is associated with a special symbol. These symbols are found on the game board in front of each landmark, as well as on the backs of the Clue, Taxi, and Depository cards. Use the symbols as a guide to placing cards on the landmark locations. The symbols also represent the entrances to each of these landmarks. Each landmark has three entrance spaces to select a corresponding card.

In the center of the game board you will find the Louvre. There are two sections to the Louvre, the Louvre Library and the Louvre Gallery. The Louvre Library is represented with a key symbol on the board and on the corresponding Code-breaking cards. The Louvre Gallery is represented with the chalice (triangle) symbol on the board and on the corresponding Art cards.

If you land on any of the three entrance spaces to either the Library or the Gallery, you may look through all the cards placed in that specific location. Thus, you may only look at the Code-breaking cards in the Library and only the Art cards in the Gallery. You are allowed 30 seconds to study the cards.

START spaces are located at the Louvre. There are six total START spaces: three at the Library and three at the Gallery.

METRO spaces are located on the Game Board marked with an M. Metro spaces may be used to move around the game board more quickly. You need not land on an M space by exact count. If you land on a Metro space, you may immediately move your playing piece to any other Metro space on the board. For example, if you roll a 6, you could land on an M space 4 spaces away, jump to a new M space and then complete your turn by moving 2 additional spaces.

Game Set-Up

Place the game board and the decoding tools (Cryptex Decoder with letter strips, Sidebar Decoder and Mirror) within easy reach of all players.

Take an answer sheet from the pad and be sure to have a pen or pencil. To work "undercover," fold down the top of the answer sheet to keep the Mystery Phrase area secure, hiding it from prying eyes. At the bottom of the answer sheet is the Depository Code that must be filled in before you can start the game. The Depository Code works with the Depository cards as explained earlier.

Select one of the 15 mysteries to play. Each of the 15 mysteries has a set of 10 cards. For example, Mystery One corresponds to card set 50 to 59. See page 13 for a listing of where cards should be placed for each mystery.

Each player selects a pyramid play piece and places it on one of the six START spaces located next to the Louvre. There are three spaces at the Louvre Library and three spaces at the Louvre Gallery. You may start on any one of these spaces.

The oldest and wisest player will start the game.

Separate the cards and place them on their appropriate game board spaces.

First, Clue cards for your selected mystery should be separated by symbol and placed in four piles.

Next, the number of Taxi cards used in the game will depend on the number of players. With 2 to 4 players or teams, use 4 Taxi cards. One card is placed on each of the four piles. Set the extra two Taxi cards aside. If there are 5 to 6 players or teams, all 6 Taxi cards are divided into four piles by symbol. Two piles will have one more Taxi card than the others.

Then, the number of Depository cards used in the game will depend on the number of players. With 2 to 4 players or teams, use 4 Depository cards. One card is placed on each of the four piles. Set the extra two Depository cards aside. If there are 5 to 6 players or teams, all 6 cards are divided into four piles by symbol. Two piles will have one more Depository card than the others.

Finally, shuffle the Clue, Taxi, and Depository cards in each pile and then place each pile, face down, on each of the four landmarks indicated on the game board corners. Each landmark will have a different symbol that matches the cards.

Shuffle the Code-breaking cards and place them, face down, in the Louvre Library. Shuffle the Art cards and place them, face down, in the Louvre Gallery.

REMEMBER! All cards in a pile must have matching symbols. For example, all Code-breaking cards must have a matching key symbol. Once all the cards are in place, it is time to start the fun!

The symbol strip printed in the rulebook shows the six landmark/location symbols, in order from left to right: a quatrefoil (Westminster Abbey), a rose with a star (Rosslyn Chapel), a cross (Temple Church), a fleur-de-lis (L'Église de Saint-Sulpice), a key (Louvre Library), and a triangle (Louvre Gallery).

Playing the Game

In turn, you will roll the die and move the corresponding number of spaces. You may move in either direction, but in only one direction per turn. Your goal is to visit landmarks and read as many Clue cards as you can. You may only take the top card from any pile on each of the four sections of the game board. Whenever you take a Clue card, you may take notes from it until your next turn or until an opponent arrives at the same location, at which time you must then immediately return the card you are holding to the bottom of its pile. Keep cards in the correct pile, making sure that all the cards in a pile have the same symbol.

Clue Card Hints

Keep an eye out for Clue cards that have numbers at the top. These numbers refer back to the Mystery Phrase spaces on your answer sheet.

Some Clue cards will ask you to use the Mirror Decoder to read a clue.

Other Clue cards will request that you use the Sidebar Decoder. To see how this decoder works, turn to page 6.

A few fun Clue cards may ask you to use the Cryptex Decoder. For mastering this simple but effective device, turn to page 5.

There are some Clue cards that will ask you to decode a word or message. Remember, to crack a code, check out the Code-breaking cards at the Louvre Library.

There are also Clue cards that will refer to a painting. For art-reference information, go to the Louvre Gallery and review the Art cards.

Winning

Once you have solved the Mystery Phrase AND feel you have collected enough information to answer the Mystery Questions, you will need to race back to one of the six Louvre (START) spaces. There you will announce that you are going to solve the Mystery Phrase. If you solve it correctly, the game ends, and everyone tallies their scores for this part of the game. Mystery Phrase solutions are found starting on page 19 of this booklet. All players score 1 point for every correct letter and blank space they have completed. The maximum number of points is 20. The player who solves the complete Mystery Phrase first receives an additional 5 points, for a total of 25 points.

It is now time to see how many clues you've found during the game. The player who solved the Mystery Phrase reads the five Mystery Questions for the that [sic: "for the that game"] game to all players. The Mystery Questions start on page 19 of this booklet. All the answers to these questions were given on the cards you read during the game. So, check your notes, and jog your memory, to come up with the answers. Write your answers on the spaces provided on the answer sheet. Check your answers, starting on page 27.

You score 5 points for each correct answer, and an additional 5 points for correctly answering all five.

Now total your scores for the Mystery Phrase and the five Mystery Questions. Subtract 5 points for each Taxi card or Depository card that is still in your possession. The player with the highest number of points wins the game.