Grand Tourney is a role-playing worker placement game. The game explores a piece of the Soulshards universe in which each player controls a character who has been invited to participate in a grand battle tournament which will reward the greatest champion with riches and glory. The Grand Tourney is being held in celebration of the anniversary of the end of the Broken Alliance war. Participants will fight within the towering walls of the world-renowned arena located in Enviro, a major city of the Keridwyn Empire.

Characters have two weeks to train, register abilities, recruit allies, obtain superior gear, and fight monsters to grow stronger in preparation for the battle against each other. These action follow the restrictions placed upon the participants by the tourney to ensure an entertaining display for the crowd. Each day, players will have their characters and hired mercenaries each perform actions to enhance their chances of winning.

The gameplay of Grand Tourney has two distinct components, worker placement, utilizing a game board to advance the character’s power, and combat, during which players use their hand of cards and other acquired cards alongside their character’s innate skills and abilities in a sequence of actions to win the fight.

During the game, numerous fights may occur, each time interrupting the flow of the worker placement component. The final stage of every game is the Grand Tourney itself, where players will fight each other to determine the ultimate winner.



GAME COMPONENTS
Each player will use a character board identifying their basic functions during the game and 12-sided dice that are rolled to determine their success or failure. Cards and pawns are used to represent their powers and acquisitions as the game progresses. The back of each card has an icon and color to show what deck or hand it belongs in, and the color will match the color of the location it goes on the game board if it is part of a deck.

During the game, players place their character board in front of them on the table, then gather obtained cards and pawns around their character. There is no requirement for how to place components within the table space, however each card must remain face-up and visible to all players.

Acquired cards make characters stronger. Each card specifies when it is applicable, so it’s up to the players to track and apply the benefits when relevant. Benefits of these cards only apply to the character who acquired them, not to any other character or monster.

Tracking numbers in the game is primarily done with cubes. Each character board and the fight tracker board has cutouts for each track where cubes can be placed. During the game, place cubes over the correct number or effect to track values. If a number exceeds the highest value on the board, use an additional cube in the same track and add the values together.


CHARACTER BOARD BREAKDOWN

1. Grit track: This is used to track the character's current Grit . They start with their maximum Grit as determined by the highest number on the track, and if they run out of Grit, they are defeated in battle.
2. Fame track: This is used for tracking the character's Fame . Fame is earned by fighting and can help characters act first and change their luck.
3. Skills: Each character has 6 Skill Tiers divided between the 3 Skills that affect their chance of success throughout the game.
4. Abilities: Each character has a signature attack and a support effect that they may use through the game.
5. Ailment tracks: If the character suffers Ailments during a fight, the remaining duration is monitored on the Ailment tracks.

SKILLS
Each character has three Skills. Their Tier in the Skill is the number of icons they have of that Skill in the character board’s Skill section. Skills determine how many dice to roll when using actions, how high foes must roll to affect the character with their attacks, and how effectively the character can move cards on the board.

Might: Raw power and strength. Might is most commonly used for attacking with melee weapons and resisting spells that affect physical ability.

Finesse: Speed and evasiveness. Finesse is used for attacking with ranged weapons and avoiding head-on attacks.

Wit: Magic and brilliance. Wit is the Skill needed to cast any spell and is also used to defend against effects that try to outsmart their victim.

The worker placement component of the game utilizes the game board to define character's options for improvement. Gameplay occurs in rounds, where each round represents one day. After 14 days, characters advance to the Grand Tourney to determine the winner of the game.


The game board displays 10 zones, each of which grants cards and effects by placing pawns within it. Cards are stored in designated locations during the game. Cards may not be moved from where they are placed unless an effect specifies to do so. Zones that contain cards have spaces indicated for their deck and discard piles, as well as for cards that become available within the zone. Cards in a deck remain face-down, while available cards and cards in discard should be face-up. When a card is discarded outside of a fight, it goes to the discard of the zone it came from.


TURN ORDER
When effects occur in turn order, whoever has the First Actor card begins the sequence, then each participant takes their turn clockwise around the table. Once all participants have had their turn, gameplay continues. Once a sequence of turns begins, complete that sequence in the order started even if who is first changes.


POSITIONING CARDS
Zone and card effects may allow you to Position cards within the zones. To Position a card, choose either the top card of the zone's deck or a card in the zone and look at it, then place that card into the same zone face-up or discard it.

Zones can only contain as many cards as the spaces shown on the board, 4 in each the Armory and Arena, and 3 in each of the Guild Halls and the Tavern. If the zone is already full when a player would Position a card there, they first choose one card in the zone to discard.


SETUP
Complete these steps in order to start the game:

1. Shuffle each deck individually and place each in the draw location for their zone.
2. Randomly determine the first actor and give them the First Actor card .
3. In turn order, each player chooses one Character board with matching character pawn and places it in front of them. They then take any matching set of player pieces to use during the game. This will be 4 pawn bases, 4 dice, 2 action tokens, and 6 hand cards, all of a single color. Then place the character pawn in a base allowing it to stand.
4. Place cards into each of the open spaces in the Armory and Tavern face-up and Arena face-down from the zone's deck.
5. Place the day counter on day 1 and begin dispatching pawns.

DISPATCHING PAWNS
Each day, in turn order, players determine what effects they will gain during the day by using their pawns. Each player begins with only their character pawn, but can gain mercenary pawns later. On their turn, each player dispatches one of their pawns by placing them into the area of the board for the zone they want to benefit from. Players cannot dispatch pawns while their character pawn is already on the board. Pawns remain on the game board until Recalled, at which time they return to the area of the table in front of the player.

Continue taking turns until all character pawns are dispatched, then continue to the zone effects. Players cannot dispatch to a zone containing another player's pawn if the zone already contains as many pawns as the number of players, excluding the Arena and Inn which do not have a pawn limit.


ZONE EFFECTS
In order of zone number, apply the effects of each zone with a pawn in it, starting with zone 1. As each zone triggers, in turn order, each player in the zone gains the effects for each pawn they have in that zone. The Zones section shows what each zone does.


ENDING THE DAY
After all zone effects are complete, each player in turn order may Recall any number of their pawns. Then the first actor follows these steps in order to end the day:

1. If this ends day 14, end this phase of the game and begin the tourney as shown in the Grand Tourney section.
2. Roll 1 die for each face-up monster in the Arena , excluding escaped monsters. If the roll is 6 or higher, the monster escapes, as described later, interrupting the current gameplay. Increase the number needed to escape by 2 for each pawn in the Arena .
3. If there are any face-down monsters in the Arena , roll 1 die. If the roll is 6 or higher, turn the face-down monster who is in the lowest numbered cage face-up.
4. Discard any card on Shelf 1 in the Armory .
5. If a monster was defeated in the Arena today, discard all cards in the Tavern .
6. For each card in the Armory and Arena , move the card to the lowest numbered open space of the zone, starting with cards in lower numbered positions.
7. Place cards into each open space in the Armory and Tavern face-up and Arena face-down from the zone's deck.
8. Advance the day count by 1 and begin the next day by dispatching pawns.

While Recalling your pawns will often be the right choice, be sure you are aware of these benefits of leaving them in place:

If a monster escapes to the zone your character is in, you get to fight them.

You may prevent another player from dispatching to the zone.

You cannot be locked out of the zone by other players.

MONSTER ESCAPES
When a monster escapes, roll 1 die and move the escaping monster card to that zone number. On 11 or 12, the first actor chooses what zone they go to. Each character in a zone the monster goes to faces it together in a single fight.

If the monster is not defeated, discard all other cards and mercenaries in the zone and if the monster is in the Inn, discard it. Players must discard their card matching any mercenary lost this way. While an escaped monster is in a zone, the zone effect becomes fight the monster and mercenaries do not gain any effect from the zone. Cards cannot be placed into a zone containing an escaped monster except other escaping monsters.

If the monster is defeated, the character who made the last successful attack gains the monster card.


GRAND TOURNEY
After the 14th day ends, players fight each other in the Grand Tourney to determine the winner.

Players randomly determine who will fight each other one versus one so that each player has an opponent. If there is an odd number of players, the unmatched player randomly chooses a Rank 7 monster and fights them. If there are more than two players, after the first fights are completed, each winner fights the other. The winner of the last fight wins the tourney and the game!

Each fight occurs in the Arena on a new day. Each fighter returns to maximum Grit and is joined by their hired mercenaries for each fight.

These are the effects granted by each zone during gameplay.


CITY HALL: ZONE 1
Veined marble columns, archways, buttresses, and domes erase all doubt that this is the seat of the local power. Second in height only to the Colosseum itself, the opulent building is a hive of activity. A line spanning into the street lets you know your day will not be fun.

Effect: Choose any of the following effects a number of times up to Wit Tier and complete the effect. Then, a number of times up to Wit Tier, may pay 1 Fame to choose an additonal effect.

1. Choose any player and they gain the First Actor card.
2. Shuffle 1 discard pile into the deck of the zone it is in.
3. Recall their pawn who is not in City Hall.
4. Dispatch 1 pawn to any zone except City Hall.

QUEST BOARD: ZONE 2
A scribe is frantically placing one parchment after another as quickly as they can among the others, all holding requests for dangerous or difficult tasks. Hopeful adventurers gather and swipe desired quests as fast as the scribe can place new ones.

Effect: Gain Fame equal to their highest Skill Tier.


TRAINER: ZONE 3
You smell the training dojo before you see it, sweat, sword oil, and even blood. You follow the scent to a squat stone building ringed by fenced off sparring rings. A small crowd watches fighters train, like a microcosm of the surrounding tourney.

Mercenary only effect: Reduce the ability requirement for your character by 1 today.

Character only effect: Choose any 1 Skill. If they have a number of abilities from that Skill's Guild Hall at least equal to that Skill Tier, gain 1 Tier in that Skill. Each Skill cannot be trained more than once.


GUILD HALLS: ZONES 4-6
Three stately buildings surround the fountained plaza. Colored banners boast their guild’s specialty: Might, Finesse, or Wit. Within each reside specialist who may be able to register your techniques.

Effect: Position 1 card within that Guild up to a number of times equal to their Skill Tier of the Skill matching that guild.

Character only effect: Obtain 1 ability card from within the zone.


Abilities come in 2 types, Aspects and Spells . Aspects have passive effects that apply any time they are relevant and do not require rolls or actions to use, but every Spell requires rolling Wit during a fight to gain its effect when it is used. As Spells can only be used during a fight, how to gain their effect will be explained in the Fight section. Once an ability is attained, there is no limit to how many times it can be used.

Each Guild Hall contains both types of abilities, but the effects within each are suited to the goals and functions of that guild. This does not always mean you will be better at using an ability from a guild matching a skill you are strong in. The Might guild contains cards that assist with raw power and aggression, the Finesse guild contains cards that assist with a defensive style of combat, and the Wit guild uses strategy and magic.


ARMORY: ZONE 7
Racks line the store filled with all sorts of weapons, armor, and artifacts like a library of violence. Donations from the city are being repaired and prepared for permited use in the arena.

Effect: May Position 1 card in the zone. Then, may pay 1 Fame to Position 1 card in the zone.

Character only effect: May obtain a single value 1 Gear card in the zone or obtain a value 2 or higher Gear card in the zone by discarding their obtained Gear cards with total value at least equal to 1 lower than the value of the Gear to be obtained.


Gear cards represent weapons, armor, and artifacts that you can use during a fight. As Gear can only be used during a battle, how to gain their effect will be shown in the Fight section.


ARENA: ZONE 8
Ever present, the towering circle of the arenhttps://www.facebook.com/notifications/a walls are visible from anywhere in the city. Flags and banners billow proudly in the wind. All hours, day or night, have some degree of cheering from up to 100,000 people that rises over the din of the city. Duels, skirmishes, chariot races, and more all building up to the main event: you.

While a player has any pawn in the zone, they may look at face-down cards in the zone.

Character only effect: May choose any 1 of the monsters in the zone to fight. If the card was face-down, turn it face-up. Use the rules in the Fight section to combat the monster. If the monster is defeated, the character who made the last successful attack gains the monster card. Monster cards grant a passive effect that benefits the character anytime it is applicable.


Monsters each have a Rank of 1 through 6 shown on their card. The higher the Rank, the stronger the monster. Upon your arrival to Enviro, a Rank 1 monster should offer little resistance, while a Rank 3 will be a true challenge. Above that, you will likely need to bring other adventurers to fight with you. In the final days before the tourney, you should feel powerful enough to fight a Rank 6 by yourself, assuming you are healed up and luck does not turn against you.


TAVERN: ZONE 9
Through the window is a scene as old as adventuring. A room filled with worn wooden furniture, a warm hearth, and a crowd enjoying drinks while singing along with a lyrist. Within the inviting atmosphere are patrons wearing scars and armor, all who might assist an aspiring champion for the right price.

Effect: Position 1 card in the Tavern up to a number of times equal to their Might Tier.

Character only effect: Obtain 1 mercenary card from within the zone if they meet the condition listed on the mercenary card. Mercenaries grant you a pawn to dispatch each day but do not gain character only effects and have only Tier 1 of each Skill.


Mercenaries are vital to most adventurers as they grant you additional pawns to place each day. Mercenaries are not nearly as powerful as your character, but can be extremely helpful if managed correctly, and can even help block other players from entering a zone. Be sure to prepare before going to the Tavern as there are no mercenary requirements that can be met right away.


INN: ZONE 10
A comfortable abode set aside for traveling dignitaries, or in this case contestant. Well-furnished and tended by servants, it is a pleasant respite and a great place to gather information.

Effect: A number of times up to Wit Tier, may Position 1 card in any zone.

Character only effect: Return to their maximum Grit .

Fights pit characters against monsters and each other. Players not in the fight cannot affect any part of the fight. As monsters cannot roll dice for themselves, anyone may roll dice for the monster when needed. A fight continues until either side is defeated by all participants on that side having less than 1 remaining Grit .


ROLLING DICE
Most actions and effects within the game require rolling 12-sided dice. Skills and rules define how many dice to roll when needed. Some effects may grant bonuses on specific rolls. When this happens, treat the number rolled on each die as increased by the amount of the bonus. For example, if a roll has +1 and the dice show 11, 7, and 3, the resulting roll is 12, 8, and 4. Similarly, when afflicted with a penalty, each die is treated as that much lower. Some effects allow dice to be rerolled. Once a die has been rerolled, it cannot be rerolled again in any way.

When a character or monster rolls, they roll a number of dice equal to their Tier in the used Skill. The effect will specify if only the highest number rolled matters or if each of the dice has an effect. Never add the values of individual dice together. The game also has rules for determining monster escapes and actions. These have you roll only a single die and are rolled by the player, not a character or monster, so are not affected by any cards.

After any roll, characters with Fame may choose to manipulate the dice before the results are determined. Each character, beginning with the one in turn order after the roller, takes turns deciding if they will expend 2 of their Fame to cause a single die of their choice from the roll to be rerolled. Characters continue in turn order until all characters in sequence choose not to expend Fame or until all the dice have been rerolled.


HOW TO FIGHT
Fights are completed by each participant using actions over the course of numerous rounds. To win the fight, participants must deal damage by attacking to defeat their foe. Attacks are each represented by an ability of the participant or cards that have been obtained from the game board. There are 3 types of attacks; base attacks , spells , and gear . The attack type determines what other effects can apply to them. Each attack indicates on the card what Skill to roll for using it and which defense must be beat for it to take effect.


A fighter’s defense is equal to 3 + double their Skill Tier. The attacker must roll that number or higher, otherwise the attack does not affect the target. Some attacks also include a benefit that only applies to the attacker, and that part always takes place even if the attack fails.

An attack's damage may be increased or decreased by effects. All rolls made to attack grant Accuracy to effects that deal damage. Accuracy increases the attack's damage by 1 for each 8 or higher rolled. When an effect reduces the difficulty of Accuracy, instead of needing a 8, the number is reduced by that amount. Similarly, if the difficulty is increased, the number needed is that much higher.

If the victim of an attack has any applicable Block, reduce damage by the amount of the Block. If they have multiple effects of Block, each of them applies. Damage cannot be reduced below 0. The amount of damage that is not Blocked becomes Injury. Injury reduces the victim's remaining Grit by that amount.

There are also many Spells and Gear that can be used for support effects. When using a Spell that does not attack, roll Wit. If you do not attain 6 or higher, the Spell has no effect. Gear cards that do not attack do not require any roll, they simply grant their effect.


ONGOING EFFECTS
Spells that do not attack create ongoing effects. Each Spell will specify if the effect is for 1 round or not show a duration. If the duration is not shown, the Spell remains ongoing for the entire fight. Other effects may specify they have a duration of 1 round. All such effects count as ongoing effects.


AILMENTS
Ailments cause a penalty to fighters. When causing an Ailment, it is added to any amount already afflicting the victim. Ailments can be fully removed as a single ongoing effect. When removing an Ailment from yourself or an ally, that effect works even if other parts of the action require an attack. While Ailments afflict a fighter, they suffer the listed effect:

Burn: Suffer 1 Injury at the beginning of each round.
Dazzle: Suffer -1 on rolls.
Slow: Suffer -6 Priority.
Weak: Deal -1 damage.


STARTING THE FIGHT
Before beginning the fight, each player with their character in the same zone, in turn order, may choose to join the fight.

As a character enters a fight, if they have more than 1 Worn , Gear, they must choose only 1 that will apply during the fight, while all others will have no effect. Worn Gear automatically provides protection against each attack.

During a fight, each player uses a hand of cards. Players begin each fight with 2 Base Attack, 1 Lure, 1 Balance, and 1 Focus as well as all cards that have a Priority they have obtained in hand. These cards are the actions used during the fight. Players may look at all cards in their own hand, but should keep them concealed from other players during the fight. How these cards are used will be explained in the Rounds and Actions section.


If there is a monster in the fight, choose one person to run the monster, ideally one who does not have their character participating in the fight. They use the bestiary booklet and follow the steps for running a monster in the Monster section.

As the fight begins and each time after Fame changes, the participant with the highest Fame gains the Priority token. Monsters have Fame equal to their Rank. If winning participants are tied, those participants each roll Finesse . The highest roll gains the Priority token, comparing second highest and lower dice if higher values match, rerolling if needed on a tie. During the fight, the participant with the Priority token acts first in turn order.


ACTIONS
Each round of a fight consists of participants completing actions. Players determine their actions by playing cards from their hand. Each action has a Priority value to determine the order these actions are completed, with higher numbers occuring earlier during the round.

Each round, each player chooses their actions by placing up to two cards from their hand face-down in front of them in reverse turn order. After all cards are placed, each player turns their cards face-up in reverse turn order. As a player reveals their cards, if they chose Base Attack, they declare if they are using their attack or taking the Priority token. If taking the token, they take it immediately, and for each other action, they place an action token on the Priority track at the actions Priority.

After players have made their selections while fighting against a monster, the monster chooses its action by following the directions shown in the Monster section.

All actions occur in order of Priority. If multiple actions have the same Priority, those actions occur in turn order. If an action used by a character deals damage, the character has -2 on the roll if they have already used an action that round that deals damage. While there are tokens on the tracker, remove the highest number token and complete that action, then continue to the next action.

As actions are removed from the track, if the effect is ongoing, place the card face-up on the table near your character. Otherwise, put it in a discard pile for your character.

When the track becomes empty, reduce the duration of all ongoing effects and Ailments by 1, discarding cards that have their effect end, complete the effect of any Focus card played, and begin the next round.


ENDING THE FIGHT
If a character is ever at 0 remaining Grit , they are Recalled and removed from the fight. If all characters are defeated by a monster, the monster fully heals and can be fought again later. When the fight ends, all ongoing effects and Ailments also end.

RUNNING A MONSTER
When running a monster, make all rolls for them allowing the dice to make all the monster's decisions. Whoever runs the monster can see all of the details of the monster on their combat card, but should keep the card concealed from other players. The player does not implement benefits from their own character to the monster. As the monster uses actions and effects, share all details about the action with the combatants. As the monster's remaining Grit changes, use a slider on the monster card to show its remaining Grit. Track any Ailments they suffer on the fight tracker card.

Each monster has passive effects which benefit them during combat. Their first effect is always marked as Breakable. If a character successfully uses Lure against the monster, ignore the Breakable effect for the rest of the round and read the effect to the players.



To choose a monster's action, randomly choose the action by rolling 1 die. They will use the action on their card that contains the number rolled in its square brackets []. Place the die rolled on the fight tracker card to easily remember what action is being used.

HEALING & IMMUNITY
Some monsters have effects that heal them. When an effect applies healing, increase the monster’s remaining Grit by that amount, but never to exceed their maximum Grit.

Some monsters have Immunity to certain Ailments preventing them from gaining the Ailment for any reason.


CHARACTERS FIGHT TOGETHER
When multiple characters face a monster together, the monster is seated counter-clockwise of the player with the First Actor card.

Character's attacks always target only the monster, not each other. When using a Spell that does not attack, characters may grant the effect to another character in the fight instead of themself. If a character in possession of the Priority token is defeated, check who gains the token as if the fight just started.

The fight does not end after the monster would be defeated. Instead, the monster fully heals and all Ailments afflicting it are removed. The monster must run out of Grit once for each character that entered the fight to truly be defeated.

Each monster has two conditions used to determine who they attack when using an attack against a single character unless a character already determined who is attacked by using Balance. At the beggining of the fight, the first condition becomes their active condition.

When attacking a single character, they check thier active condition and attack the character who meets the critera of that condition. If more than one or no character meets the condition, the monster checks their other condition. After a condition is checked, the other condition becomes active.

If a character is not chosen by either condition, the character is chosen at random. If multiple characters met the first condition checked, only those characters may be chosen by the second condition or randomly.

If you are seeking another way to enter the arena, try these optional modes of preparing for the fight!

DRAFT
Skip the adventure and dive right into battle by quickly drafting your cards. In this mode, you do not use the game board. Instead, purchase cards with your Fame. Each player begins with 18 Fame. Shuffle each deck individually and place them on the table, then randomly decide which player will be first in turn order.

Drafting occurs in rounds. Each round, players either select Skill Tier increase or select any deck in turn order. After 12 rounds, move to the Grand Tourney as during normal game play.

If you select Skill Tier increase, choose a Skill and pay Fame equal to your current Tier. Then gain 1 Tier in that Skill.

If you select a deck, look at the top 3 cards from the deck. You may obtain 1 of the cards by paying the following costs. Mercenary and Ability cards cost 1 Fame. Monster cards cost Fame equal to their Rank. Gear cards cost Fame equal to their value. Place each card you do not obtain on the bottom of its deck in any order.


THE GAUNTLET
In the gauntlet, any number of players work together to defeat each monster in the Arena. Begin this mode by obtaining cards as you do in draft, except begin with only 6 Fame and stop after 1 round. After obtaining cards, do not continue to the Grand Tourney. Instead, enter the Arena.

When you enter the Arena, select any Rank 1 monster. All players fight that monster using the normal rules for fighting in the Arena. If the monster is defeated, each player with Grit remaining receives Fame equal to the monster's Rank and the party decides who receives the monster card.

After the fight, players complete 1 additional round of drafting. Instead of the normal draft options, players may choose to give a gear or mercenary card they have to another character. Each player may once also spend any amount of Fame on their turn to heal an amount equal to the Fame spent to any character.

After the draft, select another Rank 1 monster and Fight them. Repeat this until all Rank 1 monsters are defeated. After all monsters of a Rank are defeated, continue fighting monsters of the next Rank up until all monsters are defeated.

As Rank 7 monsters do not have targeting conditions, when facing them, the monster gains the targeting conditions "1) Most remaining Grit. 2) Lowest Priority action this round." Also, their actions that attack on numbers 6-12 affect all characters.

To determine where the monster is seated, each player rolls 1 die as a new fight starts. The monster is clockwise of the player with the lowest roll, rerolling if there is a tie.

If all characters are ever defeated in battle, the gauntlet ends and the players lose. If all monsters are defeated, the players win.


COOPERATIVE
Play through the worker placement component of the game as normal. When you reach the Grand Tourney, instead of facing each other, all players work together to face a Rank 7 monster, chosen randomly. If any character survives the fight, all players win the game.

To determine where the monster is seated, each player rolls 1 die. The monster is clockwise of the player with the lowest roll, rerolling if there is a tie.