Conquest Tokens
Main game concept, Journeys in the Dark
I - Rules
(see JITD, p. 3, 11, 13)
The heroes gain and lose conquest tokens as they make their way through the dungeon. As long as they still have at least one conquest token, the game continues. If the heroes ever run out of conquest tokens, the game immediately ends and the overlord wins. Conquest tokens are gained and lost for the following reasons.
| Tokens Gained or Lost | |
|---|---|
+3 |
Activating a glyph |
+2 to +4 |
Opening a chest |
-1 to -4 |
Hero killed (can be more with Curse) |
-3 |
Overlord draws the last card of the overlord deck |
Varies |
Triggering encounters |
Varies |
Killing named monsters |
Normally, if the heroes complete a specific task (such as killing a certain monster) before running out of conquest tokens, they win the game. Players can also replay quests and try to finish with more conquest tokens for a more impressive win.
II - Tactic
a) Overlord's Tactic
Kill the heroes! It is the fastest way to reduce the number of conquest tokens they have and achieve victory. Concentrate the attacks of your monsters on the weakest character. Generally, it is must easier to take down a weak hero with a conquest value of 2 twice than killing a tank hero with a conquest value of 4 once.
Slow down the heroes as much as you can. Time is on your side as reshuffling the overlord deck makes them lose 3 conquest tokens.
Place monsters on chests and unactivated glyphs of transportation (it is not legal to do so on activated glyphs). Try to make it as hard as possible for them to get new conquest tokens.
Beware of Runewitch Astarra and her special ability if she is part of the heroes' party.
b) Heroes' Tactic
Stay alive! Unless you have plenty of conquest tokens to spare, go back to town whenever you are about to die, buy and drink healing potions.
Move swiftly! Time in on the overlord's side as reshuffling the overlord deck makes you lose 3 conquest tokens. Don't waste time killing every single monsters.
Use a runner! When selecting heroes, choose one character with high speed and fatigue to run for chests and glyphs when a new area is revealed. It will often save you from losing the game. Use the runner to move past monsters, activate glyphs and quickly disappear back to town if the danger is to great.