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Cthulhu Wars | Game the Game

Geek & Sundry・88 minutes read

Players strategically control factions, summon monsters, perform rituals, and use spell books to gain power and points in a game of Cthulhu Wars hosted by Becca Scott with guests Joseph Limbaugh, Mark Meer, and Margaret Dost. The game involves strategic movements, battles, capturing cultists, and utilizing unique abilities and spell books to outwit opponents and accumulate points towards victory.

Insights

Players strategically control factions, summon creatures, and activate special abilities to gain power and control different areas on the board.
The game revolves around resource management, tactical positioning, and utilizing unique powers and spell books to enhance gameplay, culminating in strategic battles, desecrations, and capturing cultists to accumulate points and Elder Signs.

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Recent questions

What is Cthulhu Wars?
A board game involving strategic gameplay with factions.
How do players gain power in Cthulhu Wars?
By collecting power based on cultists and controlled gates.
What are some key strategies in Cthulhu Wars?
Desecrating areas, controlling gates, and summoning creatures.
What is the significance of the Ritual of Annihilation in Cthulhu Wars?
It allows players to gain power and elder signs at a cost.
How does combat work in Cthulhu Wars?
Players roll dice to determine outcomes during battles.

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Summary

00:00

"Game the Game: Cthulhu Wars with Guests"

Becca Scott hosts Game the Game, playing Cthulhu Wars with guests Joseph Limbaugh, Mark Meer, and Margaret Dost.
Each player controls a faction, with Margaret controlling the Black Goat faction.
Players start with eight power, six cultists, and one gate.
Turns progress clockwise, with Great Cthulhu starting due to the game's theme.
Players move cultists to different areas, spending power for each movement.
Mark summons a monster, the Hunting Horror, to protect his gate.
Margaret builds a gate in East Africa and summons the King in Yellow.
Joseph moves to North Asia and summons a fungi creature.
Becca gives Mark three doom points, allowing her to bring in a spell book.
Margaret brings in the spell book "Screaming Dead," enabling strategic movement of the King in Yellow.

15:31

"Power, Cultists, and Conflict in Arabia"

The Yellow King is a powerful Old One that can capture cultists.
Building in Arabia is risky due to an acolyte with combat value there.
Players are focused on building and avoiding conflict.
Gathering power involves collecting power based on cultists and controlled gates.
Each player has 10 power, six acolytes, and two gates.
The first player is determined by the one with the most power or the previous first player's choice.
The Doom phase involves receiving spell books and elder signs.
The Ritual of Annihilation allows players to gain doom points and elder signs at a cost.
Special abilities like Dreams and Devolve are used strategically.
Actions in the second round involve summoning creatures and awakening Great Old Ones.

30:36

"Deep Ones, Power, and Cthulhu's Influence"

In a town where interbreeding with the deep ones has led to a recessive gene, individuals can transform into deep ones as they age.
The author lacked scientific knowledge regarding recessive genes.
Players can use power at the end of their turn or after any player's action.
A player decides to summon a star spawn of Cthulhu to strengthen a character.
A move is made to place a polyp in West Africa, costing two power.
Great Cthulhu summons a shoggoth to protect a gate in the South Atlantic, using up remaining power.
A player captures an enemy cultist in West Africa using a monster, spending one power.
The player moves their cultist to the gate in West Africa and summons a flying polyp in North Asia, using two more power.
Power is gathered based on cultists and controlled gates, with one player gaining 12 power.
The ritual of annihilation is performed by one player, spending four doom and moving the ritual marker up to six.

46:11

"Arctic Ocean Desecration: Summoning Spells and Zombies"

Moving up into the Arctic Ocean to desecrate with the fiery sea icon, allowing the use of a spell book.
Introducing the spell book "He Who Is Not To Be Named" for an additional action in an area with a cultist.
Desecrating an area successfully by rolling a four or less, leading to the desecration of a specific location.
Summoning a zombie in North America using the "Screaming Dead" ability.
Desecrating another area successfully, gaining an elder sign and introducing the spell book "Zyngaya" for a specific action.
Gathering power phase, calculating power based on cultists, gates, and desecration tokens.
Performing a ritual of annihilation for power and elder signs, with varying costs for different players.
Summoning the great old one Nair Lathotep by paying 10 power and placing it at a controlled gate.
Moving the Shoggoth and a cultist together for a potential attack in a strategic move.
Various movements and actions by different players, including desecrations, summonings, and strategic positioning of units.

01:01:39

Strategic board game with cultists and creatures.

The game involves players making strategic moves with their characters and cultists.
Players can capture cultists, gain power, and activate spell books for special abilities.
Combat involves rolling dice to determine outcomes.
Players can summon creatures like Deep Ones and Star Spawn to aid them.
Desecrating areas and controlling gates are key strategies for gaining power.
Each player has unique abilities and spell books that impact gameplay.
Moving characters and cultists strategically across the board is crucial.
The game involves a gather power phase where players collect power points.
Rituals of annihilation can be performed for additional power and benefits.
The game involves a mix of strategy, resource management, and tactical decision-making.

01:17:41

Strategic battles and cultist control in game

Joseph plans to upgrade by buying a hotel and houses in one turn, placing a gate in Australia.
A battle ensues between players, with dice rolls determining outcomes.
Specific powers and abilities are utilized during battles, such as absorbing units and exempting them from battle.
Players strategically move their units across different areas, initiating battles and capturing cultists.
The use of spell books and elder signs to gain points and activate special abilities is crucial.
Players strategically position their units to gain advantages in battles and control different areas.
Desecration of areas and capturing cultists are key actions taken by players to gain control.
The strategic placement of units and the use of powers to manipulate battles and outcomes.
The gradual buildup of units and the strategic movement of players across different areas.
The game progresses with players taking turns to strategically position and utilize their units and powers.

01:34:01

Cthulhu's Final Move: Ritual of Annihilation

Cthulhu makes the final move of the round, with the final Deep One appearing.
Players calculate their points during the Gather Power phase, with one player having 15 points and another having 16.
The first player is determined based on points, with the player with 16 points becoming the first player.
Players engage in a ritual of annihilation, with one player gaining 8 points and an Elder Sign.
Another player completes the ritual of annihilation, gaining 4 points and an Elder Sign.
The game concludes with one player winning with a final score of 36 points, while other players also tally their scores for fun.

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