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Shadows of Brimstone: Swamps of Death

1-4 players 90-180 min 8.0 Board Game Geek Rating

In this cooperative Old West horror game, players embody classic archetypes like gunslingers and lawmen, exploring demon-infested mines using tactical combat and card-driven mechanics. Heroes battle monsters, collect loot, and discover portals to alien worlds. Between adventures, characters visit towns to spend earnings and level up through skill trees, creating personalized development paths for ongoing campaigns.

Published 2014

Shadows of Brimstone: Swamps of Death

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Prepare Encounter Deck
Shuffle all Jargono Encounter cards into the Swamps of Jargono Encounter deck
2
Note Card Types
Identify card categories by their tags: Environment, Active, Attack, Swarm, Climate, Flood, Plant, Disease, Night, or Explore
3
Understand Remains in Play Cards
Some cards marked "Remains in Play" stay active throughout the Mission once drawn
4
Prepare Required Components
Ensure availability of Maggot Markers, Poison Markers, Daze Markers, Dark Stone shards, Jargono Tokens (Frog Saliva, Cerithian Mucus, Malam Moss, Yage, Bromeliad Leaves, Swamp Fern Nut, Fungus), and Threat cards

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Resolve Encounter Tests
When drawing an Encounter card, make the required Skill Test (Agility, Cunning, Luck, Lore, Spirit, or Strength) against the target number shown
2
Calculate Success Results
Gain XP as specified on the card for successful tests, sometimes per die that rolls the target number or higher
3
Apply Failure Consequences
Take Hits, Wounds, Damage, Horror Hits, Daze Markers, Poison Markers, or Maggot Markers as indicated when failing tests
4
Handle Environment Effects
Cards like Tropic Thunder, Tropical Rain, Here Comes the Flood, and Starry Night modify gameplay rules while active
5
Process Active Attacks
Creatures like Black Scorpion, Bott Flies, Yellow Centipede, and Snap Trap require immediate tests to avoid damage
6
Manage Disease Effects
Malaria Attack can give permanent Swamp disease requiring specific Jargono Tokens brought to the Doc for potential cure
7
Collect Loot at Canopy Village
Roll D6 for rewards ranging from Gold to Dark Stone to Jargono Gear or Artifact cards
8
Gather Animals/Plants
Roll appropriate Skill tests 6+ to collect Jargono Tokens for purchase prices ($35-$100)
9
Handle Fall in the Swamp
Take (2D6 - Luck) Hits, then roll for Injuries based on wounds received

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Survive Encounters
Successfully pass Skill Tests to gain XP and avoid taking damage, wounds, or negative status effects
2
Complete Mission Objectives
Progress through encounters while managing Health, Sanity, and Grit resources
3
Avoid Death Condition
Rolling the same Injury twice on the Injury Chart results in Hero death, though resurrection at Church in Town may be possible
4
Gain Mission Bonuses
Successfully completing certain encounters like Above the Canopy grants extra Grit for future Missions like "Temple of Dread"

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

SHADOWS OF BRIMSTONE - Ich baue die Minis zusammen - Folge 2

SHADOWS OF BRIMSTONE - Ich baue die Minis zusammen - Folge 2

Instructional

SHADOWS OF BRIMSTONE - Erster Eindruck powered by Gamer's HQ

SHADOWS OF BRIMSTONE - Erster Eindruck powered by Gamer's HQ

Unboxing

MORE VIDEOS

FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

PDF RULEBOOK

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