Official The Witcher: Old World Rules

Last Updated on February 20, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

The Witcher: Old World is a competitive adventure board game set centuries before the events of the video game trilogy. Players take on the roles of witchers from different schools, exploring a vast continent, battling monsters, learning new skills, and making crucial decisions. Through deck-building, card combos, and strategic movement, you’ll strive to become the most renowned witcher in the Old World. It’s a rich, thematic experience that captures the essence of the Witcher universe.

Objective

The primary objective of The Witcher: Old World is to gain the most victory points by the end of the game. Points can be earned by completing quests, defeating monsters, and achieving personal objectives.

Setup

1. Game Components:
   • Game Board: A map of the Witcher world divided into regions with various locations.
   • Character Sheets: Each player has a character sheet representing their monster hunter, including stats, abilities, and inventory.
   • Quest Cards: Cards that represent various quests and adventures players can undertake.
   • Monster Cards: Cards representing monsters that players can encounter and fight.
   • Item Cards: Cards representing weapons, potions, and other items.
   • Event Cards: Cards that introduce random events and challenges into the game.
   • Dice: Used to resolve combat and other skill checks.
   • Tokens and Markers: Used to track resources, health, and other game elements.
2. Initial Setup:
   • Place the Game Board: Set up the board in the center of the table.
   • Distribute Character Sheets: Each player chooses a character and takes the corresponding sheet and starting items.
   • Shuffle and Place Cards: Shuffle the Quest, Monster, Item, and Event cards, and place them in their respective decks.
   • Set Up Tokens: Place all tokens (health, stamina, etc.) within reach of all players.
   • Determine Starting Player: Choose the starting player randomly or by a method agreed upon by all players.

Gameplay

The Witcher: Old World is played over a series of turns, with each turn consisting of several phases.

1. Exploration Phase

• Move: Players move their characters across the game board to explore different regions and locations.
• Draw Event Card: Upon entering a new region or location, players draw an Event Card to resolve random events that may affect their journey.

2. Quest Phase

• Draw and Resolve Quests: Players can draw Quest Cards from the deck and attempt to complete them by meeting the required conditions, such as defeating specific monsters or gathering certain items.
• Complete Objectives: Successfully completing quests and objectives earns players victory points and potentially valuable rewards.

3. Combat Phase

• Encounter Monsters: Players may encounter monsters based on the locations they visit or events they draw.
• Combat Resolution: Combat is resolved using dice rolls and character abilities. Players must roll dice and use their character’s skills and items to defeat monsters.
• Track Damage: Monitor and manage health and stamina throughout combat.

4. Item and Resource Management Phase

• Use Items: Players can use items from their inventory to aid in quests, combat, or healing.
• Manage Resources: Track resources like gold and potions, and make decisions about their use for maximum effectiveness.

5. End of Turn

• Check for Victory: At the end of each turn, check if any player has met the conditions to win the game or if additional events or objectives need to be resolved.
• Prepare for Next Turn: Reset any temporary effects and prepare for the next player’s turn.

Winning the Game

The game ends when a player reaches the required number of victory points or achieves a specific game-ending condition, such as completing a major quest or defeating a powerful monster. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Strategy Tips

• Plan Your Moves: Strategically move your character to maximize exploration and quest completion.
• Balance Combat and Quests: Ensure that you balance your efforts between fighting monsters and completing quests for optimal point gain.
• Manage Resources: Use your items and resources wisely to handle challenges and enhance your character’s abilities.
• Adapt to Events: Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on the random events and challenges you encounter during the game.

Example of a Turn

1. Move Character: Move your character to a new location on the game board.
2. Draw Event Card: Draw an Event Card and resolve its effects, such as encountering a wild beast or finding a treasure.
3. Attempt Quest: Draw a Quest Card and attempt to complete it by defeating a monster or gathering resources.
4. Combat: If you encounter a monster, roll dice and use your abilities to defeat it.
5. Use Items: Use items from your inventory to aid in combat or recover health.

Variants and Advanced Play

• Campaign Mode: Play through a series of linked quests and storylines for a more extended and immersive experience.
• Hardcore Mode: Increase the difficulty by adjusting the rules or adding additional challenges for a more intense gameplay experience.
• Cooperative Play: Players can work together to complete quests and defeat monsters, sharing rewards and strategies.

The Witcher: Old World offers a deep and immersive experience with a blend of exploration, combat, and questing set in the rich universe of The Witcher.