Card game “Munchkin”: a new look at traditional board games

The board game “Munchkin” is a card-based role-playing game in the fantasy genre. The classic “Munchkin” is loved by many board game fans, and the additions will dilute the games with new emotions. Having understood all the rules and nuances, everyone will be ready to go into the dungeon, kill monsters, take possession of treasures and have fun in a small company. The game is intended for participants over 12 years old , and the game can last from 30 minutes to several hours , depending on the experience and perseverance of the players.

Difficulty: medium

Number of players: 2-8

Develops skills: attentiveness, communication, cunning

So many different cards!

Indeed, a player who sees so many cards with different names at once may get confused. However, they are all connected to each other by certain groups. “Classes”, “races”, “monsters”, “clothes” and other “treasures” are hidden here. Information about all cards in order can be found below. Munchkin is a confusing and ambiguous game, but gradually everyone will be able to understand the actions of the cards and begin to use them wisely.

Level counter

The easiest way to keep track of your levels is to get a piece of paper or a notepad and keep notes by hand. Owners of smartphones and other gadgets with IOS and Android operating systems will appreciate a specially designed free application that provides a level counter. To do this, in the search column you need to enter “Munchkin level counter”, which translated from English means “Munchkin. Level Counter”, after which players will be able to enjoy simple data tracking for all participants.

Clothes

In the Munchkin game, items are those cards that are introduced into the game by placing them on the table in front of you. This card is also found more often in treasure decks, which have a gold value in the bottom corner.

Depending on which character the participant comes across, he can wear a certain number of clothes. These include smut, shoes, armor and weapons that take up or two hands. A participant in the game can also use additional items, for example, spiked knees. It does not say what part of the munchkin's body they occupy.

You cannot exchange, play from your hand, sell, or steal items during a battle or washout. Those that cannot help at the moment or that cannot be worn are placed on the table in a special way - horizontally.

During the game, a player can only own one large item, unless he is a Dwarf. The rules of the game prohibit you from discarding it to play for a friend. The first big item must be sold, lost due to lewdness or a curse, exchanged with a rival, or discarded to activate the properties of races and classes.

Sea lion

While players won't encounter the term "Silver" in the original version of Munchkin, they will definitely encounter it in the Munchkin Apocalypse release, in which players must survive the End of the World. Sivuchati – new dangers. Some game events force the sea lions to be plucked, which speeds up the end of the world. Steller sea lions include the cards “Shoot Sparrow”, “You won’t believe it - I found it!” and “Reel in your fishing rods.”

Monster Cards

In Munchkin, monsters play a key role, because only by winning battles with them can you move from one level to another (with the exception of the coveted “Get a Level” card). The player will definitely encounter monsters in the game in the deck of doors. If a participant pulls out a monster during the door opening phase, then he immediately enters into battle with it. A monster obtained in another way (during distribution, for example) goes directly into the participant’s hand. In this situation, the player can fight the enemy in the trouble phase or plant a monster for the opponent’s fight in tandem with the “Stray Beast”.

Strengthening monsters

Although the name contains the word “strengthening,” cards in the Munchkin game can also reduce the capabilities of monsters.
They change the number of treasures that the character who wins the battle will take. Each participant decides for himself how many amplifiers to use in a given battle. Amplifiers that are played on one monster add up. In a battle where a character fights several monsters at once, the owner of the amplifier indicates which specific monster his card is aimed at.

Exception : if in the game “Munchkin” the “ Ugly Couple ” is played on the monster, the amplifiers affecting it affect both the monster and the “other half”.

Undead

These are the same as the Anded group of monsters. These include the Star Vampire or the Star Munchkin. Undead can be played from hand in a battle where there is another Undead, without using the “Stray Beast” card. If you have a card that turns a monster into an undead, you can play it together with any monster.

How to play a treasure card?

It's no secret that in Munchkin treasures are divided into two types: permanent and temporary influence. If a participant is not in the battle stage with a monster, he has the right to use an arbitrary treasure card at the time of his turn.

How to use treasures?

Most treasures are clothes, then the more clothes a character can wear (for this, of course, you should carefully read the information on the card to see whether a particular class and race can wear a certain item), the more likely it is that the Munchkin player "will be able to defeat a stronger monster.

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How to use curses?

If a participant draws a curse card from the corresponding pile or receives it in another way, then it is played against the opponent at any, even the most unexpected moment. Once the curse is played, it goes into the discard pile, unless of course it has a delayed effect.

How to use class cards?

The corresponding cards in the Munchkin game can be discarded and played. Discarding a class from your hands is allowed at a convenient moment in the game, even during a battle with a monster, and you can only play a new class on your own turn.

Number of players

• 3-4 players

The duration of the game depends on the luck and activity of the players, but the average duration of a game for four people is an hour and a half. You can sit with a large group all evening. Manufacturers recommend laying out cards for three to six people so that the set is enough for the entire party. But if you have a pack of extras, then you shouldn’t worry about running out of cards, even with ten of you.

Player categories

• from 10 years

Among the players, two categories can be distinguished - the real munchkin and the not-yet-munchkin. Believe me, during the game you will immediately distinguish them by their level of risk. And non-munchkins quickly become munchkins as soon as they get into the spirit of the game.

Time in game

• from 30 minutes

Create your own character

In the board game Munchkin, at the initial stage of the game, each player has a first-level person instead of a character. As the game progresses, the characters' levels improve accordingly. The first step to changing your character comes when you receive 8 cards, among which are Classes and Races. By obtaining items, you can subsequently upgrade your character and make him invincible.

Character stats

Any character contains a collection of equipment, weapons, magic items and indicators such as race, level and class. The gender of the character in the Munchkin game matches the gender of the player.

Level is an indicator of power. At the beginning of the game, everyone has 1 level, and to win you need to bring the character to 10. Throughout the game, you can either increase or lose a level. Participants in the game “Munchkin” will also help you move down a step, as they will annoy you in every possible way during the battle. In order to keep track of levels, it is recommended to leave marks or keep records on a piece of paper.

Race

The character in the game "Munchkin" plays as a Human, Elf, Dwarf and Halfling. A player who has no Race cards on the table automatically plays as a Human.

The Munchkin player gains all the qualities of the race by using the card, and also easily loses them when discarding it. There are cards whose racial abilities are activated when discarded. Races can be reset at any time, even during a battle. If the participant does not want to be an Elf, then he becomes a Human.

A participant does not belong to two races at the same time, unless he is the owner of the Half-Breed card. Also in the Munchkin game it is forbidden to have 2 cards of the same race.

A representative of each race has strengths and weaknesses: Elves, for example, deftly escape in case of trouble.

Class

Regardless of which class the player gets during the distribution, it will give the character special abilities that are lost when discarded.

The characters in the game "Munchkin" are Wizards, Clerics, Warriors, Thieves. If during the distribution the participant initially did not get a card with “classes”, then he will not belong to the existing groups.

A class card can be discarded at any time, including during battle. If a participant suddenly decides that he no longer intends to be a Cleric, he becomes a declassed munchkin until he reaches a new class.

In the game "Machkin" it is forbidden to have two cards of the same class, and you cannot be in two classes at the same time without having a "Super Munchkin" card in your possession.

"Half-Breed" and "Super Munchkin"

To fully experience the power of these cards, the participant must belong to at least one race and one class. “Half-breed” gives the player the right to belong to two races at once, and “Super Munchkin” gives the player the right to belong to two classes at once.

If a participant plays any of these two cards with only one class/race, then he gains all the advantages and does not acquire any disadvantages.

If the Munchkin player plays a card with two races or two classes, then he gets all the inherent disadvantages and advantages of the classes/races.

Hand

Expressions like “cards from hand” and “pick up” are not always clear to a beginning Munchkin player. “Hand” refers to those cards that were acquired during the game, but have not yet been played. The cards in your hands do not participate in the game until they are laid out vertically in front of you. At the end of the turn, each participant should not have more than five cards in his hand; the extra ones will have to be discarded or placed in front of him, using them for the character.

Target

Reach level 10. You can increase it by using special cards, defeating monsters, or selling items. And yes, exactly “clothes”, because Munchkin completely immerses you in a completely new world with its own rules and language!

It is important to remember that level 10 can only be achieved by defeating a monster and nothing else.

Rules of the game

The game "Munchkin" is one of those games whose rules must be carefully read. Each player's turn includes several phases; after passing, the right to move passes to the player on the left.

Only the one who first reaches level 10, defeating the monster at the final stage, will win. Before you start fighting a monster, compare the strength of it and your character. If the player's strength is higher, then the monster has no chance, and an increase by one level will not be long in coming.

Preparing for the game

1. Come up with any way to count player levels. For this purpose, specially designed sets of counters for the game “Munchkin” are used, they are purchased separately. Players also often use ordinary sheets of paper with a table, coins, or an application on a smartphone to count.
2. Separate the door and treasure cards, carefully shuffle them individually, and place them in stacks next to each other. Each participant in the Munchkin game is dealt 4 cards from two decks.
3. Any player starts the game as a person of the first level, the gender of the character is identical to the gender of the participant.
4. Choose a player to start the game in the usual way: by rolling the dice or through negotiations.

Turn phases

There are 3 phases in total and they are all fast.

Open the door

There are several possible outcomes in the Munchkin board game, depending on the card revealed to the participant. Found here:

• a curse that triggers on the player who gets it;
• an ordinary card that falls directly into the hands of the player;
• a monster with which the participant immediately enters into battle.

Finding troubles / Cleaning holes

When a player takes out a Door card and does not encounter a monster, he has the opportunity to defeat a weak monster from his hand, thereby earning the level and treasure written on the card. If there is no level inscription at the bottom of the card, the participant earns one level by default. If a participant is looking for trouble, then this should be done when he is confident of victory or has comrades behind him who will provide backup in a difficult situation.

After dealing with the monster, you are supposed to take the specified reward from the treasure deck. If the Munchkin player has not met an enemy on the way and is not looking for trouble, then he draws a door card face down.

From generosity

At this stage of the game there must be 5 or fewer cards in your hand. Extra cards are given to the player with the minimum level; if there are several such players, they are divided in half as far as possible. If the player with the lowest level in Munchkin is the player himself, then he needs to place the extra cards face up next to the stacks of closed Doors and Treasures. There is no need to mix the cards; they should be placed strictly under the corresponding piles.

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When to use cards?

This point is worth studying carefully so as not to infuriate fans of the game “Munchkin” who know the rules inside and out.

The participant is allowed at any time:

• discard race, class;
• play the “Get a Level” card;
• play a curse on the player.

At any time, with the exception of the period of battle, it is permitted:

• exchange clothes with rivals;
• take off or put on clothes;
• play the drawn card.

Only during his turn a participant has the right:

• play a new race or class card;
• sell clothes and climb up the levels;
• play an item (more items are prohibited from being played in battle, but you can play some one-time items).

The battle

To successfully complete a stage in Munchkin, you will need to study the description of the monster you will be fighting.
In this way, properties are revealed that a character of a certain race or class will not be able to defeat him. The level is written slightly above the enemy's name. When the written value is less than the player’s level, added to the bonuses from the applied items, the character kills the monster and earns the coveted level. In battle, you are allowed to use one-time cards from your hand, for example, potions. When other monsters intervene in the battle at the expense of the “Stray Beast” or the “Ugly Couple”, you need to exceed their total level. If you have the right cards, you can drive away one enemy and then fight the second, but in the game “Munchkin” it is forbidden to win one and escape from the other. Played cards are discarded.

If, as a result of the battle, the player defeated the monster, its level increases by 1 or 2, based on the strength of the monster. When defeating several enemies in one battle, the participant will earn a level for each monster. If the enemy is not killed, then the participant will not gain a level under any circumstances.

Calling for help

The rules of the Munchkin game imply a scenario where the participant is not able to defeat the monster, but is not going to give up. In such situations, the help of players is simply needed, who will provide a small service for a reward - one treasure or half the reward given for winning the battle. In this case, the assistant will not receive an increase in the level of his character, unless he is an Elf. You can ask your friends to help everyone in turn, but one player must come to the rescue.

When a participant goes into battle with a friend, their character levels are added up. Some monsters contain conditions under which a certain character cannot engage in battle with them, so you should carefully study the properties of your opponent.

Fighting multiple monsters

Several monsters happen to be fought when any Munchkin player gets involved in the current battle.

• A one-time card is used for this. When a fighter has a potion among the cards in his hand, it can cancel the monster's influence. You just need to carefully read the properties of the potion before defending yourself, because some of them, on the contrary, help monsters.
• Also, anyone can play a monster booster as a participant. Cards of this kind increase the enemy's power, but also give him more rewards. This option is used when a player wants to annoy an opponent. After all, there is only one winner in the game.
• In order for a participant in the game to intervene in the battle, he must be the owner of the “Stray Beast” card, which is placed together with any other monster.

Wash

Sometimes in “Munchkin” no one comes to the player’s aid in battle or the Thief cuts him off, you can just run away. Then the participant will not receive a level or treasure, and will not take the Door card face down. However, washing is not always feasible.

A dice is rolled, and if the result is 6 or more, you will be able to escape. Before doing this, carefully read the card of the monster the player wants to escape from the battle with - some monsters manage to harm even those who managed to escape from them.

When the monster in “Munchkin” still catches the participant, he performs Obscenity, which is written on the card. This way you can lose your clothes or the character himself.

If a friend helps a participant, but they cannot cope with the monster’s action together, then both of them need to escape. To do this, each player rolls a die. When there is a battle with several monsters at the same time, you need to roll a die for each monster from which you plan to escape. Enemies who catch a character have the right to subject the participant to Obscenity. When a player escapes from the monster, his card is discarded.

Death

At this stage, the participant will lose all property, only the classes, races and levels and curses that influenced the character before death will remain in his hands. If you previously had Supermankin or Half-Breed cards in your hands, they, of course, will not disappear.

Killed characters do not receive bounty cards from opponents and do not earn a level.

The new munchkins will be exactly like the old ones, and will soon begin to come to the aid of players, although they won’t do anything special.

At the beginning of the next turn, the player needs to draw 4 cards from two piles with face-down cards; they can immediately be used to play races, classes or items, similar to the beginning of the game.

hidden treasures

The player receives a reward in the form of treasures when he defeats any monster. The player will receive the number of cards from the pile that is written on the card of the killed monster. The drawn cards from this pile can be played immediately: lay out the items in front of you, and the “Get a Level” cards go into the discard pile after being used.

How to win?

The goal of the game, pursued by players of the exciting entertainment “Munchkin”, is to pump up 10 levels, defeating monsters and overtaking other participants in this matter. The process is expected to be difficult, and only a persistent and non-offensive player will win the game!

Tips and lifehacks

The most important tip for organizing the game is to gather a larger group. It's boring to play with two or three players. The most interesting games are made with the participation of 7–8 people.

The rules provide for disputes during the game. Therefore, in any case, try to turn the situation in your favor. Be cunning! For example, cast a curse on your partner in battle. Or force the monster to leave the battle so that the opponent does not gain a level. Set up traps for other munchkins in every possible way, do nasty things. Bend the rules is one of the features of this fun game.

Other features of the Munchkin game

The player exchanges clothes with opponents. But in order to dispose of clothes in this regard, they must be in the game, and not in the hands of the participant. It is allowed to change at any time, regardless of the move. It's better to exchange during someone else's turn. All exchanged items automatically come into play, and you can dispose of them at your discretion only on your turn. Also, clothes are given away just like that or for some kind of service. It is so easy to bribe an opponent in order to count on his help in battle in a difficult situation.

The board game "Munchkin" can be played in an accelerated mode when implementing Phase 0 "Eavesdropping at the Door".

How to sell clothes?

During their turn, each participant has the right to discard items worth 1000 gold and immediately receive +1 to the level.
If, when summing up the items, the total amount is more than 1000 gold, then change will not be issued in any way. When gaining 2000 gold, the player has the right to rise 2 levels higher. The main feature of the sale is that when moving from level 9 to 10, you cannot sell items. You'll like: Bang for a Fistful of Cubes

How to intervene in someone else's battle?

There are ways to do this:

• Using a one-time card. If the opponent has a potion in his hands, he has the right to help the player by playing in tandem with him against the monster. However, you should be careful and read the description of the cards; some of them, on the contrary, help monsters. After a joint victory, players divide the treasure or agree in advance what the assistant will receive.
• Using a monster booster. Such cards make the enemy even more serious and give him more treasures.
• Using the “ Stray Beast ” card in the game together with monsters.
• If the participant plays for the Thief, then he can easily cut off the opponent.
• If you have a curse card, you can really annoy another player.

What to do in controversial situations?

Controversial situations give rise to loud squabbles between rivals, but, no matter how offensive it may sound, the last word always belongs to the owner of the board. When players cannot decide who is right, they ask the question on forums and discuss it with true fans of such a controversial game.

When playing Munchkin, be prepared for setups and the fact that your loyal allies will cheat you. After all, the motto of the game is:

"It's Munchkin, baby!"

Discrepancies between cards and rules

In the Munchkin board game, the instructions on some cards do not coincide with the rules of the game; in most of these cases, the card is more important than the instructions. But after carefully reading the few rules outlined below, the player can safely ignore the instructions on the card:

1. A munchkin's level in the game is never less than 1, and its combat strength is sometimes 0 or even lower.
2. A character gains a level only when killing a monster.
3. Before you can take the treasure, you must win the battle in the game and nothing else.
4. the final 10th level only for killing a monster.

Questions and answers

What is the fundamental difference between Munchkin. Dungeon" from "Quest"?

The main differences are in the goal of the game. In “Quest” you need to defeat the Dragon, and in “Dungeon” you need to score at least 20 points in the Slavometer. There is a difference in the playing field: in the “Dungeon” it is ready-made, in the “Quest” it needs to be collected.

Is it possible to exchange Door cards that are in hand?

No. These cards cannot be exchanged.

How to mix classic kit and add-ons. Are there any rules?

There are no special conditions. Just shuffle the cards and get started.

Common Misconceptions About Munchkin

“Mankin” is not so easy for a novice player to understand, hence, during the game, misconceptions are formed that are not true. Here are some of them:

• if the monster is “disdainful,” then you cannot fight it;
• if a participant stops using the item, it is discarded;
• you can exchange clothes from hand;
• if a participant fails the wash, then a level must be taken away from him;
• There must be 5 cards on hand at all times;
• the thief in Munchkin does not steal at the entry level;
• if a participant fails the wash, then his character dies;
• Before the start of the “from bounty” phase, it is unacceptable to play cards.

The list can be continued, however, to avoid such misconceptions, it is better to carefully read the Munchkin’s instructions several times.

Who will like it

“Munchkin” is a fun game, the rules of which can be understood by players of any age: from children 10 years old to the elderly. In this case, it is completely unnecessary to have experience in role-playing games. It is enough to be a cheerful person, not offended by jokes, who is not averse to fooling around in the company of friends. Of course, the goal of the game is to win. But here it’s also an opportunity to become a real Munchkin for a while, combining the power of a fighter and the ability to weave intrigue, and sometimes be completely frostbitten.

"Munchkin" additions

The Munchkin card board game has 8 basic sets that make the games fun and versatile. Addendums to the base game “Munchkin”, surprising with new decks:

• “ Ax ” (2014 edition) will throw up interesting monsters that will require new strategies to kill;
• “ Clerical Errors ” – the third part with colorful illustrations and scary monsters;
• “ Steed ” is the fourth option for those who want to diversify the basic set;
• “ The Pathfinders ” (De-Ranged) – Russian edition released in 2011;
• “ Demented Dungeons ” will give you the opportunity to kick down doors and get into a portal leading to a real dungeon;
• “ Two-handed cheat ” (Cheat With Both Hands) with introduced cards to simplify and speed up games;
• “ Travel ” with new races.

You can go on exciting adventures in independent games that do not require a basic set:

• " The Good, the Bad, and the Munchkin " (The Good, the Bad, and the Munchkin), where players will move to the Wild West;
• “ Star Munchkin ”, where participants will roam outer space;
• “ Star Munchkin 2 – The Clown Wars ” (Star Munchkin 2– The Clown Wars);
• " Super Munchkin " (Super Munchkin), where there will be a battle with the villains;
• “ Super Munchkin Awesome Cape ” (Super Munchkin 2– The Narrow S Cape);
• " Pirate Munchkin " (MunchkinBooty), where players will capture other people's ships;
• " Pirate Munchkin 2. Dancing with Sharks " (MunchkinBooty 2);
• " Munchkin Apocalypse " (Munchkin Apocalypse), in which participants will begin to survive as the end of the world approaches;
• " Munchkin Zombie " with new effects;
• «Munchkin Zombies 2 – Armed and Dangerous»;
• " Munchkin Cthulhu ";
• “ Munchkin Quest ”, where everyone will take on exploration and treasure hunting;
• «Munchkin Quest Looking for Trouble».

If you liked the description and want a detailed analysis of all versions and additions of Munchkin, then repost it on any social network. As soon as the post reaches 100 reposts, we will post additions!

[edit] Origin

munchkin _

, lit.
“chewing people”, from English. to munch
- chew, slurp;
kin
- family, clan) - one of the peoples inhabiting the Magic Land of Oz in the book of the same name by Frank Baum. In the Russian retelling of A. Volkov, “The Wizard of the Emerald City” is called “munchines.”

The specific reasons why this particular name became a household name are lost to centuries; American Wikipedia suggests that munchkins are small and funny, which is why older players called the pioneers that way at the dawn of paper RPGs. Well, pioneers are always pioneers - not understanding the essence of RPGs, instead of role-playing, they were more interested in damage points and dice rolls.

Well, the obvious similarity between the methodical grinding of the daily experience and the chewing process could not but contribute to the survival of the expression.

Similar games

For those who want to spend time playing a game like Munchkin, it is recommended that you get acquainted with the following entertainment:

• " Big jackpot ." It is classified as economic entertainment. This is where luck comes in handy, a strategy to increase your assets and earn a million.
• " Kragmorta ", which will immerse players in the world of goblins and Rigor Mortis. This time the servants needed to get into the Dark Lord's library, and they definitely needed to be stopped before they exposed their own accomplices to attack.
• " Overboard ". The game is ideal for gatherings with a group or modest parties. To win, you will need to get to land, for which points will be awarded. Points are given for saving a friend, killing an enemy, surviving and much more.

Barbaria

The game Barbaria will immerse players in the world of treasures, fights with monsters, using the element of chance. It will be an excellent entertainment option for a small company. For completing tasks, participants earn multi-colored runes. When a player collects a set of runes, he will win the game. “Barbaria” was created and released in Russia, and the design was done by hand.

Potions

An excellent game where participants will spend time brewing magical elixirs, powders and even animals. The more interesting and complex the composition of the potion turns out to be, the more points the participant will receive, and subsequently compete for victory in the game. The rules of the game are simple, so it has found a place in the hearts of many children, for whom “ Potion Making ” develops memory and logic.

Evolution

The game Evolution is similar in mechanics to the above entertainment. Here players will get acquainted with the types of animals that subsequently improve. The more adapted the species is to living in harsh conditions, the more points the animal’s owner will receive when counting at the end of the game.

Ratings:

• Mastering the game - 67 POINTS
• Game mechanics - 49 POINTS
• Plot and atmosphere - 46 POINTS
• Ease of play - 92 POINTS
• Quality and design - 7 8 POINTS
• The resulting fun is 60 POINTS

TOTAL (for an ordinary person) - 65 POINTS

• Mastering the game - 95 POINTS
• Game mechanics - 49 POINTS
• Plot and atmosphere - 78 POINTS
• Ease of play - 92 POINTS
• Quality and design - 7 8 POINTS
• The resulting fun is 86 POINTS

TOTAL (for geek) - 80 POINTS

Author of the article : Ksenia Dadonova