- BGG rank
- BGG #24,923
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Knights of the Dinner Table: Orcs at the Gates
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,745
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Cthulhu's Vault
2015
Rules assistance for Cthulhu's Vault
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Cthulhu's Vault
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cthulhu's Vault is a board game released in 2015 for 3–6 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Richard Launius and Jim Dietz and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Storytelling.
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About the game
Cthulhu's Vault is a card game for up to six players. Collaborative in nature, players work to tell the story of the monster's defeat, but unlike many storytelling games, the ending is not set. Within the storytelling are mechanisms for unexpected turns of events... Players begin with a hand of cards, each an element to work into the story being told. As they tell their story, they play a card, and if they can link multiple cards from their hand together, they receive a bonus of some sort usable later in the defeat of the Great Old One (or his ascension if the player turns out to be a cultist). If something is mentioned and another player has a card matching what is mentioned, he takes over the story and uses his cards at that point. The objective is to tell a great story and then reach the climactic fight between the investigators and the Great Old One which is told in story-format as well. Cthulhu's Vault is co-designed by Richard Launius and Jim Dietz. Launius is the designer of the classic 'Arkham Horror' while Dietz is the author of 'The Cthulhu Rainy-Day Activity Book' and the Lovecraftian novel 'The Last Post'.
Designers
Publishers
- Jolly Roger Games
Questions and answers
Cthulhu's Vault supports 3–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cthulhu's Vault is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cthulhu's Vault for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cthulhu's Vault has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cthulhu's Vault belongs to these categories: Card Game, Horror, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Storytelling. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cthulhu's Vault are: Richard Launius and Jim Dietz. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cthulhu's Vault as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.