
- BGG rating
- 8.2
The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac: The Dark Age Hero Expansion
- 1–5 players
- 40–90 min
- 2024

2024
Rules assistance for The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac is a board game released in 2024 for 1–5 players, 40–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Davide Garofalo and Riccardo Landi and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement.
The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac is a cooperative, tactical boss-battle in which up to five players have to fight against the Zodiacs, horrifying, gigantic demigods. Awakening from a 26 thousand year sleep, they emerge from their resting places to erase humanity from the face of the planet, with no regard for anything that comes in their way. Players control predestined, unsuspecting hero characters and work together to defeat each monster over a narrative-driven campaign. Each Zodiac encounter is set in a completely different environment and poses a variety of tactical challenges. Thanks to the Teburu system, the Zodiacs are AI-driven, making them aware and responsive to player actions, while digital audiovisual effects bring a new dimension to the gameplay experience. This allows players to focus on tactics, cooperation, and narrative choices without slowing down the flow of the game, because rules, effects, and story developments are all handled automatically by the system itself. The Zodiacs The Core Box includes 4 high-quality Smart Miniatures representing the first set of Zodiac signs. Each boss fight in its own environment and has unique AI controlled by the app: - Aries: A ferocious, rock-encrusted behemoth that uses charges and lava-based area attacks to crush the heroes. - Taurus: A stubborn powerhouse that manipulates the battlefield with massive strength and defensive fortifications. - Gemini: A deceptive dual-boss encounter that forces the team to manage two targets and their synchronized strikes. - Cancer: A defensive specialist that utilizes a tough shell and pincer grips to trap and punish out-of-position heroes. The (Unlikely) Heroes The Core Box includes 4 high-quality Smart Miniatures of the predestined heroes, each representing a classic combat archetype with a modern twist: - The Demolisher: A frontline tank who wields a massive axe to deliver crushing blows while soaking up damage for the team. - The Defender: The group's vital support and healer, equipped with a shield and a shotgun to protect allies at close range. - The Sharpshooter: A long-range specialist who uses a high-tech bow to pick off targets and apply pressure from a distance. - The Assassin: A high-mobility rogue focused on stealth and quick strikes, capable of darting in and out of the Zodiac's reach. Scenarios & Environments 6 Tactical Maps (3 double-sided maps in total) and specific environment standees (27 items in total). Narrative Campaign The explosive beginning of the ""Curse of the Zodiac"" saga, fully narrated and handled by the companion app."
The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac supports 1–5 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 The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac is 40–90 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 The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac for ages 14 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.
The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Grid Movement. 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 The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac are: Davide Garofalo and Riccardo Landi. 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 The Bad Karmas and The Curse of the Zodiac 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.