Welcome to the Shadow Market, where mysterious coins hold unknown value.
Make trades, take risks, and discover the truth in the final bazaar.
Will you leave with a powerful relic... or empty-handed?
🎯 Game Overview
⏱️ Duration: Approximately 15 minutes
👤 Players: Individual gameplay (you manage your own sheet)
🎲 Goal: Trade mystery coins wisely, roll the dice in the final bazaar, and claim your relic
✨ The Mystery Coin Twist
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Coin Values Are Secret!
You start with 5 coins of different types: ♦️ Garnet, ⚪ Opal, and ⚫ Obsidian.
You DON'T know their point values until The Final Hour!
Trade wisely - which coins are more valuable? You'll find out at the bazaar...
📋 The Three Hours
THE FIRST HOUR The First Trades
Duration: ~5 minutes
Starting Coins: 2 ♦️ Garnet, 1 ⚪ Opal, 2 ⚫ Obsidian
Meet three mysterious merchants:
- The Bone Merchant - Trades coins for different colored coins
- The Glass Witch - Offers risky exchanges
- The Masked Beggar - Asks for charity (or presents opportunities)
How it works: At each encounter, circle ONE choice and track your coins.
💡 TIP: Which coins are worth more? You won't know until The Final Hour, so think carefully about your trades!
THE SECOND HOUR The Shadow Brokers
Duration: ~5 minutes
The stakes rise with bigger trades and new opportunities:
- The Phantom Collector - Trades in names and coins
- The Taxman - Takes coins based on your wealth (mandatory!)
- Social Trading - Optional trades with other players (Honor System)
- The Oracle of Ash - Offers ✨ Mystery Coins in exchange for your known coins
⚠️ The Taxman is MANDATORY - Everyone must pay based on their total coin count
💡 TIP: Mystery Coins from the Oracle could be valuable... or not! It's a gamble!
THE FINAL HOUR The Final Bazaar
Duration: ~5 minutes
✨ THE BIG REVEAL!
Coin values are finally shown:
- ♦️ Garnet = 2 points
- ⚪ Opal = 1 point
- ✨ Mystery = 4 points
- ⚫ Obsidian = 3 points
Three relics are available:
- 🏮 The Cursed Lantern - See hidden truths
- 🔑 The Ashen Key - Open hidden doors
- 🍷 The Eternal Chalice - Visions of wonder
How it works:
- Calculate your Total Fortune (sum of all coin points)
- Bring your sheet to the Game Master in the Great Hall
- Get a six-sided die from the Game Master
- Roll the die for each of the three relics
- Multiply each die roll by your Total Fortune to get your Bargaining Strength for that relic
- The relic with your highest Bargaining Strength is yours!
- The Game Master gives you your outcome card
Example: If you have 15 Total Fortune and you roll a 4 for the Lantern, a 2 for the Key, and a 6 for the Chalice:
• Lantern: 4 × 15 = 60
• Key: 2 × 15 = 30
• Chalice: 6 × 15 = 90 (HIGHEST!)
You receive The Eternal Chalice!
🎭 About Curses
Some choices come with CURSES - fun roleplay effects like:
- Cross out your name and use a ghost alias
- Write "THIEF" on your sheet
- Cannot speak your real name
Important: Curses are just for fun and atmosphere! They don't affect your coin totals or game outcome. Play along as much as you're comfortable with!
🎲 Strategy Tips
- You don't know coin values in The First and Second Hours - Make your best guesses based on how merchants value them!
- Mystery Coins are valuable - At 4 points each, they're worth more than Obsidian (3 points)!
- Watch the Taxman - Having too many total coins means paying more
- Build your fortune - Higher Total Fortune gives you better Bargaining Strength in The Final Hour
- Social trades are optional - Only trade if it helps your strategy
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do I find out coin values?
A: Not until The Final Hour! The mystery is part of the fun.
Q: What if I run out of coins?
A: You can't go below 0. You'll still participate in The Final Hour, but with lower Total Fortune for calculating your Bargaining Strength.
/Users/tiffany/Desktop/Blackwood Manor Games/The Shadow Market/GAME-INFO.md
Q: Do I have to do the curses?
A: Curses are optional fun! Play along as much as you want.
Q: Can I trade coins with other players?
A: Only during the Social Trading section in The Second Hour, and it's completely optional. Exchange coins yourselves on the Honor System.
Q: How do I know which relic I'll get?
A: You roll dice for all three relics in The Final Hour! Get a die from the Game Master, then whichever relic has your highest Bargaining Strength (dice roll × Total Fortune) is yours.
Q: How do Mystery Coins work?
A: The Oracle gives you Mystery Coins in The Second Hour. Their value (4 points) is revealed in The Final Hour along with all other coins.