Theme
The game takes place in Europe during 1898, eight years after the events in Bram Stoker’s novel, '' Dracula''. One player takes the role ofFirst edition
Disappointed by the limited availability of horror boardgames, Stephen Hand began the initial treatment of his Dracula-based horror game in 1985. His original conception was a two-game set entitled ''Dracula: Fact and Fiction''; one part would be a fantasy game, and the other part would be a dry, historical simulation of Vlad the Impaler's Turkish campaigns. Hand ultimately shelved the project due to time constraints. A short time later, he resurrected the project after receiving encouragement fromGameplay
This edition was designed for 2-4 players (Dracula and up to three Hunters). The Hunters move openly across the game board, which is a stylised map of late 19th century Europe, while the Dracula player moves in secret by using a separate small board hidden behind a screen. By various means, the Hunters try to deduce and uncover Dracula's path, overcoming whatever obstacles he has placed along the way (including wolves, rats, bats, armed minions, fledgling vampires, fog, storms and plagues). The Hunters also gather weapons and equipment such as rifles, stakes, garlic and holy water for the eventual showdown. The Hunters can move by sea, road or rail, while Dracula is permitted to move by sea or road only. Moving by rail permits the Hunters to cover a greater distance than they could by road, but requires a die roll; the result of the roll can be anything from being delayed a turn to being able to travel to as many as three towns connected by a railway. Differences between the Hunters is minimal: Godalming receives a +1 to first-round initiative against Dracula's minions and a -1 against Dracula himself, while Van Helsing received the inverse. Seward receives no modifiers.Combat
Combat is performed on a round by round basis. The time of combat is determined by a die roll, although various cards played by either side can force a particular time of day. Combatants first choose a combat option in secret, using cardboard chits. The basic options for an unarmed combatant are Fist, Dodge or Escape. Each combatant also gets an additional combat option for each weapon they possess, although Hunters are not allowed to use the same combat option twice in consecutive rounds unless the Hunter possesses two weapons of the same type, which can then be used alternately. Dracula's combat options vary greatly depending on the time of day; if caught during the day, he can only use the basic unarmed combat options. During the night, due to his supernatural powers, he has access to many more combat options. Once every combatant has secretly determined a combat option, each side rolls a die for initiative. Each side then reveals their chosen combat option, and the results of the options and initiatives are cross referenced on the appropriate chart to determine the winner for the round. This procedure repeats itself until one side is dead or successfully retreats.Wounds and bites
Each Hunter has 12 Wound points, representing the amount of injuries he can sustain. Combat, encounters and certain event cards can cause damage to the Hunter, and the Hunter is eliminated from the game once the number of Wound points is reduced to zero. Wounds can be recovered by using event cards or by resting. If a Hunter is bitten by Dracula or a vampire, the player is given a Bite token. While under the effects of a bite, certain event cards (marked "Bitten Only") become playable — these can be beneficial or detrimental. A Hunter with a Bite token suffers penalties in combat against Dracula. Being bitten a second time results in the hunter becoming a vampire; he is eliminated from the game and given to the Dracula player as a generic vampire encounter.Dracula's Blood points
Dracula has 12 Blood points, which are the equivalent of Wound points. Combat and certain event cards can cause Dracula to lose Blood points; in addition, every time he embarks on a sea voyage, he loses a Blood point. Dracula can also spend Blood points to activate special abilities. When Dracula's Blood points are reduced to zero, he enters Blood Death; he must retreat to Castle Dracula by the quickest route possible and he must escape every encounter as soon as possible. He can no longer win the game (although he may be able to force a draw). If he takes an additional 12 points of damage while in Blood Death, he is destroyed, resulting in a Hunter's major victory.Victory conditions
Each side has a set of difficult major victory conditions and easier minor victory conditions. Once any of them have been fulfilled, either side can declare a victory. Once a minor victory has been declared, play continues until either a major victory condition is met, or all the conditions to achieve a major victory become impossible. For example, the Hunters can claim a minor victory if they force Dracula to flee to Castle Dracula. They can subsequently claim a major victory if they can find and kill Dracula at his castle; but if he successfully hides first, the major victory becomes impossible, and the game ends with a minor victory for the Hunters. It is not unusual for both sides to be able to simultaneously claim minor victories.Second edition
In 2006, Fantasy Flight Games released the second edition of the game, dropping "The" from the title and renaming it ''Fury of Dracula''. The rules featured a few changes to gameplay.Gameplay
The second edition adds a "Vampire Track" to the game — Dracula advances the counter by one for each Hunter he eliminates, for each vampire he creates, or for each complete day/night cycle he survives. A fourth Hunter,Combat
First edition's cardboard chits for combat options have been eliminated in favour of small cards, which also contain all information about combat results, eliminating the need for separate combat resolution tables.Wounds/blood and bites
Each Hunter in the second edition has a different number of Wound points; if a Hunter's Wound points are reduced to zero, the Hunter must recuperate at the Hospital of St Joseph and St Mary, but may continue to play. In addition, being bitten twice no longer eliminates the Hunter from the game; instead the Hunter is sent to the Hospital to recover. Van Helsing is resistant to bites and can withstand three before being sent to the hospital. Mina Harker begins with a Bite Token, meaning that "bitten only" events are usable right from the start of the game.Blood points
Dracula's Blood points have been increased from 12 to 15. However, although a variety of events and special abilities make it much easier for Dracula to recover Blood points in second edition, if he is reduced to zero Blood points, Dracula is destroyed. However, Dracula can no longer be killed outright by a single attack. Suffering a "Killed" result in combat reduces his Blood Points to a predetermined amount on his character sheet (0, 5 and 10 Blood points), and combat continues.Victory conditions
First edition's varying degrees of victory have been eliminated in favour of a much simpler system: The Hunters win if they are able to kill Dracula. Dracula wins if he is able to advance the Vampire track to 6.Credits for first and second editions
First edition:''The Fury of Dracula'' Rulebook, 1987, p.14 *Designer: Stephen Hand *Rules Editor: Mike Brunton *Graphic Design: Bil Sedgwick *Board Art: Colin Dixon *Counter Art: Dave Andrews *Character Illustrations: Martin McKenna, Colin Dixon, Dave Andrews *Paste-up: Heidi Allman, Dave Clemmett, Dave Oliver *Playtesters: Mandy Wooton, Andrew Colclough, Colin Hand, Matther Tudor & Co, Alan Merret, Graeme Davis, Bil Sedgwick, Jervis Johnson, Sean Masterson, Charles Elliot, Tim Pollard *Box Art:Third edition
Fantasy Flight Games released a Third Edition in 2015, featuring new graphic design, artwork and streamlined rules. In this edition, Dracula can only act during the night, while the Hunters are active both day and night. Rumor tokens have been added to allow Dracula to mislead the Hunters.Fourth edition
WizKids Games released a fourth edition in 2019, featuring five painted figurines and larger combat cards.Digital edition
Nomad Games released ''Fury of Dracula: Digital Edition,'' a digital adaptation of ''Fury of Dracula'' on 12 Nov, 2020. This digital edition is based on the 4th Edition of the board game.Reception
In the April 1988 edition of '' Dragon'' (Issue 132), liked the first edition of the game, saying, " ttakes some of the best elements of role-playing games and neatly transposes them into an intriguing and fun board game." Bambra recommended the game, concluding, "Steeped in Gothic atmosphere and tinged with the unexpected, ''The Fury of Dracula'' game deserves to be in every gamer’s collection." In the February 1988 issue of ''Other reviews
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