Escape
Escape: The Curse of the Temple is a cooperative game in which players must escape (yes...) from a temple (yes...) which is cursed (yes...) before the temple collapses and kills one or more explorers; thereby causing everyone to lose.
The initial game board consists of a row of three square tiles; each showing a combination of two symbols; say; two green adventurers or one green adventurer and one blue key in one corner of the tile. All of the explorers start in the center tile – the safe room – and each player starts with a hand of five dice. Each die has five symbols:
A cursed mask – this die is set aside when rolled.
A golden mask – each such symbol counteracts two cursed masks; either your own or those of another explorer in the same room.
A red torch or blue key – these are used to enter rooms; access treasure; or activate gems.
A green adventurer; which appears twice on the die – you need these to move from room to room; and to activate some gems.
Escape is played in real-time; with all players rolling dice and taking actions simultaneously. You must roll the right symbols to enter a room; and if you're at an open doorway; you can roll to reveal the next tile in the stack and add it to that doorway. Some rooms contain combinations of red and blue symbols; and if you (possibly working with other players in the same room) roll enough red or blue symbols; you discover magic gems; moving them from a separate gem depot onto that tile.
The real-time aspect is enforced by a soundtrack to be played during the game. At certain points; a countdown starts; and if players aren't back in the safe room when time is up; they lose one of their dice.
Once the exit tile is revealed; players can attempt to escape the temple by moving to that tile; then rolling a number of blue dice equal to the magic gems that haven't been removed from the gem depot. Thus; the more gems you find; the easier it is to escape the temple. When a player escapes; he gives one die to a player of his choice. If all players escape before the third countdown; everyone wins; if not; everyone loses; no matter how many players did escape.
Escape: The Curse of the Temple includes two expansion modules that can be used individually or together. With the Treasures module; some rooms contain treasure; and when you reveal such a room; you place a face-down treasure chest on the tile. Roll the symbols on that chest tile; and you claim the treasure for use later: a key lets you teleport anywhere; a path lets you connect two rooms that otherwise have no door between them; and a medic kit heals all players instantly (putting black dice back into play). With the Curses module; some tiles curse players by forcing them to place one hand on their head; keep mute during play; or otherwise do what you wouldn't want to do while escaping a temple!
