Overview

Don't Let It Die is essentially "RPG Skill Tree: The Game". As a team of four cavepeople, you must gather resources to stay alive--food, weapons, craftable items--while keeping the fire alive. The fire is how you gain FKP (fire knowledge points) or skill points that you use to improve your abilities, grow stronger, and survive. You have fifteen days to learn how to start your own fire, but if you die before then or the fire goes out due to lack of wood, the game is over.

Phases

Like most co-op games, the game alternates between "player actions" (day phase) and "bad things happen" (night phase).

Day Phase

Each character spends their turn taking actions, which cost stamina points. These are the basic actions. Some characters may have additional skills or abilities that alter actions.

Danger! Cards

When performing any actions that require drawing a card, there is a risk of drawing a Danger! card that represents wildlife trying to kill you. When encountered, the following rules are applied:

• If your character has no weapon OR a weapon with less damage than the card's Life number, lose HP equal to the Damage number.
• If your character has a weapon with damage equal or greater than the Life number...
  • If the weapon has Range 1, lose 1 HP and gain Meat equal to the Life number.
  • If the weapon has Range 2, gain Meat equal to the Life number (lose no HP).

If a character has 0 HP, they are Incapacitated and cannot take any actions. Another character must use 3 cooked Meat to revive them (even if the character cannot eat Meat). The revived character will gain 3 HP and full stamina at end of the next morning phase.

Night Phase

After all players have taken their turn, a Night Event card is drawn. These cards usually have a negative effect, such as losing resources or dealing with obstacles.

Morning Phase

After the Night Phase, the following actions are taken in order:

1. Wood is removed from the wood pile by the fire (based on the day track). If the wood pile ever has 0, the game ends in defeat.
2. Day counter increases by 1
3. All characters lose 1 HP
4. All characters regain their stamina points
5. Players may trade weapons and tools with each other
6. The "first player" token is moved to the next character in sequence

After this, a new Day Phase begins.

Game End

If you unlock the Fire Starter skill on the Fire Knowledge Tree before 15 days have passed, you win.

You lose if, at anytime...

• There is 0 wood in the wood pile for the fire.
• All members are incapacitated
• The Night Phase for Day 14 comes without having unlocked the Fire Starter Skill

Hindrance (Variant)

A physical hindrance is acquired from events or when taking damage from combat.

There is a max of 3 physical hindrances and 1 mental hindrance.

If a character has a maximum number of physical hindrances, the next draw will will be a mental hindrance (unless maxed) and all physical hindrances will be removed.

Physical hindrances can be removed by spending a stamina and Medical Herb

Drawing a Nothing card from a resource deck triggers a Day Event. When a day event is triggered, draw the top card from the Day Event deck. You must pick only 1 option, before choosing, read each option to see if it has a cost. Most Day Event cards have an event with 2 options to pick from.