The Mythos CCG
The Mythos CCG debuted in 1996 and won the award for Best Card Game at the Origins Game Fair. It would earn another lofty honor in 1999, when Pyramid magazine named it among the best card games of the millennium. Published by Chaosium--the same folks responsible for the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game--this collectible card game enjoyed great initial success before production was halted the following year due to low sales.
Two players can enjoy Mythos, but it’s meant to be played with four. Each participant puts together a deck of cards, chooses their investigator, and then tries to earn points by completing adventures. Many of the starter decks include adventures, and existing scenarios from the CoC roleplaying game can also be adapted.
While
the Mythos CCG is now out of print, those looking to explore the
first collectible card game based on the Cthulhu mythos can still find
starter and booster packs online. In the following article, we’ll detail all
the available sets, as well as providing an overview of the rules (both
standard and tournament) and information about online versions of Mythos.
Mythos Products
Before production was halted in 1997, a wide range of Mythos products were stocked on the shelves of game and comic book shops. If you’re looking to complete your collection of Mythos products, you’ll need to obtain all of the following:
Mythos Limited Edition - Available in starter decks, plus three new types of booster packs for the Mythos collectible card game. The first, The Expeditions of Miskatonic University, explores both the students and faculty of the legendary university, as well as the dusty tomes found within its library. A number of locations and persons from Europe are also included. The Middle East is the focus of Legends of the Necronomicon, and investigators will even be able to travel into the past and meet such infamous personalities as the Mad Arab, the author of the most feared book in the Cthulhu mythos. Finally, there’s Cthulhu Rising, a booster set that features many hidden islands, aquatic creatures, and even the monstrous Cthulhu. Each booster pack contains 13 cards, while starter decks have 60 cards.
Mythos Standard Edition Set - This stand alone set for two-players includes revised rules for Mythos, as well as 104 cards divided into two 52-card decks (one for each player). While other sets aren’t required to play, the cards can also be added to Mythos New Aeon, Mythos Dreamlands and Mythos Limited Edition. Each deck has its own theme, with one player being corrupt and the other steadfast. Cards range from weapons like the lightning gun to famous personalities such as Harry Houdini.
Mythos: The Dreamlands - This release introduces the Dreamlands dimension, and it is available in both 60-card starter decks and 13-card booster packs. New tomes, artifacts and spells are included, as well as new creatures from the mind of H.P Lovecraft, including the Men of Leng, the water lizards of Mnar, and the cats of Ulthar. There are a total of 200 cards.
New Aeon - Sold in 13-card booster packs or 60-card starters, New Aeon features a mixture of classic Cthulhu mythos and modern-day menaces. There are five new investigators to play, and a total of 200 new cards in all. New locations abound, as well as spells, ancient tomes, and harrowing events. In addition to traditional CoC monsters such as Yog-Sothoth, Azathoth and Shub-Niggurath, investigators can also match wits and firepower against undead Nazis, grey aliens, Men in Black, and even IRS auditors. Each starter deck includes 4 to 5 adventures.
The Art of Playing Mythos - No cards are included, but this
book does answer a myriad of questions about the collectible card game,
offer updated standard and tournament rules, plus original stories and
examples of combat. If you’re serious about winning at Mythos
and improving your Mythos strategy, this book will give you an
edge.
Mythos Card Game Rules: How to Play Mythos
According to the Mythos card game rules, each player should begin by choosing their investigator, shuffling their cards, and then drawing a hand of 13 cards. Play then begins with gamers using resource cards such as spells, artifacts and allies. In order to slow down the progress of your opponent, you can also play event cards such as phobias and madmen with shotguns. Some event cards function differently, so be sure to carefully read the Mythos rules before play begins.
Combat takes place when all cards have been played in a round. Monster cards are played face-down in front of the player, and then he or she can send them to attack an opponent. In games with more than two players, you can split up your monsters to attack multiple opponents.
Sanity is especially important to the investigators, as being reduced to zero sanity will cause a player to be removed from the game. Starting sanity can be found on the investigator cards. During the course of Mythos gameplay, an investigator’s sanity can rise and fall numerous times.
The goal of the game is to complete adventures. In order to do so, you’ll need to play certain cards or have them in your story deck or around your investigator. When one investigator completes an adventure, this ends a standard game of Mythos. The value of the completed adventure is then added to the player’s remaining sanity points, while other players merely add up their sanity points. The player with the highest total wins. In case of a tie, the player who completed the adventure will be declared the winner.
Mythos Tournament Rules
Mythos tournament rules are the same as the latest version of Mythos. All items outlined in the rulebook must be followed, and rounds last 50 minutes. The total tournament time is about four hours and consists of three non-elimination rounds. Twenty or more points ends a game, and the final game has no time limit.
Multiple players may use the same investigator card, and cards from foreign editions of Mythos are considered legal. A deck must have a minimum of 52 cards to be considered legal.
At least one judge must oversee the tournament, and they are responsible for keeping order and warning or disqualifying any player who becomes abusive or holds up the game. With larger tournaments, more than one judge may be present.
When a game ends, players receive scores based on their completed adventures and position. The player in first place gets a bonus of 10 points, while second place gets 5, third gets 2, and last place receives 0 points. The last round, however, is scored at 20 points like a traditional campaign game.
The Mythos Card Game Online
Since the product has been out of print for years, you’re not likey to find a Mythos card game online. Your only option, therefore, is to buy the decks through an online store or auction site, get a group of friends together, and then play Mythos face-to-face. And since no new Mythos products have been released since 1997, a sudden revival in popularity is also unlikely.
Mythos Review
If you’re looking for a collectible card game that packs original ideas into a pleasing visual package, you might want to give Mythos a try. Fans of H.P. Lovecraft or the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game will be especially drawn to the product, but those who’ve cut their teeth on Magic: The Gathering may also be interested in the strategy of playing and managing a deck of cards. Finding decks can be difficult since the game is out of print, but those willing to invest a little time and money will find their efforts rewarded.