Setup

Slay the Party is designed for 2 to 4 players. Players can join or create public lobbies to play with random players. They can also play with friends in private lobbies or on the same device with local multiplayer mode.

Once in the lobby, each player selects a player name, customizes their pawn, chooses a class, and picks a perk available for that class.

At the start of the game, all players roll a d20 to determine the turn order. The player with the highest roll goes first, followed by the second-highest roll, and so on.

Image 1: Game board

The game board is a square consisting of 11 squares on each side. All players start at the Tavern square.

As shown in Image 1, the board features a variety of square types. Most squares are occupied by creatures, represented by numbers indicating their strength. The board layout is inspired by classic Monopoly, with creatures becoming stronger as players moves further. Additionally, special squares are placed around the board, particularly in the corners.

Core Gameplay Loop

Image 2: Core Gameplay Loop (special interactions are excluded)

At the start of their turn, each player rolls a d12 to determine their movement. They then move the corresponding number of squares on the board.

Creature squares are the primary interaction points in the game. When landing on one, players face a decision: fight or attempt to escape.

• Escape: The player rolls a dice to try and avoid the creature. A successful roll prevents the creature from attacking but forfeits the player’s chance to attack the creature on that turn.
• Fight: The player takes damage from the creature, reducing their health, but gains the opportunity to attack it in return.

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The fight-or-escape decision mirrors the Monopoly mechanic of deciding whether to purchase a property. Escaping is akin to not purchasing the property, saving resources for future opportunities while reducing immediate risk. Fighting, on the other hand, represents an investment for long-term advantage at the cost of resources, similar to purchasing a property. Unlike Monopoly, where landing on an owned property is highly punitive, creature encounters are less severe but include a randomness factor in escapes to maintain comparable stakes.

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Defeating creatures is the primary way to gain power in the game. Players use their skills, which consume mana, to attack and kill creatures. Victories reward gold and experience points (XP):