I'll post the sections of the variant rules that have changed from the base game and expansion rules. If anyone is interested in the full consolidated rules document I'm more than happy to share via Google Docs.
TALISMAN UNDERWORLD VARIANT
Talisman Underworld is a play variant allowing for the use of both the original main board and the Cataclysm Expansion board in the same game. In this variant, the Cataclysm board is re-flavored as the Underworld, the Shadow Realm of the Dead, ruled over by the Lord of Darkness. All standard Talisman rules apply except as noted.
Mandatory Components: Talisman Core Rules, Talisman: The Cataclysm Expansion. Suggested Component: Talisman: The Dungeon Expansion. Non-Recommended Component: The Deep Realms Expansion.
CORE AND CATACLYSM RULES
Game Setup
-
The core set board and cataclysm expansion board are unfolded and placed in the centre of the playing area.
-
The Adventure Cards are shuffled and placed facedown beside the boards. These form the Adventure deck.
-
The Spell Cards are shuffled and placed facedown beside the boards. These form the Spell deck.
-
Shuffle the Remnant deck. Then, on each space with a Remnant symbolon the cataclysm expansion board, place one Remnant card facedown for each Remnant symbol there. Then return the Remnant deck to the box.
-
Shuffle the Denizen deck and place it facedown next to the board.
-
Shuffle the Talisman cards together to form a Talisman deck and place it facedown next to the board.
-
Shuffle the Warlock Quest cards together to form a Warlock Quest deck and place it facedown next to the board.
-
The Purchase Cards are placed face-up beside the board.
-
Place “The Eternal Crown” Alternative Ending card on the Crown of Command. Optionally, if players wish to use other Alternative Ending cards, one player shuffles those cards, draws one at random, and places it on the Crown of Command.
-
One player takes the character cards, shuffles them, and deals one, facedown, to each player. (Alternative rule: If all players agree, players who want more selection may be dealt three character cards each, and then choose which one of those three characters they wish play. The other characters not chosen are returned to the box and may be available if a character is killed.)
-
Each player places his character card faceup in front of him. This card is the character the player will play during the game. A player’s character card, Objects, Followers, counters, and other game components form his play area.
-
Each player takes the plastic character figure corresponding to his character card and places it on the core set board according to the start space given on his character card.
-
Each player receives a number of life counters equal to the life value listed on his character card and a number of fate tokens equal the fate value listed on his character card. Players also each receive one gold. Life, fate, and gold should all be placed in the appropriate spots next to each character card. The remaining counters, tokens, and gold are placed to one side as stockpiles for use during the game.
-
Any player whose character starts the game with any Spells, as detailed in the character’s special abilities, draws the designated number of Spell Cards from the Spell deck. These should not be revealed to other players.
-
Any player whose character starts the game with any Objects, as detailed in the character’s special abilities, now takes the designated Object Cards from the Purchase deck.
-
The Toad and Alignment Cards should be kept handy, to be used when required.
- The owner of the game takes the first turn. Play then proceeds round the board clockwise from that player.
Movement
The game boards depicting the magical land of Talisman are divided into two Realms (the Overworld and the the Underworld). The core board and all expansion boards attached to it are the Overworld Realm and the cataclysm expansion board and the dungeon, if in play, are the Underworld Realm. Both main boards are divided into three Regions (the Outer Region, the Middle Region, and the Inner Region). Each Region is subdivided into spaces, and each space has its title and encounter instructions printed along its edge. Characters move around the spaces in the Region they are in and can cross between Regions, and sometimes even Realms, as a result of encounters or card abilities.
Losing All Lives in the Overworld Realm
Any character who loses all of his lives in the Overworld Realm is immediately killed. All the character’s Objects, Magic Objects, Followers, and gold are placed on the space where the character was killed. The character figure is placed on the corresponding space of the cataclysm expansion board if it was on the main board or the entry space (city, crags, or forest; ignoring any terrain cards) if it was on an expansion board, but does not encounter that space. The dead character’s player receives a number of life counters equal to the life value listed on his character card. Characters are moved to the cataclysm expansion board after death if, and only if, no character has yet reached the Crown of Command during the game. If any character has reached the Crown of Command, a player whose character is killed is out of the game.
Losing All Lives in the Underworld Realm
Any character who loses all of his lives in the Underworld Realm is permanently killed. All the character’s Objects, Magic Objects, Followers, and gold are placed on the space where the character was killed. All the character’s Strength and Craft counters and fate tokens are returned to their stockpiles. The character’s Spell Cards are placed on the Spell Card discard pile. Other cards (including the character’s trophies) and counters are placed in the appropriate stock or discard piles. The character card and character figure are removed from the game. The dead character’s player may start again, on his next turn, with a new character drawn at random from the unused character cards, following steps 5–10 from the “Game Setup” section. Players may start new characters if, and only if, no character has yet reached the Crown of Command during the game. If any character has reached the Crown of Command, a player whose character is killed is out of the game.
Start Space
A character’s start space is the space in the Overworld Realm which he begins the game on. A character’s start space is listed on the bottom of his character card next to his alignment.
The Crown of Command
The last space on the board is the Crown of Command. It can only be reached from the Valley of Fire space, which can only be entered by characters that have a Talisman. If a character does not have a Talisman, then he must turn back. A character entering the Crown of Command space on the cataclysm expansion board moves immediately to the Crown of Command space on the core board.
Terrain Cards
Certain game effects instruct players to place a Terrain card on a space of the game board. While a Terrain card is on a space, the text and name of that space is ignored and the text and name of the Terrain card is used instead. If an effect refers to a space that is not on the board in the Realm where the effect occurred, it affects the same named place in the other Realm. If the named place is not in either Realm, that effect is ignored. For example, if the Portal of Power space in the Overworld Realm contains a “Monastery” Terrain card and a “3” is rolled at the Crypt, the character moves to the Portal of Power in the Underworld Realm. If the Portal of Power space in the Underworld Realm has also been changed by a terrain card, the effect of moving to the Portal of Power is ignored.
Interaction Between Realms
Global Effects
Effects that affect all characters affect each character despite the Realm the effect occurred in and the Realm the character is currently in. Likewise, effects that can target any character, regardless of region, may target a character in the other Realm (e.g. a character in the Underworld Realm may cast Random on a character in the Overworld Realm).
Regions
The Outer, Middle, and Inner Regions are made up of the corresponding Regions in both the Overworld and Underworld Realms. Effects that affect all characters in a specified Region affect all characters in that Region despite the Realm the effect occurred in and the Realm the character is currently in. Likewise, effects that can target a character in a specified Region may target a character in the other Realm (e.g. a character in the Overworld Realm may cast Vortex on a character in the Underworld Realm).
Spaces
Any effect involving an unnamed space may only be used in conjunction with spaces in your current Realm. If an effect involves a named space, the player must choose that space in their character’s current Realm. If the named space does not exist in the character’s current Realm, they must instead choose the named space in the other Realm. Effects that refer to “that character’s space” are considered a named space and occur in relation to that Character. Effects that refer to face up Adventure cards are treated as named spaces. If the named space does not exist in either Realm the effect is ignored. Examples:
-
When casting Teleport in the Outer Region in the Underworld Realm, you may only choose another space in the Outer Region in the Underworld, even though the Outer Region of the Overworld Realm is in the same Region.
-
When casting Transference in the Outer Region in the Overworld Realm, you may only choose to swap spaces with another character in the Outer Region in the Overworld Realm. Even though the spell targets your character, the effect involves unnamed spaces and is thus limited.
-
A character in the Outer Region in the Overworld Realm casts Vortex on a character in the Outer Region in the Underworld Realm. The character rolls a “2” and is instructed to move to the Tavern. The Tavern space in the Underworld Realm has been replaced by a Hell Pits terrain card, and thus no longer exists in the Underworld. Instead, the character moves to the Tavern space in the Overworld Realm.
Moving Between Realms
If an effect allows your character to move between realms, other than being killed, you do not lose gold, objects, or followers.