Madstone Chronicles is game of army building and engine building. Each player starts with a commander of one faction; Elves, Humans, Vampires, and Goblins. Each faction has strengths and natural enemies. Players can recruit combatants from any faction, but some work together better than others. Players gain points from members of their armies, creatures and artifacts they've destroyed, and gold crystals. Players place cards into field of play to gain red crystals, they use those crystals for special effects and capturing and killing creatures. They can only attack another player's army when darkness falls. Every card is different and has special abilities. So build the best army you can and fight for the most points! The game contains 68 cards, 4 commander cards, a game board, 20 poison tokens, 40 red clear plastic crystals, 20 yellow clear plastic tokens. --description from the publisher: