Cthulhu: Dark Providence Setup and First Game Walkthrough
By Asmodee – Asmodee USA | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: Handleidingen
Learn how to set up Cthulhu: Dark Providence and play your first game with clear steps, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for new investigators.
Quick answer
Set up Cthulhu: Dark Providence by separating the deck-building cards, secret agenda cards, and influence tokens, then deal each player their hidden agenda before the first turn. Play your first game with open agendas for one round to learn the flow, then switch to hidden agendas.
Why hidden agendas change your first game
In Cthulhu: Dark Providence, no one is sure who is under the Elder Ones' sway, so secret agendas are central to the experience. For a first game, playing with open agendas for the first round lets everyone see how influence and suspicion work before hidden loyalties make every choice tense. After that round, switch to hidden agendas to preserve the game's core mystery.
Deck-building basics you should not skip
The game combines deck building with secret agendas, so your first few turns should focus on understanding how cards enter your deck and how they affect influence. Do not try to optimize your deck immediately; instead, aim to cycle through your starting cards once to see how the deck-building loop feels. This is especially important for players new to deck builders.
Setup and first-game steps
- Separate the card types: Sort the deck-building cards from the secret agenda cards and any influence tokens. Keep the agenda cards face down and shuffle the deck-building cards separately. Check that no agenda card is mixed into the deck-building draw pile before you deal.
- Deal secret agendas: Give each player one secret agenda card face down. For your first game, you may play the first round with agendas face up so everyone can learn how they work. Agree before dealing whether the first round will use open or hidden agendas.
- Set up the influence tokens: Place the influence tokens within reach of all players. These tokens track who is under whose sway, so keep them visible and organized by type. Count the tokens once to ensure you have the full set before play begins.
- Prepare the deck-building draw pile: Shuffle the deck-building cards and place them as a draw pile. Give each player their starting deck as specified in the rulebook. Do not add agenda cards to the draw pile; they stay separate.
- Walk through one practice turn: Before starting for real, play one open turn where each player reveals their agenda and explains their card play. This clarifies how deck building and influence interact. Use this practice turn to answer questions, then reset the game state for the real first round.
- Start the first round with hidden agendas: Once everyone understands the flow, begin the first official round with agendas hidden. Remind players that no one is really sure who is held under the Elder Ones' sway. Keep the rulebook handy for the first few turns to resolve any timing questions.
Product facts
- Cthulhu: Dark Providence: Cthulhu: Dark Providence is a new take on Martin Wallace's A Study in Emerald, combining deck building, secret agendas, and H.P. Lovecraft's works. Knowing the game's lineage helps you expect a mix of hidden roles and deck management rather than a straightforward horror crawl.
Cthulhu: Dark Providence
