Save Doctor Lucky

Overview

Save Doctor Lucky is a board game of self-aggrandizing heroism for 3-7 players, designed by James Ernest and published by Cheapass Games (and later Titanic Games). The game is the thematic opposite of Kill Doctor Lucky – instead of murdering the old man, players compete to save him while being seen doing so. Set on a sinking ship, players attempt to rescue Doctor Lucky from various perils while another player observes, proving their heroism. As the ship sinks, decks are removed from the game, forcing players into closer quarters and making it easier to be observed. If Doctor Lucky is not saved before the ship sinks completely, everyone loses.

Components

• 1 Game board depicting a multi-deck ship (cross-section view)
• Doctor Lucky pawn
• Player pawns
• Save cards (various heroic actions)
• Failure cards (to prevent others’ rescue attempts)
• Room cards
• Deck removal markers
• Lucky points tracker

Setup

Place the board showing the ship’s multiple decks. Each player places their pawn in a starting room. Place Doctor Lucky on his starting space. Shuffle and deal save and failure cards to each player. The ship starts with all decks intact.

Turn Structure

On each turn, a player:

1. Move: Move your pawn one room in any direction (or stay put).
2. Draw a Card: Draw one card from the deck.
3. Doctor Lucky Moves: Doctor Lucky moves along his preset path through the ship.
4. Save Attempt (optional): If you are in the same room as Doctor Lucky AND another player can see you, attempt to save him.

Actions

Movement

• Move your pawn to an adjacent room (through doors/corridors).
• You may stay in your current room.
• As decks sink, some rooms become unavailable.

Save Attempts

• You may only attempt a save when:
  • You are in the same room as Doctor Lucky.
  • At least one other player has line-of-sight to you (can see you being heroic).
• Play a save card to attempt the rescue. Each save card has a save value.
• Other players may play failure cards to prevent your save (they don’t want you to get the glory).
• If the total save value exceeds the total failure value, the save succeeds and you win.

Line of Sight

• Players can see through connected rooms in straight lines.
• As the ship sinks and decks are removed, fewer walls remain, making observation easier.
• You NEED to be seen – unlike Kill Doctor Lucky, visibility is required.

Card Management

• Draw cards each turn to build your hand of save and failure cards.
• Save cards are played offensively (to save the doctor).
• Failure cards are played defensively (to prevent others from saving him and stealing the glory).

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Win: The first player to successfully save Doctor Lucky while being observed wins the game.

Lose (all players): If Doctor Lucky is not saved before the ship sinks completely (all decks removed), everyone loses.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Sinking Ship: At regular intervals, the lowest remaining deck is removed from the game. Any pawns on that deck are moved up. This creates urgency and changes the board layout.
• Visibility Requirement: Unlike Kill Doctor Lucky, you MUST be seen. This inverts the stealth mechanic.
• Failure Card Defense: Players want to prevent others from saving the doctor because only the savior gets the glory. There is no collaboration.
• Doctor Lucky’s Path: Doctor Lucky moves along a predetermined route. Players must anticipate where he will be.
• Crowding: As decks sink, all players and Doctor Lucky are crowded into fewer rooms, increasing both save opportunities and the ability for others to block.
• Time Pressure: The sinking mechanic creates a ticking clock. If players spend too long blocking each other, everyone can lose.

Player Reference

Requirement	For a Save Attempt
Same room as Doctor Lucky	Yes
Being observed by another player	Yes
Play a save card	Yes
Opponents play failure cards	They can try to block you

Win: Successfully save Doctor Lucky while observed.

Lose: Ship sinks before anyone saves him (all players lose).