Frequently asked questions
The questions players ask most about surviving the forest and the Mound below it.
Is The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu a co-op game?
Yes — online co-op for up to four explorers, with solo supported via an AI companion. Expeditions are built for a party: your gear is a shared pool you distribute between teammates, so agree on who carries what before you set off.
Can I play solo?
Yes — solo is fully supported. Run an expedition on your own and the game gives you an AI companion to draw fire and revive you, and the difficulty scales to how many human players are in the party. You can disable the companion if you want a sterner test. It's still the harder way to play — some creatures only reveal themselves to an isolated target — but it's a supported way to play, not a self-imposed hard mode.
Playing solo, explained →What is the Mound?
The Mound is the heart of the expedition: a structure whose antechamber is sealed by an arcane barrier — five pillars stand in the room, tied to the force blocking the way down toward the subterranean world of K'n-yan. Descending into the depths and finding a way to stop the K'n-yani is the campaign's goal.
Passage into the depths →How do patron saints work?
Bring the carpenter the small devotional figures you find on expeditions and he carves them into patron saints. Once one is carved, choose it at the ox-wagon on the top deck and pay the tokens to bring it along — its blessing then covers that expedition, strengthening particular weapon types, granting steady regeneration, or warding off madness. Pick the one that suits your loadout.
All patron saints →What are contracts?
A contract sets your expedition's objective, the equipment pool your party is issued, any forced boss, and the reward on completion. Higher tiers — Basic through Legendary — demand more and pay more.
Browse contracts →How do I earn XP and rank up?
Completing expeditions earns XP toward 30 explorer ranks, and higher ranks unlock access to better weapons and tougher contracts. Your end-of-run score is what drives it.
All 30 ranks →Do I keep my weapons and loot between expeditions?
Weapons are issued from a shared pool set by each contract, so you don't build a permanent personal armory — you re-equip every run. What carries forward is your progress: XP and rank, your expedition tally, and treasure you bank by storing it in the ox-wagon's chest and returning alive. Loot you're still carrying when a run ends badly is lost.
How ranks unlock gear →Do I still earn anything if I don't finish the contract?
Yes. You don't have to hit the treasure quota to come away ahead — surviving and returning to the boats is scored the highest, so an incomplete run still feeds your rank. Bank what you can in the wagon and prioritise getting everyone out.
Scoring & quota →How does extraction work?
When your party is ready to end the expedition, tell Father Escalona and he guides you back to the rowboats that ferried you in. Bank what you're carrying in the ox-wagon's chest as you go — treasure only counts once it's back aboard the ship, and loot still on your body when a run ends badly is lost.
When and how to extract →What is the most valuable treasure?
Metal idols are the prize hauls — the highest-tier idol sells for 1,000 tokens, with the tier below it at 700. When wagon space runs short, carry the heaviest-value loot first.
Treasure & loot values →Why shouldn't I be alone for too long?
Some creatures only reveal themselves to an isolated target, and being alone too long also tests your mental resilience. Stay near Father Escalona, the rowboats, or your teammates to stay safe.
Isolation, explained →Does making noise matter?
Yes — noise irritates the forest itself and raises its hostility. Move quietly to approach creatures unnoticed and land a backstab before they react.
Noise & the forest →Can I revive a fallen ally?
Ammonia salts revive an unconscious ally at once. Otherwise you can carry them to safety, or load them into the ox-wagon, where Father Escalona will tend a downed player character.
Helping fallen allies →How is my expedition scored?
Returning alive is worth the most (700–1,500 points), with a bonus for exceeding the treasure quota and small amounts for cauldron chores like setting the cauldron and adding firewood and water.
Scoring & quota →