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. Expeditions are built for a party — your gear is a shared pool you distribute between teammates, and only the host chooses the contract for each run.
Can I play solo or offline?
You can play offline, and nothing stops you running an expedition alone — but the forest is balanced around a party. Some creatures only ambush an isolated explorer, so going solo is markedly harder. Broader solo support is planned for after launch.
Why isolation is dangerous →What is the Mound?
The Mound is the heart of the expedition: a structure whose antechamber is sealed by eight pillars and leads 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?
Saint statues carved by the camp's carpenter grant a lasting blessing when you pray to them — 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?
To leave, every living party member has to regroup at the rowboats — a straggler strands the team. Plan your route back before the forest awakens, not once the spawns surge, and don't be the one looting on the far side of the map when the timer runs out.
Forest awakening & the timer →What is the most valuable treasure?
Metal idols are the prize hauls — the highest-tier idols sell for 700 coins each. 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 camp chores like setting the cauldron and adding firewood and water.
Scoring & quota →