Eternal Decks · Board game rules
What are the rules of the festival card?
Quick answer
FESTIVAL uses CAMP placement rules, and while active, every player may play one or two cards (to any Field row and/or the River) on their turn instead of just one.
Details
FESTIVAL is one of the four Ghost Town Field Cards used in Stage B. It follows the same placement rules as CAMP, meaning only the Common Placement Rules apply (no same color or same number adjacent) [p.31 — Ghost Town Field Cards].
While the Festival is active, all players gain a standing ability usable on their turn: you may play one or two cards to any Field row and/or the River. This can be two cards to the Field, two cards to the River, or one to each. If you play two cards and this triggers a Bonus or Revives an Eternal, resolve that only after both cards have been played. Also, once a fifth card has been played to the River, you cannot play a sixth card in the same turn [p.31 — Ghost Town Field Cards].
In Stage B+ ("Backup"), when the Gatekeeper appears, the Festival reaches "Peak Time" and the rule changes: instead of being allowed to play one or two cards, you are now required to play two cards every turn (two in Field / two in River / one in each). If you cannot play two cards (because you have zero or one card in hand), the cycle of life fails and everyone immediately loses. Note that using Ability Cards, Generating Jewels, and spending Hearts do not count as "playing cards to the Field or River" for this requirement [p.49 — Stage B+ Backup].
Watch out: The normal FESTIVAL rule (play one or two cards) is optional/flexible, but the Peak Time version in Stage B+ is mandatory — failing to play two cards causes an instant loss, so don't confuse the two versions.