Curses & Covens is an all-vs-one hidden information game where one player takes on the role of the Witch Hunter, while all other players are townsfolk working to protect the friendly witches!

• Witch Hunter’s Goal: Capture 5 witches.
• Towns’ Goal: Form a coven of three witches of the same suit in a single player’s hand.

Gameplay Overview

The game is played in four repeating phases, with tense interaction, deduction, and bluffing on both sides.

1. Census

• All towns reveal their current cards (a mix of witches, innocent villagers, rituals, or a scarecrow).
• Towns may win immediately if a player has 3 witches of the same suit in hand.
• If a player has 2 witches, they may cast a spell against the Witch Hunter.
• Town players openly discuss strategies for the round… but remember: the Witch Hunter is listening.

2. Arrival

• The Witch Hunter deals 1 new card to each town.
• Now:
  • The Witch Hunter knows all hands.
  • The towns gain new information they cannot openly share with teammates.

3. Travel

• Town players secretly consider their new cards.
• They may:
  • Give or request a card from another player.
  • Protect or hide key cards by swapping them into the woods, where they are safe (but temporarily inaccessible).
• The Witch Hunter observes the movement of cards… but not their contents.

4. Hunt

• The Witch Hunter selects 2 cards total from the towns.
• Possible outcomes:
  • Capturing witches advances the Witch Hunter’s goal.
  • Innocent villagers punish reckless guesses.
  • Ritual cards create dangerous setbacks.
  • The Scarecrow (fake witch) frees previously captured witches.

Winning the Game

• Witch Hunter Victory: Capture 5 witches.
• Town Victory: Assemble a coven of 3 matching witches in one hand.

Strategy & Tension

• Townsfolk must communicate carefully, balancing information sharing and secrecy to outwit the Witch Hunter.
• Witch Hunter must track probabilities, read between the lines of town discussions, and strike decisively.
• Every round forces both sides to reconsider:
  • Stick to the old plan?
  • Or adapt to new information?

Curses & Covens blends social deduction, probability, and strategy into a high-stakes battle of wit and deception.