New Salem

"New Salem" is a strategic card game set in the 17th century, where players assume the roles of founders establishing a new town to escape the turmoil of the Salem Witch Trials. The game combines elements of hidden identity, deduction, drafting, and set collection, offering an engaging social experience.

Gameplay Overview:

• Objective: Players aim to build a prosperous town by constructing various buildings while preventing the spread of despair caused by witches.
• Mechanics:
• Hidden Identity: Each player has a secret role, either as a Puritan or a Witch, influencing their objectives and actions.
• Drafting: Players select and pass cards to gather resources and construct buildings.
• Set Collection: Constructing specific combinations of buildings grants points and benefits.
• Despair Management: Players must manage despair levels to prevent the town from succumbing to witchcraft.

Components:

• Cards:
• Building Cards: Represent various structures that players can construct.
• Event Cards: Introduce random events that can alter the course of the game.
• Character Cards: Define each player's role and special abilities.
• Tokens:
• Despair Tokens: Track the town's despair level.
• Resource Tokens: Represent materials needed for construction.

Additional Information:

• Players: 3 to 8
• Age: 14 and up
• Playing Time: 30 to 45 minutes
• Designer: Brian Henk, Clayton Skancke
• Publisher: Overworld Games

"New Salem" offers a blend of strategic planning and social interaction, making it a compelling choice for fans of deduction and resource management games.