Shamans (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Shamans is a card game designed by Cédrick Chaboussit and published by Studio H in in 2021. It falls under the categories of Deduction, Fantasy, and Card Game. The game revolves around players taking on the roles of shamans, trying to uncover the identity of the evil sorcerer who is threatening their village. With elements of deduction and hidden roles, Shamans offers a unique gaming experience for 3-5 players.

Game Components of Shamans

Gameboard: A small board showing the passage of time, represented by a lunar cycle track.

Role Cards: Assign players as either Shamans or the Shadow.

Deck of Cards: Consists of 6 suits, each numbered 1 to 6, adjusted based on the player count.

Artifact Tiles: Placed face up or face down on the board, with rituals associated with each color.

Moon Shards: Tokens that grant additional victory points.

Eclipse Tile: Special tile that forces players to pass cards to their neighbors.

Dagger Artifact: Used for eliminating other players during certain rituals.

How To Setup Shamans

To set up Shamans, start by secretly assigning role cards to the players; in a 4-player game, three players are Shamans and one is the Shadow. Construct the deck based on the player count and shuffle it, dealing 9 cards to each player. Place two artifact tiles face up on the board, with the remainder forming a face-down draw pile. The gameboard is placed in the center, showing the lunar cycle track.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hidden Roles: Players have secret roles as either Shamans or the Shadow.

Trick-Taking: Players play cards matching the suit of the led card; if not, the card is placed next to the board and the Shadow pawn moves forward.

Rituals: Performing rituals based on completing sets of cards (e.g., Illumination, Neutralization, Permutation, Stabilization).

Illumination (Purple): Gain 1 victory point.

Neutralization (Green, Brown, Red, Grey): Eliminate another player using a Dagger artifact.

Permutation (Yellow): Exchange your role card with another player.

Stabilization (Blue): Move the Shadow pawn back or take an artifact tile.

Objective:

Shamans: Prevent the Shadow pawn from reaching the end of the track or eliminate the Shadow.

Shadow: Move the pawn to the end of the track.

Player Experience

Shamans combines social deduction with trick-taking mechanics, creating a dynamic and unpredictable game environment. Players must navigate their hidden roles carefully, trying not to raise suspicion while working towards their team’s objective. The game encourages strategic thinking and meta-gaming, especially towards the end when players may target leaders to prevent them from winning.

Pros

Engaging Social Deduction: Players must figure out who is on their team and who is the traitor.

Dynamic Trick-Taking: The game mechanics ensure each round is different and challenging.

Strategic Depth: The rituals and artifacts add layers of strategy and unpredictability.

Quick Gameplay: Games are typically short, lasting about 45 minutes.

Cons

High Randomness: The game includes elements like the eclipse tile and role switching that can introduce significant randomness.

Role Switching Uncertainty: Players’ roles can change unexpectedly, which can be frustrating.

Hidden Roles Mechanics: Some players might find the hidden roles mechanism less appealing due to the uncertainty and potential for betrayal.

Personal Thoughts on Shamans

Shamans is for players who enjoy social deduction games with a twist of trick-taking. It is ideal for those who appreciate dynamic gameplay and are comfortable with a degree of randomness and uncertainty. The game’s short playtime and ease of setup make it a great addition to any game night, especially for groups that enjoy strategic and interactive games. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer more predictable outcomes or are averse to hidden role mechanics.

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