The Witches (2013) Board Game

The Witches board game is based on the classic Roald Dahl novel of the same name, where players take on the roles of children trying to stop the evil witches from turning all children into mice. Designed by Martin Wallace and published by Treefrog Games in 2013, this cooperative game offers a unique and immersive experience for players.

Game Components of The Witches

Game board featuring major locations from Lancre

Four 6-sided Witch dice (two of which do not have the value for 1, instead showing a witch’s face)

Cards providing powers, bonuses to rolls, or movement abilities

Tokens, including cackle counters and problem tokens

Character cards with unique starting powers for each witch

Beautiful artwork matching the Discworld books

How To Setup The Witches

To set up the game, players first place the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player selects a witch character and places their token on the designated starting space. The problem tokens are shuffled and placed randomly on the board. Each player starts with a set of cards and rolls the dice to determine the initial hand size. The instructions, though not great, come with a cheat sheet to help guide the setup process.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Movement: Players can move up to two spaces on the board, stopping for other witches or problems.

Actions: After moving, players can either solve problems or have tea with other players.

Problem Solving: Players roll two dice to solve problems. They can play cards or run away. Success earns points, while failure results in cackle tokens.

Tea: Having tea removes cackle counters from all involved players.

Problem Types: Minor and major problems, each offering different rewards (increasing hand size or adding to the dice pool).

Game End: The game ends when all problems are solved or a situation occurs where everybody loses. The player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

The Witches offers a unique blend of competitive and cooperative gameplay. While players compete to accumulate the most points, they must also work together to prevent a situation where everyone loses. The game is praised for its beautiful artwork and thematic execution, making Lancre come alive. However, the instructions can be intimidating, and the game’s simplicity may not appeal to older players.

Pros

Thematic Execution: The game beautifully captures the essence of the Discworld series.

Engaging Mechanics: Simple yet engaging gameplay with a good balance of strategy and luck.

Family-Friendly: Ideal for younger players and families.

High-Quality Components: Beautiful artwork and well-made tokens and cards.

Scalability: The game scales well with the number of players.

Cons

Instructions: The instructions are not great and can be confusing.

Simplicity: The game may be too light for older players seeking more complexity.

Repetitive Tasks: Some tasks can feel repetitive, though this adds to the thematic verisimilitude.

Visual Issue: Green tiles on the green board can be hard to see.

Personal Thoughts on The Witches

The Witches is a fantastic addition to any board game collection, especially for fans of the Discworld series. It is highly recommended for families and younger players who will enjoy the simple yet engaging gameplay. For older players, it may serve as a light, casual game that is enjoyable but not overly challenging. The game’s ability to balance individual competition with cooperative elements makes it a unique and interesting experience. However, those seeking a more complex game may find it too light. Overall, it is a well-crafted game that brings the charm of Lancre and its witches to life.

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