Salem is new and innovative board game of witch hunts, accusations, trials and hangings deeply rooted in the historical events of 1692
Read my recent interview with a Boston Globe reporter
"Salem definitely stands out as a unique accomplishment in board game design. The theme, mechanics and flow of play are all highly engaging. I've played it numerous times and it continues to be distinctly different–and distinctly fun–from anything I've seen" –Amy Logan, Co-owner Gamma Ray Games and The Raygun Lounge
"I got a sneak preview of this game back in 2009 in Chicago and had to back it immediately" --Daniel Cassar, designer "Cavemen: The Quest for Fire" (Rio Grande Games)
Featured on brainiac, bostinno, stonemaier games, rockpapershotgun, the cardboard jungle and futileposition
STRETCH REWARDS--included with each copy of the game once the noted funding has been reached:
Salem has been in development since 2006 and has been play-tested over 300 times by more than 200 play-testers. The final product is elegant, streamlined and enjoyed by a broad variety gamers. Players are always active, even on other player's turns, making it a perfect fit for groups of 3-7 players. Extensive research has been done on the 42 citizens in the game, adding a deeply rich narrative to a highly engaging game.
THE STORY
The year is 1692. In an atmosphere of pessimism and charged paranoia, the citizens of Salem are at the mercy of demons; not demons of the soul, but demons of the mind. What began as a devout Puritan community devolved in a matter of months into a people torn apart by fear, lies, and fanatical orthodoxy. The residents of Salem quickly discovered that they could find Hell all around them.
This game incites the atmosphere of paranoia that held the village of Salem captive. Players act with the assumption that there are witches among them (and, in this case, there will be). Each player controls 6 residents of Salem, 3 of whom are witches. Game play is simple: try to rid the village of witches and keep the identities of your own residents secret.
The game plays over the course of 4 rounds representing the 4 months (June–September 1692) in which the hysteria was at its height. Each round has 3 parts: a Witch Hunt and a Witch Trial followed by hangings. During the Witch Hunt, players send residents to jail and provide alibis for their own jailed citizens. At the end of each round all jailed citizens stand trial. Players then collectively decide who is hanged and who is spared. The player who is most successful at discerning witches from villagers wins!
While the story surrounding the Salem witch trials has become something of a legend, every character in this game is based on a real person whose life was directly touched and in some cases torn apart or taken away by the events surrounding the Salem witch trials.
While this game focuses on the people and events specific to Salem, Massachusetts, similar witch hunts were taking place as far north as Maine and as far West as Connecticut. Surely, the devil had come to New England.
I can't say it enough: thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your contribution. This cannot happen without you!!
Full rules can be downloaded HERE (note that these are still in the process of being play-tested, clarified and edited. The full rule book will be 12 pages with beautiful illustrations by Levi and lots of historical add-ons)
THE CITIZENS OF SALEM
the following citizens are still available for custom art:
LYDIA DUSTIN female, 79 (available)
MARY EASTY female, 56 (available)
REBECCA NURSE female, 71 (available)
MARY PARKER female, 55 (available)
SARAH WILDES female, 65 (available)
MARGARET SCOTT female, 77 (available)
ANN FOSTER female, 70s (available)
ANN PUDEATOR female, 70 (available)
ELIZABETH HUBBARD (taken)
MARGARET JACOBS (taken)
SARAH CHURCHILL (taken)
MERCY LEWIS (taken)
ALEXANDER OSBORNE (taken)
REBECCA JACOBS (taken)
THOMAS PUTNAM, JR (taken)
JOHN INDIAN (taken)
ROGER TOOTHAKER (taken)
JOHN HATHORNE (taken)
DORCAS GOOD (taken)
GILES COREY (taken)
REVEREND SAMUEL PARRIS (taken)
ABIGAIL WILLIAMS (taken)
TITUBA (taken)
REVEREND GEORGE BURROUGHS (taken)
SARAH OSBORNE (taken)
JOHN PROCTOR (taken)
ELIZABETH PROCTOR (taken)
MARTHA CARRIER (taken)
WILMOTT REDD (taken)
SAMUEL WARDWELL (taken)
ELIZABETH HOWE (taken)
BRIDGET BISHOP (taken)
GEORGE JACOBS SR (taken)
MARY WALCOTT female, 17 (taken)
SUSANNAH MARTIN female, 71 (taken)
Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
The challenges of completing this project is getting everything done in a timely fashion. Historically when it comes to board games this is where we fall flat. I've been very open and engaged with my artist and my manufacturer about the scope of this project. The artist has agreed to not take on new projects so we can have the artwork finished in time, and the manufacturer has a track record of being the best, most reliable in the industry. I'm committed that everything about this game is done right. I freaking love what i do. This is a project about the love of games. And I plan on doing this for a very long time to come.
FAQ
-
The Character cards can be placed in any configuration--they simply notate which player they belong to once the citizens wind up in jail. All the randomization happens with the 49 identity cards which look identical (ie, there is no way for me to tell whether your 1 citizen is a witch or a villager as there will always be 4 villagers and 3 witches of each number). The identity cards are randomized using 7 setup cards that provide over 4000 possible combinations that the players will get at the start of the game. I will be posting rules and a video explaining this shortly, as it's best to see visually.
-
The answer to this question is mathematical. For years the game had 6 sets of 6 cards. However with this configuration players would have 2 Witches (same number identity card) in common with one other player. This ended up impeding those players to deduce between each other. By having 7 sets of 7 cards, each player will have exactly one Witch in common (same identity number) with every other player. This knowledge aids your deduction. Removing one Villager also provides all players some information about all other players, and streamlines the deduction process to the sweet spot.
-
the cards (identity and citizen) will all be 2mm thick card stock, so the need for an additional game board is completely superfluous (we had one for a while, and it mostly got in the way and was a nuisance). the game board referenced will be small (5"x5") and double sided for the witch trial and scoring at the end of the game.
-
A lot haha
190 accusation cubes (20 each of 7 player colors, plus 25 Witch and 25 Villager cubes)
49 identity cards (2mm cardstock)
42 resident cards
7 setup cards (2mm cardstock)
1 town center board
4 month cards (round cards 2mm cardstock)
21 player markers (3 of each color, 2mm cardstock, used when playing with fewer than 7 players)
21 alibi cards (3 of each player color)
49 accusation cards (7 sets of 7)
14 witch trial cards (7 Witch, 7 Villager)
1 deduction pad (100 sheets)
7 privacy boards (for keeping deductions secret)
1 accusation marker
1 rule book
-
great question! the majority of the last 10 months of playtesting has been devoted to ensuring it scales well with any number within that range. all the colors are used in every game (unplayed colors are divided up among remaining players) so you really get the same game no matter the number of players involved. when one of your non-default colored citizens is accused, the alibi you offer is given using your base set of cards. so you get additional information up-front, however the deduction also scales so that it's not too easily solvable. i'm really proud of how well we worked that out.
-
This is an option I'm looking into and am waiting on a 2-week turn around for a quote. I'll keep you updated!
-
I do have a variant to the game that I've been working on--so far haven't worked it out well enough to make it official but I'll break it back out again and see what I come up with!
-
90 minutes is typical. If you have experienced players it drops off a bit, for first time players it can be a bit longer than that.
553
Backers
$33,812
pledged of $30,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Oct 2, 2012 -
Nov 1, 2012
- First created · 56 backed
- Joshua Gerald Balvin 1672 friends
- Website: facebook.com
Pledge $1 or more
15 backers
An earnest "thank you" for your contribution to this project
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $1 or more
3 backers
for game stores, contact me for prices for retail copies (available in sets of four)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $20 or more
3 backers
A limited edition 4.25 x 5.5" art print signed by both the game designer and the artist (the same that is included with every copy backed on Kickstarter)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $35 or more
77 backers
One copy of SALEM (expected retail: $50) including all stretch rewards available for pickup in Seattle, WA.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $40 or more
150 backers All gone!
EARLY BIRD: Limited quantity. One copy of SALEM including all stretch rewards (shipping included within the US, +$10 to Canada, +$20 Worldwide)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $45 or more
195 backers Limited (997 of 1192 left)
One copy of SALEM (expected retail: $50) including all stretch rewards (shipping included within the US, +$10 to Canada, +$20 Worldwide)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $55 or more
6 backers All gone!
One copy of SALEM including all stretch rewards (shipping included within the US, +$10 to Canada, +$20 Worldwide)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $75 or more
31 backers
BUDDY/GIFT backers: 2 copies of SALEM (expected retail: $50) including all stretch rewards (shipping included within the US, +$10 to Canada, +$20 Worldwide). Both copies must be shipped to the same address. Find a buddy to back with you, give one away as a gift or keep it as a collectible item!
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $85 or more
13 backers Limited (139 of 152 left)
One copy of SALEM plus all stretch rewards AND a signed card from the original prototype with a personalized message of "thanks" AND get your name listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook (shipping included within the US, +$10 to Canada, +$20 Worldwide)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $100 or more
20 backers Limited (40 of 60 left)
One copy of SALEM (including all stretch rewards) AND an exclusive invitation to the SALEM launch party at Seattle's Raygun Lounge (food! drinks! games!) AND get your name listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $150 or more
5 backers Limited (20 of 25 left)
Have the image of yourself or someone you love used as the inspiration for a card in "The Accused" expansion (NOTE--the art direction is abstract so the likeness will be subtle. It is noticeable, but not obvious) AND get your name listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook PLUS one copy of SALEM shipped anywhere on the planet (shipping included), all stretch rewards.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $165 or more
4 backers
4 copies of SALEM (including all stretch rewards) shipped anywhere in the United States--get your friends/game community in on the action and save some money! I'll even autograph them for anyone who's interested! AND get your names listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $175 or more
18 backers Limited (7 of 25 left)
One copy of SALEM shipped anywhere on the planet (shipping included), all stretch rewards, PLUS have the image of yourself or someone you love used as the inspiration for a citizen card in the game (NOTE--please see the list at the bottom of the page for availability as all citizens in the game are based on real residents of Salem and age/gender are subject to availability. Also note that the art direction is abstract so the likeness will be subtle. It is noticeable, but not obvious) AND get your name listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $180 or more
4 backers
4 copies of SALEM (including all stretch rewards) shipped anywhere in EUROPE--get your friends/game community in on the action and save some money! I'll even autograph them for anyone who's interested! AND get your names listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $350 or more
4 backers
10 copies of SALEM for the price of 8 (including all stretch rewards), shipped anywhere in the United States. Get your friends/game group together and save money! I'll even autograph them for anyone who's interested! AND get your names listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $500 or more
1 backer
For anyone within a 30 minute drive of Seattle WA, Vancouver BC or Portland OR, I will host a game of SALEM with you and your 6 favorite gaming friends AND everyone will receive their very own copy of the game (7 copies total) and all stretch rewards AND get your names listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
For anyone within a 30 minute drive of Chicago or New York City, I will host a game of SALEM with you and your 6 favorite gaming friends AND everyone will receive their very own copy of the game (7 copies total) and all stretch rewards AND get your names listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Pledge $1,750 or more
0 backers
The game designer will fly to anywhere in the United States and play SALEM with your favorite game friends AND everyone will receive their very own copy of the game (7 copies total) and all stretch rewards AND get your names listed as a special "thanks" in the rulebook
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013
