The Witness Game

What is the Witness Game? This is a game that allows players to test the various policies of the Witness distrikts against realistic world crises. As they play, players will see how different policies measure against a range of random-selected problems.

They will also be able to compare against other players running different policies; at the end of the game, each player takes a moment to tell the others about why they pick the policies they did, and how they feel about their performance against the crises.

How to Play

The game is divided into turns. Each turn is divided into phases. Players complete each phase in sequence.

Play progresses for not more than 10 turns. When there is only one player left the game may also and if there is only one player left playing.

Preparation

Follow these steps to prepare to play.

  1. Place all the Event cards into a single deck. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and place it in the center of the table. All the cards should be facing down.
  2. Pick a distrikt, and your policy cards.
  3. Players select five of their distrikt's policy cards. It is up to them which ones they think will be effective. Policies work best in combinations, and some support each other. Players should take the time to familiarize themselves with each policy card. The more time they take to do this, the more they will get out of the game and better understand it.
  4. Set health indicators at five strength, each. Either record this on paper, or use tokens.

Now, you are ready to play.

The Game Turn

Event Phase

  1. The topmost Event Card is selected and placed faceup on the table. A player reads out its description, and what health indicators it affects.
  2. Players adjust their health indicators, as needed. No indicator may be higher than five. If a helpful event is drawn and the indicator it affects is already at full health, the card is ignored by the player. They may, however, play a card in the policy phase that follows.

Policy Phase

  1. Each player picks a Policy Card to play. One-Time Policy Cards are used, then discarded. Static Policy Cards remain in play, and can be used again next turn.

A player can only play one card out of their hand in a turn, placing it face-up on the table before them. On following turns however, if they have played Static Cards, the effect each "in play" Static Card may be used again (see example below).