Proto-ConspiraSea – A New Approach to Social Deduction Games
Section 1 — Overview
Trust no one as molluscs have infiltrated the submarine crew… A 6-17 player expansive social deduction game focused on strategy.
Update [Nov. 14th 2024]:
I have began pre-production for this game! Further updates will be on the dedicated ConspiraSea page.
ConspiraSea is a fast-paced social deduction game for 6 to 17 players, set aboard a deep-sea submarine. Inspired by popular games like Among Us, Mafia, and Ultimate Werewolf, ConspiraSea adds unique mechanics and player roles to create a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
The game is built around deception and survival as players navigate an ocean of deceits, trying to uncover hidden agendas. Each game takes about 30-45 minutes and is perfect for groups of any size looking for strategic fun.
Section 2 — Game Structure
Prior to the start of the game, someone will be assigned as the Narrator.
Remaining players are divided into three classes:
• Good (Crew): Dedicated to identifying and eliminating the evil forces.
• Neutral: With unique win conditions, they may act for or against either side.
• Evil (Imps): Working to eliminate the crew members while remaining hidden.
Section 3 — Game Mechanics
Unique Mechanics
At the start of the game, the Narrator assigns roles to players, either randomly or by their choosing. The game takes place over several nights and days:
Nights
Players “wake up” secretly and sequentially to perform their role’s action (by pointing to the desired action on one’s own Role Card, in view of the Narrator).
Days
Players discuss and vote on who they believe to be suspicious, and thus should be ejected from the ship.
Key Features
Unique Roles: ConspiraSea offers a wide array of roles in each class (28 roles total). Some roles are inspired by games like Town of Salem, but many are original creations with unique abilities.
Modifiers: Certain roles are affected by modifiers like Lovers or Tank, which add layers of complexity to the game. Modifiers can change win conditions or provide special protections.
Balanced Gameplay: ConspiraSea has gone through extensive playtesting, with version two improving upon the balance of roles and mechanics. The game mat and role tokens streamline gameplay, allowing the Narrator to track the state of the game more efficiently.
Customizable Rules: Players can adjust game rules based on their group’s preferences, such as anonymous voting, role reveals on death, and skipping votes.
Section 4 — Development and Evolution
Version One was launched six months prior to the current version and included narrator cards to track the game’s progress. However, this system required a thorough understanding of the entire game, making it difficult for less experienced Narrators to manage the game effectively.
Version Two brought significant improvements, including durable plastic cards (better for outdoor play), larger cards for accessibility, and streamlined game components by combining colour, role, action cards into one. Narrator cards were replaced with an intuitive token-placement system. These updates were aimed at improving the overall user experience and reducing the Narrator role’s complexity.
Section 5 — Components
Role Cards: Each player is assigned a role card that details their abilities and faction.
Game Mat & Tokens: Role tokens and colour tokens help organize actions during the game and allow the narrator to track progress visually.
Modifiers and Colour Cards: Square modifier cards like Lovers or Tank modify the basic gameplay, adding intrigue and variety to each game session. Other square colour cards help aid players with identifying the player that corresponds to each colour.
Section 6 — Future Prospects
ConspiraSea is evolving with continued feedback from playtests. The game is now much more accessible, allowing even casual players to become narrators for large groups. I’m working on additional role expansions and exploring the possibility of publishing the game for a wider audience.
Section 7 — Game Assets
All Roles
All Modifiers
Game Mat
