“Objective of Secret Hitler” provides a comprehensive overview of the popular board game Secret Hitler, outlining its objective, number of players, materials, type of game, and target audience. The article explains that Secret Hitler is a hidden roles game where players are either liberals or fascists, with the possibility of one player being Hitler. The goal of the game differs based on the party players belong to, with liberals aiming to advance the liberal board by passing liberal policies, and fascists seeking to advance the fascist board by passing fascist policies or electing Hitler as the chancellor. The article emphasizes the importance of secrecy and strategic gameplay, highlighting the need for players to appear liberal while working towards their true objectives. With detailed setup instructions and gameplay mechanics, “Objective of Secret Hitler” serves as a valuable resource for players looking to familiarize themselves with the rules of the game.
Objective of Secret Hitler
The objective of Secret Hitler is to win the game by advancing the board for your party or if you’re a fascist, by electing Hitler as chancellor.
Number of Players
Secret Hitler is designed for 5-10 players.
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Materials
To play Secret Hitler, you will need the following materials:
- A rule book
- 17 policy tiles (11 fascists and 6 liberal)
- 10 role cards
- 10 membership cards
- 10 player envelopes
- 10 Ja (or yes) cards
- 10 Nein (or no) cards
- 1 election marker
- 1 draw pile marker
- 1 discard pile marker
- 3 two-sided boards
- 1 president marker
- 1 chancellor marker
These materials are essential for gameplay and provide the necessary components to represent the different roles and policies in the game.
Type of Game
Secret Hitler is classified as a hidden roles game. Players are assigned different roles, and their objectives and actions within the game are determined by their assigned role.
Audience
Secret Hitler is recommended for players aged 13 and above. The game involves complex political strategies and requires players to navigate the dynamics of secret alliances and deception.
Overview of Secret Hitler
Secret Hitler is a game where players are either playing as liberals or fascists. There is also a chance for a player to be assigned the role of Hitler if they are a fascist. The goal of the game differs depending on the party a player is in.
If a player is a liberal, their objective is to advance the liberal board by passing liberal policies. The game is won by the liberals once the end of the board is reached.
If a player is a fascist, there are two ways to win. The first is by advancing the fascist board by passing fascist policies until the board is full. The second method is by electing the player assigned the role of Hitler to the chancellor position once the fascist board is halfway full. In both cases, the fascists emerge victorious.
It is important to note that the roles of each player are secret, and players are not allowed to reveal their assigned role to others, adding an element of mystery and deception to the game.
Setup
To set up a game of Secret Hitler, follow these steps:
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Place the fascist board and one liberal board in the center of the table. The fascist board corresponds to the number of players in the game.
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Gather and shuffle all the policy tiles, placing them on the draw pile marker.
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Prepare the player envelopes. There should be one envelope for each player. Use the graph in the rule book to determine the number of fascist and liberal party cards needed for each envelope.
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Gather the corresponding number of fascist and liberal role cards, ensuring that one of the fascist spots is left open for the Hitler card.
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Place one membership card, one corresponding role card, one “Ja!” card, and one “Nein!” card in each envelope.
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Shuffle the envelopes and randomly distribute one to each player.
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Players should secretly look at their membership and role cards to determine their win condition for the game.
There is a script that needs to be read at the start of the game to allow certain roles to identify each other. This should be done before the gameplay begins.
Gameplay
Once the script has been read, the game can begin. The first president is chosen randomly, and they will follow the instructions on their president marker.
The president selects another player to be the chancellor, and all players secretly vote with their Ja or Nein cards to indicate whether or not they want the player to become the chancellor. If the majority of the votes are Ja, the player becomes the chancellor and the game continues. If the majority of votes are Nein or there is a tie, the chancellor is not elected. The election marker is advanced on the tracker on the liberal board, and the next player to the left becomes the president.
This process continues until a chancellor is elected. The president draws three policies from the draw pile, discards one face down, and hands the remaining two to the chancellor. The chancellor chooses one to discard face down and one to put into action. Players are not allowed to talk during this process, but they can discuss after the policies have been chosen. It is important to note that the information shared during the discussion may not be true and cannot be confirmed.
The policy that is played covers up the corresponding spot on the board of its type. If the policy covers a spot on the fascist board that has an ability, the current president gets to take that action.
The game continues in this manner, with the presidency passing to the left after each round.
Special Rules
In addition to the standard gameplay, Secret Hitler includes some special rules to enhance the experience:
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If the election marker reaches the end of its track on the liberal board, the top policy is revealed and put into play. This means that if players constantly vote down a chancellor and president, the liberals are likely to lose.
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The president, when selecting a chancellor on their turn, cannot pick the previous president or chancellor of the last turn.
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The discarded policies are never revealed and will be reshuffled and placed under the draw pile when there are three or fewer policies in the draw pile.
These special rules add complexity and strategic elements to the game, requiring players to consider various scenarios and adapt their gameplay accordingly.
End of Game
The game of Secret Hitler can end in three different ways. Two ways result in a win for the fascists, while the liberals have only one path to victory.
For the liberals to win, the liberal board must have all the policy spaces filled. This achievement results in an immediate win for the liberals.
For the fascists to win, they can either fill the fascist board, resulting in a win for the fascists, or if the fascist board is halfway full and Hitler is successfully elected as chancellor, the fascists win.
The game of Secret Hitler offers players multiple avenues to victory, keeping the gameplay engaging and providing opportunities for strategic decision-making.
In conclusion, Secret Hitler is an intriguing hidden roles game that challenges players to navigate the complexities of political alliances and deception. With its detailed setup, strategic gameplay, and special rules, the game offers a unique and immersive experience for players aged 13 and above. Whether playing as liberals or fascists, each player must use their assigned role to advance their party’s agenda and secure victory.
