Secret Hitler Better Version

General Overview of Secret Hitler

Objective:

• Liberals aim to enact five Liberal policies or assassinate Hitler.
• Fascists aim to enact six Fascist policies or have Hitler elected as Chancellor after three Fascist policies have been enacted.

Game Phases:

1. Setup
2. Election
3. Legislative Session
4. Executive Action
5. Victory Check

Setup Instructions

1. Assign Roles Based on Player Count

The distribution of roles changes depending on the number of players. Here's how to set up for 5 and 9 players:

For a 5-Player Game:

• Roles:
  • 3 Liberals
  • 1 Fascist
  • 1 Hitler
• Setup Steps:
  1. Shuffle and Deal Role Cards:
     • Randomly assign one role card to each player. Ensure the correct distribution: 3 Liberals, 1 Fascist, and 1 Hitler.
  2. Fascist Knowledge:
     • All players close their eyes.
     • Fascist(s) and Hitler open their eyes and recognize each other if applicable.
       • In a 5-player game with only one Fascist and one Hitler:
         • The Fascist knows who Hitler is.
         • Hitler does not know who the Fascist is.
  3. Close Eyes:
     • All players close their eyes to proceed to the next phase.

For a 9-Player Game:

• Roles:
  • 5 Liberals
  • 3 Fascists
  • 1 Hitler
• Setup Steps:
  1. Shuffle and Deal Role Cards:
     • Randomly assign one role card to each player. Ensure the correct distribution: 5 Liberals, 3 Fascists, and 1 Hitler.
  2. Fascist Knowledge:
     • All players close their eyes.
     • Fascist(s) and Hitler open their eyes.
       • In a 9-player game with multiple Fascists:
         • All Fascists recognize each other and Hitler.
         • Hitler does not know who the Fascists are.
  3. Close Eyes:
     • All players close their eyes to proceed to the next phase.

2. Initial Setup

• Position the Election Tracker:
  • Place the election tracker on the leftmost space of the Election Tracker track on the game board.
• Prepare the Policy Deck:
  • Shuffle the policy cards and place the deck face-down on the designated spot on the board.

Gameplay Phases

The game proceeds in a series of rounds, each consisting of the following phases:

1. Election Phase

Steps:

1. Nominate Government:
   • The current President nominates a Chancellor candidate. The role of President rotates clockwise each round.
2. Vote on Government:
   • All players, including the President and Chancellor nominees, vote "Ja!" (yes) or "Nein!" (no) on the proposed government.
   • Players reveal their votes simultaneously.
3. Determine Outcome:
   • If the majority votes "Ja!":
     • The government is elected.
     • The election tracker is reset to zero.
     • Proceed to the Legislative Session.
   • If the majority votes "Nein!":
     • The government is rejected.
     • Advance the election tracker by one.
     • If the election tracker reaches three, the top policy card from the policy deck is enacted automatically, and the election tracker resets to zero.
     • Regardless, the role of President rotates clockwise, and a new nomination occurs.

2. Legislative Session

Steps:

1. Policy Drawing:
   • The President draws the top three policy cards from the policy deck.
2. President Discards:
   • The President reviews the three cards, discards one face-down without revealing it, and passes the remaining two to the Chancellor.
3. Chancellor Discards and Enacts:
   • The Chancellor reviews the two cards, discards one face-down without revealing it, and enacts the remaining policy by placing it face-up on the appropriate track on the game board.
4. Check for Special Powers:
   • After enacting a policy, check the game board to see if any special powers are triggered based on the number of Fascist policies enacted. If so, proceed to the Executive Action phase.

3. Executive Action

Special Powers Triggered by Fascist Policies:

Depending on the number of Fascist policies enacted, certain executive actions become available to the President. These actions are detailed on the game board.

Common Executive Actions:

• Policy Peek: The President may view the top three policy cards.
• Investigate Loyalty: The President may privately view another player's party membership (Liberal or Fascist).
• Call Special Election: The President may choose the next President, skipping the normal rotation.
• Execution: The President may execute a player, removing them from the game.

Executing Special Actions:

1. President Uses Power:
   • If a special power is available, the President may choose to use it immediately after enacting a Fascist policy.
2. Resolve Action:
   • Follow the instructions for the chosen executive action. For example:
     • Investigate Loyalty: The President privately views another player's role (Liberal or Fascist).
     • Execution: All players vote to confirm the execution. If passed, the targeted player is removed from the game.

4. Victory Check

After each policy enactment and any executive actions, check if any victory conditions have been met:

• Liberals Win By:
  • Enacting five Liberal policies.
  • Successfully assassinating Hitler (if the execution power is used against Hitler).
• Fascists Win By:
  • Enacting six Fascist policies.
  • Electing Hitler as Chancellor after three Fascist policies have been enacted.

If a victory condition is met, the game ends immediately, declaring the respective faction as the winner.

Specific Rules for 5 and 9 Players

While the core gameplay remains consistent across different player counts, certain aspects vary based on whether you're playing with 5 or 9 players. Below are the specific rules and nuances for each setup.

5-Player Game Specifics

Role Distribution:

• 3 Liberals
• 1 Fascist
• 1 Hitler

Key Points:

1. Fascist Knowledge:
   • The single Fascist knows who Hitler is.
   • Hitler does not know who the Fascist is.
2. Special Powers:
   • With fewer players and policies, fewer executive powers become available.
   • Typically, only the Execution power is unlocked after certain Fascist policies.
3. Gameplay Dynamics:
   • The game is quicker due to fewer players and policies.
   • Trust and deduction are paramount, as each player's actions have a significant impact on the game's outcome.
4. Assassination Ability:
   • In some versions or with house rules, a special assassination ability might be available earlier, but by default, assassination is achieved through the Execution power.

Strategy Tips:

• For Liberals:
  • Pay close attention to voting patterns and behavior.
  • Collaborate and communicate effectively to identify and eliminate the Fascist and Hitler.
• For Fascists:
  • Subtly support Liberal policies to avoid suspicion while working towards enacting Fascist policies.
  • Use the Execution power strategically to eliminate key Liberals.

9-Player Game Specifics

Role Distribution:

• 5 Liberals
• 3 Fascists
• 1 Hitler

Key Points:

1. Fascist Knowledge:
   • All Fascists know each other and who Hitler is.
   • Hitler does not know the identities of the other Fascists.
2. Special Powers:
   • More executive powers become available as more Fascist policies are enacted, such as:
     • Policy Peek
     • Investigate Loyalty
     • Call Special Election
     • Execution
3. Gameplay Dynamics:
   • With more players, the game involves more complex interactions, alliances, and strategies.
   • Communication and deception play significant roles, especially among Fascists.
4. Assassination Ability:
   • The Execution power remains the primary method for assassinating Hitler.

Strategy Tips:

• For Liberals:
  • Foster open communication and trust among Liberals.
  • Use investigative powers effectively to identify Fascists and Hitler.
• For Fascists:
  • Coordinate subtly with fellow Fascists to support each other.
  • Sow doubt and confusion among Liberals to obscure Fascist identities.

Additional Rules and Clarifications

Policy Deck Management

• Shuffling:
  • Whenever the policy deck is reshuffled (e.g., when all policies have been drawn), ensure that the discarded policies are not returned to the deck until all policies have been exhausted.
• No Replacement:
  • If a special action (like Policy Peek) involves viewing cards, ensure that the integrity of the deck is maintained by not altering the order unless explicitly required.

Player Elimination

• Executed or Ejected Players:
  • Players who are executed or ejected from the game are removed and can no longer participate in discussions or voting.
  • Their roles remain secret unless revealed by specific game mechanics.

Hitler's Restrictions

• Chancellor Restrictions:
  • Hitler cannot be elected Chancellor until three Fascist policies have been enacted.
  • Electing Hitler as Chancellor before this point does not trigger a Fascist victory.

Tie-Breaking

• Policy Enactment:
  • In the rare event of tied votes (e.g., equal "Ja!" and "Nein!" votes), the proposal is considered rejected, and the election tracker advances.

House Rules and Variants

Secret Hitler can be adapted with various house rules to enhance gameplay. However, it's recommended to familiarize all players with any custom rules before starting the game to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Summary

Secret Hitler is a dynamic and engaging game that thrives on player interaction, strategy, and deception. Whether you're playing with 5 or 9 players, the core mechanics remain consistent, but the game's complexity and dynamics adjust based on the number of participants. Here's a quick recap:

• 5 Players:
  • Fewer roles and policies lead to quicker, more intense gameplay.
  • Emphasis on trust and deduction among a smaller group.
• 9 Players:
  • More roles and policies introduce greater complexity and longer gameplay.
  • Enhanced opportunities for alliances, deception, and strategic maneuvering.

Remember, the key to success in Secret Hitler lies in keen observation, effective communication, and strategic thinking. Enjoy your game, and may the best faction win!

Important Note: If the colors on the Liberal and Fascist policy cards are too light, they may show through from the back of the cards, which could give away their identity. To prevent this, we recommend using spray paint on the back of the cards to block any transparency