Blood on the Clocktower

2022

Immerse yourself in the chilling village of Ravenswood Bluff in Blood on the Clocktower. A game of bluffing, deduction, and intrigue where good battles evil.

120
minutes

6 - 21
player(s)

15+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Blood on the Clocktower is a thrilling and suspenseful board game, transporting players into an immersive narrative filled with deceit, deduction, and devilry. Set in the quaint, but seemingly cursed town of ‘Ravenswood Bluff’, the game unravels a tale of a peaceful village now haunted by a menacing demon.

The enchantment of this game lies in its core mechanics, which revolve around social deduction, storytelling, and player elimination. Each player assumes a unique role, with contrasting abilities and allegiances, either siding with the ‘Good Team’ seeking to eradicate the evil that plagues their home, or the ‘Evil Team’ scheming to sow discord and destruction.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The board game ‘Blood on the Clocktower’ includes several components, each playing a significant role in the gameplay. This game is a complex social deduction game that requires the players to investigate, discuss, and deduce the identities of their fellow players.

1. The Grimoire:

The Grimoire is the game master’s guidebook. It contains the rules, characters, scripts, and narratives for all the stories to guide the moderator through the game. The Grimoire helps the moderator keep track of the game and guides them in enforcing the game rules. It’s essential for understanding the roles and powers of each player and how they interact within the game.

2. Character Tokens:

These tokens represent all the characters in the game. They are used to assign roles to each player. Each token has a unique character with specific abilities which can influence the game’s outcome. The tokens are placed in the town square on the Grimoire and are used to keep track of who is alive or dead.

3. Player Tokens:

Player tokens are used by the moderator to keep track of individual player activities. They help the moderator remember actions taken by the players, such as who was poisoned or protected during a given night.

4. Demon Bluff Tokens:

Demon bluff tokens are used in the Night Phase of the game. They represent the three character roles that the Demon can pretend to be. The Demon player uses these tokens to bluff and mislead the other players.

5. Ghost Vote Tokens:

Ghost vote tokens are used by dead players to vote during the Day Phase. Even after death, players can influence the game’s outcome by casting these ghost votes. However, each player gets only one ghost vote for the entire game.

6. Clock Tower Token:

The clock tower token is moved around the outer edge of the Grimoire to track the days and nights. It helps players keep track of the game timeline.

7. Story Sheets:

Story sheets are used by the moderator to note down the events of the game. They help the moderator track the game’s progress, keep a record of who has died, and the roles they played.

8. Reference Sheets:

Reference sheets provide an overview of all the characters in the game. They describe the abilities of each character and give players a quick way to understand their own and others’ roles.

9. Alcohol Markers:

Alcohol markers are used in the game to indicate when a player’s character is drunk. A drunk character’s abilities do not function, changing the game’s dynamics.

10. Poison Markers:

Poison markers indicate when a character has been poisoned. A poisoned character’s information is unreliable, which adds another layer of uncertainty to the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Blood on the Clocktower is a social deduction game for 5-20 players. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Choose a storyteller and select a script

One player must take on the role of the Storyteller, who runs the game and knows the truth of the story. The Storyteller should select a script from the Blood on the Clocktower scriptbook. The script chosen determines the complexity of the game and the roles available to players.

Step 2: Set up the town square

The town square is the main board of the game, where the player tokens will be placed. The Storyteller should place it in the center of the play area. Each player will receive a player token with a unique number, which is placed in the town square.

Step 3: Determine player roles

The Storyteller will secretly assign each player a role according to the chosen script. These roles are divided into three categories:

Townsfolk: These are the “good” characters who work together to identify the Demon.
Minions: These are the “evil” characters who work with the Demon to deceive the Townsfolk.
Outsiders: These characters may seem like Townsfolk or Minions, but have unique abilities and win conditions.

Step 4: Distribute the role tokens and ability sheets

The Storyteller should distribute the corresponding role token and ability sheet to each player, ensuring they are kept secret from other players. These sheets provide information about the player’s abilities and limitations.

Step 5: Set up the Grimoire

The Storyteller uses the Grimoire, a special board that tracks the status of all players and the game’s overall progress. The Storyteller should update the Grimoire according to the roles assigned and place it out of sight from the players.

Step 6: Begin the first night

The game begins with a nighttime phase where the Storyteller will wake up players individually or in groups according to their roles to perform their abilities. The order in which players wake up is specified in the chosen script.

Remember, the objective of the game for the Townsfolk is to eliminate the Demon, while the Minions and the Demon want the Demon to survive. The Outsiders have unique objectives outlined on their ability sheets.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Blood on the Clocktower is a social deduction game where players are divided into two main factions – the Good team and the Evil team. The game ends when one of the teams fulfills its victory condition.

Good Team Victory Conditions:

The Good team wins if they execute the Demon, the principal antagonist, during the day. To execute a player, a vote must be passed by a majority of the living players.
If there are only two players left alive (one being the Demon), and the Good team has not won by execution, the Good team wins if the remaining Good player is the Saint.

Evil Team Victory Conditions:

The Evil team wins if the Demon is the last player standing.
If the game ends with only two players left alive (one being the Demon), and the Good team has not won, the Evil team wins.
The Evil team also wins if the Good team executes the Saint during the day.

Before the final scoring, players must follow these steps:

At the start of each day, the Storyteller (the game moderator) will announce if the game has ended.
If the game has ended, the Storyteller will reveal the roles of all players and the winning team.
The Storyteller will then explain how the winning team achieved their victory condition.

Please note that in some editions of Blood on the Clocktower, the victory conditions may vary depending on the characters in play.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Blood on the Clocktower’ is a social deduction game where players take on the roles of townsfolk or demons, with the objective for the townsfolk to eliminate the demons and vice versa. However, unlike many games, ‘Blood on the Clocktower’ does not use a traditional point system. Instead, victory is achieved purely through the elimination of the opposing group.

The game ends under two conditions:

All the minions and the demon are executed. In this case, the Good team (townsfolk) wins.
When the number of alive players is equal to or less than the number of remaining demons. In this case, the Evil team (demons and minions) wins.

Execution is the primary mechanism for elimination in the game. During the day phase, players discuss and vote on who they believe is a member of the opposing team. The player with the majority of votes is executed and removed from the game.

Some characters have special abilities that can affect the outcome of the game. For example, the Monk can protect a player from death, the Washerwoman knows one player’s identity, and the Imp can kill a player each night.

In the event of a tie during the voting phase, the current Ghost votes to break the tie. If they don’t or can’t, the tie is resolved randomly.

Despite the lack of a traditional scoring system, ‘Blood on the Clocktower’ is a deeply strategic game. Successful play requires deception, deduction, and the clever use of character abilities.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Blood on the Clocktower is a bluffing game where players take on the roles of townsfolk, demons, and minions. The game continues until either the townsfolk have eliminated the demon, or the demon has killed too many townsfolk. Here are some of the rare, special rules and exceptions:

Ghost Votes: When a player is executed or killed during the night, they become a ghost. Ghosts cannot be killed again, nominate, or use abilities, but they can still vote. A ghost’s vote only counts if it results in a tie, in which case the player being voted on is executed.

Drunk: If a player is drunk, their ability does not work. However, the Storyteller (the game facilitator) will continue to give the player information as if their ability were working as normal. The player will only be informed they’re drunk if an ability causes them to sober up.

Poison: If a player is poisoned, their ability malfunctions in a way that confirms misinformation to the player. A poisoned player is not told they are poisoned.

Execution: If there is a tie in the voting for execution, the player who reached the tying vote count first is executed. If no one received two or more votes, there is no execution. Players can only vote once per day, but they can withdraw their vote or switch their vote to another player.

Double Claims: When two or more players claim to be the same character, this is called a double claim. This is typically resolved through player discussion and execution voting, as only one player can truly be that character.

First Night Information: On the first night, minions are woken up to see who the other minions and the demon are. The demon is then woken up to see their minions. No kills happen on the first night.

Traveler: A special role that can join the game after it has already started. The Storyteller decides the traveler’s abilities and alignment.

Game Length: The game ends when either all the demons are dead (a townsfolk win) or the number of living townsfolk is equal to the number of living demons (a demon win).
Minion Deaths: Minions do not cause the game to end if they die, and the demon does not know if their minions are dead or alive.
Saint: A special townsfolk role, if the Saint is executed by a vote, the townsfolk immediately lose the game.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies

Understanding the nuances of each character is key to creating effective strategies. Make sure you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your character and how they interact with the other characters in the game.
Bluffing is a crucial part of Blood on the Clocktower. Even if you’re a good character, consider occasionally acting suspicious to throw off the evil team.
Always keep an eye on the Grimoire as it provides information on the current state of the game. This can inform your decisions and strategies.

Beginner Tips

Don’t be afraid to speak up and participate in discussions. Communication is key in this game, and every player’s input can be valuable.
Try not to lie too often, even if you’re on the evil team. Constantly lying can make you a target and could lead to your team’s downfall.
If you’re new to the game, consider playing as a simpler character to start with. This will allow you to focus on learning the mechanics of the game without getting overwhelmed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid revealing your character’s identity too early in the game. This can make you a target for the evil team.
Don’t ignore the storyteller. They provide important clues and information throughout the game.
Don’t get too attached to your initial suspicions. Always be willing to reassess your theories as new information comes to light.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Keep track of information. Write down the clues and suspicions you have during the game. This can help you make more informed decisions as the game progresses.
Work as a team. Regardless of whether you’re on the good or evil team, collaboration is key to winning.
Stay engaged. Even if you’re eliminated, you can still participate in discussions and influence the game.