Wouter & Ymke 
In the heart of Noctenburg, a story unfolds about a group of witches eager to showcase their talents to Septima, the wisest witch of all. As her time to step down approaches, players dive into this charming world, tasked with gathering ingredients, brewing potions, mastering spells, and healing the townsfolk. It’s a delicate balance, though, as even well-intentioned magic can raise eyebrows among the townsfolk, not to mention attracting the watchful eyes of witch hunters.
👥 1-4 players, ages 12+
⌛ Playing time: 25 minutes/player
📝 Designer: Robin Hegedűs
🎨 Artwork: Barbara Bernát & Villő Farkas
🏢 Publisher: Mindclash Games (review copy provided)
The Basics of Becoming Septima
In Septima, you lead a coven of witches, kicking off with two members each possessing unique abilities. Your mission is straightforward: gather enough wisdom to prove your coven deserves to succeed Septima. The game spans four seasons, with each season broken down into five moon phases.
How the Game Flows
During each moon phase, players choose an action card from their hand to reveal what they plan to do. These cards, nine in total, each feature a primary and a bonus action. The bonus kicks in if multiple players pick the same card during the same turn. This mechanic is a neat twist—it can grant you a significant edge but also makes you more noticeable to those pesky witch hunters.
As you move your witches through the forest, you’ll gather ingredients essential for potion brewing. These potions serve a crucial purpose: healing the townsfolk and gradually earning their support for witchcraft. This support becomes invaluable when a witch is captured and faces trial at season’s end. A strong backing from the townsfolk can tip the scales in your favor, potentially saving the witch and adding her to your coven. It’s a dynamic that allows players to expand their covens up to four witches.
Reducing Suspicion and Mastering Spells
Witches can chant to become less suspicious and perform rituals to learn new spells. These spells can be either powerful actions you can take immediately or enhancements for your action cards. A special mention goes to the ‘Remember’ action card, which lets you mimic a previously played action. It’s a unique feature since it’s the only way to repeat an action within the same season.
As each season wraps up with a trial, the game’s tension mounts and a witch is brought to trial. If the witch hunters have been successful, the captured witch also faces trial. Players then prepare for the next season, gathering their action cards for another round. After four seasons, it’s time to tally up the wisdom points collected through various means, including goal cards, the patient tracks, and any remaining potions and ingredients. The player with the highest wisdom score emerges victorious.
A Closer Look at Septima: What to Expect When You Play
Septima is a board game created by Robin Hegedűs and released by Mindclash Games after a Kickstarter campaign in 2022. Designed for 1 to 4 players, ages 12 and up, a game typically lasts around 25 minutes per player. We got our hands on a retail copy for this review, courtesy of the publisher. Mindclash Games is known for complex, engaging games, and while Septima is slightly lighter in comparison, it still offers a rich gaming experience filled with strategic decisions.
Rulebook & Components Quality
One of the first things that stood out was the rulebook’s clarity. Whenever we hit a snag or a rule seemed a bit foggy, the rulebook cleared it up impeccably. It’s well-structured and loaded with illustrations and examples that not only make the game a breeze to learn but also to teach to others. Additionally, the inclusion of player aids is a thoughtful touch, offering handy references throughout the game.
Focusing on the retail edition (noting that components vary from the Kickstarter’s Deluxe version), it’s clear that the game’s components are of high quality, from sturdy cards to well-made cardboard pieces. The artwork by Villő Farkas is particularly striking, enhancing the thematic experience of the game. The custom meeples add character, though an insert for organizing the game’s components would have been a welcome addition – it would have made setup and storage much smoother.
Gameplay & Player Interaction
Septima features two levels of gameplay complexity. The base game simplifies things by excluding the ritual board, which in the full game rewards matching actions and offers new spells. This makes it more accessible to newcomers by setting aside more complex elements like ritual actions and certain cards. The game thus offers a scalable challenge, introducing deeper layers of strategy as players become more comfortable.
Interaction is a core part of Septima, with plenty of room for negotiation, bluffing, and strategy among players. You’re encouraged to discuss potential moves before card reveals, though bluffing is always an option. Matching actions not only with other players but also with the game’s Septima markers can offer strategic benefits at the risk of raising suspicion. This dynamic ensures that each game is interactive and filled with tactical decisions.
Experiences Across Different Player Counts
Our playthroughs, mostly with three players, showed that Septima scales well across different player counts. The game remains balanced, providing various strategies for success, even for the third player who might find themselves diverging from the others. The witch trials inject some unpredictability into the game, where a bit of luck can influence the outcome significantly.
For two-player games, Septima adapts by introducing two Septima tokens to ensure enough matching opportunities. This small but effective adjustment maintains the game’s competitive edge regardless of the player count. Additionally, the Automa mode introduces a solo play option against the ‘Black Widow’ and her spiders, offering a challenging and engaging experience for solo gamers.
Expanding the Magic: A Closer Look at Septima’s Shapeshifting & Omens
The expansion for Septima, Shapeshifting & Omens, introduces two new twists to the gameplay, each adding its own flavor to the base game.
Embracing the Wild: The Shapeshifting Module
First up, we have the Shapeshifting module, which brings a whole new dynamic to the game. Imagine being able to turn into an animal at will! Each player gets two animal forms based on their color, complete with unique tiles for each animal. This switch is facilitated by replacing the Chant action card with a new Shapeshifter action card. When players use this card, they can swap their witch pawn for an animal pawn on the board. But it’s not just for show; turning into an animal means you won’t attract any suspicion (because who would suspect a cute little creature, right?). However, this comes with a catch: in animal form, your actions are limited, and you can’t use certain witch’s effects or spell cards that would normally increase your suspicion.
One of the most interesting changes this module brings is how it alters the flow of the game. Players won’t just pick up their cards at the end of the season like before. Instead, they collect all their played cards when they decide to use the Shapeshifter action card. This means you really need to think about when to change form and which cards to play and carefully plan the timing of your moves.
Foreseeing the Future: The Omens Module
Then there’s the Omens module, which spices things up in a more subtle way. At the start of the game, four omen cards are placed under the lunar circle. Nothing happens in the first season, but from the second season onwards, the combined suspicion level of all players will determine whether a good or bad omen affects the upcoming season. Bad omens might limit your actions or prevent shapeshifting, while good omens could give you extra potions or other perks. These omens are revealed before they take effect, giving everyone a chance to plan ahead and adjust their strategy accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Playing Septima is a compelling experience from start to finish, blending strategic depth with elements of chance that fit well with the game’s theme. The trials are a highlight, offering a mix of tension and strategy as players compete for the support of townsfolk and the services of additional witches. While luck can influence certain outcomes, particularly during trials, it adds to the game’s charm and unpredictability.
If you’re looking for a game that’s as engaging in its gameplay as it is in its theme, Septima offers a fulfilling adventure into a world of witchcraft and strategic maneuvering. It’s an excellent choice for those who appreciate games that require thought, planning, and occasionally, a little bit of fortune on their side.
📝 Disclaimer: Our experience and review of the game come from a copy gifted to us by Mindclash Games.
