Village Witch is a role playing game written and published by Eliot Crow.
The supplement is available for $9 from itch.io but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. There are a variety of files available with the primary PDF having 25 pages, with one being the front cover, one the Table of Contents and one the credits. The primary PDF is available in two other PDF versions; a 25-page printer friendly PDF and a 32-page OpenDyslexic PDF. There are two txt versions of the game, one in English and one in Spanish. The card tables from the main PDF are available in two PDFs, a 13-page normal one and an 18-page OpenDyslexic table, as well as a txt version. Finally, there are txt files for the license in English and Spanish and three pngs to use with licensed games.
The Introduction explains that you have completed your training and are now ready to become a village witch and have a list of villages needing one. Playing the game requires a d6, a standard deck of cards or a tarot deck and a recording method. It explains that the Minor Arcana of the tarot deck mostly correspond to the standard cards, except the page cards count as wild cards. The Major Arcana are more personal prompts, exploring the character’s feelings, life and motivations and are based on the tarot card meanings. These can be skipped if desired, or a standard deck used with occasional prompts chosen from the Major Arcana list if desired.
Setup has a number of questions that can be answered to create the character and world.
Gameplay explains that at the beginning of each season, draw cards and use the prompts to write the story until you feel it is time for a new season. Cards can be shuffled when you run out, or at the start of a season. At the end of each season, you can stay in the same location or move on. When winter is reached, follow the ending.
Two Player Option explains this can be played with a friend as a letter writing game.
Locations is a page to determine a new location with a d6 list of terrain for the new village and a number of questions that can be answered about the new location and why you moved there.
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter are covered next, each describing the season and with some specific questions.
Ending is when you either decide to settle in and make a place your home, with some more questions.
The card tables are next, starting with the Standard Card Table. Hearts and diamonds are things around the village, clubs and spades are around the home. Jokers are wild cards and you can choose any prompt.
Tarot Card Table starts with the prompts for the Major Arcana, followed by the Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana are similar to the standard card tables; cups and pentacles/coins are around the village, wands and swords are around the home.
Village Witch in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough different sections that these would have been useful. The Table of Contents covers the major sections. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are no illustrations. Presentation is adequate.
This is a journalling game, and as such it won’t appear to everyone. It’s on the lighter end of the scale when it comes to journalling games, with nothing in the way of real unpleasantness happening; just things that the witch has to deal with. As a journalling game, it won’t appeal to everyone, and it’s also rather expensive for what it is. Village Witch can be found by clicking here.
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