13 tips for playing WEREWOLF over Zoom

As I continue to explore games that play best via video conferencing, I wanted to experience playing Werewolf -  the social deduction game that is commonly played this way around the world. For those of you who are new to this game, these are the rules of a "basic" game of Werewolf:

Players are given a role at the beginning of the game – either as a Villager person or a Werewolf. A third of the players should be Werewolves. The goal is for one faction to survive the game – which means the complete destruction of the other faction.

 

The game happens over a series of “days” in which there is a distinct day and a night phase. Play is moderated by an impartial narrator who guides the players through the phases. During the night phase, all players close their eyes. The Werewolf members open their eyes to acknowledge each other and then indicate which of the Villages they will kill – either on paper or by pointing at the chosen victim. The Werewolves need to come to a consensus on a victim.

The day phase starts as all players open their eyes to find the victim dead. The players must then choose to execute a player – with the goal of uncovering a Werewolf. The players all have a few minutes to discuss and debate which player should be chosen. Accusations are made and innocence is defended. Evidence against other players are often shaky at best. If the group reaches a consensus, that chosen player is “executed” and reveals if they are honest or a Werewolf. However, it is possible to execute an honest player instead, reducing their numbers. If the group cannot come to a consensus or after a player has been executed, the night phase begins again, with the remaining Werewolves choosing another victim. 

 

Play continues in this way until either all Werewolves are executed or there is no way for the Villagers to win. A victory is shared, if either Werewolves or Villagers win, everyone on that team wins.

 In the advanced game, "special characters are added: Cupid who makes two characters fall in love and if one dies, the other "kills themselves" out of grief, a Hunter who when killed, can shoot and kill one other player, A Fortune Teller who may secretly ask the moderator if a player is a werewolf, the Little Girl who may peek during the night phase but if caught is killed and the Witch who has two potions, one that saves and one that kills and may use them once during the game.

 If you want to learn more about the history of Werewolf (and Mafia, the game that it is based on) I suggest listening to my Biography of a Boardgame podcast: http://ludology.libsyn.com/biography-of-a-board-game-2145-mafiawerewolf

 There are many versions of Werewolf available for purchase and there are literally hundreds of special roles that can be added to the game. If you are new to the game, I suggest only using the roles  mentioned above.

For this experiment, I played two sessions with 11 players (and myself as the moderator). The first game, we played "basic" Werewolf - with three werewolves and the rest of the players as villagers. The second game we added in the "special" characters - Cupid, The Hunter, Fortune Teller, Little Girl and the Witch. Both games played well, but we found some things to consider when player via Zoom or any other video conferencing system.

 13 tips playing Werewolf over video conferencing systems:

1.  If you are the Moderator, use chat to distribute roles – make sure you select "private" before sending!
2. It's easy to accidentally send a message to the wrong user - take your time when sending a message!
3. Let all players talk as non-verbal communication is limited - it might be hard to hear, but the chaos is part of the fun!
4. "Dead" players should mute their audio line (click on the microphone icon).
5.   Werewolves only get one vote at night – if there is no consensus, there no death occurs! (and then watch the player's confused faces!)
6. Use private chat for Werewolves. Even better, have them communicate via Discord or Messenger - separately from Zoom. 
7. It’s hard to read lips over video conferencing. Werewolves should write down name on paper – but use a sharpie as a regular pen is hard to read via the camera.
8. Witch and Fortune Teller should use private chat as well to indicate who they are asking about/healing or killing.
9. The Little Girl character is a very powerful one online... maybe too powerful. It was hard to tell when she was peeking. Some of my students recommended giving the Werewolves a chance to guess who the Little Girl is – much like a Fortune Teller - but I'm not sure if that is the best solution.
10. Not having a player seen on-screen makes a big difference to the game and gives too many advantages to non-screen players. All players should show their faces.
11.  It's easy for the moderator to miss a step or sending info to a player. Take your time so you don't make a mistake (but they will happen!)
12. Unfortunately, Zoom does not support “grouped” chat. Breakout rooms won't work either as they show who "isn't" in the group and therefore give away who is and isn't a Werewolf.
13. Make player vote simultaneously during the Day Phase to prevent too many "foot dragger" voting.

Regardless of these limitations, we still had fun playing and many of my students said it was the best game we've played yet over Zoom. I hope you get a chance to play Werewolf with some of your friends! Happy gaming! and remember, I am NOT the Werewolf!