Spirits of Carter Mansion preview

Just when you thought it was safe, Kickstarter is again being haunted by spooks. Spirits of Carter Mansion is back on the platform looking to put you in the sheet of a good or evil spirit, either helping or hindering a child who has entered the mansion.

This is a group deduction game, so it has a minimum of three players, with a maximum of five. Players will choose their alignment at the start of the game, either good or evil. Then try to get cards into play which allow this side to win.

I say try, because that is the games central conceit. One player, the Spirit Guide for that turn, is offered face down cards by other players. As they are offered each player tells the Spirit Guide why they should choose that card. The chosen card is revealed, activating any powers, and the Spirit Guide role moves on to the next player.

Play continues until an end game card is revealed, and its criteria met. Depending on what card is revealed, and fulfilled, either the good or evil side wins.

Spirits of Carter Mansion is quite fascinating because it appears to do a lot with very little. All the complexity comes from the players themselves, as they probe each other to discover who is friend or foe. And the fact that each player is choosing what team they belong to makes gaming who is who that much harder.

Spirits of Carter Mansion preview

The rules appear straight forward and easy to learn, with beginners probably being able to knock a game out in the minimum play time of 20 minutes. But I can see how those familiar with how the game operates could have a far more nuanced and tense match.

The only thing that gives me pause is part of the main mechanic, of explaining why the Spirit Guide should choose the cards. While I like this idea in unto itself, and it works great here, it seems like this is a prime opportunity for those not completely invested in the game to totally tune out.

Not a fault of the game, but rather something for players to think about when considering if this will suit the kinds of people they play with.

As games on Kickstarter go, Spirits of Carter Mansion is a pretty good deal. The base pledge, at AUD$25, will get you the game plus any of the stretch goal which unlock. Not a bad price for a nifty little group game you can easily take with you.

Spirits of Carter Mansion is designed by Keith Franks and published by Cutlass Boardgames. It is on Kickstarter right now, and has already raised over 35% of its goal. You can even check the game out on Tabletopia before you commit.

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