Welcome back, fellow travellers through the moral maze! In our first post, we introduced A Life In Purgatory and its high-stakes blend of social deduction and strategic card combat. Today, we peel back the veil to show you exactly how the game plays out, focusing on the crucial Purgatory challenge.
1. Setup: The Path to Your Character
To begin your journey, you need to know who you are and how much you have to lose:
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Separate the Realms: Separate the cards into three distinct piles based on the back design: Hell, Heaven, and Purgatory. Shuffle each deck thoroughly. Place the three shuffled decks in the centre of the table.
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Know the Verdict: Every player receives one Lie Indicator Card and one Truth Indicator Card. These are your voting tools, and they are critical.
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Draw Your Destiny: Each player draws one random Character Card. These powerful figures (like the Demon or the Unicorn) determine your starting resources.
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Allocate Life: Take a number of Life Tokens equal to the hearts shown on your Character Card. This is your life force—lose them all, and your soul is lost!
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Determine Initiative: Check the number in the top-right corner of your Character Card. The player with the lowest number goes first, and play proceeds clockwise. (If tied, a simple game of rock-paper-scissors breaks the deadlock!)
2. The Purgatory Challenge: The Core of the Game
The entire game revolves around successfully navigating the Purgatory phase each turn.
Step 1: Draw and Conceal
The active player draws one card from the Purgatory Deck, keeping the face hidden from all others. Your next action is to decide: Are you telling the truth, or are you lying this turn?
Step 2: Declare the Card Type
Before you speak, you must announce the type of Purgatory card you hold:
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Fact or Lie: Cards containing one real fact and one completely false fact.
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Headline Quotes: Cards featuring a real quote, often with a highlighted word you can swap out.
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Fact or Lie About: Cards providing a topic (e.g., "A food preference you do or do not have") around which you must invent or state a fact.
Step 3: Tell Your Truth or Lie
Read the chosen statement aloud. Crucially, you cannot say anything more than what is written on the card. No follow-up arguments, no pleading, and no convincing gestures. There is simplicity in the truth, and even more so in the lie!
Step 4: The Group Verdict (The Vote)
Once the statement is made, all other players simultaneously play their Lie or Truth Indicator Card face down. Once all cards are placed, they are flipped over. The option with the most votes becomes the Group Verdict. (If there's a tie, the player who read the purgatory card automatically wins the turn).
3. The Rewards and Repercussions
The Group Verdict determines whether you gain power or face consequences:
|
Action |
Group Verdict |
Outcome / Reward |
|---|---|---|
|
Telling the Truth |
Majority believes it's TRUE |
WIN: Draw one Heaven Card to add to your hand. |
|
Telling the Truth |
Majority believes it's a LIE |
CONSEQUENCE: Draw another Purgatory card and repeat your turn. |
|
Telling a Lie |
Majority believes it's TRUE |
WIN: Draw one Hell Card to add to your hand. |
|
Telling a Lie |
Majority believes it's a LIE |
CONSEQUENCE: Draw no cards and end your turn. |
This is where the bluffing pays off! Success fills your hand with the powerful Heaven (Defense/Healing) and Hell (Attack/Chaos) cards you need to fight for survival.
In our next post, we will explore the combat phase, the crucial Level-Based Attacks, and the ultimate prize: the Holy Grail!
