Conclave

Enter the heart of the election of the New Pontiff, where tradition, intrigue, and ambition collide. In Conclave, players take on the roles of Cardinals from different religious orders, each faction representing distinct interests within the Catholic Church. Your mission? Influence the election of the next Pope by supporting a candidate whose characteristics align with your faction's public profile. While secretly pursuing the strategic use of influence is at the heart of the game. With each round, you gain more influence by promoting your interests through candidates who gain widespread support, but negotiation is crucial. Forge alliances, eliminate threats, and outsmart rivals to ensure your faction's dominance. Deduction plays a crucial role, as uncovering others' hidden information can alter the balance of power. At the end of each of the six rounds, the Conclave can declare a "White Smoke"—crowning a Pope and starting the final count—or a "Black Smoke", which begins another round of intrigue. If no Pope is elected after six rounds, the game still ends with a Pontiff. The incumbent Camerlengo announces the elected Cardinal with the phrase "Habemus Papam!". —description from the designer