How to Play
Game Overview
When The Fire Fades is a social deduction game where players work together to complete missions while trying to identify the hidden shapeshifters among them. Humans win by completing 3 successful missions; shapeshifters win by sabotaging 3 missions or causing 5 team proposals to be rejected in a row.
In 5-6 player games each side also has hidden special roles, and the Humans' final victory is decided by the Hunt (described below).
Setup
- Players: 5-10 players
- Roles: each player is secretly assigned as either a Human or a Shapeshifter
-
Shapeshifters:
- 5-6 players: 2 shapeshifters
- 7-9 players: 3 shapeshifters
- 10 players: 4 shapeshifters
Roles (5-6 players)
In 5-6 player games each side is dealt hidden special roles on top of their allegiance. 7-10 player games skip these and play with plain Humans and Shapeshifters.
👤 The Ember-Warden Human
Secretly knows which players are the Shapeshifters, but must hide that they know.
👤 The Tender Human
Sees two players - one the Ember-Warden, the other The Wisp - without being told which is which.
👾 The Wisp Shapeshifter
Appears to The Tender as a possible Ember-Warden.
👾 The Hunter Shapeshifter
If the Humans complete their missions, gets one guess to name the Ember-Warden.
Plain Humans and plain Shapeshifters round out the table, and the two Shapeshifters know each other. At the start of the game each player is privately shown their role and what they know (the opening reveal).
Game Flow
Each round consists of three phases:
Phase 1: Team Selection
The round leader selects a team of players to go on the mission. Team sizes vary by round:
| Players | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 8-10 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Phase 2: Team Vote
All players (except the leader) vote to approve or reject the proposed team. The leader automatically approves their own selection. If the majority approves, the mission proceeds. If rejected, a new leader is chosen and proposes a new team.
Phase 3: Mission
Team members secretly choose whether to gather wood (success) or sabotage the mission. Humans must choose success; Shapeshifters can choose either.
- Success: if all votes are success, the mission succeeds
- Sabotage: if any vote is sabotage, the mission fails
The dying fire
The campfire is pure presentation: it darkens with each sabotage, and the discussion timer before team selection shortens as the fire dims (the host can toggle timers on or off). None of this changes the rules or the odds.
Win Conditions
👤 Humans Win
7-10 players: complete 3 successful missions.
5-6 players: completing 3 missions begins the Hunt. The Hunter names one player;
if it is the Ember-Warden the Shapeshifters steal the win, otherwise the Humans win.
👾 Shapeshifters Win
Sabotage 3 missions, or cause 5 consecutive team rejections.
Strategy Tips
For Humans
- Pay attention to voting patterns
- Notice who proposes teams with known saboteurs
- Communicate and build trust with other players
- Don't reject too many teams or shapeshifters auto-win
For Shapeshifters
- Blend in by voting with the majority
- Sabotage strategically - not every mission
- Cast suspicion on humans
- Get on mission teams to sabotage, and reject good teams to build toward 5 rejections
In 5-6 player games: the Ember-Warden must guide the Humans without revealing that they know the Shapeshifters, the Tender should shield both of their candidates, and the Hunter should watch for whoever steers the Humans too confidently - that is likely the Warden.