SIMONS SCHISM

A game of Obedience and Rebellion

Design and Art by Talen Lee

Thanks to Many Irenes (for prompting me to expand this), the Technical

Difficulties (for the joke that started it), ryn (for long game design chats)
and Nethergoat (for reminding me to keep trying)
We all know Simon, and know Simons ways. Simon has been
part of our lives since we were children, the strangely
powerful voice capable of commanding our lives, directing us
to obey, obey, obey. What is done in the name of Simon is
done as if it is not even a choice and what is done without
Simons approval is mocked-

I didnt say Simon Says, Simon jeers.

Its years later. Simons plans have come to fruition. Simon

rules the world, with Simons commands blaring through
loudspeakers every day. But some people whisper to one
another that there is a resistance. That there is a movement
to take this impossible, mind controlling superpower and free
the people.

There is a movement.

Simon Says Obey

We say No.
Simons Schism is a hidden-role drafting game for 4-10 players, where one
player assumes the role of Simon, the terrifying mind-controlling antagonist
from the childrens game Simon Says, in a dystopian future where Simons
power to command has turned the world to actual totalitarian fascism.

In this hidden role game, rather than being bequeathed a role totally at
random, you have a chance to choose. Will you choose to comply with
Simon? Will you choose to exploit this dictatorship for yourself? Or will you
fight?

SETUP
Youre going to need a deck of playing cards to play, and a table or place
players can put cards. Before you can start the game you need to make a
Recruitment Deck so players can choose who they want to be in Simons
Future.

MAKING THE RECRUITMENT DECK

Starting with a deck of ordinary playing cards:

Remove the Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Clubs () and Spades ().

Remove the King, Queen and Jack of Diamonds ()and Hearts ().
Put the Aces, 2s and 3s in one face-down pile and shuffle it. These are
the Loyalists.
Put the 4s, 5s and 6ses in another face-down pile and shuffle it.
These are the Opportunists.
Put the Kings, Queens and Jacks in another face-down pile and
shuffle it. These are your Dissidents.
Take a card from each stack in order, until you have a deck of cards
equal to twice the number of players. These cards, altogether, are
the Recruitment Deck.

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ROLES
In Simons Schism, the players who arent Simon are all playing Simons
cabinet. Amongst the cabinet, there are three factions working for or against
Simons interests. There are Loyalists, the Opportunists, and the Dissidants.

LOYALISTS
Loyalists are very simply people on Simons side. They believe in the regime.
They dont mind a little bit of fascism, and after all its better than having to
think for themselves all the time. Besides, Simon has done some things for
society that theyll remember, any minute now. Also, they dont have to
worry so much.

OPPORTUNISTS
While Dissidents and Loyalists all have unifying goals, all the Opportunists are
out for themselves in different ways. Your type of Opportunist is determined
based on the number of card you chose.

Number Name Ability

Youre on the same team
4 Collaborator as the person to your
right.
When you get sent to
5 Smuggler
Prison, you win the game.
After anyone goes to
Prison, you can swap your
6 Traitor
role with a card from
Simons discard.

DISSIDENTS
Dissidents have a very straightforward goal. If they can escape this last round
of Simons purges, theyll be close enough to oust Simon and overthrow the
fascist regime. If at least one Dissident gets to the end of the game without
going to Prison, the Dissidents win.
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PLAY
Once one player chooses to be Simon for this game, they hand the prepared
deck to the player to their left, to start the Recruitment process.

RECRUITMENT
The player currently Recruiting takes the deck, looks at all the cards in it, and
chooses two cards. One card, they set down in front of themselves, and thats
their identity. The other card is discarded, put face-down in front of Simon.
Then, that player hands the Recruitment deck to the player to their left.

The final player to get the deck is Simon, who can look at the two cards
theyre handed, then set them face-down in the deck in front of them.

Then, everyone closes their eyes. Simon counts to three, and says Simon
Says, Dissidents can open their eyes and look at one another. Then, Simon
counts to three, and says, Simon Says Dissidents close your eyes. Then, Simon
counts to three and says Simon Says All Citizens Open Their Eyes.

THE INQUISITION
Now, the cabinet is gathered. Simon knows that there are some people that
cannot be trusted in the cabinet. That means here and now, Simon has a
simple goal: Simon wants to purge the dissidents.

Simon can ask people questions, and they can answer; anyone on Simons
team definitely wants to answer honestly, build trust, and try to curry favour
with Simon. The problem is, thats al true of the Dissidents and Opportunists.

Simon can issue Simon Says orders. These orders cant relate to peoples
cards and they must be something everyone can do. So Simon cant issue
the order Simon Says Jaime shows Simon their card. Whats more, if Simon
says Simon Says Point At A Dissident, what anyone does, Simon cant really
rely on it. Nobody knows for sure and Dissidents are free to lie!

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 Dont Be A Jerk
Simon Says orders are a chance for Simon to get creative about issuing
blanket instructions for everyone and to build on the fascist mind-control
power Simon has in the original game. On the other hand, it is a way to
say things that make people uncomfortable or feel weird, and thats bad.
So, be respectful about it and dont be a jerk.

Simon can send people to Prison. Mark that a player is in Prison by some
method, such as putting a bucket over their head, dressing them in pyjamas
with stripes on them, or perhaps just turning their card sideways. Players in
Prison can continue talking and broadcasting messages to the game, but they
cant get out.

Theres no turns or order this is just a negotiation with Simon and their
cabinet. Simon can condemn any number of people to prison even the
whole cabinet if Simon is feeling particularly terrible!

The game ends when either Simon chooses to, or when half of Simons
advisors plus one are in Prison.

WINNING OR LOSING
At the end of the game its time to see how well the rebellion has done!
Simon declares Simon Says Prove Your Loyalty, and every player, even those
in prison, reveal their cards and show their role.

Simon loses if any dissidents are not in Prison.

Simon loses if there are more loyalists in Prison than opportunists
Simon loses if anyone not on Simons team wins

EMPOWERING SIMON
If youre finding the game too easy for your local Dissidents, here are some
Simon-friendly extra rules you can add.
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MEDALS OF THE REGIME
Simon is not a cruel fascist dictator. Simon can bestow honours upon Cabinet
members who have distinguished themselves. In a game with Medals, Simon
starts with one (if there are six or fewer players) or two (if there are seven or
more players) black King cards, which they can bestow upon members of the
Cabinet freely.

When a player has a a medal, they can look at the card of one the players
sitting next to them. To look at both they need both medals. Once medals are
bestowed, they remain, even if their owner is sent to Prison.

EXTRA ROLES
If you need to mix things up and add some variety to the game, there are two
different roles you can add to the deck at the start of Recruitment.

The Enforcer is a card that replaces a Loyalist card with a lone black
Jack card. The Enforcer is a loyalist willing to take action on their
own. As the game ends, the Loyalist can eliminate one player just
before people reveal their cards.
If the Enforcer killed a Dissident, Simon goes into lockdown and is
saved, no matter how many Dissidents are left. But if the Enforcer
killed a Loyalist or a Opportunist, Simon and The Champion lose.
The Mole is a card that replaces a loyalist with a Red Ace. They open
their eyes when the dissenters do, but they are a loyalist.
Unfortunately, Moles have a lot of sensitive information when the
Mole is in the game, Dissidents can reveal their card and accuse
someone of being the Mole. If they accuse correctly, The information
the Mole has gives them the chance to strike at Simon, and the
Dissidents win! If the Dissident guessed wrong, however, theyre
immediately sent to Prison!
If youre accused of being a Mole, you only have to reveal if you are
the Mole or not.
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