Deception & Manipulation Strategy Guide
The Corvid Conspiracy are secretive crows who spread plots and misinformation throughout the woodland. They use hidden plot tokens, deception, and manipulation to control other factions while remaining in the shadows. Victory comes through patience, timing, and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
The Corvids place face-down plot tokens that enemies cannot see. These plots have various effects when triggered, creating uncertainty and paranoia. Your power comes from information asymmetry and psychological warfare.
Plot tokens are your primary tool for control and manipulation. Each plot type serves different strategic purposes and can be triggered at opportune moments.
Use: Area denial, surprise attacks
Use: Control, blocking key routes
Use: Hand disruption, info gathering
Use: Resource theft, economic warfare
Strategic plot placement maximizes psychological impact:
Psychological Warfare: The threat of plots is often more powerful than the plots themselves!
Your power grows as plots are exposed or triggered. The flip track provides increasing benefits and culminates in a devastating "Exposé" that can swing the entire game.
Trick cards provide ongoing abilities and powerful one-time effects. Choose tricks that complement your plot strategy and current board position.
Effect: Look at enemy hands and learn their plans
Use: Information gathering and counter-strategy
Best With: Extortion and Raid plots
Effect: Disrupt enemy buildings and structures
Use: Economic warfare and area denial
Best With: Bomb plots for maximum destruction
Effect: Manipulate enemy actions and decisions
Use: Control enemy movement and strategy
Best With: Snare plots for movement control
Effect: Force enemies to take unwanted actions
Use: Disruption and misdirection
Best With: All plot types for enhanced control
Craft: Craft items for additional benefits
Flip Benefits: Gain cards and points from exposed plots
Strategy: Plan plot placements based on enemy movements
Actions: 3 actions modified by trick cards
Score: Gain points based on plots and tricks
Draw Cards: Standard card draw plus bonuses
Discard: Discard down to hand limit
Place your first plots in high-impact locations:
Goal: 4-5 plots by turn 3 for psychological pressure
Learn enemy plans and capabilities:
Knowledge is power - use information to plan devastating strikes
Maintain low profile while building influence:
The Corvids are a slow-burn faction that builds power over time. Don't rush into conflicts or reveal your plots prematurely. Your strength comes from patience, planning, and striking when enemies are vulnerable.
With 5-7 plots on the board, create a web of control:
Area Denial: Plots are more powerful when NOT triggered
Advance your flip track through strategic exposure:
Use trick cards to control enemy actions:
Build toward the devastating Exposé victory:
Game Changer: Exposé can swing the entire game in one turn
Multiple paths to victory based on game state:
Victory often comes from perfect timing:
The Corvids win through perfect timing and information advantage. Your plots create a minefield that enemies must navigate, while your tricks manipulate their choices. Victory comes to those who wait for the perfect moment to strike.
Don't trigger plots just because you can. Often the threat of a plot is more valuable than its actual effect. Let enemies fear your hidden power.
Placing plots in random locations wastes actions. Every plot should serve a strategic purpose - area denial, resource control, or psychological warfare.
The Corvids thrive on information asymmetry. Always use Informants and other tools to gather intelligence on enemy capabilities and plans.
Don't try to fight other factions militarily. Your strength comes from manipulation and indirect control, not battlefield dominance.
Strategy: Bomb their key buildings and sawmills
Plots: Extortion to steal their funds
Key: Disrupt their economic engine with sabotage
Strategy: Use Snares to disrupt their Decree
Timing: Trigger plots to force turmoil
Key: Make their expansion predictably painful
Strategy: Raid their supporters and bases
Information: Learn their revolt potential
Key: Disrupt their guerrilla coordination
Strategy: Generally ignore unless winning
Plots: Snares to limit their mobility
Key: Focus on faction-based opponents instead
Master the mental game:
Build comprehensive intelligence:
Coordinate plots for maximum impact: