In Septima, you play through four Seasons, each consisting of five rounds, to gather a powerful coven of Witches and gain enough Wisdom points to become the worthy successor of the High Witch. You will accumulate Wisdom as you practice your craft in the superstitious town of Noctenburg: gather ingredients, brew powerful Potions, perform Rituals, heal the afflicted, and work in the shadows to turn suspicion and anger into support and acceptance.
Septima uses a snappy card-driven action system where players plan their actions simultaneously each round. You may choose to play it safe on your own, or temporarily work with other players or even the Septima, choosing the same action as they do.
Acting together grants a powerful bonus effect, but such direct displays of witchcraft also raise suspicion and attract Witch Hunters. This creates a world that constantly reacts to you, where powerful moves are both tempting and dangerous. There are plenty of tools at your disposal to mitigate suspicion – how much you are willing to risk for the sake of power is entirely up to you.
As you use your magic to heal, recruit and charm the townsfolk, you will gain loyal supporters to swing the Witch Trials in your favor. Saving an accused Witch from exile is a great way to grow your Coven and gain new permanent abilities. Even members of rival players’ Covens can be put to trial by the Witch Hunters – and if you save them, they will join you instead!
The best way to mitigate the growing suspicion is to shapeshift into your Coven’s Animal Form to disguise yourself for a few rounds. While transfigured, you are limited to a smaller set of actions, but you perform one of those actions far more effectively than in your human form. You also lower your suspicion each round you spend in animal form, but the limited action set will eventually force you to shift back.
Septima includes an engaging solo mode created by Dávid Turczi. Play against the Black Widow, a solo opponent using twisted versions of the Action cards. She will attempt to drain Wisdom from you with each of her actions, and wins the game if it drops below 0. The Black Widow has several difficulty settings, a very streamlined ruleset, and an extremely low upkeep.