For the Video Learners

• How To Play

TLDR

Team EvL is a playful take on making Utopia exciting again by summoning Ev(i)l back into the world. It is a quick to learn but hard to master game. There is a surprising amount of replay-ability packed into a travel-sized 72 card box. The game is all about controlling the most information on the table. Win the game by completing the ritual or tricking your opponents into failing. Throughout the game you will want to exploit your opponents tendancies through subtle strategy shifts. One strategy won't be enough to win as that will make you too predictable.

There are elements of poker but with more social banter like bullsh**. Get your information however you deem possible. Just make sure you know more than everyone else and EvL will be yours. Unless of course, your opponents get lucky first.

Testimonials

• "I love that I got to know my girlfriend's true spirit. She ALWAYS lies!" - German Alex
• "It's somehow light and fun, but stimulating and strategic at the same time. Easy to explain to new players." - Evil Katia
• "Love the theme of spreading chaos instead of kindness. Going against the norms of society!" - Never Lies Ryan

What Makes Team EvL Special?

• Shockingly stategic for such a small game.
• Very flexible gameplay. It's easy for players to join or leave a game in the middle if something comes up.
• Love the story: Would Utopia be boring? Hmm...
• Fantasic Art: Seems inspired by Rorschach drawings

But that's not all! Get the full description below

The Story

Welcome to Utopia, where sunlight dances to the tune of endless monotony, stories start with happily ever after, and your least favorite person never stubs their toe. Everything not good has been eliminated and forgotten by all. Life is perfect. . . or so we thought. Allow me to explain.

Not long ago, an unkindness of mythical storytelling ravens appeared out of nowhere. It sounds improbable, but even more so were the stories they told. They sang of villains, love triangles, and everyday town gossip. These formerly inconceivable topics were the first seeds of not good to return to the world. They revived our long-lost palate for contrast and opposition.

Unfortunately, instead of a new age of excitement, we are now in total boredom. No scholar can explain it. The ravens’ stories imply good is not good enough. So is perfection a lie? Is there a better half to good? For now, we call it EvL. And since we are lacking in this art, we formed a team to find the experts.

As a new member of Team EvL, your first order of business is to summon the demons to save the world. Go forth and complete the rituals before you. Your demons are waiting.

How It Works

Team EvL is an UNcooperative card game of bluffing, social deduction, and risk taking. Everyone works towards the same goal, but only the most EvL can win.

Using one action per turn, you must manipulate the Elements within the ritual circle in an effort to control the most information. Your goal is to be the first to correctly Call the Ritual and summon the demon within. However, if you prefer a more mischievious route, you may desire to coax your “Team” into calling the ritual too soon. Just remember, table talk is not only acceptable, it’s EvL.

How To Win

The game is played in rounds. Each consists of a new “summoning recipe” depicted by the Ritual Card. Once you believe the elements around the card are in order, Call the Ritual. If all is well, the summoning is successful and you win the round. If not, you are out of play until the next round. The first player to win 3 rounds wins the game!

Below you can see a fast-forwarded round of play with a slow down for the final turn. The winning player places an element using a Heal action, and successfully Calls the Ritual.

The Demon in the Details

Below are a few of the game rules highlighted with visual animations. Have a look. They provide some insight into how the game is played.

Taking Your Turn

Each turn consists of 2 phases, the Action Phase followed by the optional Ritual Phase. In the Action Phase, a player chooses one of the following actions: [Play, Heal, Peek, Draw, Challenge] (Detailed Below)

Afterwards, the player may attempt to win the round by Calling the Ritual in the Ritual Phase. If they do so and the Ritual is correct, they win the round. If not, they are out until the next round.

Play Action

Each player has the same hand of 7 different elements. They choose one and place it facedown in the Ritual Circle. In order to deceive their opponent, the player may not want to play truthfully. Any element can be played in any ritual location, but only correct elements will ultimately satisfy the ritual.

Peek Action

Players privately look at a top card in the ritual circle. Cards may only be peeked at once and by only one player. To indicate this, players return it with a 90° turn.

Draw Action

At times, a player may need more elements or wish not to alter the ritual circle. They can do this by drawing a card from the Raven Deck at the risk of gaining an EvL Seed.

Heal Action

Drawing 2 EvL Seeds from the Raven Deck will knock you out of a round. If you already have 1 EvL Seed, you can return it to the Raven Deck by playing an element faceup and correct in the ritual circle.

Complete Rules

For complete rules, including the Challenge action and Call the Ritual, see the rules in the download section or visit linktr.ee/teamevl

Why Team EvL?

My idea for this game was born many years ago; however, I had to put it on the back burner several times. Over the past year, I was brave enough to finally give my everything to this game. I spent all the blood, sweat and tears I could muster. Okay, maybe not blood, but that could be the next step needed for completing the rituals in Team EvL 2.0 (wink, wink)!

As for "Why Team EvL?", I can now say, "Because I can." I've had a wonderful time crafting every part of this game including the gameplay, art, story, social media content, and even the business aspects behind the scenes. So if you have a passion project you're thinking about, I wish you the best. And I bid you to just go for it. It will be one amazing and fulfilling journey! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

About the Creator

Hello, my name is Ethan, and I crave board games just like you. Typically, I am a software developer with a degree in Fine Art that I shamefully keep in the basement to collect dust. But over the last year, I revitalized my love to draw through Team EvL. I really enjoyed creating the digital art/design for this game. All in all, the combination of art, problem solving, and board gaming gave me the ultimate challenge aligned with everything I love. In an earnest attempt to make this game perfect I hope it isn't too perfect like the boring utopia world it depicts. In the end, we all need a little imperfect with just a dash of evil to spice things up :) Please enjoy this game of social deduction and bluffing. I wish you an EvL time playing with your friends and claiming the ritual for yourself!