About the Game

Where can I buy the game?

The game is currently available at The Game Crafter. However, I regularly place orders with them so if you live in Sweden and are interested in a copy, please feel free to contact me.

How does this game differ from the rest of the Nova Suecia games?

First of all, it's a card game. Nevertheless, behind the cards (literally, in the case of the loayal and disloyal workers) hide many of the characteristics known from the Nova Suecia series: the absence of randomness as the players choose whether to work or to strike, the balance between cooperation and competition where the two sides cooperate against each other, and the historical theme. The theme may be different from the Swedish 17th century but the ambition to include authentic details wherever they fit the game remains the same. Player who enjoyed the Nova Suecia series will find a lot to enjoy in this totalitarian regime as well.

What makes Gulag different from other games?

There are many deduction games with hidden identities but not that many with semi-hidden information where each player has unique information. Since played cards may be subject to supervision at any time, the players will never be sure which cards to play or why other players played certain cards.

About the Rules

How is the game best taught to others?

Explain the two loyalties of the game (loyal and disloyal) and how they differ in terms of objectives (the loyal wants work cards to be played, the disloyal strike cards). Walk through a turn of worker selection, task cards play and supervision with hints on how the different roles may be played. Emphasize the importance of predicting whether you will be supervised or not. Since the game is so fast, play a practice session rather than going into detailed scenarios.