Please, Just the FAQ's!

Revision 1.2 - March 18, 1994

Created and Managed by Alexander Walsh

Snail Mail:
PO Box 21092
Princess Postal Outlet
Kingston, Ontario
Canada, K7L 5P5

Email:
sandy@cs.mun.ca

!!!! THANX !!!!

Way back when, Alexander Walsh's Murder Mystery FAQ site was a mainstay of valuable information for those interested in this major form of Interactive Drama. Unfortunately the site has long since been closed. In the interest of archival completeness, I will keep version 1.2 here until someone decides to come up with a more up-to-date version.

This months contributors: Gail Peck, Janet A. Rudolph -
Thanx!

New to this revision: A *fantastic* collection of Host-Your-
Own-Murder style game reviews. These were submitted by Gail
Peck of Suspicious Characters, author of some of these
games. THANK YOU VERY MUCH GAIL for a job well done!

Formally the Iteractive Murder Mystery List (the name was a
little confusing).

As you may have noticed, the FAQ has been broken into three
parts ... it was getting a little large. Additionally, the
mystery puzzle games and spoilers sections were removed.

Sorry this edition is a *little* late getting out (X-Mas and
a massive deadline in my real life), but due to quality of
the additions I'm positive it was worth the wait!

    ----++++  QUESTIONS - TABLE OF CONTENTS ++++----

All answers are listed below the table of contents and have
the question numbers prefixed with %% so that you can
"Search" for it specifically.

    +--- Question key:  + New Question (and answer)
    |                   * Needs an answer!
    |                   # Please offer additional input
    V
      ** FAQ BACKGROUND **
0.0 # What is the purpose of this list?
0.1 # I have a comment on/for the FAQ, where do I send it?
0.2 # Where will this FAQ appear and how often?
0.3 # Are there FTP or WWW sites available for this list?

      ** INTRODUCTION **
1.0 # What is an Interactive Murder Mystery (IMM)?
1.1 # What types of IMM's are there?
(End of Part 1 of FAQ)

      ** SOURCES OF IMM'S & NON-SPOILER REVIEWS **
(Part 2 of FAQ)
2.0 # Are [insert company name here] IMM's any good?
2.1 # Where can I purchase a Murder Mystery Party game?
2.2 # Where can I attend a Murder Mystery Dinner near
      [my town]?
2.3 # Are there any Murder Mystery Board Games out there?
2.4 # How can I find a IMM near my hometown?
(End of Part 2 of FAQ)

      ** FOR WRITERS AND DEVELOPERS **
(Part 3 of FAQ)
3.0 # I would like to write an IMM. How do I do it?
3.1 # I have written an IMM Party, how do I market it?
3.2 # I have an idea for a new type of IMM game, who do I
      contact?
3.3 # Is there any good utility software for assisting me in
      creating IMM's?
3.4 # Can you suggest any good books on writing IMM's or
      Mysteries in general?
(End of Part 3 of FAQ)

+---------------------------------------------------+
|                      ANSWERS                      |
+---------------------------------------------------+

%% 0.0 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LIST?

The purpose of this list is to increase the amount of
information available on, and hopefully interest in,
Interactive Murder Mysteries (or IMM's). I loosely define an
IMM as a murder mystery story which can support or requires
more than one player to solve. These include Dinner Theatre
Murders and the "host your own" type of games such as Murder
A La Carte or How To Host A Murder. See Question 1.0 for
more on this.

By creating a standard list of IMM vendors and publishers as
well as reviews of existing material and aids to aspiring
developers I think this is possible.

The list will only succeed with your help. Please send me
any information you have on existing IMM's in any form they
may appear. I promise to mention them in this list.

This list is *not* a review of Murder Mystery novels or
books or a review of these types of works. It is only for
*interactive* mysteries, that is, mysteries which require or
supports more than one person participating in its solution.

%% 0.1 I HAVE A COMMENT ON/FOR THE FAQ, WHERE DO I SEND IT?

Send any and all comments related to the IMM FAQ to me,
Alexander Walsh at sandy@cs.mun.ca

If you have played a IMM, let me know. Tell me who produced
it and where you played it. Is it a regular event? How many
people participated with you? Did you enjoy it (why or why
not)? Was the plot complicated enough (or too complicated)?
Would you recommend it? How much was it? Was it worth the
money? Would you do it again?

Spoilers may be included at your own discretion, I will
place them in at the end of each FAQ release.

Reviews of existing IMM venues and products are greatly
needed as well as comments how you write your IMM's. Please
feel free to contribute this information for all to enjoy!

%% 0.2 WHERE WILL THIS FAQ APPEAR AND HOW OFTEN?

I will post this list to rec.games.frp.announce at the start
of each month if there have been significant additions made
since the last revision. A short-notice posting will also be
sent to rec.arts.mystery and rec.games.frp.live-action, as
opposed to the full FAQ (due to it's size).

If you do not get these groups email me and I will send you
the most recent revision.

%% 0.3 ARE THERE FTP OR WWW SITES AVAILABLE FOR THIS LIST?

YES! Thanx to Tony Blews (A.J.Blews@soc.staffs.ac.uk) for
putting it on his WWW site at:

http://tartis.soc.staffs.ac.uk/larp/

as well as the Suspicious Characters Home Page:

http://www.prairienet.org/~gpeck

Additional sites are still welcome!

%% 1.0 WHAT IS AN INTERACTIVE MURDER MYSTERY (IMM)?

Without seeing any sort of formal definition, I loosely
define an Interactive Murder Mystery (or IMM) as a murder
mystery story which can support or requires more than one
player to solve.

Players may be active or passive participants in the action.
By an active participant the player may have committed or
been involved in the murder. By a passive participant the
player may have observed the murder occur and is required to
assist in the solving of the crime, however it is clear that
the player could not have committed the crime.

%% 1.1 WHAT TYPES OF IMM'S ARE THERE?

THE DINNER PARTY/WEEKEND (w/ACTORS)
-----------------------------------
The most common form of IMM is the Murder Mystery Dinner
Theater or Weekend Gathering. These events are generally put
off by a professional production company and held a resort,
restaurant or theater. Generally, guests arrive and meet
several "key" guests in the crowd. These special guests are
usually professional actors or comedians rehearsed in the
mystery being presented. By listening and asking questions
of the actors the players learn the information related to
the plot.

There may be some initial action to get things rolling
along. For example, after the introduction we might get an
initial attempt on a suspects life. This attempt could fail
but it would set the tone for who the final victim will be.

If is a dinner theater sort of IMM (a single evening), then
a main course meal is usually served around this time. Some
events may occur during the meal, but typically after the
meal is finished a murder occurs. Following dinner,
refreshments are served for the rest of the evening, and
more of the motives and methods of the suspects are
revealed. Finally, each table present at the dinner is asked
to offer a solution to the murder and then the solution is
explained and optionally, prizes awarded to the team with
the correct solution.

NOTE: Some production companies organize the meals, location
and everything, while most will accommodate you by simply
showing up at a function arranged by your group. You should
really contact each troupe for details on what they can
provide.

The weekend IMM is very much the same as the dinner theater
type but over a longer time span. One that I had the
pleasure of watching started on a Friday evening (Halloween)
with the guests gathering for drinks and being introduced to
the characters. This was followed by the meal and murder.
The following day introduced some new suspects and had a
funeral service for the deceased. Sunday had the detective
drill everyone for solutions and then the proper answer was
revealed. It was really a lot of fun and a good troop of
actors really made it quite enjoyable.

One nice touch for these types of IMM's is to have a very
obnoxious detective arrive to drill the guests and really
throw them into the action. I found this really cuts through
any shyness which may be felt initially by some players.

Pro's
======
One of the major benefits of these events is that it does
not take a lot of planning for the guests. The only
difficulty is locating an event and getting reservations.

Good for not out-going types that would rather sit back and
be entertained rather than get involved in the action. This
really depends on the personality of the participants. With
sufficient notice the guests may dress up in a theme related
to the story. While it is not possible for these guests to
become killers or suspects, it is possible for them to
outshine the actors in scope and quality of appearance.

Can be an economical for very small groups. A dinner evening
may cost from $35 to $60 per person including the meal. A
weekend may range from $100 to $500 per person (depending on
the location) including food and board (some are held on
trains, boats, ski lodges, etc).

Con's
======
The players cannot get absorbed into the action; There is no
real escape. There are no opportunities to be "someone else"
for an evening and act out a fantasy. The exception to this
rule, of course, is the mystery with sufficient setup time.
This may allow the guests to dress-up and set the mood
themselves (as mentioned in Pro's).

There is no chance of trying to fool your friends.

Very expensive for custom events (typically from $600-$4000)
depending on the level of customization and the size of
group. Ten to twenty dollars per player (usually > 30
players minimum) is a good costing metric.

THE HOST-YOUR-OWN MURDER MYSTERY GAME
-------------------------------------

This second type is usually for small groups that wish to
host their own invitation-only party. These are generally
organized by one or two people and can cater for 6 or 8
guests total. Additional guests are welcome to question the
players but generally do not participate (that is, their
presence is not relevant to the plot).

To start the host of the event will purchase a prepackaged
Murder Mystery game from a department/hobby store. Some
popular names are "Murder a la Carte" by bePuzzled and "How
to Host a Murder" by Decipher Inc (in Canada sold marketed
by Canada Games). Average price $40 (Canadian).

Some details for US readers: Murder a la Carte is generally
found in department or specialty stores, retail price
$19.95.  How To Host A Murder retails for $28-30, but can
generally be found at Toys 'R Us or Child World for about
$22 or so.

These packages generally include the following items:
- Game rules and ideas for the host (recipe ideas, ways to
decorate the house on game night, etc.). This is read and
implemented by the host before the party. These suggestions
really should be done to create the proper atmosphere for
the evening. Some hosts will skip the dinner, costumes and
the invitations out of convenience (read: Lazy), but this
can ruin the overall fun of the game and the temptation
should be avoided.
- Invitations (with envelopes) to send to the guests. The
invitations usually have costume suggestions and a one or
two line summary of all of the characters involved in the
murder. There is also usually a summary of the setting of
the story.
- A cassette tape to play on game night (to set the mood).
This tape may introduce each of the characters or talk a
little about the deceased.
- A character script to be given to each player on game
night. This booklet contains information about your
character that only you know. It also has questions about
other characters for you to ask. There are usually 3-4 male
characters and 3-4 female characters.
- Optionally, additional information like floorplans of the
location of the murder, extra clues, name tags for the
players, etc.

The invitations are usually mailed out in advance to inform
each guest of when and where the party will take place.

On game night the guests arrive and the rules are explained
by the host. The character booklets are handed out and the
cassette is played.

The game is usually played in a series of "scenes". At the
start of each scene each players reads a section of his/her
booklet which describes information that only they know.
This is followed by a collection of facts that they can pose
to the other suspects. This is repeated for three to four
scenes. There is usually a break after each scene, and after
the second scene players may break for dinner. A game may
run from an hour and a half to four hours depending on the
interaction between players and the number/length of breaks
between scenes.

All players must tell the truth, only the murderer can lie.
The key is to be able to successfully identify the murderer,
his/her motive and method and *not* to get accused yourself.
You have to give a valid reason why you didn't do it.

Pro's
=====
These games are really a lot of fun (with a good group of
people), quick and easy to purchase and prepare, and very
inexpensive.

Con's
=====
Play it once and throw it away. You *could* give it away to
a friend

Hard coded to six or eight players. Always three guys/three
girls (or 4/4 in the eight player versions). This can make
it a little difficult to customize to different groups, or
to gather a group which fits the configuration.

No telling what the skill level required is of the players
or how much "additional" information they may be required to
add impromptu.

Not much fun for non-player guests.

LIVE-ACTION MURDER MYSTERIES (EVENINGS/WEEKENDS)
------------------------------------------------

JEFF DIEWALD'S LIVE ACTION MYSTERIES

Jeff's games are organized by a host (usually Jeff) and held
at someone's house, or at an appropriate location. Everyone
in the scenario has a full-fledged role to play. Detailed
biographies are given out at a kit party two to three weeks
advance, so you have time to study your part. Everyone comes
together, in costume and in character to the event. Sometime
during the evening, someone murders someone else. The victim
comes back as a new character, often the detective. In the
remainder of the game, people will try to investigate,
others will try to cover-up, and still others will continue
with their business as if nothing had happened!

This sounds like an amazing system. I have not participated
in any of these games, so I can't comment on their
playability. However, looking at the information available,
I know I hope to try one *soon*. Jeff has a mini-faq
available for interested persons, which can be obtained
contacting him directly (see below). The following is an
extraction of some of the key points from that list:

You play a role, like the Russian ambassador or the drummer
from Toxic Waste. For the duration, you dress, speak, act
and live the part. You've got an agenda for the evening of
things that you must accomplish.  Some tasks are easy, some
things are hard; others may be working against you. You may
discover that something has completely changed your
priorities.

A game may run from six to eight hours. You will be kept
plenty busy during that time!

Each scenario comes with detailed packets for each
character.  These packets contain detailed (6-10 page)
biographies for each character, a list of what the character
must accomplish (or try to accomplish) at the party, a list
of needed props, and general background material. In
addition, there are detailed instructions on how to set up,
cast, and run the party for the hosts.

There is usually a kit party two to three weeks before the
actual running of the scenario.  We hand out the character
information then. That gives people plenty of time to learn
their parts, to gather any needed costumes and props, and to
resolve any questions that might come up.

For more detailed information (pricing, availability, etc.)
contact Jeff at:

     diewald@virrus.zko.dec.com

Or by normal snail mail at:

     Jeff Diewald
     10 Partridge Road,
     Billerica, Massachusetts 01821
     United States of America

Currently available scripts:

"Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll" is set in 1986, and is a
Christmas Party hosted by Danny "Madman" Maxwell, lead
singer for the rock group "Toxic Waste".  This scenario has
band members, band managers, old friends of the band, and a
number of others.  It is a simple scenario that is easy to
play.  (This scenario is referred to as "SDaR&R" for
brevity.)
     SDaR&R takes 18 players: 10 men and 8 women.

"The Treaty of Berlin" is set in 1989, and is a diplomatic
"black tie" party hosted by the American ambassador in
Berlin.  This scenario has ambassadors, diplomats, movie
stars, spies, and all sorts of intrigue.  It is a more
complex scenario than SDaR&R, but still easy to play. (This
scenario is referred to as "ToB" for brevity.)
     ToB takes 20 players: 12 men and 8 women.  (Some of
          the roles are easily swapped to make 10 male and
          10 female parts.)

"The Idol Hands of Death" is set in 1921 in Cairo, Egypt and
is a party at the home of a high-ranking British Army
officer.  He's invited the members of the Enfield
archaeological expedition over to share their latest
discovery.  Have they unearthed Tutankhamen's tomb? There
are several other mysterious foreigners here. This scenario
is more complex than SDaR&R, but still easy to play.  (This
scenario is referred to as "TIHoD" for brevity.)
     TIHoD has several options:
          20 players: 10 men and 10 women.
          22 players: 12 men and 10 women.
          25 players: 13 men and 12 women.

Pros (from Jeff)
====
These games are far more involved and richer in detail than
the other games I've played.  You really get to role play.
There's a lot of spontaneity and deviousness that is
encouraged. You'll have tales to tell for years to come.

There are stronger and weaker roles designed into the game,
allowing a range of participants.

A player can also set his or her own goals; you can choose
to try and solve the murder, you can choose how to
accomplish that long list of difficult tasks you've been
given.

There are always surprises, planned and unplanned.

Cons (from Jeff)
====
This relies on getting a good group of players, including
some strong role-players and some real hams. You need a good
mix and right people for the right parts. So far, that
hasn't been a problem for us. (The material for the
organizer discusses this.)

This takes a significant amount of preparation time in
advance, for the organizer and the players.  This takes a
commitment from all involved.

You can't do these kinds of games just anywhere.  You need a
place where people can mingle and where people can go to
talk in private. Setting up the murder may place other
demands on the location. We've done SDaR&R in a small
apartment - but we couldn't do TIHoD there. (Of course, a
good location can add wonders to the scenario.)

THE INTERACTIVE LITERATURE FOUNDATION

The Interactive Literature Foundation is an organization
dedicated to spread the gospel of live action gaming. As one
of its services, the ILF maintains a Gamebank of LARPs that
are free to ILF members. Two ILF Gamebank games are now
available via Internet. There are some Murder Mystery type
games available through the ILF.

Contact Joseph Dzikiewicz [dzik@access.digex.net] for more
information.

For more information on the ILF, write to:

          ILF
          PO Box 196
          Merrifield, VA 22116

Or e-mail to Arthur Adams, the ILF President.  Arthur can be
reached at:

          arthur@clark.net

For more information on the Gamebank on Internet, contact
Joseph at:

          dzik@access.digex.net




     +---------------------------------+
     | THE MURDER PARTIES FAQ & REVIEW |
     +---------------------------------+
     |     Please, Just the FAQ's!     |
     +---------------------------------+
     |  Revision 1.2 - March 18, 1994  |
     |            PART 2               |
     +---------------------------------+
     |     Created and Managed by:     |
     |                                 |
     |     Alexander Walsh             |
     |                                 |
     |     Snail Mail:                 |
     |          PO Box 21092           |
     |          Princess Postal Outlet |
     |          Kingston, Ontario      |
     |          Canada, K7L 5P5        |
     |                                 |
     |     Email:                      |
     |          sandy@cs.mun.ca        |
     +---------------------------------+

%% 2.0 ARE [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE] IMM'S ANY GOOD?

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER/THEATER EVENTS
-------------------------------------

I haven't attended a lot of these so I can't really comment
on them. Please feel free to offer reviews for inclusion in
this list.

Denver/Boulder area, Colorado:

Till Death Do Us Party Productions
Usual venue: The Bluebird Lounge in Gold Hill Colorado
Average cost: $175 U.S./couple for mystery, dinner and
overnight lodging.
Private parties available
Phone: Bluebird Lodge (303) 443-6475
       Till Death Do Us Party, (303) 451-6748
Contact: Jeff Berry, nexus@isis.cgd.ucar.EDU

California:

Tom and Penny Warner
Speciality: Fund-raising Murder Mystery plays for libraries,
recreation centers and related public groups.
Usual venue: Your local library or recreation center
Contact: Tom or Penny Warner, tpwarner@netcom.com
         710 Sinnet Court
         Danville, CA 94526
         (510) 837-7089

Janet A. Rudolph's
MURDER ON THE MENU
166 Beau Forest Dr.
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 339-2800
Fax: (510) 339-8309
"Parties of Murder, Mystery and Mayhem/Corporate Theatre"

Titles: Murder On The Menu does not give you a laundry list
of of scripts from which to choose, instead they consult you
to create a mystery that will best compliment your group.

Janet Rudolph was an invited guest, one of five from the
United States, at Semana Negra, an international mystery
symposium and festival, held in Gijon, Spain. Janet was on a
panel focusing on Women's Crime Fiction with writers from
Great Britian, Norway, Germany and the U.S. She also edits
the Mystery Readers Journal and writes columns in The
Armchair Detective, Mystery Scene and Deadly Pleasures.

New York:

Bogies Mystery Tours
328 West 86 Street, Suite 4A
New York, New York 10024
Usual Venues: Contact Bogies for up to date listings
Titles:
"Deadline For Murder"
"Magic Can Be Murder"
"The Reunion Murder Case"
"The Case Of The Caribbean Blues"
"As Crime Goes By"
"Murder By The Letter"
"The Minor Murder"
"The Corporate Corpse"
"The Case Of The Murdered Victim"

Canada:

Brian Caws Mysteriously Yours
1927 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M4S 1Z3
(416) 486-7469, 1-800-NOT-DEAD (668-3323)
(and in Milwaukee and Singapore)
Speciality: Custom Mysteries
Usual Venues: Wednesdays at the Old Mill, Toronto
Matinee, 11:15 am ($36.95 for lunch and show, $20 for show
only, Groups: $31.95/person for 10+ people, $15 show only)
Also available at Royal York Hotel, Toronto (Thursday,
Friday & Saturday evenings 6:30pm).
Custom mysteries pricing: starting at $1500 + $10/person
Titles:
"The Trial Of Sherlock Holmes"
"Nana Nina's Birthday"
"Murder Takes A Vacation"
"Death Enters The Firm"
"Marriage Can Be Murder"
"Reform School Reunion"
"Reggies Will"
"Long Live The King"
"Murder At The Grand Hotel"
"Casablanca"
"Boom... Your Dead"
"Merger, He Wrote"
"Old Man Murder"
"Dying For A Clue"
"Welcome Home Billy Ray (or Achy Breaky Murder)"
"The Mystery Of The Maltese Blue Jay"

Armstrong Entertainment
914-165 Ontario Street
St. Catherines, Ontario
L2R 5K4, (905) 684-2654
Contact: Bob Armstrong
Specialities: Use an outside cast or your own actors

Eddie May Mysteries
1018 Merivale Road - Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 6A5
(613) 729-8832, fax: 729-4328
The Marble Works Restaurant
14 Waller St, Ottawa, Ont K1N 9C4
(613) 235-6764
Usual Venues: The Marble Works Resturant, every Friday and
Saturday Evening @ 7-10pm
Price: Dinner and Show: $35.00/person (soup, salad, main
course, dessert, and coffee; beverages, taxes, tips extra)

Whodunnit, Inc.
Murder Mystery Weekends and Evenings
173 Camden Road
Napanee, Ontario, Canada
K7R 1E1
Contact: Ada Woods
1-613-354-6353
1-800-487-5340 (1-800-692-CLUE)
Usual Venues: Country Squire (contact for latest schedule)
715 King St E, Gananoque, Ont
K7G 1H4, 1-800-267-9415
Titles:
"Murder For Millions"
"Double Death"
"The Headmaster Dies"
"The Surprise Party"

HOST-YOUR-OWN MURDER MYSTERY GAMES
-----------------------------------

I've played a fair number of the "How To Host A Murder" and
"Murder a la Carte" games (can't really remember which
titles) and found them to be of a reasonably high quality.
The writing is good and the production quality is excellent
(especially with "a la Carte").

Please offer any of your opinions on these titles which you
have tried.

The majority of the following reviews are by Gail Peck
(gpeck@prairienet.org) for the Suspicious Characters. (A
WARNING FROM GAIL ...) I welcome any questions/ comments/
additions to any of these opinionated blurbs on the games we
have played.  As you can see, however, we are starting to
run short of new titles to play--so if you send me any
spoiler comments on a game not listed here, I will have to
come after you with a chainsaw.

+++++++++++++++++++++
a. How to Host a Murder (Decipher Inc/Canada Games)
+++++++++++++++++++++

How To Host A Murder (HTHAM) is an 8-player game.  Its
outstanding feature is humor: characters' names are puns
(actually, look for lots of puns throughout), and some of
the murder attempts and plots are wild and unrealistic, but
pretty humorous.  (Means of death can be pretty inventive
but generally logical within the twisted framework of the
game, i.e., no vampires.) Because of the humor, groups that
aren't necessarily trying to imitate Sherlock Holmes can
still have lots of fun with one of these.

The General Premise:

You and seven other upper-crust-types have been invited to a
gathering.  However, your host turns out to have been killed
before the party got going, and the official-personage who
told you of his death expects you to hang around and dump on
each other for the rest of the evening. Guess what? no-one's
the upstanding citizen they pretend to be ... (And the
host/victim is quite the dirt-bag.)

Format:

At the start of the game, players learn about themselves
from the Personal Dossiers in their manuals, which includes
the Facade they wish to project and the Sordid Facts they
want to conceal. They then introduce themselves in
character. The cassette tape is played: someone official
announces the victim's death and outlines the circumstances
and details of how the body was found.  The salient facts
are also listed in one of the Secret Clues--the Report of
Investigation.  The tape generally is five to seven minutes
long.  (In one or two games, the tape also includes a
segment played as a clue during the game, or for an
epilogue, but for most games it's only used at the start.)

There are 4 Rounds, and each works the same way: read facts
about yourself and the other characters in your manual, and
then in discussion reveal everything you know about the
other characters and conceal as much about yourself as
possible.  Each player has an average of 3 clues about the
others to reveal each Round.

The murderer _does not_ know that they are the guilty party
until the 4th Round--*if then*.  In some episodes they're
told, in others they're not (and we've seen one or two games
where the murderer was surprised to learn of their guilt
when the solution was read).

During the Rounds, players will be directed to reveal the
contents of specific Secret Clues--copies of purloined
letters or important documents.  There are between 6 and 9
Secret Clues per episode, so each character usually has one
to reveal.

After the 4th Round, everyone makes accusations, and then
the Solution is read.  Each manual contains _part_ of the
story, so players turn to the last page of their manuals and
see which number they are.  The player numbered 1 reads
first, and then 2, etc.  Number 8 is the guilty party.
(Often, 7 and 8 will give a little impromptu "What's My
Line"  "it's-me"-"no-it's-me" routine here.) The Solutions
really fill in the details of each character's motives and
actions, so your group can see what they figured out, and
what they missed.

Host Helps:
The invitations are just black-and-white, but graphically
very nice.  The front has the "period invitation" your
character's received from the host/soon-to-be-victim, with a
section underneath that says "You're really invited to.."
with room for place and date, etc.  Inside, there's more
detail on your host, or the circumstances of the gathering,
etc.  There is also a paragraph about each of the
characters.

The costume suggestions are _not_ in the invitation, but in
the Host Guide, for the host to include or not, at their
discretion.

The Host Guide (in the more recent printings?) also includes
a few, very minor, suggestions for scenery and atmosphere.
There is a large 12"x24" or so map or floorplan of the house
and/or general setting (boat, train, whatever).

Menu and Recipes:

Some of the menu suggestions are more complete than others,
but there is typically only one recipe or two included
(i.e., the main dish and perhaps a side dish).  The recipes
are generally pretty good--but the best feature for neophyte
hosts is the timetable.  This tells you when to start the
entree and any mentioned side dishes, and gives you _some_
idea of how long it's going to take you to finish the game.
Although I must say, I've seen more than 30 How To Host A
Murder parties, and I've *never* seen a game-with-dinner
take only 3 and a half hours, as their timetable
suggests.

In-Jokes:

*Every* game contains a reference to at least one other
HTHAM episode--sometimes it's a person or a name, sometimes
it's a place.  Sometimes (such as China, Rome, or Star Trek)
the connections can be rather contrived.  After you've
played a few, though, it adds some fun to see someone turn
up from another episode.

"Roman Ruins - Rome Wasn't Bilked In A Day"

"Grand Prix de Monte Carlo"

"Hot Times At Hollywood High" - for teenagers

"It's the decade of the 90's, and a group of students at
Hollywood High in California must solve a very hip mystery
that threatens to destroy their school, their friends and
their lives.  Designed especially for players 13-18, this
episode has characters, setting and a plot guaranteed to
delight teens."

Well, it may have been designed for teens, but a group of
over-30 adults had a good time pretending to be teenagers.
Between Spence DeMonet (the "rich kid"), Tanya Bunsoff (the
swimsuit model), Duncan Flushwater (the nerd), Cam Kordier
(the aspiring director), Cantella Solle (the airhead
cheerleader), Fletcher Bysepps (the dumb jock), Bernadette
Down (the artist-with-an-attitude), and Juanita Greecarde
(the Latino princess), we _chewed_ the scenery.

After the adults played it, our kids threw the party with
their friends (age range 9 to 13).  They had a great time
accusing each other of things, and though they didn't really
try to piece together the clues, they still made reasonable
accusations.

We'd describe the game as Very Good, mostly for the
characters and roleplaying possibilities rather than the
mystery.  The mystery (theft and arson, not murder) itself
is OK, and the solution is pretty obscure (IOurHO).  *Not*
noticably less intricate than the regular HTHAMs.

"All My Children" - special edition

"It is April 1990 at the Pine Valley Inn.  Following one of
Pine Valley's most glamorous and successful charity events,
the noted benefactor and plastic surgeon Phil N. Thrope has
invited several prominent business and social leaders to a
meeting at the exclusive Inn. But he does not appear for
dinner, and soon the guests are involved in solving a
mysterious murder!"

Well, unless you are a big fan of AllMyKids, or are a HTHAM
completist, ignore this one.  The male characters are all
suit-types [Adam Chandler, Palmer Cortland, Jackson
Montgomery, Jeremy Hunter], without much personality, and
only two of the women are interesting [Erica Kane and Opal
Cortland; the others are Brooke English and Phoebe
Wallingford].

We'd rate this Skip It, because we were so disgusted with
the solution we _booed_ as it was read.  For the most part,
we got the murderer right--but missed a lot of the details
because vital information was missing, and some of this
information was non-deduce-able, because it was physically
impossible.

"Star Trek - The Next Generation" - special edition

"Eight of the starship's most trustworthy crew members
become suspects when the mythical Orb of Knowledge is
actually discovered by a Federation mapping team.  When the
Orb disappears, containing all of the knowledge known to
exist in the Universe, crew members become prime suspects in
a mystery that is out-of-this-world!"

If you've always had a secret hankering to wear one of those
cool Star Fleet uniforms, here's your excuse.  (Try pinning
strategically-shaped black felt to a mock turtleneck the
right color.) The Away Team consists of Riker, Worf, Data,
Geordi, Crusher, Troi, Ro, Guinan--and Dr. Rhom Eulan (gee,
wonder what _his_ secret is).  Eulan's been phasered, and
the Orb stolen, and Captain Picard suspects *you*.
(Unfortunately, the tape doesn't have Patrick Stewart, but a
strangely-processed voice actress.)

Obviously, this game falls out of the HTHAM pattern.
There's not much humor.  The roleplay is a lot different,
because a) these are characters your players have seen
portrayed already (and some players can be intimidated
trying to recreate the performances of highly-paid actors),
and b) these characters are heros and not sleazebags.  So
there aren't scads of secrets to reveal about each other,
meaning that the majority of clues are about who was where
when.  This is one _incredibly_ timetable-driven story.  If
you want to solve this, don't attempt it without writing out
a timeline as facts are revealed.

We say play this only if your main goal is playing TNG
crewmembers (and you don't mind emulating a The-Crewmembers-
Are-Acting-Out-of-Character episode); just for the mystery
aspects, Skip It.  We had lots of fun with food, costumes,
and scenery, but the game's really confusing and not very
interesting.  And all those "X was doing y at 0700" clues,
combined with technobabble, make for a long evening.

"The Wall Street Scandal"

"It is October 20, 1987, in the New York penthouse apartment
of mega-rich Wall Street financier Jon K. Bonds.  Jon K. has
called a special meeting of the Argonaut Fund Partners to
discuss the impact of yesterday's stock market plunge.  The
partners arrive at 6:30pm to begin their meeting but
discover murder instead!"

Characters:  Corey Pratt Bonds (vice-president at his
father's investments firm), Stock Ann Bonds (victim's
daughter, an art agent), Wirth Les Bonds (victim's adopted
son, New York senator), Portia F. Olio (one of the world's
best-dressed women), Lolita X. Posure (Portia's daughter, a
photographer), Arby Trage (the victim's partner), Cass
Antell (gossip columnist), Rob Ublynd (entertainment
lawyer).

Yes, it's a bunch of lawyers, politicians, and wheeler-
dealers carping over money, and yes, it's as boring as that
sounds.  It's business attire for all (except perhaps the
fun gossip columnist), and the plot is particularly
convoluted.  There's nothing really bad about the game, but
there isn't anything exciting about it either.  We rate it
OK.

"The Duke's Descent"

"It is September 1931 at an English country estate.  The
13th Duke of Airesborne has invited his eight possible heirs
to announce just who among them will be the successor to his
title.  Before he can do that, however, the Duke is murdered
in a hot air balloon accident.  The potential heirs must
figure out who among them killed the Duke and the other
unfortunate victims!"

This is a fun one.  It's a Golden Age of Mystery setting:
England in the 30's, in a castle, no less.  The characters
are good: British nobility (accents put almost anyone into
character quickly) including Spinner Propwash (WWI ace
pilot), Misty C. Loudbanks (internationally respected
aviatrix), Lance Sallot (future eighth Duke of Sallot),
Dameselyne D. Istresse (Misty's older sister, the victim's
niece), Rogan S. Coundrell (successful businessman), Gwen O.
Veere (the victim's widow), Lon Glost Aires (avid
sportsman), and Evonne B. N. Aires (Lon's wife).  With a
husband and wife, and a pair of sisters, there's lots of
good interaction possibilities, too.  The names aren't quite
as good as usual, but there's lots of funny stuff.  Wild
Boar Airesborne, the main dish recipe supplied, is really
good.

It's hard for us to judge the quality of the mystery--we
caught an incorrect name that slipped past the playtesters
and built an elaborate (but completely incorrect) accusation
around it, and then were baffled by the real solution.
(Don't worry about seeing this error unless you've got a box
from 1990; it was corrected in the next print run.) I guess
it says something about the quality of the rest of the game
elements that we really had a great time and enjoyed the
game, even though a clue misled us.

This game gets a Very Good.  If you're into scenery at all,
there's lots of possibilities for atmospheric stuff.  Good
show, what?

"The Hollywood Premiere Of Powar and Greede"

"It is 1936 at the famous Powar Gardens Theater in
Hollywood.  The guests are gathered for the gala premiere of
the film, "Powar and Greede."  As guests arrive at a small
private party for the cast, hosted by W. Anton Powar
himself, Hollywood's elite mill about in anticipation.
Excitement turns to horror as murder is discovered!"

Well, darlings, the perfect opportunity to indulge your
fantasies of being a movie star or director.  The names are
good: Denise N. Dayer (actress, and producer's assistant),
Hi Voltaje (the victim's protegee), Ivonde B. Alohne
(Swedish actress), Hack Ryder (screenwriter), Savoy R. Fayre
(British actor), Sel U. Lloyd (director), Stu Dyron (actor),
and Tat Eltale (former actress, now gossip columnist).  The
roles are juicy (lots of material for catty backbiting); the
tape is really atmospheric.  The mystery is involving but
not insanely complicated, though making up a timeline will
help you quite a bit.

The game gets a Very Good.  We've seen five groups play this
one, and each group has really gotten into the characters
and plot.  This game is also generally solved by the group,
and I've never heard anyone say it was too obvious; it
really adds a lot of enjoyment when a group feels like
they've met and overcome a challenge in solving the game.

"The Class of '54 - The return of Rock N Roley"

"It is 1959 in a small town in the U.S.A.  The local high
school class of 1954 has scheduled its 5th year reunion to
coincide with the return to town of Rockford "Rock" N.
Roley, the famous rock'n'roll star. Excitement is running
high until the recollection of a high school prank leads to
the discovery of murder!"

Get out your poodle skirts (or your brylcreem).  Eight 23-
year-olds (and if you've left 23 far behind, you'll have an
especially good time pretending) have gotten together for a
private party after Rock's concert:  Cal Q. Layer (the class
nerd), Del Toydes (the jock), Rick Alcitrent (the tough-guy-
greaser), Joe K. Awledge (the preppy college-boy), E.C.
Leigh (the cheerleader), Dee Deucer (the girl-from-the-wrong-
side-of-the- tracks), Pris E. Teene (the honor student), and
Penny Lofer (the hometown-girl- who-married-her-high-school-
sweetheart).  These are all fun characters to play.  With
the plethora of 50's decorations available at most party
supply stores, this is an easy game to add atmosphere to.

This game is lots of fun, although one group I know of were
disappointed by the solution because they didn't understand
how it could have happened. (I've seen two other groups have
no problem with it.) The menu oddly enough doesn't suggest
hamburgers and fries, but a roast (!)--this takes place in a
malt shop, for crying out loud.  So you'll probably be on
your own for this menu, but it's a simple one to improvise.

We'll give it a Very Good, Dick--atmospheric, with fun
characters that are easy even for neophytes to jump into, a
fun cassette tape, and a murder plot (fairly tough, but not
prohibitively so) with a lot of very humorous elements.

"Hoo Hung Woo"

"It is 8th century China at the Autumn Moon.  Guests of the
Hoo family have been invited to gather in the Grand Hall at
Hoo House on Hoo-Hung-Woo Islands.  Hoo House is an elegant
Chinese mansion and the summer home of the Hoo family.  As
guests gather for an evening of reflection, poetry and
feasting, the celebration gives way to deadly dismay about
hoo dunnit!"

Oh, this is a fun one!  If you don't have any oriental-type
robes, just any bathrobe will do, and if you don't enjoy
cooking Chinese, there's always takeout.  Remember pale
makeup, and long mustaches for the guys, and rotten accents
(if you don't consider that to be politically incorrect),
and you will have a great time with Hoo Li-gan (wealthy
landowner), General Shang Hai-shek (fearsome warrior), Hao
Dee-doo (respected magistrate), Pen Ta-gon (renowned
scholar), Wee Ping (widow of eldest Woo son), Woo Pi (eldest
Woo daughter, twin sister to Woo Too), Hoo Ting (second wife
of Hoo Li-gan), Ding Ling (poetess).

The mystery is good, although some plot points seem to show
up and then disappear.  One group did complain about being
confused by the names "because they all sound alike."  If
you watch out for "Hao" and "Hoo," most groups don't have
any problems with this.

Another Very Good.  Skip their menu, though--it's as
authentic as Hamburger Helper(tm).

"The Chicago Caper"

"It is September 1928 in Chicago.  Notorious gangster Harold
"Hal" Coppone's return is expected to trigger a wave of
violence.  Instead, Coppone has disappeared, mystifying
police and the criminal underworld alike.  To the small
group gathered in a speakeasy near Coppone's headquarters,
the crimelord's whereabouts become only part of the mystery
when murder is discovered."

HTHAM's formula of "eight upscale-types in a snazzy setting"
works against them here: Who is really going to expect a
bunch of characters in a Chicago speakeasy in the Roaring
20's to be anything other than gangsters, bootleggers, and
other disreputable types?  Especially with these names:
Molly M. Awbsterr (society dame), Earnest G. Ambler
(millionaire), Silky M. Adam (owner of the exclusive Everlay
Club), Socks R. Gyle (owner of the Green Tables gaming club
and avid golfer), Malissa F. Orrthot (reporter), S.
Treighton Harrow (district attorney), Annie Sassine (torch
singer), and Billy "The Kid" Thrower (star pitcher).  There
are a number of "establishing the villainy of the
characters" type clues in the first two rounds that will get
a "Well, duh!" response from players.  This weakens the
roleplaying--it's hard to imagine Al Capone or Bonnie and
Clyde trying to coyly pass themselves off as law-abiding
citizens.

The mystery itself is _really_, _really_ involved and
intricate.  This game has the dubious distinction of having
taken the longest to play of any game we've ever done.  And
we didn't even come *close* to solving it.  The only other
group that I know has played it was a neophyte bunch, and
they were completely baffled.  This game also uses to excess
one of my least favorite plot devices, conspiracies,
expanded to such a degree that it is frustrating in its
unbelievability.

All in all, we'll call it an OK.  This game started with a
setting and a general plot outline that both had a lot of
promise, but they got sidetracked and wound up being a lot
less interesting than they could have been.

"Archaeologically Speaking, It's The Pits"

"It is June 1895.  Arthur 'Art' E. Faxe, the eccentric
Englishman, has invited eight guests to participate in an
archaeological 'dig' at a site in Mesopotamia.  Almost
immediately, rumors circulate of an important 'find,' but
excitement gives way to dismay when murder is committed."

As far as we're concerned, this is a *wonderful* game, but
then, maybe we're biased.  A little personal Suspicious
Characters history: We got this game for Christmas six years
ago, and got some friends together to play it a couple weeks
later.  Everyone thought they would have a good time-- and
we all had an absolutely *terrific* time.  The next day,
every guest grabbed me and asked, "When are we going to play
another one?"  So, it is this game that is directly
responsible for our social life being structured around How
To Host A Murder for several years, which then eventually
led to a career in mystery writing and game development.
Talk about a life-changing experience. Perhaps *your*
playing of it may not have such far-reaching effects, but I
have yet to hear any negative comments about this episode
from any person who's played it.

The setting didn't sound particularly atmospheric to me--
1895 Middle East.  (I hadn't read any of Elizabeth Peters'
Amelia Peabody books at that time.) The characters did grab
me, though--Listen to these names: Lady Missy N. Lynke
(daughter of a rival archaeologist), Terra Sunder (a
lingerie designer, the victim's daughter, separated from her
husband, Castor Sunder), Ashley R.  Sonnyste (young
Englishwoman whose family estates tragically burned down),
Anne T. Ickwitee (only woman on the archaeological team),
Ham MacTorr (Shaksperean actor of Scots descent), Con Iver
(the victim's right hand man at the dig), Major General E.B.
Sawtedd (just returned from the Punjab), and Les A. Fayre
(American railroad baron).  The cassette tape is
particularly well done, and really sets the stage nicely.
Pretty much everything about this game is top-notch: lots of
humorous stuff, intricate plotting, but reasonably easy to
follow.

What more can I say?  This rates an Excellent.

"The Last Train From Paris"

"It is June 1940 aboard a train leaving Paris.  The German
troops are about to enter the city.  Roads are a hopeless
snarl; the trains are full with little space aboard them.
Yet, to remain in the city will not be pleasant.  Aboard a
government train heading for the safety of southern France,
a murder is discovered.  Passengers must decide who
committed the deed."

Doesn't that sound like a wonderful setting--kind of like
Casablanca, but with the click-clack of a train (if you have
a proper soundtrack, that is).  Well, that's the general
idea, but with fewer tragic characters and more comedic
occurences.  This is an easy one for costumes, too--
everyone's got something 40's-ish in their closets (and it
might even _be_ from the 40's).

Here's the character list: Khover T. Ageante (British
businessman), Mal Conntint (American 'soldier of fortune'),
RAF Group Captain Wey Awfcorce (British pilot, obviously),
Duke Schwazhe B.U. Klare (ruler of a small country fighting
against the Nazis); and Princess Idelle Chattre (ruler of
another small country), Mary K. Trairie (American
journalist), Barbra Z. Enhussie (Parisian party girl), and
Belinda Screete (American fashion designer based in Paris).
As you can see, some of the characters are less
intrinsically interesting than others, but the plot and
setting is involving and well-done.

The main dish recipe, Coq Au Vin Rouge, is *wonderful*, and
if you can afford a bottle of Chambertin to go with it as
they suggest, by all means do so.  A tip for keeping some
plot details straight: seat your characters so that they are
in the same order as their rooms on the train (as shown on
the map).

This game definitely deserves an Excellent.  I've watched 5
groups play this game and lent the box to at least 3 other
groups, and I have yet to hear any negative comments at all
about the game.  In fact, numerous players rate this as
their favorite episode.  This has also proven to be a
solvable game as well--of the 8 groups above, only one group
had no guest figure out the solution, and most groups came
to the correct answer by consensus.  Highly recommended--
good characters, and a strong story that is solvable.


"Grapes of Frath"

"It is June 1925 aboard a yacht in the Mediterrean.  An
internationally famous distributor of champagne and owner of
a multi-national corporation has invited several close
'friends' for a cruise aboard his luxury yacht.  In a
secluded bay in the Mediterrean, murder is discovered and it
is left to the surviving guests to unravel the crime."

Alas, a strong setting and interesting characters with great
potential that are blown by a clever plot twist that just
doesn't work in a mystery game.  This is one of the original
HTHAMs, and the failure of this game probably comes from the
writers not being aware that murder games are a genre onto
themselves: Some things that work in a novel or movie
disappoint game players.  I've developed a long-winded
explanation for this, but I'll spare you.  Murder games live
and die (excuse the expression) by their endings--if the
solution isn't satisfying or the players feel cheated by it,
guests walk away with a negative impression of the whole
game, even though they may have really enjoyed the
characters and the plot up to that point.  Since we've
played this episode, I've met players from several other
playings of it--and every single player has dissed the game
either mildly or vehemently.  I find this especially
interesting because I know that our group was having a
really good time with the game until we got to the solution.
And now, five years later, they all trash the game.

The characters really are good: Lucie Gucie (Parisian
heiress), Countess Nadya Forilska (Russian refugee from the
Revolution, now a Paris nightclub owner), Bella Donna Maria
Cossa (Italian opera singer), Desiree Flambeau (owner of a
rival winery); Captain Mal D. Meirre (the yacht's captain),
Miles F. Latout (racecar driver), W.C. Waterloo (British
businessman), and Jules T. Hieffe (French -- well, _you_
guess what he does for a living...).  Actually, "Jules" here
is another indication of where Decipher was on the learning
curve with this one.  You hardly need several clues during
each of the first three rounds linking a character to recent
thefts of jewelry when his name is Jules T. Hieffe...

So, regrettfully, I say Skip It for this episode.  Although
I must confess, looking again at the characters and general
plot, if I had access to a boat, I'd do some editing of this
one (mostly the solution) and play it again anyway...

"The Watersdown Affair"

"It is January 1936 at an English country mansion.  Sir
Roger Watersdown, the wealthy owner of Watersdown Beverages,
Ltd., has invited several 'friends' to a weekend party in
the English countryside at Watersdown Mansion.  but soon
murder is discovered, and the guests must decide who amongst
them committed the crime."

The original HTHAM episode.  It's not as strong as later
games, where the writers had found their stride, but still a
very good game.  The setting is classic Golden Age of
Mystery--an English country mansion in the 30's.  Lots of
British accents, which almost anyone can manage, and lots of
upper-crust characters with nasty secrets hidden in their
heirloom linen, using civil tones to express nasty
backbiting.  *Lots* of fun.

The characters are: Roger S.B. Astird (the victim's
illegitimate son), Pro Bates (the victim's lawyer and
golfing companion), Dr. Mal Praktiss (Harley Street
physician who tended to Sir Roger), Donny Brooks (city
banker); and Randy Shetes (American actress), Eiagulle R.
Amminmund (Sir Roger's confidential secretary, also known as
E.R.A.), Dame Ali Bigh (mystery novelist), and Flo Wing
Brooks (Donny's wife, a former fashion model).  The menu
includes roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding, of course. Don't
forget the brandy and cigars!

A Very Good for this game.  The HTHAM trademarks of humorous
approaches to murder and rampant puns are all over this
episode.

+++++++++++++++++++++
b. Murder a la Carte (bePuzzled)
+++++++++++++++++++++


Murder a la Carte (MalC) is a six-player game.  If you've
seen one in a store, you'll remember it--the production
values are *outstanding.* The boxes are gorgeous, and this
extends to the game pieces as well: The invitations are four-
color, as are the secret clues (although having a four-color
suicide note hardly adds verisimilitude).  There is some
humor:  the names are puns, but not as clever as HTHAM's.
With fewer suspects as well as fewer rounds than HTHAM,
though, MalC should be simpler to cast and faster to play.

Format:

At the start of the game, the players silently read their
Introductions, which include "What the World Sees" and "The
Truth."  After they introduce themselves in character, the
cassette tape is played and the narrator describes the
circumstances of the victim's demise.  Next is the First
Dialogue--a scripted skit.  Then comes the First Round:
players' manuals give them Facts You Want To Share and
Information You Want To Keep Concealed Until Challenged.
Players bring out these facts in conversation, and each
player has 2 or 3 facts about the others per round. (Each
player has a Clue--a note or document--which they reveal
during one of the rounds, when directed to do so.) After the
round is finished, another segment of the cassette tape is
played to summarize what you should have learned from the
information revealed.

The process is repeated with a Second Dialogue, Second
Round, more cassette tape, Third Dialogue, and Third Round.
Manuals include optional statements for the characters to
make at this point, asserting their innocence.  Guests now
make their accusations, and the solution is revealed by
playing the final section of the cassette.

Host Helps:

The invitations have a four-color picture of the place
setting featured on the boxcover, a simple sentence saying
what the _character_ is invited to, and then room for the
details of where and when the player is expected to show up.
Inside is a paragraph about the victim and his unexpected
death, and then a paragraph each about the characters.
Suggested Clothing is included for each character.

The Party Planner has _lots_ of good suggestions--from
background music to place settings.  It comes with three
complete menus: a Dinner Menu, an Instant Meal Menu, and a
Snack Menu--with a shopping list, which includes things like
candles and specific flowers, given for each menu.  Most
recipes are included, five to nine for each game.  Each menu
also has a timetable, listing what food preparation you can
do the day before or that morning, etc.  This brings up one
of my two quibbles with the Party Planners.  The first is
that the timetable isn't integrated with the game play at
all--it ends "Begin the game and serve dinner."  Considering
that most menus clearly start with appetizers and include a
hot main dish, what does this mean?  Much better would be
something like "When ready to start Round One, place main
dish in oven to reheat.  Serve Appetizers.  After Second
Dialogue, serve main dish, noodles," etc.  MalC's menu guide
is better for getting ready for the party, but HTHAM's helps
you deal with the food while playing the game.  I have no
idea why bePuzzled stopped where they did.  (The second
quibble is that I personally don't consider "instant rice"
an ingredient suitable for a "lavish dinner." :) )


Although I _own_ all these games, as yet we haven't had a
chance to play them all (our regular group consists of eight
players, and no one wants anyone to be left out).  Remember
what I said above about chainsaws and people who send me
spoilers for games I haven't played yet...

"Bullets 'n' Barbeque"

"Your shindig's set in the Paradise Saloon.  It's 1872.  And
the town of Drygulch is all a-twitter 'cause someone done
shot the Sheriff.  Who among the town's leadin' ladies and
driftin' desperadoes could have committed this dastardly
deed?  And why?"

Characters: Juan Bandito (Mexican bandit), Sally Forth
(English mail-order bride), Rowdy Azell (fast-dealing
gambler), Miss Patience (town school marm), Doc Mallard
(town doctor), and Bibi Gunn (entertainer at the Paradise
Saloon).

"Chinese Takeout"

"The time is today.  Mrs. Emily Boggs, lover of all things
Chinese, is hosting a dinner to celebrate the return of her
long lost daughter.  The party ends, and the mystery begins,
when Emily bites into a poisoned fortune cookie."

Characters: Chew Chow (victim's cook), Penny Sylan (live-in
nurse), Axel Dent (victim's chauffeur), Lai Low (Chinese
maiden, guest of victim), Him Wong (retired detective from
Hong Kong), and Anita Mumm (victim's "missing daughter").

"A Deadly Design"

"Your evening takes place in the 1960's.  The location is
England.  Your hostess, the Queen of High Fashion, is found
laying in a pool of her own blood, her latest collection
slashed to ribbons.  Who stitched this deadly designer
creation and why?"

Characters: Doll Chevita (victim's younger sister), Ron
Dewing (victim's wealthy backer), Minnie Kashfloe (American
client), Mike Ruffone (victim's boyfriend), Gloria Spoddy
(model), and Cameron Tripod (photographer).

"A Vintage Murder"

"Your evening takes place at a chateau in France's wine
country in 1937.  Your host is aged to perfection in his own
wine.  No one knows how he died or who offered his final
toast and why?"

Characters: Desiree De Bouze (victim's wife), Yves Le
Concoction (Desiree's older brother), Seymour Hunter-Cover
(British wine merchant), Lotte Brenzenbraun (German wine
merchant), Henri L'Able (estate manager), and Rose Chintsey-
Curten (interior decorator).

A Cajun Killing

"It's a moonlit night in 1905.  The riverboat Magnolia Queen
is wneding its way upriver.  Cotton magnate, Benton Thorne
IV, has just been found stabbed to death in his first class
cabin.  His vacation...and his life...cut short.  But why?
By whom?"

Characters: Captain Jaques LeBad (the skipper of the
Magnolia Queen), Candy Barr (burlesque queen), Marty Graw
(smooth-talking river gambler), Rose Thorne (the grieving
young widow), Ragtime Joe (Bourbon Street piano player), and
Allie Gator (young lady disguised as a dock boy).


You know, I really _want_ to like bePuzzled's games.  Their
production is outstanding; their Party Planner is well-done
and makes the host's job considerably easier; their line of
jigsaw puzzles is full of good mysteries.  (Not to mention
the fact that Decipher's not producing HTHAMs fast enough
for our group. :) And Sandy's played and liked Bullets and
Barbecue.  So why haven't I (or anyone who's played one with
us) liked them?

I think that the problem may be that bePuzzled hasn't
figured out the two reasons (IMHO) people are interested in
playing murder mystery games:  a) for the chance to
"exercise the little grey cells" and solve a crime and b)
for the opportunity (rare for an adult not in the performing
arts) to dress-up and play-act.  Unless I've hit the dogs of
the lot, they're not managing either one of these areas
competently.

You may ask "Uh, Gail, if they're selling *murder mystery
games,* how do you figure they don't see the importance of
point a): solving a crime?"  Because there's a difference
between *watching* a crime's solution and *participating in
its deduction.* In A Cajun Killing, there is _darn_ little
deduction.  Characters reveal information about each other
(and themselves, but that's another issue)--the tape repeats
the most important points in case you missed them--but
seldom (maybe never, but I'm giving them the benefit of the
doubt) do you need to put together two clues to determine
what someone was doing, where they were, or what they had to
gain (or lose).  You'll probably "exercise the little grey
cells" as much here as you would watching "Mystery!" on PBS.
(And less than with any of bePuzzled's jigsaw puzzles.)

As far as point b) above goes--the potential for dress-up in
this one is very good.  Our whole group had great costumes.
But role-playing in this game is difficult, because of how
much the game depends on you revealing information about
yourself.  The dialogues are much better than in A Taste of
His Own Medicine; they really do get the characters going
nicely.  The characters say things that you would expect
them to say under the circumstances: "Please show a little
respect for my husband, sir.  He's not been dead for one day
and you are making jokes." Or: "Hey, I'm just the piano
player.  I don' know nothin' about no murder."  But in the
rounds you are expected to say things that real-life
suspects in a murder would _never_ admit to.  The rounds are
divided into "Facts you will reveal" and "Facts you will
conceal until challenged."  The first section consists of
two clues, each labeled "Accuse [name]."  (Some of these
even say "Accuse [name] only after [blank] challenges her in
this round.") The second section consists of two or three
paragraphs labeled "Answer to [other name]'s challenge."
So, once someone has jumped on you, you simply read the
appropriate paragraph--and some of the things you're
supposed to reveal are _very_ incriminating.  And if you
waffle around (as any self-serving suspect would), the
information doesn't come out--until the cassette tape brings
it up.  By the end of the second round, we had the weirdest
dynamic going: Players were explaining that they hated the
victim, and giving out all sorts of incriminating details,
because they knew that the tape was going to say that "So
now we've heard that..."  Players didn't want to look like
they weren't "playing by the rules" and concealing anything
once they'd been challenged.  A new and different approach
to the question of how to keep players from lying about what
their character's done: shame them into telling the truth.
Ick.  Pretty darn hard to effectively role-play when you're
busy ratting on yourself.

The rules say, "When questioned, you cannot lie, though you
may be evasive.  If challenged directly, however, you must
tell the whole truth. At some point in the game, the
murderer will be informed in their Booklet that he or she
has committed the crime, and given information to help them
avoid detection."  What is actually the case in this game,
however, is that the murderer lies about their actions from
Round 1.  Except they don't know they've been lying until
they're informed of their guilt late in the game.  But,
since the murderer is never told explicitly that they can
lie, how do they answer if they get asked again about one of
their earlier responses?  This game isn't designed to work
with zealous investigators.

Another evidence of that is the number of Pink Herrings
(thanks to Jonathan Jermey for the term): events that appear
to be connected with the murder but have *no* explanation.
Such as some potentially significant items whose
disappearance is mentioned in one round in an ominous
manner, and then are never mentioned again.

Lest you think this is the result of playing with a bunch of
overexperienced HTHAM-fanatics--we did not play this with
our usual suspects.  Our cast consisted of ourselves
(admittedly overexperienced), one couple who had never
played any murder game whatsoever before, and a second
couple who were part of a "newby-player playtest group" for
Roman Ruins (and have since played Last Train from Paris
with another mostly neophyte group).  The completely
inexperienced couple complained about the tape and the
content of the clues before any of the rest of us.

The suggestions from the Party Planner were terrific: the
ideas for the table and music were good (and it didn't hurt
that I was able to borrow some brass lamps, ships' wheels,
and portholes (!!) from a friend whose office has a nautical
theme).  Two tips for the menu: Unless you have Pernod or
another anise liqueur on hand, it doesn't add enough to the
excellent Cajun Chicken that you need to spend $18 for 2
tablespoons of it in the sauce.  And that sauce, with or
without the Pernod, is too good to waste--skip the
Paddleboat Pasta, and serve rice with it instead.  The wheel-
shaped pasta on a paddlewheeler is a cute idea, but rice
(plain or Cajun-ed in some way) is more authentic anyway.
And cook more than 4 lbs. of chicken.  (Oops, that's three
tips.)

This isn't so much a murder mystery game as it is a
strangely formatted script with a great menu.  If you can
play it expecting that much and nothing more, I could see
calling this game even a Very Good, because the setting is
so fun, the costume possibilities are good, and, Ah kinfess,
Ah jest _luuv_ a gayme with ak-sints.

"A Taste Of His Own Medicine"

Your evening takes place in England at Headline Hall and the
year is 1947.  Your host meets his final deadline when he's
found murdered in his own bed.  Who wielded the poison pen
and why?"

Characters: Leonora Lacey-Drawers (Monty's mistress), May B.
Gudasgold (Monty's late wife's half-sister), Hurry Montague
(Monty's adopted son), Marie Mee (Hurry's girlfriend), Cloum
Inches (Monty's chief editor), and Luc Du Mifor-Elp
(herbalist).

We didn't like this one at all.  The dialogues didn't help
get players into character, but revealed important
information (without giving suspects any opportunity for
minimizing or misdirecting).  Occasionally there were hints
to a particular character's secret that none of the other
characters had further details about, and for the secret to
be revealed, the character had to give the incriminating
facts themselves.  (I guess that's the point behind the odd
wording "Information you want to keep concealed until
challenged."  Having seen players lie about inconsequential
points while playtesting other games, though, I personally
believe a writer shouldn't rely on players to even *confirm*
nasty facts about themselves--much less actively reveal
anything.)

The purpose of the cassette between rounds seems to be to
summarize the deductions the players should have made during
the previous round before going on to more information.  Our
band of seasoned (if not hardened) suspects felt insulted by
this theory-- and weren't convinced by the execution.  After
the first round, the narrator commented on two notes talked
about during the round, saying of the first, "We'll have to
see who wrote this one" when that had been almost stated
straight out.  Of the second he said, "Of course this was
written by [Blank]" at which we all yelled "WHAT!!!"
stopped the tape, and pawed through our manuals looking for
how we were supposed to have known this.  Eventually, we
concluded that we had all failed to make the necessary
illogical inference.

Despite having six suspects and three rounds, we spent more
time playing this game and less time on accusations than
almost any other game.  We usually take a lot of time on
accusations, because we thoroughly discuss what every
suspect was up to, etc.  Through watching lots of players
doing these games, I've come to see that players only spend
a lot of time trying to piece everything together at the end
when they're involved in the puzzle and feel like it's
logical enough that if they keep turning the details around
they'll see how everything fits together.  In the case of
this game, however, during the third round we realized that
there just simply was not enough evidence available to
conclusively say which of the suspects' attempts actually
caused the victim's death.  Very disappointing.

The invitation neglects to mention what year this takes
place, so several guests came in present day garb, and were
chagrinned to be see everyone else in period attire.
Actually, the thing we had the most fun with in playing this
game was accents--and that really had nothing to do with the
game itself.  (You see, "May" decided she was Irish, and her
terrific accent kept throwing the rest of us off.  And
"Leonora" kept falling into a Southern accent, and "Luc,"
who had no accent to start with, gradually learned how to do
a French accent...and, well, never mind...)

I really don't want to trash this game, because bePuzzled's
done a lot of things right.  I'm willing to chalk up the
problems with this episode to insufficient playtest, but I'm
still not going to recommend it.  Skip It.

+++++++++++++++++++++
c. (Max Haines) An Evening of Murder (Canada Games)
+++++++++++++++++++++

"Love and Marriage"

"Beyond the Grave"

"Resort to Murder"

"Winner Take All"

"Last Kiss"

+++++++++++++++++++++
d. Murder Mystery Party (University Games)
+++++++++++++++++++++

Murder Mystery Party (MMP) was the first of the published
murder-parties- in-a-box, and has sold a half-million copies
worldwide since its first release in the early 80's.  This
is the "straightest" game of this type to hit the market--no
humorous names like MalC or HTHAM, no characters-who-turn-
out-to-be-aliens like Milton Bradley's now-defunct Life of
the Party.  MMP is Dragnet to HTHAM's Naked Gun.  It's also
a lot simpler--the game is four "chapters" long, and each
character only has one clue per chapter.  However, I do know
one person who prefers MMP's format to any other "because
you don't have to concentrate as hard--it's not so much like
work."  So if you've played some of the other games, liked
the concept, but felt overwhelmed by the quantity of detail
presented, try a MMP.

Format:

At the start of the game, the players silently read their
Background sheets, which consists of two sections, labeled
"Use this information to introduce yourself to the group"
and "Keep this information secret unless you are asked."
*Note: although the Party Instructions don't point this out
at all, this is the only information characters receive
about themselves and their actions for the entire game.  So
the murderer knows they are the guilty party from the start.
This places more of a burden on the murderer's acting
ability than either HTHAM or MalC.* A cassette outlining the
circumstances of the murder is played--the salient details
are also included in the Group Evidence Sheet.  The players
introduce themselves in character, and then players read
their information for Chapter 1.  This consists of a clue
about one or more of the other characters.  These facts are
revealed in conversation.  There are four chapters, and each
chapter has a descriptive title.  After the fourth chapter,
guests make their accusations, and the solution (a separate
sheet) is read, explaining who did it, how, and why.

Host Helps:

The invitations are very simple and small.  Just a sentence
or two inviting the character to clear his name in this
murder, and leaving room for the details of where and when
the characters plan to meet.  Inside is a short clipping
listing a few facts about the murder and the suspects.

The Party Suggestions consist of menu suggestions, costume
suggestions, and a few creative but easy ideas for
recreating the feeling of the setting.  All recipes for the
menu are included--even for the drink suggestions.

I've only played one of these--my writing partner has played
another game from this line that is now discontinued.

Regular Murder Mystery Party Games (retail $20)

Revenge in Rome (6 players)

Murder on Misty Island (8 players)

When an Angel Dies (8 players)

Murder Mystery Party Deluxe (retail $25)

The Icicle Twist (8 players)

 "Boris Ivanovitch was anticipating an exciting evening
attending a party at Michael Maitland's Cottonwood
condominium.  Three hours later he was found stabbed to
death on the condo deck.  The guests at the party all
appeared very uncomfortable.  They are the only suspects:"

Michael Maitland (the victim's friend and host), Laura
Maitland (Denver police surgeon, Michael's sister), Madison
Weston (private investigator), Samantha Weston (Madison's
daughter), Alicia Tomasini (international jetsetter), Buzzy
Reinhart (ski shop proprietor), Roberto Martine (Michael's
bodyguard), and Tiffany Enderly (stewardess).

Nothing earth-shaking here, but still very enjoyable.  Our
group, used to long and intense evenings with HTHAM, liked
the idea of a shorter game with more of a chance to
socialize.  The solution was actually a little too
straightforward for most of us--several players came up with
more creative plot ideas than the game had.  The characters
are good, the menu is simple but appropriate (chili with
cornbread, stuffed mushrooms, hot spiked cider and Irish
mocha coffee).

A Very Good, judging it as a MMP and not a HTHAM.

Revenge of Konan Castle (6 players)

Death in St. James Park (6 players)

THE INTERACTIVE LITERATURE FOUNDATION
-------------------------------------

THE FINAL VOYAGE OF THE MARY CELESTE by Jim MacDougall:

In 1872, the brigantine "Mary Celeste" was found drifting in
the North Atlantic.  There was no one on board, and no
indication of what had happened to her crew.

"The Final Voyage of the Mary Celeste" is an IL style game
that puts you on the Mary Celeste for that final voyage.
Find out what strange events could have caused the
mysterious disappearance of the entire crew, or come up with
a new cause of your own.

"The Final Voyage of the Mary Celeste" is a 3-4 hour game
for 8 men, 4 women, and a cat.  (The ship's cat is a player
character and can be played by either man or woman.)  The
package comes with 13 full character sheets, 5 back-up
characters (in case someone gets killed), rules, GM notes,
and item cards. It is available in either Word Perfect 5.1
or ASCII format.

NOTE from Joseph Dzikiewicz: I have played this game.  It is
one of the best mini-games (i.e., evening game) that I have
ever played.

THE MARIN COUNTY NEW AGE SOCIETY COCKTAIL PARTY by Jim
MacDougall:

Once a month, for the last four years, noted psychic Dorotea
Schreckenghast has been having a few friends over to her
secluded beach house, north of San Francisco.  The New Age
Society is an informal gathering of the fairly wealthy and
the mostly bored, all with a common interest in the
unexplained.

But things have not been going well for the New Age Society.
Several Marin County residents, including most of the
Society members, have suffered at the hands of a notorious
cat burglar.  Even worse than this are the murders.  Four
members of the society have been murdered or have
disappeared in as many months.

This should be no concern this evening.  This is, after all,
a party.  And you never know what's going to happen at one
of Dori Schrenkenghat's parties...

"The Marin Country New Age Society Cocktail Party" is an IL
style game for 5-6 men and 5-6 women.  Several characters
can have their gender changed with little trouble.  The
package comes with 12 full character sheets, 3 back-up
characters, rules, item cards, and GM notes.  It is
available in either Word Perfect 5.1 or ASCII format.

HOST YOUR OWN THEATRICAL MURDER
-------------------------------
This section is really a combination of the previous groups.
Here, you purchase the script and act it out for a group of
friends or associates.

California:

Tom and Penny Warner
Contact: Tom or Penny Warner, tpwarner@netcom.com
         710 Sinnet Court
         Danville, CA 94526
         (510) 837-7089

Available Scripts:
"Murder At The Library" - This unique whodunnit, set in a
library, features a librarian, a mystery writer, and six
other related suspects. The tongue-in-cheek play begins with
a book signing party, where the suspects are introduced:
Agatha Mystry (the celebrated author)
Lotta Books (the hosting librarian)
Dell Doubleday (the writers publisher)
Dalton. B. Walden (the local bookseller)
Page Turner(the cynical book critic)
Alexa Dynasty(the trashy mini-series star)
Ron Bonzo (the local politician)
and Sam Slayed (the chief of police)

"Murder Of The Loaded Librarian"

"Murder Of The Mystery Writer"

Canada:

Armstrong Entertainment
914-165 Ontario Street
St. Catherines, Ontario
L2R 5K4, (905) 684-2654
Contact: Bob Armstrong
Specialities: Use an outside cast or your own actors

%% 2.1 Where can I purchase a Murder Mystery Party game?

Most of these games can be purchased at any hobby store or
department store with a reasonable toy section. However here
is the addresses to the main manufacturers:

Decipher Inc
PO Box 56
Norfolk, VA
23501
(804) 623-3600
fax: (804) 623-3630

bePuzzled
Lombard Marketing, Inc.
22 East Newberry Road
Bloomfield, CT
06002
1-800-874-6556
OrderLine 1-800-231-1699

%% 2.2 Where can I attend a Murder Mystery Dinner near [my
town]?

Good question! Look in your yellow pages under Entertainment
and see what you find. If you discover anything, email me
and I'll include it in this list!

%% 2.3 ARE THERE ANY MURDER MYSTERY BOARD GAMES OUT THERE?

Yes, the obvious one is Clue, but it's a little trivial for
most players. Another is "Sherlock Holmes Consulting
Detective" This game has received lots of favorable comments
from rec.games.board readers and is also available in a
computer version. It does *not* require dice, or luck ... it
is all deductive reasoning skills and is very detailed in
its presentation. For group play, everyone works together to
obtain clues, etc but makes accusations individually.

It is created by:

Chessex West
2990 San Pablo Ave., Berkley, CA 94702
(510) 843-1194 fax: (510) 843-9257

Chessex Mountain
826 South Lincoln, Longmont, CO 80501
(303) 776-9255 fax:(303) 776-5103

Chessex Midwest
5109 Executive Blvd., Ft.Wayne, IN 46808
(800) 444-3552 fax: (219) 482-5296

Chessex East
The Byrne Building, Lincoln & Morgan Sts.
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(800) 876-2193 fax: (215) 935-4933

Another is "221B Baker Street". From most of the comments on
rec.games.board this is a step up from Clue and down from
Consulting Detective. I haven't played either so can't
really comment. Anyone???

%% 2.4 HOW CAN I FIND A IMM NEAR MY HOMETOWN?

Good question! Look in your yellow pages under Entertainment
and see what you find. If you discover anything, email me
and I'll include it in this list!

Gold Hill Colorado
The Bluebird Lounge
Average cost: $175 U.S./couple for mystery, dinner and
overnight lodging.
Private parties available
Phone: Bluebird Lodge (303) 443-6475
       Till Death Do Us Party, (303) 451-6748

Gananoque, Ontario
Country Squire (contact for latest schedule)
715 King St E, Gananoque, Ont
K7G 1H4, 1-800-267-9415

Ottawa, Ontario
The Marble Works Resturant
14 Waller St, Ottawa, Ont K1N 9C4
(613) 235-6764
Every Friday and Saturday Evening @ 7-10pm
Price: Dinner and Show: $35.00/person (soup, salad, main
course, dessert, and coffee; beverages, taxes, tips extra)

Toronto
The Old Mill
Matinee, Wednesdays at 11:15 am ($36.95 for lunch and show,
$20 for show only, Groups: $31.95/person for 10+ people, $15
show only)

Royal York Hotel
Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings 6:30pm



     +---------------------------------+
     | THE MURDER PARTIES FAQ & REVIEW |
     +---------------------------------+
     |     Please, Just the FAQ's!     |
     +---------------------------------+
     |  Revision 1.2 - March 18, 1994  |
     |             PART 3              |
     +---------------------------------+
     |     Created and Managed by:     |
     |                                 |
     |     Alexander Walsh             |
     |                                 |
     |     Snail Mail:                 |
     |          PO Box 21092           |
     |          Princess Postal Outlet |
     |          Kingston, Ontario      |
     |          Canada, K7L 5P5        |
     |                                 |
     |     Email:                      |
     |          sandy@cs.mun.ca        |
     +---------------------------------+

%% 3.0 I WOULD LIKE TO WRITE AN IMM. HOW DO I DO IT?

This space for rent! Please offer comments and more detailed
questions as you see fit!

%% 3.1 I HAVE WRITTEN AN IMM PARTY, HOW DO I MARKET IT?

This space for rent! Please offer comments and more detailed
questions as you see fit!

%% 3.2 I HAVE AN IDEA FOR A NEW TYPE OF IMM GAME, WHO DO I
      CONTACT?

This space for rent! Please offer comments and more detailed
questions as you see fit!

%% 3.3 IS THERE ANY GOOD UTILITY SOFTWARE FOR ASSISTING ME
      IN CREATING IMM'S?

There are some screen play and story board utility programs
available (I have the names and addresses, but have to hunt
them down ... will have for version 1.0). The story board
program allows you to manage 5x7 index cards on a computer
"corkboard" you can zoom up or down on the cards to see more
of your play or more detail on particular parts. Haven't
used it, but it looks interesting.

%% 3.4 CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY GOOD BOOKS ON WRITING IMM'S OR
      MYSTERIES IN GENERAL?

One book I have found to be particularly useful in this area
is:

Writing The Modern Mystery
Barbara Norville
Writers Digest Books
ISBN 0-89879052309
PN3377.5.D4N67   1986   808'.02    86-15795

Mrs. Norville was the editor of Inner Sanctum Mysteries at
Simon & Schuster for ten years. She then went on to create
her own mystery line. She has worked with more than 150
writers. Lots of great tips here!

THE HOWDUNIT SERIES

There is also a good series of books from Writers Digest
Books, called their Howdunit Series. These titles are
specifically for mystery writers and cover a wide range of
interesting topics (as listed below). They can be ordered
from:

Writers Digest Books
1507 Dana Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45207
1-800-289-0923

The titles are:

"Private Eyes: A writers guide to Private Investigators" - A
detailed examination of exactly how private investigators
work. #10373/208 pgs, $15.95

"Police Procedural: A writers guide to the Police and how
they work" - Takes you into the day-to-day world of
policework and police investigations. #10374/304 pgs/$16.95

"Cause Of Death: A writers guide to Death, Murder & Forensic
Medicine" - Details what happens to a body from trauma to
burial, including how police determine the type of crime.
#10318/240 pgs, $15.95

"Scene Of The Crime: A writers guide to Crime Scene
Investigations" - This factual, time saving guide provides
step-by-step details on the investigatory process at the
crime scene. #10319/240 pgs, $15.95

"Deadly Doses: A writers guide to Poisons" - Answers all the
questions your have when "poisoning off" a character.
Includes symptoms, reaction time and antidotes. #10177/320
pgs, $16.95

"Armed & Dangerous: A writers guide to Weapons" - Explains
firearms in an accessible and easy-to-understand manner,
including hundreds of examples. #10176/186 pgs, $14.95

USBORNE WHODUNNITS

Another interesting series is the Usborne Whodunnits. There
are only three books in this series of kids mystery stories,
but they are very well done and scream interactive! I really
enjoyed these books even if they are aimed at kids (then
again, why else would you be reading this FAQ)?!

The three titles are:

The Deckchair Detectives
Murder Unlimited
The Missing Clue

The books have cartoon pages with textual passages. The
reader searchs the text and pictures for clues and must form
an accusation at the end of the book. Interesting reference
material.

1992 - Usborne Publishing Ltd
Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London
EC1N 8RT, England

This space for rent! Please offer comments and more detailed
questions as you see fit!

<< END OF FAQ >>

-- 
----
Mr. Sandy Walsh| I wish that I die peacefully in my sleep like my Dad ...
sandy@cs.mun.ca|    and not screaming hysterically like his passengers.

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