Murder Mystery Game Builder Template The purpose of this template is to help you build your murder mystery game to be loaded into the Murder Mystery engine at www.host- party.com. The template will guide you through the most important elements of a murder mystery and will provide sample information to give you an idea of what should be entered. This template contains an abbreviated set of sample text, to give you an idea of what information should go in each field. It does not contain a full mystery, as many of the instructions and clues have been removed. It is expected that you will complete the template with all information required for your game, including all clues.
The brown text is sample text and should be replaced with your own murder mystery content.
How long should the game be? We recommend that you have at least 4 rounds: 1 pre-game round that contains clues and information that should be distributed before the party, 2 rounds of clue gathering and one round to reveal the solution. We generally recommend that you provide two clues for each character for each round. One should be a reveal, one should be a conceal clue. A game with this format will take 2-3 hours and will fit well into a dinner party format.
Can I see a full sample? We respect the intellectual property of our authors, so we can not offer you a full version of any of the games. You can however purchase a game to see how they work online.
What do I do when I am done? Send an email to [email protected]. We will review the game and activate a test copy. You can run a full test of the game as if you were a host. You will assign guests to the characters, review instructions, send invites, send pregame clues, see pregame site, host party and the visit post game site. After you have completed the test, you will likely need to tweak the materials and instructions. Hopefully you tested this in a real environment with friends so you get the full effect. Also, your friends can provide some feedback so you have a few reviews. When you are satisfied with the results. Send an email to an email to [email protected] and request that the game is activated.
Why should I bother using this tool? Currently our online site has no spelling or grammatical corrections tools. In addition, working online can problematic due to session timeouts. It is advised that you produce the game offline using this tool or one you have created, and then copy and paste the information into our online tool. This approach will also allow you to maintain a backup copy in the event of data loss on the site.
Refer any questions to [email protected] and we will try to help you where we can throughout the building process.
Have fun. Author Information (This section is for new authors only) Author Betsy Francis Biography Betsy is a free lance murder mystery writer hailing in Colorado. Her worked is primarily inspired by her deranged family members and Author Bio her close relationships with a sinister dark side. Other Work Novels and Novellas
Enter standard text or HTML to The Murder Game published by Double Dragon eBooks
include links http://www.double-dragon- ebooks.com/mystery.html#murder
Eyes of Truth published by Twilight Times Books
http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/ttbcurrent.html#EyesofTruth
Daughter-in-Law published by Twilight Times Books
http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/showcase/index.html#Suzane
Captivity (Darkhour Vampires: Vol. One) published by Wings Press
http://www.wings-press.com/gen_general.htm#DarkhourVampiresVolume1:Captivity
Web Sites (List of Author sites) www.mysite.com www.myothersite.com Email (This will not be revealed [email protected] on the site. It is used for internal correspondence and login.) Author Password (This will be Password used to log you into the author site to see how your mystery is selling.) Mystery Information Mystery Name The Large Group Mystery Guests 15+ Guests Attire Character specific circa 1930 Description (Less than 150 Canvassed in the Majestic Rocky Mountains, the Stanford Alpine Hotel basks in the graciousness of a by-gone era. It is 1936, and a words) This is the general well known railroad baron is found dead on the premises. The guests of the Hotel, the fashionable elite of the early 20th Century, are description of the game that now all suspects. is shown on the view mysteries pages. Storyline Brief description (2-4 An entertaining murder mystery game for large groups and corporate events. Great choice for team building activities and holiday sentences) of game, setting parties. and game style Rating (see online for details) Rating: _____ | | Min Age: ____ | | Max Age: ____ Format (see online for details) Can Host Play? ___ (Yes or No) | | Large Group Format _Y_ (Yes or No) Host Instructions Guest Instructions (Optional Field) Field to describe how guests should play this game. This field should only use if you have unique guest instructions. If this field is omitted, guest will see standard instructions. Solution (Optional Field)This is a recap of mystery to be read at the conclusion of the game. This is NOT required if you have a solution round (Read more info to see how this differs from the Solution round).
Reviews (Provide any customer “This was my first time participating in a Murder Party, and I was delightfully surprised. The clues and the solutions all fit so well testimonials that you would together. I loved the fact that we could improvise as well on individual characters actions and words. The fact we could get onto the like to include on the site) website so easily made it great for everyone to know what was in store for them at the MM party. The night was unforgettable.” - Lissa Bricker Multiple Outcomes? (Yes or No No)Note this option requires multiple solutions. Rating – This is a rating of the E – Everyone; EC – Early Childhood; T – Teen; M – Mature; AO – Adults Only contents of the game, and the minimum age requirements for playing. Characters: Name Role Picture Codes* Costume Internal Motive Description Suggestion Jake Daniels The OM White shirt, The baron has had a lucky streak and is due Jake travels town to town getting Bartender with tie and a large payout through Jake. Unfortunately, work where he can find it. possibly a vest. Jake’s bets have not faired so well and his Bartending during prohibition is an Always have a personal gambling debts have reached a odd occupation indeed. Jake’s real towel handy. crippling level. income comes from accessory sources: moonshine bootlegging and booking wagers. Lawrence The Railroad V Executive suit The victim. He is the aggressive owner and The victim. He is the aggressive Railburn, Sr Baron and hat. Bring operator of the Western Pacific Railroad. owner and operator of the Western a cigar to top it His over bearing, authoritarian style tends to Pacific Railroad. His over bearing, off. alienate or attract all of those around him. authoritarian style tends to alienate With Lawrence, you either love him or hate or attract all of those around him. him, or more often then not love to hate him. With Lawrence, you either love him or hate him, or more often then not love to hate him. Amos Hobo M Think old and Poor, homeless, no commitments and To avoid an ugly and costly lawsuit ratty. Anything nothing to look forward to. He would do the Western Pacific Railroad faced torn and worn almost anything for a drink. A clean hit for unnecessary violence against a will work fine. could pay for a lot more than one drink. freeloader, the Company has given Amos (no one knows his real name) a complimentary vacation package to their most popular destination.
*Codes. You may enter one or more of the following codes to specify special features. R = Optional. This character is not-required in order to play the mystery. In order to accommodate various sized groups, optional characters are very important. Note: optional characters should not have clues critical in solving the mystery, but they should have clues so they feel included. NOTE: Optional required V = Victim. This is a fictitious character, and should not be assigned to an attending guest. H = Host. If you recommend that one of the characters is the host. You can specify and the system will automatically setup that character as host. M = Male. Should be played by male. F = Female. Should be played by Female. Pre Game
These clues should be sent to guests before the game, preferably through the email function on the site. These are very popular as they build up the anticipation of the event. HTML formatted clues should be sent separate with a note in the description below. Pictures can be cut and paste into picture column or sent separate with a note in the picture column. If you use a picture, be sure to describe it fully in the description so the clue can be used even if the picture is not represented Keep in mind, that these clues must be sent manually by the author, so it is best to only have one or two and make them for all guests.
You must specify one or more than one character, for each clue. This is the character who will receive the clue. The Related character indicates who the clue is about. Clues related to characters not assigned to a guest will be omitted. Clues to be delivered to all guests should be entered as General Clues at the Round Level.
Examples of pre-game clues: Newspaper Articles, Emails, Announcements, etc…
Round Name Pre-Game Round Instructions* These clues should be sent to the guests before the event or as they arrive. Note the pre game clues are the same for all guests. General Clues
| By Frank WordSmyth |
General Clue Picture …Insert picture or filename here
*Enter instructions for the host in this field. You may specify how and when to distribute the clues. You may also suggest ways they might be able to help move the mystery along. Be careful not to reveal too much, as the host may be playing along.
Clues: Character C/R Critical Timing Clue Name Picture Description Sylvia R 0 Introduction [Enter stage on your hands and knees] Life just isn’t the same without Harold. I thought he Railburn would be here to provide for me and all of my extravagant needs. (Heavy Sigh) But then again, I probably should have put poison in his wine. C – Conceal this clue R - Reveal to Others Round 1 (Copy this section for as many round as you need)
These clues will be compiled into a script. Large group mysteries are conducted like a play, where the rounds are Acts and the clues are lines. The scripts will be given to all of the cast members prior to the party and they will be asked to review the script to understand the mystery, their role, and the critical events. General clues are usually not used in the large group mysteries – with the exception of the pre-game round.
Clue Names are not required in Large Group Games and are seldom used.
Mark clues that are critical. By doing so these clues will be highlighted ion the script and included in a summary “cheat sheet”. There should be no more than 12 critical clues.
Specify timing to give the host and cast members a general idea when each clue should be revealed.
The Clue Descriptions should specify stage directions, character emotion and general dialog. The idea is not to create an intricate script with colorful dialog but to provide the general flow of conversation with key phrases that must be dropped. Specify stage directions in [ ] and specify emotions and character demeanor in (). See examples below…
Round Name The Crime Scene Round Instructions To start the game, the Host should make an announcement that Lawrence Railburn was found dead and everyone in the Hotel - guests and staff - are asked to stay until the mystery gets sorted out. The authorities have encouraged each of you to talk among your selves and try to discover hidden motives among members of the group. The Host should then hand out the first round of clues. Sometime during this round the Host should escort the party to the crime scene. General Clues
Character C/R Critical Timing Picture Description Sylvia R X 0 [Enter stage on your hands and knees] Life just isn’t the same without Harold. I thought he Railburn would be here to provide for me and all of my extravagant needs. (Heavy Sigh) But then again, I probably should have put poison in his wine. C – Conceal this clue. These clues are for informational purposes only. The cast members will be asked not to reveal them to the guests. R - Reveal this clue. Solution Round
These clues work just like the other game clues, except they are delivered at the end of the party. These clues should all be marked as Reveal. The clues should be titled with a number to indicate in which order the clues should be read. For mysteries with multiple outcomes, create a solution round for each outcome.
Round Name The Railsburn Affair Round Instructions This round is relatively quick and should begin near the end of the evening. The Host will ask each guest to conjecture who they think committed the murder. They should try to support their theory with the means and motive for the murder. The Host will then distribute the solution clues and ask each guest to read their solution aloud to the party in ascending order.
Character Clue Name Picture Description Seymore The I’ve worked for Larry Railburn for nearly 15 years. In good times and bad, I was there. I Bucks Solution: #1 toiled from 6am to 6pm everyday to keep his books in order. With a portfolio of his size, I assure that is no small task.
Then Sylvia walked into my life. She was so beautiful, sweet and kind. We hit it off from the start. As the days passed we began to spend more and more time together. It didn’t take long for me to fall head over heals for her. I wanted to have her, but I knew I could not give her the life that Larry could. So I began to find creative ways of increasing my compensation.
A few days ago, Larry caught on to my extortion. I think it goes without saying that he was a bit upset. But in the end, I was able to pacify him by proposing a repayment plan in which I would repay all the money I took – with interest. Yes, I stole from Larry, and that was wrong. This is something I will need to live with for a long time, but I had nothing to do with his death. Phillip The Kill Lawrence Railburn that is preposterous. He is a guest and a good one at that. I wish I Duright Solution: #2 had more guests like him. The evidence that has mounted against me, is very easy to explain. Yesterday, we remodeled the library. The red on the shovel was merely paint and the burning of evidence was simply a burning of old outdated curtains in celebration of the task. Other Documents
Every murder mystery is a little bit different. That’s why we allow you to add other content as well. The section below allows you to specify other materials that can be added. Try to use htm or pdf files whenever possible. Send the actual files when you return this template.
Name Location FileType Description Mymystery.pdf Game .pdf This is the full game contents. To make available in a single download. Materials IndividualInvite.zip Invitation .zip This is a specialized invitation. Guests Game .htm These are special instructions for the guests. Instructions.pdf Materials GameCards.pdf Game .pdf These are interactive game cards to determine the outcome of a fight scene. Materials Host Instructions .htm HTML formatted version of Host Instructions. Instructions.htm