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December 2002, Issue #2

Table of Contents

1 News: Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games, Mysteriz Mystery Games

2 Murder Mystery Game Tips - adding characters to a murder mystery game.

3 Featured Murder Mystery Game Review - Curse of the Pharaoh

1 - News

Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games

Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games is a new company planning on producing interactive murder mystery games at a rate of one a month! Their games are typically for 10 to 20 players, and can be played by the host (provided they're careful not to read too much!).

There are two games so far - Murder at the Four Deuces (a Roaring Twenties gangster game) and the very festive The Santa Clause (which takes place at a lawyer's Christmas Party). They also have supplemental packs of 10 characters that can be added to any of their games.

Click here to find out more about Dinner and a Murder Mystery Games.

Mysteriz Mystery Games

Mysteriz mystery games are mysteries complete with real clues. They are part detective story, part treasure hunt and part virtual adventure game and are perfect to crack on your own or with family and friends. And if you solve the mystery - you can claim a prize.

They currently have one game The Great Moghul, with more coming soon. Click here to find out more about Mysteriz Mystery Games.

2 - Murder Mystery Game Tips

Adding an additional character to your party

If you are running a murder mystery game and have filled it - and at the last minute someone wants to bring a friend. The best thing you can do is create a character for them - they won't be perfect, but it's the best you can do.

As an example, these are the sorts of characters you could add to Death on the Gambia.

First, you could actually have someone play the Captain while you remain as the Host. This would require some explanation (because the rules refer to the Captain), but you could have your person play the owner of the Christabel. Her goals might include things like, "Make sure the boat is safe and arrives on time," and, "You need to find an extra £100 somehow to pay off your last repair bill - otherwise the Christabel will be repossessed!"

Second, you could give someone (ideally either Alex Thomas or Joseph Keene) an assistant. They would probably have similar goals, but you could change them slightly. In Death on the Gambia you could give either Alex Thomas or Joseph Keene an assistant. In Alex's case you might make them a little more corrupt and open to bribery, while Joseph's assistant might have a secret mission to keep an eye on Joseph himself.

Third, you could create a completely new character, say a scientist. One of their goals might be: "You've heard that peanut oil has some remarkable properties. You're an up and coming scientist - find out what you can."

Whichever option you take, you can add other goals and information about the other plots in the game. (In Death on the Gambia this would include the Sharpe Safari, the Idol of Bones and so on.)

If you have time, you should want to write out their goals and brief background (you don't need to be as detailed as the "proper" characters). You will also need to tell everyone about the new character as they won't be mentioned on any of the sheets. Finally, you can just print out some of the abilities and items (travel papers, etc) again for them. (I wouldn't give them too much money though.)

To find out more about Death on the Gambia, click here to download the introductory pdf file.

3 - Featured Murder Mystery Game Review - Curse of the Pharaoh

Curse of the Pharaoh is the latest murder mystery game from Freeform Games. For 6 to 9 guests, Curse of the Pharaoh is set at an arcaheological dig in Egypt in 1894. One of the diggers has been stabbed to death - just after a previously unknown tomb has been opened. Is it a curse - or is it murder?

The guests, playing the parts of the archaeology team and their guests must solve the mystery before the Pharaoh's curse strikes again. But they can't wait too long, for dark forces are breathing life into the Pharaoh!

Curse of the Pharaoh is what I call a "freeform" or "interactive" murder mystery (much like All at Sea and The Auction).

In Curse of the Pharaoh everyone has a complete character with background, who they know and objectives. The game starts after the murder has occurred, with Sir William Saville (an eminent Oxford archaeologist) hosting a party to celebrate the opening of a previously undiscovered Pharaoh's tomb.

But that's not all, for whoever killed the digger is still at large - and there are other problems. Someone is smuggling artefacts and several characters have secrets they need to keep hidden from the others. And then there's the Pharaoh's Curse - there are those who want the evil Pharaoh to return!

Yes, Curse of the Pharaoh includes magic - ideal if you like your murder mysteries with a hint of the fantastic! (Curse of the Pharaoh includes simple rules for working magic.)

Instead of a formal dinner party, Curse of the Pharaoh better suits a buffet meal or finger food. Everyone needs to be able to talk quietly with each other - blackmail is much harder when everyone else can hear you...

The cast of Curse of the Pharaoh includes:

• Sir William Saville: renowned archaeologist and leader of the dig.
• Ariadne Price-Evans: veteran translator of Egyptian inscriptions.
• Hugh Carlaw: enthusiastic young student.
• Helen MacKinnon: the belle of Oxford.
• Shahfeez Merouf: Curator of the Luxor Museum.
• Alvy Spanheim: Cultural Attache at the German Consulate.
• Eva de Chalons: dilettante and art connoisseur.
• Lindsay Wilde: brooding young archaeologist.
• Robert Tregarne: Detective Sergeant in the Colonial Police.
• Oi You: the servant.

Curse of the Pharaoh needs a dedicated host, someone to organise the game. They play "Oi You" the servant and will read the entire game and will be available to answer questions. I really enjoy being the host - you know what's going on and can watch your friends scheme and plot and be devious to one another.

For more information about Curse of the Pharaoh, click here to download the free introductory pdf file which includes more details - including background, a full cast list, costume guide, invitations and how to pay. (The file is 32KB, so may take a few moments to download.)

That's it for this time. Have a great party - and tell me all about it!

--steve

Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this zine and tell me what you think!