The golden rules for hosting a murder mystery game

Our instructions talk about three principles (which we think of as our golden rules) to hold in mind when one of your guests asks if they can do something that isn’t covered by the rules.

Our three golden rules

These golden rules are included in our instructions (although we don’t call them golden rules).

#1 Is it fun?

We like our guests to come up with imaginative ideas, so if they present us with a crazy idea, we like to say “yes.”

#2 Will it spoil the game for anyone else?

If the idea will spoil the game for someone else, then we think twice before saying “yes.”

We’d rather not say “no” and rule it out, so we might complicate it or tell other guests what’s happening.

#3 Make it up!

Your guests don’t know what’s right and wrong. So, if in doubt – make something up! If it sounds right, it is right.

Two more golden rules

We also have two more rules we use when hosting games.

4: Can a player answer this question?

If possible, always answer a query by sending a player to another player. It’s more fun if the players interact with each other than spend all their time with the host.

So in Death on the Gambia, for example, if a player asks you a question that another character could answer (such as the captain), then direct them to the captain and get them to ask.

Even if the captain doesn’t know (and must ask you), that’s much better than just answering the player directly. If you do answer the player, then the captain doesn’t know that you’ve told them – and it’s something he might withhold.

5: Decide outcomes first

Second, when running a rock-paper-scissors challenge, determine what each outcome (win/lose/tie) means before starting the challenge rather than afterwards.

The problem with rock-paper-scissors isn’t usually success or failure – it’s usually obvious what happens in those situations.

The problem is to create an interesting result for a tie – repeating the challenge is dull.

So, state the challenge’s outcome beforehand. If you can’t think of an interesting result for a tie, we’ve found that players are often more than willing to contribute ideas.