THE REALLY UGLY

“UGLY SWEATER”
OFFICE PARTY

RUUSOP A DREW PRINCE

Character Guide V1.
 The Really Ugly
“Ugly Sweater” Office Party
The Romanage International company office, just south of London, is throwing its annual
“Ugly Sweater” lunch for employees, clients and vendors. It’s going about the same as
any daytime office party with no alcohol—dull and quiet, with everyone on their best
behaviour.

Then a scream rings out—the company president, Mike Romanage himself, has been
found dead in the copy room. His head was bashed in as he bent over the glass of the
old-fashioned copier. Unfortunately, the body collapsed onto the “Print” button, so hun-
dreds of copies of his astonished face are flying around the room.

The guests, mingling uneasily among the cubicles, are abuzz with questions. What was
Mike Romanage copying? Who’s in charge here? When can we go home? And most
importantly—whodunit? Could it have been YOU?
CONTENTS
DREW PRINCE
ROUND 1
05 GETTING TO KNOW
THE PLAYERS
ROUND 1
06 GETTING TO KNOW
THE PLAYERS
ROUND 2
07 SUSPICIONS
ROUND 3
08 MOTIVE
ROUND 4
09 METHOD
ACCUSATIONS OR
10 VOTING
FINAL
11 STATEMENTS
TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
CHARACTER GUIDE
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
Gender open. Graphic Designer, feels that no one is as talented as they are.

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TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
ROUND 1
GETTING TO KNOW THE PLAYERS
INTROS SAY HELLO
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH Read this text word-for-word or paraphrase it in your own
THE VICTIM words as you introduce yourself to everyone. Don’t add
any information, just slang or casual language suitable for
All the Players have a history with the victim. Try to keep your character.
the details of your relationship to yourself—but be aware Ideally, your character should have a believable British accent.
that other people may already have some idea of it!
Cheers, I’m Drew Prince, the Graphic Designer.
You can never seem to please Mike as a boss.
Yes, all the stunning artwork the company turns out
He complains and picks holes in everything you
is my doing. It’s too bad that I don’t receive the rec-
do, even though your work is always superlatively
ognition I deserve.
wonderful. Last week, he threatened to fire you for
poor performance. You are determined not to let
him force you out of your job.

[Describe why the “Ugly Sweater” you’re wearing is right for your character.]

STOP! DO NOT CONTINUE

UNTIL THE HOST INSTRUCTS
YOU TO!

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TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
ROUND 1
GETTING TO KNOW THE PLAYERS
RUMOURS
CHOOSE YOUR VICTIM
Here are things you may have observed about other characters. In your group, agree on a character you want to talk
about—someone who is at the party, but preferably not within earshot.
CURLICUE BICKLE Used to leave early to attend professional society meetings, but stopped abruptly.

DUFFY NANCE Romanage International is struggling for cash—is it because Duffy has been skimming off the profits?

IMBOSS S. PETTY Takes credit for other employees’ work and dares them to tell Uncle Mike.

JUANA TALIO Has wandered all over the office during the party; no one knows where she’s been.

PHILO SUIT Seen snooping around Mike’s office. Mike caught him and yelled furiously.

SANDY WHICH Heard saying, “Nobody cheats me and gets away with it!”

TWISTER RENCH Lives a better lifestyle than other copier technicians.

BARR CHART Gives some clients much, much better service than others.

JUNO TAKEDAT Steals full soda cans from desks, then empties and recycles them.

MACON O. PICKS His business if struggling to get by under his indecisive leadership.

NEVA N. TYMESKI Has many long closed-door meetings with Mike whenever she is in town.

OBADIAH Z. RULES Heard saying, “I must address rule-breaking in my own way, or it isn’t worth my while!”

SHOEN TELLER Talks incessantly about how easily elections can be rigged when officials take bribes.

ASKIN ALBYTE Mike has started watching Askin closely, and wants to sign off on all computer orders.

DEANNA LIST Only keeps her job by being related to the boss.

GIMMY A. BONUS People say Gimmy does “personal favors” for clients who sign large deals.

Used to grill members of Mike’s professional society on how to be invited to join.

MINOS LACKER

PADDY PRY Often seen leaving notes on Mike’s desk.

SONNY DEE Hides whenever Mike comes into view.

SPREAD THE DIRT BITE YOUR TONGUE!

Use your improvisational skills to share your rumour If you hear someone spreading a rumour about
about that character with everyone in your group. Just you, pay attention but don’t feel you need to
as in real life, some people will already know your answer. You’ll have a chance to respond in the
dirt—that doesn’t mean you can’t talk about it! The Host next Rounds.
may ask you to move on to a different group, to share
rumours with and about new people. Feel free to pass STOP! AT THIS POINT THE MUR-
on or combine items you’ve heard from other Players. DERER WILL FIND OUT WHO THEY
The Host may end the Round before you have finished,
so get to the juicy stuff early! ARE.
If it’s you, use the “Guilty” answer whenever you are questioned.
Everyone else should use the “Innocent” answer.
Listeners will not know which one they are hearing.
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TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
ROUND 2 | SUSPICIONS
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE OTHER CHARACTERS
When it is your turn, challenge ONE other Player in this format: “It seems suspicious
that [specific suspicion]. Can you explain?”
Curlicue Bickle you stopped belonging to Mike’s professional society.

Drew Prince you’ve been disciplined by Mike so loudly and so often.

Duffy Nance the company has struggled financially ever since you joined.

Imboss S. Petty you show so much interest in “Uncle Mike’s” personal lawyer.

Juana Talio you still do business with Mike when you hate him so much.

Philo Suit you want copies of every company email, including Mike’s.

Sandy Which you showed up on a party day, when nobody will be buying lunch.

Twister Rench Mike has been checking your invoices in such detail lately.

Barr Chart It seems you treat some clients so much better than others. Can you
Juno Takedat
suspicious Mike confiscated your master key.
explain?
Macon O. Picks
that… you still do business with Mike after fighting with him.

Neva N. Tymeski you threatened to put Mike into a “world of hurt.”

Obadiah Z. Rules you flatter Mike so much when it’s obvious he dislikes you.

Shoen Teller you used to like Mike’s professional society, but now you hate it.

Askin Albyte Mike started supervising all your equipment orders.

Deanna List you keep working here when you don’t like your brother-in-law.

Gimmy A. Bonus you’ve been seen so often with Mike’s wife.

Minos Lacker you have a private door into Mike’s office, but you lock it now.

Paddy Pry you frequently leave notes on Mike’s desk.

Sonny Dee Mike has shown such an interest in your activity reports lately.

ANSWERS FOR WHEN YOU ARE CHALLENGED

When another Player challenges you, read the appropriate answer.

Mike had a big voice and no idea what makes good graphic design. I know my work is good, so I
IF YOU ARE INNOCENT ignored his rantings. I hope someday to find a manager with better judgment.

Mike had a big voice and no idea what makes good graphic design. I know my work is good, so I
IF YOU ARE GUILTY ignored his rantings. I need to find a manager with better judgment, that’s all.

STOP! DO NOT CONTINUE UNTIL

THE HOST INSTRUCTS YOU TO!

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TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
ROUND 3 | MOTIVE
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE OTHER CHARACTERS
When it is your turn, choose ONE question to ask another Player and read it aloud.
Eventually, all the characters listed in that row will be asked that same question.

ASK: Curlicue Bickle

Shoen Teller Something Mike did at the professional society upset you. What was it, and did it make you want to kill him?
Minos Lacker
ASK: Drew Prince
You’re always complaining about Mike’s micromanagement and fixation on details. Is that why you wrote on that
Philo Suit
paperweight?
Sonny Dee

ASK: Duffy Nance You suggested that there was a lot of dishonesty in this office. Did you mean Mike—and what did he do?

ASK: Imboss S. Petty Didn’t you give “Uncle Mike” that paperweight as a way of kissing up to him?

ASK: Juana Talio You talk a lot about being done down and cheated. Is that why you wrote “corrupt greedy pig” on that paper-
Sandy Which weight?

ASK: Twister Rench

Juno Takedat Mike recently started micromanaging you. Is that why you complained about his obsession with details on that
paperweight?
Askin Albyte

ASK: Barr Chart Are you getting some kind of payoff from certain clients, and did Mike know it?

ASK: Macon O. Picks Somebody is trying to take over your business. Was it Mike?

ASK: Neva N. Tymeski You accused Mike of being corrupt in a heated argument. What did he do that drove you to also write it on that
paperweight?

ASK: Obadiah Z. Rules You called Mike a pig. Admit it, you’re the one who wrote “greedy pig” on that paperweight, aren’t you?

Did you write “greedy pig” on that paperweight because Mike inherited the Romanage money instead of your
ASK: Deanna List husband?

ASK: Gimmy A. Bonus I bet Mike’s wife gave you those expensive new toys you’ve been showing off. Did Mike know, and how did he
feel about that?

ASK: Paddy Pry Did you write on that paperweight while you were cleaning Mike’s office last night?

ANSWERS FOR WHEN YOU ARE QUESTIONED

When another Player asks you, read the appropriate answer.

You’d complain too if he picked your work to pieces like he did to me! But that doesn’t mean I
IF YOU ARE INNOCENT wrote on the paperweight.

You’d complain too if he picked your work to pieces like he did to me! But that doesn’t mean I
IF YOU ARE GUILTY wrote on the paperweight. The last thing I needed was to give him another reason for firing me.

STOP! DO NOT CONTINUE UNTIL

THE HOST INSTRUCTS YOU TO!
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TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
ROUND 4 | METHOD
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE OTHER CHARACTERS
When it is your turn, choose ONE question to ask another Player and read it aloud.
Eventually, all the characters listed in that row will be asked that same question.
ASK: Curlicue Bickle You’ve been rubbing your hands together the whole party. Are you trying to remove traces of toner and blood?
Neva N. Tymeski
ASK: Drew Prince
Sandy Which You’ve got a cut on your hand. Did you get that from the murder weapon?
Deanna List
ASK: Duffy Nance
You must have known about the heavy-duty stapler because of all the long legal and financial documents you print
Philo Suit out. Did you use it to finish Mike’s murder?
Obadiah Z. Rules
You’ve been getting extra sodas the whole party. Did you use one of your trips to the kitchen to wash blood from
ASK: Imboss S. Petty your hands?
ASK: Juana Talio
Barr Chart You were gone from the party for a long time. Did you take that time to kill Mike?
Askin Albyte
ASK: Gimmy A. Bonus This murder seemed like it was started calmly, then was improvised in a panic. That sounds like something you
Sonny Dee would do, doesn’t it?
You have a fresh toner smudge on your hand. Are you going to admit that you got it in this office, or pretend that it
ASK: Twister Rench
comes from a previous job?
As Office Manager, you must have been aware of the heavy-duty stapler. How long did it take you to realize that
ASK: Juno Takedat its weight made it a good weapon?
You’ve been getting fresh ice all during the party. Did you use one of your trips to the kitchen to wash blood from
ASK: Macon O. Picks your hands?

ASK: Shoen Teller You’ve been following Mike all day. Did you follow him into the copy room?

ASK: Minos Lacker You’ve been keeping your hands in your pockets the whole party. Are you trying to hide traces of toner and blood?

As the office cleaner, you must have noticed the heavy-duty stapler in the copy room. Did you use it to finish Mike’s
ASK: Paddy Pry
murder?

ANSWERS FOR WHEN YOU ARE QUESTIONED

When another Player asks you a question, read the appropriate answer.

No, that’s from my crafts knife. I’m finishing a mock-up of a new product display. And it’s turned out
IF YOU ARE INNOCENT mighty sweet, in my humble opinion.

I’m finishing a mock-up of a new product display, where I use my crafts knife a lot. It must’ve slipped.
IF YOU ARE GUILTY But it’s worth it, because the display turned out mighty sweet, in my humble opinion.

DO YOU KNOW WHODUNIT?

TURN THE PAGE TO SHARE YOUR DEDUCTIONS

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TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
ACCUSATIONS OR VOTING
Follow the Host’s instructions on how to accuse the Murderer.

• You may fill out a Game Ballot on paper or via Chat.

• You may be asked to make an Accusation in the format below.

The first Player to correctly identify the Murderer and motive wins the game. If nobody gets it right,
the Murderer wins!

ACCUSATION FORMAT

I accuse of murdering Mike Romanage.

I believe they committed the crime for this motive:

OPTIONAL:
I base my accusation on this evidence:

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TITLE: THE REALLY UGLY “UGLY SWEATER” OFFICE PARTY

DREW PRINCE
FINAL STATEMENTS
When the Host calls on your assigned letter, share the appropriate final statement:

IF YOU ARE INNOCENT I knew Mike was about to fire me, so I went out and got a new job where they
appreciate my superior talents. I had no reason to kill him!

Mike was about to fire me, even though I know my work is good. And his mi-
cromanaging was making things worse.
IF YOU ARE GUILTY
But I didn’t mean to kill him! I was only trying to get his attention when I hit him
with the toner cartridge. I was going to confess to marking up his paperweight
and warn him to leave me alone. I guess I’m stronger than I thought, because
he collapsed.

When I saw that he might wake up, I panicked and grabbed the stapler. I hit
him with it a few times, then wiped everything and went back to the party.

So there’ll be no more micromanaging for him—but I guess I should have settled

for being unemployed rather than in prison.

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