15 - 20 PLAYER

HOST GUIDE
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 HOST GUIDE
15-20 PLAYERS
This Guide will help you get ready to give a great mystery
party! These instructions are designed for hosting a party
either in person, virtually or a combination of the two.
READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE HOST GUIDE
BEFORE YOU START.
PLEASE SEE THE 4-14 PLAYER HOST GUIDE FOR
A SMALLER PARTY.

3
CONTENTS
AT THE START OF

2 PREPARATION

3 WHODUNIT?

4 INVITE GUESTS

5 CHARACTER TABLE

7 LEAD THE GAME

PREPARATION
Object of the Game
The goal is to identify the correct murderer before he or she confesses!
Materials You’ll Need
Host Guide
Inspector Script
Video/audio
recordings of the
Inspector’s speeches
Invitations
(to be customized to the
guest/character)
Character Guides (already
customized to the guest/
character)
Evidence for each Round
(on paper or pdf):
• Round 2: (Motives): List &
Note
• Round 3: (Method Watch
with an inscription)
• Round 4:(Opportunity): Letter
Slips of paper, labeled with a
letter that has been assigned
to an attending player (see
“Whodunit?” instructions, below)
In-person party:
• Decorations, refreshments,
music
Virtual party:
• Graphic backgrounds suitable
for the selected platform
• An app or Survey Monkey
to collect and tally votes (or
arrange for an assistant to do
a count of Chat votes during
the final statements).
Time
Allow 2 to 2.5 hours for the
game. For 20 players, it will
probably take the full 2.5 hours.
Round 1
Part A 10-20 minutes
Part B 15 minutes (you need to
control this round, perhaps with
a timer)
Round 2 20-25 minutes
Round 3 20-25 minutes
Round 4 20-25 minutes
Accusations 20-25 minutes
Final Statements 15-20 minutes
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 WHODUNIT?

This game is designed around a randomly selected Murderer. That way,

you can play it over and over, perhaps with a different selection from the
characters, and have a satisfying conclusion.

To make this work, the Host needs to do a few things before the party:

• After all players have confirmed, assign each one (including

yourself) a letter of the alphabet and ask them to keep it secret.

» If you don’t want to know who the Murderer is, ask an assistant
to send out the assignments.

• Prepare slips of paper, each labeled with a letter that has been
assigned to a confirmed player.

• Place the slips in a container like a hat or bowl. NOTE: Only the
Host needs to access this bowl during the party.

Then, at the start of the party, tell the players that the identity of the Murderer
will be determined at the end of the first round.

Before Round 2, randomly draw one slip of paper and follow the instructions
for “Identifying the Murderer” listed below. You will use the remaining slips
of paper for the Final Statements.

3
INVITE GUESTS

Determine Your Guests

• The game can accommodate 4 to 20 Players.
Please see the 4-14 Player Host Guide for a
smaller party.

• Look at the Character List below. Give roles

to people who can best play the parts.

» Roles are labeled F (Female), M (Male) or

N (any gender).

» Any mix of characters will work.

» Players can attend in person, virtually, or

in any combination.

• Another choice is to let players choose their

own character.

4
 CHARACTER TABLE
Please note you will only receive the full 20 character packs if you have
purchased the 20 player game. If you have purchased the 4 - 8 player
game you will receive the first 8 characters, and first 14 characters if you
have purchased the 4 - 14 player game. To access more characters please
purchase the expansion pack.

Party host, wealthy widow, and Queen

THE
1 F of Society, you need her approval to do
COUNTESS
anything.

Distant relative of The Countess, works as

THE
2 F her companion, reading to her and running
SPARROW
errands.

THE Single man of large fortune, nephew of the

3 M
DRAGON Countess, main target for a lot of women.

Young and quite naïve, very pretty and has

4 THE DOVE F
recently inherited a large fortune.

Retired military, wealthy, craves power and

5 THE LION M social status. Doesn’t tolerate anyone from
the lower class.

THE Heir to his family estate, master of seduction,

6 M
STALLION virgin conquests are his favourite game.

Was in love as a young man but wasn’t

7 THE STAG M allowed to marry her so never married
anyone.

Nobleman’s lover in his youth, he wasn’t

THE
8 F allowed to marry her, has an illegitimate
PHOENIX
child.

Recently widowed gentlewoman, desperately

9 THE CAT F
wants her children to marry well.

5
 Life and soul of the party, jolly and drunk,
10 THE HARE N
loves to celebrate any occasion.

Upper class, rich, dislikes the lower classes,

11 THE BLUEBIRD F
desires to move up in society.

THE BLACK From a good but not rich family, beautiful

12 N
SWAN and seeks a very rich man to marry.

Had money but wasted it, now has to fend

13 THE WOLF M
for himself, lies a lot.

Respectable family but not rich, he’s made

14 THE FOX M
his own fortune but is still looked down on.

Quick to anger, jealous, wants to help their

15 THE TURTLE N
family but doesn’t go about it well.

Younger brother, wants his own profession

16 THE SHARK M
so he’s not relying on his family.

Cousin of the Stallion, mother married

17 THE MOUSE N beneath her so they are poor, stays with
relatives.

The illegitimate child of the nobleman, came

18 THE DOG N
to seek out their father.

THE Youngest daughter, pretty but foolish, easily

19 F
UNICORN manipulated as they fall in love too easily.

Vain, selfish, has a profession but still seeks

20 THE WEASEL M
a rich woman to marry to move up ranks.

6
 SEND INVITATIONS

• Send the date, time, and virtual platform link to

the guests.

• Attach the Invitations or describe the point of

the party, character description, and the story.
(See suggested content on the “Invitation Copy”
document.)

• After all players have confirmed, assign each

one a letter and ask them to keep it secret. If you
intend to play along, ask an assistant to send
out the assignments. IMPORTANT: This letter will
be used during the party to determine who the
Murderer is.

7
LEAD THE GAME
Starting the Game
• As players arrive or log in, ask
your assistant to place a slip of
paper with their letter in a con-
tainer.
• Send or give each player their
Character Guide. Inform them
that there is no advantage to
reading ahead.
• Explain that the Murderer will be
determined during the game—
and it could be any one of them!
Round 1:
Getting to Know the Players
Part A: Intros
• Play the Inspector’s Opening
Statement (pre-recorded or read
aloud).
• Direct Players to turn to Round 1:
Intros in their Character Guides.
• Players read about their charac-
ter and secret background.
• Select a Player to introduce them-
selves, reading or improvising on
the “Say Hello” script.
• Continue with another player, un-
til everyone has been introduced.
Part B: Rumours
• If possible, divide Players into
small groups for this Round, using
virtual Breakout rooms or party
areas. (If you are using zoom,
you can learn about breakout
rooms here.
• If you are not able to form small
groups, you can either:
» Gossip about people as they
listen (they will get a chance
to respond in the next round).
» Ask a Player to step away as
you talk about them.
• Direct Players to turn to Round
1: Rumours in their Character
Guides.
• Direct Players to select one ru-
mour about another character at
the party, then spread it to any-
one who will listen. This will re-
quire some improvisational skills.
• Players may move from group to
group to spread rumours.
• Keep an eye on the time during
these gossip sessions. Move on
after 15 minutes or when people
start wandering off the topic. For
smaller groups, you may have
time to spread two rumours per
player.
8
 LEAD THE GAME (continued)
Identifying the Murderer
• Tell the players to keep a blank
face, then draw a slip of paper,
preferably on camera. Announce
the letter. Inform the players that
the letter you drew is the Murder-
er, who should use the “Guilty”
scripts in their Character Guides.
Everyone else should use the “In-
nocent” scripts.
• IMPORTANT: Keep the slips of
paper handy for determining the
order of the Final Statements!
Round 2:
Motives
• Play the Inspector’s Round 2
Statement (pre-recorded or read
aloud).
• Share the Round 2 evidence as
described by the Inspector.
• Direct Players to turn to Round 2 in
their Character Guides.
• Select a player to choose a script-
ed question to ask another player.
In this Round, the questions all
relate to the Rumours that were
spread earlier.
• The second player reads or impro-
vises on the scripted answer about
9
their motive (either the “Innocent”
or “Guilty version).
• The second player then chooses
a scripted question to ask a third
player.
• Continue this process until all play-
ers have answered one question.
Round 3:
Method
• Play the Inspector’s Round 3
Statement (pre-recorded or read
aloud).
• Share the Round 3 evidence as
described by the Inspector.
• Direct Players to turn to Round 3 in
their Character Guides.
• Select a player to choose a script-
ed question to ask another player.
• The second player reads or impro-
vises on the scripted answer about
their ability to overcome the first
obstacle (either the “Innocent” or
“Guilty version).
• The second player then chooses
a scripted question to ask a third
player.
• Continue this process until all play-
ers have answered one question.
 Round 4
Opportunity
• Play the Inspector’s Round 4
Statement (pre-recorded or read
aloud).
• Share the Round 4 evidence as
described by the Inspector.
• Direct Players to turn to Round 4
in their Character Guides.
• Select a player to choose a
scripted question to ask another
player.
• The second player reads or im-
provises on the scripted answer
about their ability to overcome
the second obstacle (either the
“Innocent” or “Guilty version).
• The second player then chooses
a scripted question to ask a third
player.
• Continue this process until all
players have answered one
question.
Accusations
• Play the Inspector’s Closing
Statement (pre-recorded or read
aloud).
• In-person Players vote by paper
ballot; virtual Players vote by
Chat or similar function for who
they think the
• Murderer is and their motive for
committing the crime.
• Don’t reveal the vote counts yet.
(You may want an assistant to
tally the votes, or set up an app
or survey to keep count for you.)
• The first correct answer will be
the winner.
Final Statements
• Direct Players to turn to the Final
Statements section in their Char-
acter Guides.
• Pull a slip of paper and an-
nounce that letter. Call on that
player to read or improvise on
their “Innocent” Final Statement.
• Continue until all the slips are
gone and only the Murderer is
left.
• The Murderer confesses by
reading or improvising on their
“Guilty” Final Statement.
10
 AWARD PRIZES

You may want to award prizes for:

• Best Detective (first person to correctly name the

Murderer, the motive and the method)

• Best Costume (covered on the paper ballot, or

hold a vote via Chat)

• Best Performer (covered on the paper ballot, or

hold a vote via Chat)

• Most Likely to Commit a Crime (for someone

who was not guilty, but received many votes)

• Best Liar (for the Murderer, if no one guessed

the solution)

• Other prizes as desired

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 FURTHER SUPPORT

If you have further queries on how to host, plan or play your

Masters of Mystery event you can find a number of FAQs, Blogs
& Articles on our website:
www.mastersofmystery.com

Should you not be able to find the information you are looking
for then please feel free to contact us by using the chat on our
website or sending an email to:
support@mastersofmystery.com

Don’t forgot to follow us on Social Media and tag us in the

pictures & videos from your event or send them straight into us
at: support@mastersofmystery.com

We hope you have a party to die for!