The file that fits the occasion
Murder at the Royal Casino: Paris, the night of 18 to 19 November 1927, a baron who raises his flute at 22:45 and collapses an hour later, twelve characters each carrying a debt to him. A cape worn by someone other than its owner, two clocks that disagree, a bracelet that proves a visit without proving an act.
Fifty pages, twenty-four exhibits, three acts, six to twelve players plus a host, about three hours, $39.90. The other three are on the murder mystery kits page.
Dinner between the acts
This is the practical trick for an anniversary. The exhibits open at minutes set by the host's guide, so make the courses line up with the acts: starter during act one, main during act two, dessert during the synthesis and negotiation.
One piece of advice about the table itself: an anniversary dinner is a table of glasses, and the exhibits are printed documents. Keep the folders on a sideboard and circulate each exhibit for a few minutes rather than leaving them beside the plates.
Seat couples apart
Every character has a personal objective that needs two named partners to sign, and three useful conversations with other characters. Couples seated together tend to work as one player, share everything immediately and talk to nobody else.
Split them. It is the single change that makes the evening better, and it is easy to justify out loud: their characters do not know each other. The same applies to the two or three people who always end up in the same corner at every gathering.
Do the two of you play, or host
A host does not play a suspect: they know the solution, release the exhibits, answer for characters nobody is playing, settle the agreements and read the reveal. So one of you hosting means one of you is not in the game.
The cleaner answer for an anniversary is to ask a friend to host, so the couple plays. Give them the file a week ahead, since the guide takes about an hour to read. If no friend will take it, a cooperative case file needs no host at all and everyone plays, though nobody holds a secret.
If the guest list is longer than twelve
A kit stops at twelve players, because the file holds twelve character packs. For a bigger anniversary you have two options: run two tables of the same file, with a host each, or commission a scenario written around your own guests.
The custom murder mystery goes up to twenty-five players, $219 up to fifteen and $279 up to twenty-five, with the outline submitted for approval and the print-ready file delivered within 72 hours of the brief being approved. See the wedding party page for the run of the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Can we play a murder mystery during dinner?+
Yes, and it works well: the exhibits open at minutes set by the guide, so serve the starter during act one, the main during act two and dessert during the negotiation. Keep the exhibit folders off the dining table.
Should the couple host or play?+
Ask a friend to host so you both play. The host knows the solution and does not play a suspect, so hosting means sitting the game out. Give them the file a week ahead, since the guide takes about an hour to read.
What if we are more than twelve?+
A kit holds twelve character packs, so either run two tables of the same file with a host each, or commission a custom scenario for up to twenty-five players, at $219 up to fifteen and $279 up to twenty-five.
