MASQUERADE

MYSTERY

Host Guide 4-14

 HOST GUIDE
4-14 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 15-20 PLAYER HOST GUIDE FOR A LARGER PARTY.
CONTENTS

04 PREPARATION

05 WHODUNIT?

06 INVITE GUESTS

07 CHARACTER TABLE

08 LEAD THE GAME

 TITLE: MASQUERADE MYSTERY

PREPARATION
Object of the Game
The goal is to identify the correct Murderer before
he or she confesses!

Materials You’ll Need

Slips of paper, labelled with a letter that
has been assigned to an attending play-
Host Guide
er (see “Whodunit?” instructions, below)

In-person party:
Inspector Script • Decorations, refreshments,
music

Virtual party:
Video/audio recordings of the
Graphic backgrounds suitable for the
Inspector’s speeches
selected platform

An app or Survey Monkey to collect and

Invitations (to be customized to tally votes (or arrange for an assistant to
the guest/character) do a count of Chat votes during the final
statements).

Time
Character Guides (already Allow 1 to 2 hours for the game. For 4
customized to the guest/character) players, it might be very quick; for 14
players, it will probably take the full 2
hours.
Evidence for each Round (on Round 1
paper or pdf ): Part A 5-15 minutes
• Round 2 (Motives): List & Note Part B 15 minutes (you need to control
• Round 3 (Method Watch with an this round, perhaps with a timer)
inscription) Round 2 10-18 minutes
• Round 4 (Opportunity): Letter Round 3 10-18 minutes
Round 4 10-18 minutes
Accusations 10-18 minutes
Final Statements 10-18 minutes

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 TITLE: MASQUERADE MYSTERY

WHODUNIT?
This game is designed around a randomly selected Then, at the start of the party, tell the play-
Murderer. That way, you can play it over and over, ers that the identity of the Murderer will be
perhaps with a different selection from the characters, determined at the end of the first round.
and have a satisfying conclusion.
Before Round 2, randomly draw one slip
To make this work, the Host needs to do a few things
of paper and follow the instructions for
before the party:
“Identifying the Murderer” listed below.
After all players have confirmed, assign each You will use the remaining slips of paper
one (including yourself ) a letter of the alphabet for the Final Statements.
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 labelled 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.

TAG YOUR PHOTOS &

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
SCAN THE BELOW CODES
USING YOUR CAMERA TO ACCESS OUR PROFILES.

INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

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 TITLE: MASQUERADE MYSTERY

INVITE GUESTS
Determine Your Guests
The game can accommodate 4 to 20 Players.
Please see the 15-20 Player Host Guide for a
large 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.

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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.
1 The Countess F Party host, wealthy widow, and Queen of Society, you need her approval to do anything

2 The Sparrow F Distant relative of The Countess, works as her companion, reading to her and running errands

3 The Dragon M Single man of large fortune, nephew of the Countess, main target for a lot of women

4 The Dove F Young and quite naïve, very pretty and has recently inherited a large fortune

5 The Lion M Retired military, wealthy, craves power and social status. Doesn’t tolerate anyone from the lower class.

6 The Stallion M Heir to his family estate, master of seduction, virgin conquests are his favourite game

7 The Stag M Was in love as a young man but wasn’t allowed to marry her so never married anyone

8 The Phoenix F Nobleman’s lover in his youth, he wasn’t allowed to marry her, has an illegitimate child

9 The Cat F Recently widowed gentlewoman, desperately wants her children to marry well

10 The Hare N Life and soul of the party, jolly and drunk, loves to celebrate any occasion

11 The Bluebird F Upper class, rich, dislikes the lower classes, desires to move up in society

12 The Black Swan N From a good but not rich family, beautiful and seeks a very rich man to marry

13 The Wolf M Had money but wasted it, now has to fend for himself, lies a lot

14 The Fox M Respectable family but not rich, he’s made his own fortune but is still looked down on

15 The Turtle N Quick to anger, jealous, wants to help their family but doesn’t go about it well

16 The Shark M Younger brother, wants his own profession so he’s not relying on his family

17 The Mouse N Cousin of the Stallion, mother married beneath her so they are poor, stays with relatives

18 The Dog N The illegitimate child of the nobleman, came to seek out their father

19 The Unicorn F Youngest daughter, pretty but foolish, easily manipulated as they fall in love too easily

20 The Weasel M Vain, selfish, has a profession but still seeks a rich woman to marry to move up ranks

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 TITLE: MASQUERADE MYSTERY

Send Invitations
Send the date, time, and virtual platform link to the guests.

Attach the Invitations or describe the point of the party, char-

acter 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.

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 TITLE: MASQUERADE MYSTERY

LEAD THE GAME

As players arrive or log in, ask your assistant to place a slip of paper with their letter in a container.
the Game

Send or give each player their Character Guide. Inform them that there is no advantage to reading
Starting

ahead.
Explain that the Murderer will be determined during the game—and it could be any one of them!

Play the Inspector’s Opening Statement (pre-recorded or read aloud).

Part A: Intros

Direct Players to turn to Round 1: Intros in their Character Guides.

Players read about their character and secret background.
Select a Player to introduce themselves, reading or improvising on the “Say Hello” script.
Round 1: Getting to Know the Players

Continue with another player, until everyone has been introduced.

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:
Part B: Rumours

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 rumour about another character at the party, then spread it to anyone who will
listen. This will require 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.
the Murderer

Tell the players to keep a blank face, then draw a slip of paper, preferably on camera. Announce the let-
Identifying

ter. Inform the players that the letter you drew is the Murderer, who should use the “Guilty” scripts in their
Character Guides. Everyone else should use the “Innocent” scripts.
IMPORTANT: Keep the slips of paper handy for determining the order of the Final Statements!

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.
Round 2:
Motives

Select a player to choose a scripted question to ask another player. In this Round, the questions all relate to the
Rumours that were spread earlier.
The second player reads or improvises on the scripted answer about 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 players have answered one question.

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 TITLE: MASQUERADE MYSTERY

Play the Inspector’s Round 3 Statement (pre-recorded or read aloud).

Share the Round 3 evidence as described by the Inspector.
Round 3:

Direct Players to turn to Round 3 in their Character Guides.

Method

Select a player to choose a scripted question to ask another player.

The second player reads or improvises 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 players have answered one question.
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.
Opportunity
Round 4:

Select a player to choose a scripted question to ask another player.

The second player reads or improvises 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.
Play the Inspector’s Closing Statement (pre-recorded or read aloud)
Direct Players to prepare a brief Accusation of whodunit and why. Encourage the Murderer to accuse another
Player in order to evade suspicion.
Accusations

Call on a volunteer to begin.

Direct accused Players not to react—yet.
Continue until everyone who wants to has made an accusation.
Keep track of the accusations. The first correct answer will be the winner, or the Murderer wins if nobody
accuses them.

Direct Players to turn to the Final Statements section in their Character Guides.
Final Statements

Pull a slip of paper and announce that letter. Call on that player to read or improvise on their “Innocent” Final State-
ment.
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.

Award Prizes
You may want to award prizes for:
Best Inspector (first person to correctly name the Most Likely to Commit a Crime (for someone
Murderer and the motive) who was not guilty, but received many votes)

Best Costume (hold a vote if desired, possible via Best Liar (for the Murderer, if no one guessed
Chat) who they were)

Best Performer (hold a vote if desired, possible Other prizes as desired

via Chat)

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