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Murder Mystery Party: A Whodunit For The Ages

If you’re a fan of whodunits, then chances are you’ve heard of Murder Mystery Party. The series of board games has been turning average citizens into armchair detectives since the first entry in 1984. From Murder Mystery Party: Lethal Luau to Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder, this board game series has been a source of fun and intrigue that places a delightful spin on the classic murder mystery genre. Get into costume, learn your lines, and send out the invitation to your closest friends as you try to solve a murder.

Murder Mystery Party: A Taste For Wine And Murder

Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder is one of the most popular editions of the series, offering you the classic setup with a backdrop of California Wine Country. Among these peaceful vineyards and picturesque wineries hides a plotting murderer. At the annual wine-tasting festival the attendees are shocked to discover the body of Barry Underwood, the local vineyard owner, beneath his wine cellar. Players will have to figure out who among them is responsible for this dastardly deed.

In this edition of Murder Mystery Party, the suspects are Otton von Schnapps, Marilyn Merlot, Tiny Bubbles, Ralph Rottingrape, Pape Vito, and Hedy Shablee. There are also two more optional characters for games of eight players. Each player (suspect) will get a Character Booklet that includes their roles and background information. The game also comes with a party planner with recipes and a menu as well as tips on music and decorating. It even comes with eight party invitations and envelopes to send to your unsuspecting guests.

Players will use eight place cards to mark their spot at the table, as well as six secret clues that can help point to the killer. A cassette tape (or CD in recent versions) will provide an introduction, summary of events, and the solution to the crime. The host will direct the players alongside the CD to act out their parts and read certain dialogue (while hamming it up as best they can). Once the game is over, everyone will make their accusations until the CD reveals the actual murderer.

The fun of the game comes from acting your part, as character booklets provide you with interesting character traits that can be fun to play around with. You can even try out an accent to impress (or annoy) your fellow players–it’s all up to you! All the important parts are scripted, so the essential parts of the game will all be kept intact. With this particular edition of Murder Mystery Party, the roles are delightfully campy and all in good fun.

More Murder Mystery Party

There are many other editions of Murder Mystery Party that have been released through the years. Murder Mystery Party Case Files: Fire in Adlerstein was released in 2018 with a shorter playing time and the ability to be played by 1-5 players. This edition comes with both physical and digital parts to be used for investigation. Players can either play in cooperative mode or competition mode to find the criminal. The game is designed to be like a realistic criminal case, making you feel like a real police officer as you conduct your investigation.

If you’re a disco fan, then you’ll love Murder Mystery Party: Stayin’ Alive. This edition is set in trendy Studio Manhattan, where dance sensation Jackie Fever has just been murdered. With hilarious characters such as disco champ John Revolting and martial arts expert Bruce Leap, you’ll have a blast you won’t soon forget.

Throw Yourself A Murder Mystery Party

Murder Mystery Party is usually playable by 6-8 players, so it’s a good game for a dinner party for small groups. Playing time is about three hours, so you should definitely plan to make an evening of it. Ages 16 and up can play most editions of Murder Mystery Party, which makes it a good choice for adult friend groups of most ages. Murder Mystery Party comes in so many varieties that you’ll be sure to find something to your liking. Buy Murder Mystery Party today and enjoy the thrill of the chase!

 

How to Spell Murder (of Crows)

The rules of Murder of Crows are straightforward. Two to six players take turns drawing cards and playing card powers, attempting to spell “murder” before anyone else.

Overall Gameplay

On your turn, you draw two cards from the deck or one card from the discard pile (which may include cards played by other players). If you play a card, it must be played either adjacent to another card in front of you or directly behind one card already in front of you – thus, forming a 3×3 grid which represents your murder scene. The card’s special power takes place immediately, but it stays in place until someone plays a card that covers it up or until the end of the game. When all nine lines have been filled with cards, that round of play ends.

Types of Cards

To win, you have to be the first player to spell “murder” – each card played must touch at least one card of the same letter or row. The rules for word challenges are as follows:

A-Arrow cards (♣) can slide any card horizontally along a line, as long as it keeps touching at least one card. If multiple cards can be moved with an arrow card’s power, they move in turn from left to right; if two arrow cards affect the same card and there is no order specified (or that order is unclear), resolve them in reverse alphabetical order by card title (e.g., A then K).

I-If a card is played next to two cards with arrows on them, those card must slide according to both card’s directions. When an “I” card affects another card, the player controlling the card whose power is being used decides which direction it moves. If there are multiple players controlling those cards, they can choose their own directions for the card movement – but if they cannot agree, default to left unless otherwise specified (e.g., K♠ and I♥ would move the ♥ three spaces north and one space east).

Eligible words: all standard Scrabble words; additionally including names that start with I (e.g., Ike)

J-Jokers (♣) may be played anywhere, but once they are played they must be covered by another card (which does not necessarily have to be the card resulting from their power). If multiple jokers affect one card, they may choose any card direction.

Q-Once a card with an “Q” is placed it cannot be moved or uncovered during the game. However, you can put both of your cards on top of it to flag it for yourself so other players will know not to place additional cards there. At the end of each round, any player who has not yet spelled murder can cover their own “Q” card with one card of their choice (if they do not have any cards left, it does not count as a murder).

X-If an “X” card is placed at the end of a word (i.e., if it’s touching nothing), flip it over to its alternate side which reads “-x-” and use its power again. If instead you play an “X” card touching another card, use both card’s powers in order (e.g., I♥-I♣-IXX would move the ♥ three spaces north, then the ♣ four spaces west, then the XX one space south).

Z-Cards with “Z” card powers are wild and may be placed on any card played on the table, regardless of the card’s direction or original placement. A card on top of a card can completely cover an “X” card power, if necessary.

M U R D E R

Once someone plays their final card to spell murder, play continues in reverse alphabetical order until there is a clear winner or at least two players tie for the win. If multiple players tie, whoever played their final card most recently wins.

If a card is played next to two cards with arrows on them, those card must slide according to both card’s directions. When an “I” card affects another card, the player controlling the card whose power is being used decides which direction it moves. If there are multiple players controlling those cards, they can choose their own directions for the card movement – but if they cannot agree, default to left unless otherwise specified (e.g., K♠ and I♥ would move the ♥ three spaces north and one space east).

Spell Murder Today and buy Murder of Crows from Fantastic Games!

 

 

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