I'm going to be running a Murder Mystery one shot that takes place on a large magically powered boat. Here is the set up:
War is on the horizon with an oppressive, enslaving, and long time foe the for the country
A cruise ship bound for the Brass Islands (home of the Teiflings) has had several state rooms for high level dignitaries commandeered, to negotiate a formal alliance treaty with the country to bolster their power against the aggressive nation
The party has made friends with a retired General who has recently been recalled to help organize the military, and advise the countries leadership
This general has asked the party to act as independent security for the voyage as he trusts them
After the voyage begins, one of the dignitaries is murdered, and the adventure is a murder mystery
I've never run a murder mystery, and I don't think I've ever run an adventure that was a murder mystery.
I'd like to make this 2 evenings worth of adventure time, so around 10 encounters. (Encounters not just being combat, but skill challenges, role play encounters, investigative stuff, etc.)
Do any of you have encounter suggestions? Experience running mysteries? I'm writing this from the ground up, so all commentary is welcome.
If a clue is essential to solving the mystery have at least 3 different ways that the PCs can find it. If necessary create an in-story way that they could stumble across it, if the players are rolling badly. Use Perception and/or Investigation checks for the PCs to discover subsidiary clues that make it easier to "join the dots". Use conversations/interrogation with NPCs to do the same thing. Don't have more than 3 obvious suspects, and maybe one or two not so obvious. Have at least one blatant clue that appears to implicate each of the suspects, that is one blatant clue for each suspect. That's all of the tips I can think of right now.
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Playing overly-complicated let's pretend for over 20 years!
Oooh, sounds fun! Some of my party got arrested one time (we each have multiple characters we switch in and out), and some of the others had to gather clues and evidence, and it all lead up to an Ace Attorney-style trial, where they had to present evidence, witnesses and the like. Plus, if you have a trial of sorts, you can give your players the chance to put everything together, and present it in one triumphant moment, which would feel quite rewarding!
In an actual murder mystery party, you have 4-5+ players who all themselves would have plausible motive to commit murder. Try to establish possible motives for several NPCs, so that the group can investigate and follow up leads for each one in turn.
Was the killing done out of opportunity or meticulously planned? How might the NPCs on the boat react in the aftermath?
The murder might not even political, it could just as likely be a jilted lover or someone with a personal vendetta against the dignitary.
And also, if the PCs come up with a great lead that solves the case in a way you hadn't entailed ... don't be afraid to run with it!
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Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
I've got solid motivations and reasons for the killing, and in the context of the story & campaign it is certainly political. Although, setting up a jilted lover as one of the suspects is a great idea. In fact, the killer would likely try to pin the murder on a different suspect. The party will have some experience with betrayal from within their own government, so they should veer naturally in this direction.
Maybe the best way to come at this is to develop a list of suspects, and clues that may rule them out.
I have a crazy idea, which is create this list of suspects/clues, but not actually determine who the real killer is and let the PC's determine that through their investigation. Is that to wild of an idea?
I've got solid motivations and reasons for the killing, and in the context of the story & campaign it is certainly political. Although, setting up a jilted lover as one of the suspects is a great idea. In fact, the killer would likely try to pin the murder on a different suspect. The party will have some experience with betrayal from within their own government, so they should veer naturally in this direction.
Maybe the best way to come at this is to develop a list of suspects, and clues that may rule them out.
I have a crazy idea, which is create this list of suspects/clues, but not actually determine who the real killer is and let the PC's determine that through their investigation. Is that to wild of an idea?
I think it's a great idea, means you've set up a great narrative for them to follow and the players get the gratification of solving the mystery!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
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I'm going to be running a Murder Mystery one shot that takes place on a large magically powered boat. Here is the set up:
I've never run a murder mystery, and I don't think I've ever run an adventure that was a murder mystery.
I'd like to make this 2 evenings worth of adventure time, so around 10 encounters. (Encounters not just being combat, but skill challenges, role play encounters, investigative stuff, etc.)
Do any of you have encounter suggestions? Experience running mysteries? I'm writing this from the ground up, so all commentary is welcome.
If a clue is essential to solving the mystery have at least 3 different ways that the PCs can find it. If necessary create an in-story way that they could stumble across it, if the players are rolling badly. Use Perception and/or Investigation checks for the PCs to discover subsidiary clues that make it easier to "join the dots". Use conversations/interrogation with NPCs to do the same thing. Don't have more than 3 obvious suspects, and maybe one or two not so obvious. Have at least one blatant clue that appears to implicate each of the suspects, that is one blatant clue for each suspect. That's all of the tips I can think of right now.
Playing overly-complicated let's pretend for over 20 years!
Oooh, sounds fun! Some of my party got arrested one time (we each have multiple characters we switch in and out), and some of the others had to gather clues and evidence, and it all lead up to an Ace Attorney-style trial, where they had to present evidence, witnesses and the like. Plus, if you have a trial of sorts, you can give your players the chance to put everything together, and present it in one triumphant moment, which would feel quite rewarding!
"You are a slave. Want emancipation?"
-Persona 5
In an actual murder mystery party, you have 4-5+ players who all themselves would have plausible motive to commit murder. Try to establish possible motives for several NPCs, so that the group can investigate and follow up leads for each one in turn.
Was the killing done out of opportunity or meticulously planned? How might the NPCs on the boat react in the aftermath?
The murder might not even political, it could just as likely be a jilted lover or someone with a personal vendetta against the dignitary.
And also, if the PCs come up with a great lead that solves the case in a way you hadn't entailed ... don't be afraid to run with it!
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
I've got solid motivations and reasons for the killing, and in the context of the story & campaign it is certainly political. Although, setting up a jilted lover as one of the suspects is a great idea. In fact, the killer would likely try to pin the murder on a different suspect. The party will have some experience with betrayal from within their own government, so they should veer naturally in this direction.
Maybe the best way to come at this is to develop a list of suspects, and clues that may rule them out.
I have a crazy idea, which is create this list of suspects/clues, but not actually determine who the real killer is and let the PC's determine that through their investigation. Is that to wild of an idea?
I think it's a great idea, means you've set up a great narrative for them to follow and the players get the gratification of solving the mystery!
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.