Whodunnit Manor

How it works

Don't panic, most of this is pretty obvious when you come to do it — but come back here if there's something you don't understand.

Members

On joining you will be asked to provide means for other players to contact you. More

Circles

Players form Circles, groups who will play together. More

Sponsors

Any circle member may sponsor a game to be played by members of the circle. More

Game and Players

The game sponsor (who may also be a player) selects a game and invites players to take part. More

Turn time

The game sponsor sets the turn time. More

Characters

Characters are usually allocated randomly. More

Introduction

The first turn is an introduction — but already there are clues to gather. More

First Turn

The system will reveal what your character has observed. More

Subsequent turns

The system releases information as events occur. More

Game time versus real time

Events do not run in real time. More

Accusation

Each player has the right to make ONE accusation per game. More

Trials

Trials complete the game. More

End-of-game voting

At the end you may be asked to vote on a number of additional scoring criteria. More

Scoring

Your objective is to secure a conviction. More

All is revealed...

At the end of the game scores are totted up. More

Members

On joining you will be asked to give enough details for other players to contact you. If you will be playing with a circle of family and friends then a very little will suffice. If you expect to play with strangers you may want to get an extra, throwaway, email account or even a second mobile 'phone number. You have complete control over the contact details shown to other players.
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Circles

Players form Circles, groups who will play together. You may apply, or be invited, to join an existing circle or you may create one of your own.
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Sponsors

Any member of a circle may sponsor a game to be played by members of that circle. Sponsors have control over and responsibility for the games. Some games must be paid for and it is the sponsor who pays the fee.
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Game and Players

The game sponsor (who may also be a player) selects the game to be played and invites a suitable number of players to take part. Assuming sufficient players accept the invitation the sponsor starts the game.
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Turn time

The game sponsor sets the turn time — as the whole game depends on interaction between players there must be time allowed for discussion, argument, plotting, chicanery, drinks, snacks and illicit liasons.
The sponsor sets:

• The minimum turn time — even if all players have responded the system will wait this long before releasing the next turn's clues and events.
• The maximum turn time — Even if some players have not responded the next turn proceeds. Unresponsive players may find they have been assumed to take some default actions.
• Certain other options which vary from game to game.

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Characters

A link to the basic scenario is circulated with the invitation. Characters are usually allocated randomly but in some cases they may be allocated by the sponsor or players may be invited to pick a character on a first-come first-served basis. There will usually be a villain who's identity will still be secret at this stage. There may or may not be a designated detective — who will have no real advantage. There may or may not be a player-character victim, if there is (s)he will, if necessary, be reincarnated as a new character at (just after) the critical moment.
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Introduction

The first turn is an introduction — but already there are clues to gather. The server will move on to the first game-turn proper as soon as all players have logged in at least once. It is assumed that players will converse both privately and publicly. — This is a good time to check your contacts.
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First Turn

The system will tell you what your character has done and observed. You may be given extra game objectives worth additional points if attained. It is at this point a player may be informed (s)he is to play a villain — with a villain's objectives. From now on you may want to keep some things secret, only revealing information as you see fit in return for others' snippets — you, and they, may lie.
Beware: If caught in a lie you may be accused and convicted even if you are innocent of the crime...
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Subsequent turns

The system releases information as events occur. Some may be as a result of player's actions. Beware: descriptions may change with time and clues may be lost or obscured. At each turn you may be given decisions to make which may have consequences later in the game. One that will occur once enough clues have been given to the players is the option to accuse someone of the crime.
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Game time versus real time

Events do not run in real time.
Eg:

• "The train halts at an ill-lit station. You hear a distant shout and peer out of the window. A single lamp glows over the exit gate. A whistle sounds, a door slams and with the thunder of exhausted steam the train begins to draw away. A figure, a middle aged man, runs through the lamplight and vanishes into the dark. He is not running to catch the train. He is running away. As the light from your window flicks over the signboard at the end of the platform you glimpse the name of the station: Whodunnit Junction."

Or:

• "Eight years later the reply comes from Alpha Centauri. The neutron trace shows that Alice Bones never fired Charlie Dibble's blaster."

— in both cases one game turn elapses while everyone cogitates.
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Accusation

Each player has the right to make ONE accusation per game.
An accusation causes a trial.
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Trials

These trials are a travesty of justice — however:

• Everyone except the accused and the accuser are on the jury.
• The accuser conducts the prosecution.
• The accused conducts the defence.
• Anyone may submit evidence.
• Voting is secret and electronic.
• A simple majority decides the outcome.
• Double jeopardy laws apply, once acquitted no-one may be accused a second time
• Scoring for the trial will not be revealed until the end of the game.
• A conviction ends the game.
• There are no appeals.

There can be as many trials as players — if all previous trials acquit.
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End-of-game voting

At the end you may be asked to vote on a number of additional scoring criteria.
Eg:

• Who acted their character most convincingly?
• Best liar?
• Most dogged detective?

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Scoring

Your object is to secure a conviction, or if you are the villain, to avoid one.

Score Values
Villain:
Accused & acquitted	4
Not accused	2
Correctly convicted	-2
Sleuths:
Successful accusation, correct villain	3
Successful accusation, wrong villain	2
Wrongly convicted	-3
Voted to convict correct villain	1
Voted to convict wrong villain* (per vote)	-1
Also:
Extra objective	Varies
End-of-game votes	Varies
Other bonuses may apply from time to time.

*The villain is not penalised for voting to convict the wrong person.
Scores are combined so it is possible for players to tie for first place — and even for the winner to make a negative score.
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All is revealed...

At the end of the game scores are totted up, results announced, and everything that passed through the server during the game is revealed.
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Raffles