Now that we’ve already covered the basics of murder mystery parties:
what they are and the different types of games,
and you know what you’re getting into by accepting that party
invitation, its time to explain what happens at the parties. (And if
you’ve never participated in this type of event before, it might be a
good idea to go ahead and read those two articles to get more
information.) Maybe you’ve never been to a party before and want to know
what will be expected of you, or you’re a murder mystery vet and just
want to make sure you’re doing it right, either way, we’ll cover
everything you need to know about being a guest at a murder mystery
party.
Important note:
This article assumes that you are not
attending a dinner theater murder mystery(not sure what a dinner
theater is? Read about it here). Because dinner theaters differ so much
in play from the other two types, a corresponding article will be posted
soon after this one.
Party Until You Drop Dead presents: How To Be A Guest At A Murder Mystery Party!
First
of all, go and grab that invitation your friend(frienemy, arch rival,
what have you) sent you. The invitation is the first door of a series
into the world of the party. It should tell you what the theme is, and
that’s more than enough information to get your preparation started!
From
this information, you’ll be able to get a sense of what you need to
prepare for the party - an outfit, your acting skills, and maybe a dish
if its a potluck. Taking some time to prepare those things will lead to a
more immersive and exciting experience for yourself and the other
guests!
After
the invitations are received and responses sent back, the host will
assign the attending guests to the cast of characters. The cast will
contain a wide variety of characters that match the theme - no two
guests will be the same type person. From racy showgirls to fairy
queens, nothing is impossible so long as they fit the theme. Once the
cast is finalized, further correspondence is usually sent out to build
up excitement for the event and allow the guests some time to get to
know their character better. At this point, you will have received a
little pamphlet or page explaining some details about the plot and the
character you will be playing. The most important parts to take note of
are the information listed about your character and the suggested
costume ideas. These are here to give you a sense of how exactly you
should act during the party, as well as presenting crucial information
about your character and their involvement to the story. Read this
information well, and choose your outfit correspondingly. The best
murder mystery party is also the best dressed party!
Important note:
Keep in mind that the more you put into this party, the more you’ll get out of it.
If you think you’re ‘too cool’ to act in character, get over yourself
and get out that ridiculous old english accent and crazy wizard beard,
or don’t attend!
Now
it’s finally the day of the party! Set aside a few hours before the
party for cooking if you are bringing any food. Add an additional hour
before the party to get dressed up in your costume. Don’t do both at the
same time, though, ketchup stains look awfully suspicious!
Upon
your arrival at the party, you will receive yet another packet. The
difference being that this time, this is the most important piece of
information you have received thus far. All other packets or pages
handed out before or after this one were simply supplements to this: the
character packet. The character packet
has all of the in-depth information about your past, your present goals
and abilities, your allies, your enemies, and anything else essential
to your success in the game. Also typically included is the rules and
logistics of the game, including, but not limited to: how to kill
someone, what to do if you die, explanations for various items or money,
etc. DO NOT LOSE THIS OR LET ANYONE ELSE READ YOUR CHARACTER PACKET
EVER NO MATTER WHAT. The only reason anyone would want to see your character packet is
if they are trying to rip secrets off of it. Do not let them have it,
or else it will very likely negatively affect your success in the game.
Important note:
The
host is your only reliable friend in the game. They are impartial and
are there to help you as much as they can, so long as it does not
interfere with the game. If you absolutely must show your packet to
someone (in the case of a question or misunderstanding or whatever), the
host is the only good choice.
The time during which the guests are set to arrive is almost always set aside as a time to just sit down and read your character packet.
Read through it as thoroughly as possible. Take note of your allies and
enemies, figure out your secrets that you need to conceal. Once you
have completed this, figure out your initial game plan. A good place to
start is introducing yourself to the people your character packet mentioned
were people your character has a good relationship with. Starting off
the game with these people creates a bond that can carry on through the
game. And believe me, you are going to need all of the honest help you
can get.
The
first interactions are the only ones you can truly control (if you have
played one of these before, you know how quickly all hell breaks
loose!), so they can be the most crucial. At the beginning of the game,
anyone can be considered trustworthy. After about 15 minutes of
gameplay, that all goes down the drain. Once those 15 minutes pass, it’s
time to get your game face on. Be sneaky. Tell some lies. Heck, maybe
kill someone(not real killing, of course). Do whatever you can to
complete your goals - and that always involves manipulating someone.
When
the game has run its course and time has been called, do your part and
listen to the host. Game over means game over. From here the host will
give instructions on what happens next. Typically the next portion is
the voting on the identity of the murderer and the grand reveal. During
the voting round make the best guess you can, and be a good sport if you
guess wrong. There’s nothing more sour than someone who ruins a
perfectly good party just because they let a fictional murderer get
away!
And
that’s all, folks! The night’s fun has ended, the killing and deception
has finally ceased, and you’ve made a few friends. Just remember - no
matter how successful you are at the game, the purpose is to have fun
with a bunch of people cool enough to dress up in silly costumes and
plot your demise! Hanging out with old friends, meeting new ones, and
doing some team building with colleagues are the best parts of a murder
mystery party that will live with you longer than the protocol
associated with successfully competing.
This Post's Vocabulary:
character packet: The compilation of all the information you will need throughout the game. (character info, goals, rules, etc.) TOP SECRET!
Have fun!
♥Princessofherworld
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