Krimi: How to play
Rules for playing this web-based multiplayer boardgame.
About the game
If you ever played Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, the boardgame by Grey FoxGames, you should be ready to play Krimi: It’s my take on a web version for this awesome game, with some slightly different rules (the ones we played as house rules).
If you don’t know this game, you should go find more about it. But these rules might help you play while your copy arrives.
Ideal setup
Although it’s possible to play this game with people far away from each other, Krimi was planned to be played by everyone together, in a room, as a normal boardgame would be.
I recommend connecting a big screen TV to a computer with internet access, so everyone can see and read the main playing board. The TV will be the board for this game. Also, all the players will be using their mobile phones containing their hidden information.
(During these times of pandemic, it will also work well through any videoconferencing software. Make sure to share the main board screen, and you’re good to go!)
Overview
This is a game for 5–12 players. A murder has happened. Detectives must utilize the help of the forensic scientist to reveal the murderer. But the murderer is actually one of those detectives.
Playing the game
After starting a new game, every player must access the website through their mobile phones, and enter the game code and their names. Select one of the players to be the forensic scientist for that game — If there’s someone who has already played “Deception” they would be a good choice.
When there are at least 5 people online in the room, you can start the game.
One of the remaining players will be selected as the murderer. The forensic scientist must ask for all players to close their eyes while the killer selects their M.O. and key evidence. When the forensic scientist receives that information, players can be told to open their eyes again.
The forensic scientist will then try to answer some questions about the crime to help all detectives find who the killer is, and what was their M.O. and which key evidence they left behind. The forensic scientist cannot say anything else to the detectives.
In every analysis, the forensic scientist will answer at least 6 questions. One of them will always be the “cause of death”, one will be the “location of the crime”, and all other 6 questions will be randomized.
After the forensic scientist answers their questions, all other players, in turn, can: 1) Make a brief (around 30 seconds) explanation about who they think is the killer and which were their M.O. and key evidence, and 2) Pass the turn or try to solve the crime.
After every player has passed their turns, a new round begins. The forensic detective will have a new question to answer.
After the third round, if no player found the murderer, he or she escapes and wins the game alone.
Solving the crime
Each player has just one shot to guess who the murderer is, and they must back that up with facts: They must also guess right which was the M.O. and which evidence was left behind.
If they got it right, the game ends and the detectives (and the forensic scientist) win! If not, they can keep on discussing the crime with their fellow detectives.
That’s it
Play this game at https://krimi.ludoratory.com
