Regarding that comment (originally made over here):Grundbegriff wrote:I've been pondering a game based on those logic puzzles in logic puzzle magazines where you fill out a grid to deduce the who, what, where. The idea would be that each person is given a couple of facts to hold privately. Gameplay would consist partly of finding out what other people know in order to piece things together -- sort of like Clue, really.
I've given this more thought. The game is called Prague. Here's how it could work:
- International spies have convened in Prague to covertly resolve an international crisis. They meet on the top floor of the Grand Hotel, which has been set aside for their use and locked so that they cannot depart.
- There are 18 clues. With all 18, it is possible to solve the puzzle deductively. With fewer than 18, it's possible to solve portions of the puzzle and perhaps to guess the remainder or part of the remainder.
- There are 10 players. Each player receives two clues; two of the clues are repeated to make 20 clues.
- There are two teams of 5. Each team has a private forum (notionally a suite at one end or the other of the Grand Hotel's top floor) where the team's members can share (or lie about) what they know and can plot against the other team.
- There is a conspiracy of 2, one infiltrating each team. These two operatives represent a task force dedicated to thwarting the other two alliances. The Conspiracy also has a private forum (notionally a stairwell somewhere on the top floor) or PM relationship by means of which they can plot their subversive activities.
- On each overt team, there is a Spymaster (never the conspirator) who has the ability, by night, to uncover a starting truth known by someone on the opposite team.
(a) Each day, someone by majority vote is thrown out a window of the Grand Hotel. That person's secrets are then divulged to all.
(b) Each night, the Spymasters may scan an opponent (or a teammate!) and learn one of his two original facts.
(c) A team wins when it solves the puzzle.
(d) Teams and team members thwart their opponents by lying about what they know.
Summary:
East Team: (a) Spymaster 1, (b) Spy 1, (c) Spy 2, (d) Spy 3, (e) Spy4/Conspirator 1
West Team: (f) Spymaster 2, (g) Spy 5, (h) Spy 6, (i) Spy 7, (j) Spy8/Conspirator 2
The Conspiracy: (e) Conspirator 1, (j) Conspirator 2
So tell me:
(1) Do you think this would work?
(2) Do you think this would be enjoyable?
(3) Do you want to play?
Some of my experimental games have seen a lot of participation but have been flawed by overwhelming complexity or an imbalance that became evident only in midgame. So I've tried to keep the rules and concept very simple and Diplomacy-like while retaining the fundamental Werewolf mechanism.