Alibi: 3 Intricate Mysteries Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Contents
• Preparation
• The Game
  • Tips
• Secrets
• Clues
• Final Phase
  • 1. Revelation
  • 2. Presenting the Facts
  • 3. Voting
• Games With a Different Number of Players
  • Games With 6 Players or More
  • 4-Player Variant
• Quick Reference

Contents

WARNING: Do not shuffle or look through the cards in the various decks. The cards are pre-ordered; this rulebook will explain how to use them throughout the game.

This box contains this rulebook and 3 Cases: Murder on the Nile, Blood on the Tartan, A Dish to Die For.

Each case, made up of a deck of 63 cards, is divided into:

• 3 Introduction cards
• 5 Suspect decks (each consisting of 8 cards of the same color)
• 1 Detective deck (7 cards)
• 1 Clue deck (11 cards)
• 2 Solution cards

Preparation

Choose together one of the cases, take the relevant deck of cards out of the box. Do not shuffle or look at the back of the cards for any reason. Set the box with the rest of the materials aside, you won't need it during this game.

1. Divide the cards into decks according to color:
   • Introduction (first 3 cards of the deck)
   • Suspect decks (each deck consists of 8 cards)
   • Detective deck (7 cards). Note: Only use this deck with 6 players or more. If you are 4 or 5, put it back into the box.
   • Clue deck (11 cards)
   • Solution (last 2 cards of the deck)
2. Take and read aloud, in order, all of the Introduction cards.
3. Each player chooses a character to play, takes the corresponding deck, and puts it in front of them. Note: If there is no agreement between the players on who to play, draw lots.
4. Each player secretly reads the first card of their Suspect deck. This card gives you an idea of the character you are playing, their recent history, and the most relevant facts about their relationships with the other suspects. After reading this card, leave it face down in front of you to remind the other players of the character you are playing.
5. Place the Clue cards on the table, face down and within reach. Now you are ready to begin.

The Game

The game takes place over five rounds, in which the story is recalled by the suspects, followed by a final phase in which players explain their theories and make accusations against the other players. Finally, the identity of the murderer is revealed and it is determined who has won the game.

IMPORTANT: The rules below refer to a 5-player game. Variations for a different number of players are given at the end of the rules.

Note: The characters and texts on the cards in this rulebook are just examples and do not contain any references to those contained in the game.

Each of the five rounds takes place following these steps:

1. Each player takes a card from the top of their Suspect deck, marked with the number of the current round (e.g., "Giselle Round #1" in Round 1) and reads it in secret. On each card there are text paragraphs called Statements (divided by a line) and a secret (in the bottom box).

   • A. Suspect name
   • B. Number of the current round
   • C. Statements: these contain the information you are required to reveal during the round. The bolded text helps you recognize at a glance the main argument of the paragraph, but all the information contained must be revealed.
   • D. Secret: you don't have to reveal this part to the other players. However, if someone asks you a direct question related to the topic of the secret, described in the header of the box, then you must reveal its contents to everyone, reading this part out loud (see Secrets).

2. The player who has a star on their card must start the discussion for the round, reading only the first Statement on their card.

3. During a round, the players do not take turns. All players are free to talk to each other, ask each other questions, and insert themselves into the discussion as they see fit. Generally, a player shares one of their Statements (it doesn't matter which one), followed by a Statement from another player, and so on. Each player is obliged to provide the information contained in all their Statements, trying to fit them naturally into the conversation and trying to be as precise as possible. Note: Statements don't have to be read in order from the first to the last, nor all in the same moment.

   Example: Lisa, after reading her card, begins the discussion since she has the star: "After speaking with Amanda, Alex stormed out the room. He left by slamming the door." Alex feels like he's being accused, and decides to answer with this Statement: "Amanda had a bad temper, but I'm not the only one angry towards her. I know for certain there's no love lost between her and Marco. It was he who told me that he doesn't want to have anything to do with her." Marco, in turn, decides to answer back by reading this Statement: "In that moment, I was bugged by her despicable behavior. But we are forgetting an important thing: her diamond disappeared. Only a few people around know where they were hidden, and Lisa is among them."

Tips

• At "Murder Mystery Dinners", participants often dress up with scenic props to better get into the character they play. Alibi does not require planning, but it can make use of other tricks; some players, for example, get into character by imagining their behavior, by saying the lines of their statements with a tone that fits the historical context or with a different accent. Even the tone of the game can be adjusted to your group's preference: some groups prefer a more light-hearted approach to the story, others like their game to be serious and formal.
• If you receive questions during the game about topics that you don't have enough information to answer, you can try to give a creative answer in line with your character, or admit candidly that you can't answer them.

Secrets

The lower part of each Suspect card contains secret information known only to you. This information is useful to better understand your character's intentions; usually it should remain secret to avoid the other players using this information to accuse you and compromise your position.

However, if at any time during the current round one of the other players asks you a direct question regarding the topic of the secret (A), using the exact words or synonyms, then you must reveal the secret (B), reading it out loud to the other players as if it were any other Statement. If you are asked a question that refers to the topic of a secret from a previous round, you are no longer obliged to reveal it.

• A. Topic of the secret
• B. Content of the secret

Note: If you have doubts if a question you received concerns the topic of your secret or not, assume it does, and reveal it.

EXAMPLE: Your secret's topic is "Amanda's Diamonds". If another player asks you about the "diamonds", you are forced to reveal the content of your secret. Likewise, you must reveal your secret if someone asks you a question about "jewels" or "the precious" and so on. Keep it flexible! It will improve your overall experience.

Clues

Each clue provides new information to better understand the case and investigate the possible motives of the suspects. If, after reading out a Statement or revealing a secret, there is a note indicating a clue, then reveal the corresponding Clue card so that everyone can see it, and read it out loud.

Warning: if a clue is in the box of a secret, reveal it only if you are forced to read out the secret.

Once revealed, Clue cards can be consulted at any time, by any player.

Final Phase

After Round 5 has concluded, move to the final phase of the game. The final phase is divided into 3 steps: Revelation, Presenting the Facts, and Voting.

1. Revelation

All players secretly read their own Revelation card, then they put it face down in front of themselves. This card reveals to you whether the character you are playing is innocent or guilty. Take some time to think of ways to defend yourself from the possible accusations other players may have, then when everyone is ready, proceed to the next step.

2. Presenting the Facts

In turn, starting from any player and proceeding clockwise, each player has approximately one minute to give their version of the events, making reconstructions and accusations and providing their alibi. In this phase, you can use any argument that you consider useful in order to clear your name and not get accused (in the next step). After all players have given their version of the events, proceed with the voting.

3. Voting

When everyone is ready, the player who initiated the discussion phase starts a loud countdown: "3... 2... 1... vote!" At the end of the countdown, everyone, at the same time, must point their index finger at the player they think is the assassin.

Note: The assassin at this stage must point at another player, perhaps who they believe to be the most obvious suspect besides themselves, to give themselves a better chance of winning.

IMPORTANT: No player, not even the assassin, can accuse themselves of the crime.

At this point, the assassin reveals themselves:

• If they are the most accused player, every player who accused them wins.
• If they are not the most accused player, the assassin wins along with all players who did accuse them.

Note: If two or more players are tied for the most accused, and among them there is the assassin, then the assassin loses and the players who accused them win.

The assassin now takes the Solution cards and reads them out loud, so as to reconstruct the whole story from start to finish.

Games With a Different Number of Players

Games With 6 Players or More

The game is played exactly as described above with the following changes:

• Five players play the five suspects; players who do not play a suspect play together as a team of Detectives, and take the corresponding deck (one of them handles the deck).
• It is always the Detective who begins the discussion of the round, questioning the various suspects using the hints on their card. Ignore the stars on the Suspect cards. The Detective tries, like everyone else, to find the culprit, and can ask questions as they see fit, taking advantage of the hints on their card.
• If everyone else has placed their card for the current round face down, then the round is over.
• During the final phase, in the Presenting the Facts step, the Detective participates by stating their thoughts on the case after all the other players. During the Voting step, the Detective has only one vote regardless of the number of players that play as the Detective, but their vote counts double.
• Note: The Detective is never the assassin, and during the Voting step they cannot be pointed at by the other players.

4-Player Variant

Alibi was developed for 5 or more players, thus we recommend you play it with at least 5 players. Here are presented tweaks for a 4-player game. The game is played exactly as described above with the following changes:

• During preparation, using an internet-connected device, scan the QR code. Select the case you wish to play. You will gain access to a document. The document will reveal the identity of a suspect that for sure is not the assassin for that case, even if they are still regarded as a potential suspect.
• Before choosing a suspect to play, put the Suspect deck indicated by the document back in the box.
• At the beginning of each round, before the players begin the discussion, read out loud all of the Statements belonging to the excluded character in the on-line document so you can learn all of their information.
• Note: During the final phase, the non-playing suspect cannot be accused, and cannot be pointed at during the voting, as they are not guilty for sure.

Quick Reference

Round structure

1. Each player secretly reads their Suspect card for the current round.
2. When everybody is ready, the player with the star on their card begins the discussion.
3. There aren't any structured turns: the discussion is freeform. Each player must give the information contained in all their Statements.
4. After you have given all the information contained in your Statements, place your card face down in front of you.
5. When everyone has placed their card in front of them, the round ends. At the end of the fifth round, go to the Final Phase.

Final phase: 1. Revelation, 2. Presenting the facts, 3. Voting.

Card anatomy: A. Suspect name; B. Number of the current round; C. Statements; D. Secret.