Kemomimi Panic
Kemomimi Panic Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
0. Game overview
This is a conversation deduction game divided between the "Legendary thief", the "Civilians" and the "Informant". The game can be played with 4–8 players, but for 8 players there are additional rules.
The Thief aims to steal all the treasure, the Informant tries to witness the thief's actions, and the Civilians try to find out who the thief is.
In this game, one of the players is the Game Master who sees to that the game runs smoothly. However, even the Game Master is a player. All players take turns being the Leader.
The game ends when the Thief is found or when only 2 players are left.
1. Preparations
Players sit around the game table.
1. Select cards for the current game
For the first couple of games, it's best to use the recommended setup (see the next page). Once you've gotten used to the game, use any combination you like. There are examples at the end of the rulebook.
The not selected cards aren't used in the game; return them to the box.
2. Select the Game Master
The Game Master is the one who sees to that the game goes smoothly. The Game Master will continue this role even if he/she is ejected from the game.
3. Deal characters
Shuffle the selected character cards and deal one card to each player. All players read the special power of their character and place the card face-up before them so that all can see.
4. Deal roles
From the role cards you selected, take out Crescent Moon (and Full Moon if you're playing 8 players). In their stead, add one (or two if you're 8 players) normal "Civilian" cards from the box and shuffle them together with the other (non-thief) selected role cards. Once shuffled, take out 1 (or 2 if you're 8 players) cards from this mix and return to the box, without looking at what it was. Then mix the thief/thieves back into this deck, shuffle again and deal 1 to each player, face down.
This operation is to randomly decide whether or not the Informant is part of the game. The card(s) that were randomly returned to the box just might be the Informant. What card was returned must therefore not be revealed in any situation.
Each player checks their role, and keeps the card face down before them.
5. Deal fake jewelry
The Game Master deals one Fake Jewelry card to each player. Each player places it face up on top of their role card.
6. Set the Moon card
The Game Master gives the Moon card to the player sitting to the left of Detective Shamlock. The card should show the "new moon" face.
7. Set the Target card
Place the Target card in the middle of the table.
With this, the preparations are done and the game can begin.
Recommended character/role combination setup for the first couple of games
For 4 players
Characters: Detective Shamlock, Military Teresia, Politician Barbera, Warlock Valeria
Roles: Thief Crescent Moon, Informant, Civilian (stubborn), Civilian
For 5 players
Characters: Detective Shamlock, Elder Twin Cyril, Younger Twin Beryl, Politician Barbera, Homeless Arle
Roles: Thief Crescent Moon, Informant, Civilian (angry), Civilian, Civilian
For 6 players
Characters: Detective Shamlock, Elder Twin Cyril, Younger Twin Beryl, Teacher Verna, Psychic Akira, Maid Miyabi
Roles: Thief Crescent Moon, Informant, Civilian, Civilian, Civilian, Civilian
For 7 players
Characters: Detective Shamlock, Elder Twin Cyril, Younger Twin Beryl, Teacher Verna, Warlock Valeria, Psychic Akira, Military Teresia
Roles: Thief Crescent Moon, Informant, Civilian (angry), Civilian, Civilian, Civilian, Civilian
For 8 players
Characters: Detective Shamlock, Witness Sheena, Elder Twin Cyril, Younger Twin Beryl, Politician Barbera, Shrine Maiden Towa, Military Teresia, Warlock Valeria
Roles: Thief Crescent Moon, Thief Full Moon, Informant, Civilian (lonely), Civilian (angry), Civilian, Civilian, Civilian
2. Flow of the game
This game alternates between "day time" and "night time" until the game ends. During day time, all players, including the thief, argue about who the thief is. During night time, but only when the Moon card shows the new moon, master thief Crescent Moon secretly selects one player (in an 8 player game, master thief Full Moon selects one the nights the full moon is shown).
The selected player has his/her Fake Jewelry stolen. If she doesn't have a Fake Jewelry, her treasure is stolen, she is out of the game and reveals her role card.
Once the game ends, the winner is determined depending on if Thieves, Informants or Civilians are left. If the Civilians win, then all Civilians win, even those who were ejected from the game earlier.
The game flow:
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Game start
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Day time phase – Selecting suspect – Pre-voting step – Voting results
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Night time phase Theft step
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Return to 2)
3. Game start
First of all, Detective Shamlock selects one player. All other players but Shamlock and the selected player must close their eyes. The selected player silently makes one of these two gestures:
- If he/she is a Civilian, then he/she makes an "OK" sign to Shamlock.
- If he/she is the Thief or the Informant, he/she makes a "thumbs down" sign to Shamlock.
Once Shamlock has seen the gesture, the other players may open their eyes.
The player with the Moon card is the first Leader and leads the first day.
4. Day time phase
Detective Shamlock retells what she learned. She may lie if she wishes to. All players proceed with arguing who they think is the Thief. A reasonable time limit for the arguing is 3 minutes. The Game Master keeps track.
– Selecting suspects
When arguing is done, the Leader selects a suspect, points the Target card at her, saying "You're a suspect!"
– Pre-voting step
All players who want, raise their hand.
– Voting results
If half of the participants or less raised their hands, the suspect is declared innocent and nothing happens.
If more than half of the participants raised their hands, the suspect is declared guilty and must discard her Fake Jewelry card. If she has no Fake Jewelry left, her treasure is stolen, she is out of the game and reveals her role card. If that player was the Thief, the game ends immediately.
5. Night time phase
The nights when the Moon card in front of the Leader shows the new moon, Crescent Moon goes to work and starts stealing. The first night is always the new moon, and thus stealing will always happen the first night. When the Moon Card shows the full moon, nothing will happen unless thief Full Moon is around. She steals on full moon nights.
How stealing is done
Place the Target card in the middle of the table.
All players place their right hand around the Target card, without touching it.
The Game Master instructs all players to shut their eyes, including herself.
"It's night time... You're all sleeping..."
Next, she instructs the Thief to awaken and open her eyes.
"But in the midst of darkness, the Thief awakens... it's time for work..."
The Thief, and only the thief, opens her eyes.
"Who will be the target tonight? Decide quickly, morning is coming... 10... 9... 8......"
The Thief moves her hand a little, turns the target card so that it points towards one player. This must be done before the Game Master has counted to zero, at which point the Game Master says
"Morning has come... and all awake...."
All players open their eyes and remove their hands from the table.
The player at whom the arrow is pointing has had a visit from the Thief. If she still had her Fake Jewelry, it's stolen and discarded. If she had no Fake Jewelry left, her treasure is stolen, she is out of the game and reveals her role card.
And that marks the end of the night time phase.
The Leader flips the Moon card and gives it to the player to her left. That player becomes the new Leader. The Game Master proceeds to announce Day Time again.
6. Game end
The game ends immediately if one of these two conditions are met:
- No Thief is left in the game.
- Only 2 players are left in the game, due to voting or nightly theft.
Determining winner
- If all Thieves are out of the game, all Civilians win (even those who were ejected from the game earlier).
- If the remaining two players are "Thief" and "Civilian", the Thief (thieves) wins.
- If the remaining two players are "Thief" and "Informant", the Informant wins.
7. Playing with 8 players
Rules remain the same. However, when playing with 8 players, you have two thieves. Each new moon night, Crescent Moon will steal, and each full moon night, Full Moon will steal, which means that there will be a theft every night. Also, if the game ends and the two remaining players are both Thieves, they both win – of course.
8. Optional rule: Points
If you wish, you may deal out points according to the following system:
- If the Civilians win, they gain 2VP each.
- If the Thief/thieves win, they gain 3VP each.
- If the Informant wins, she gains 7VP.
As an addition, all players still in the game earn 1VP each.
Play until someone reaches 10 or more points, at which point this player is crowned the King/Queen of Beast-ears.
Examples of further character selection combinations
Small Society (4 players) Detective Shamlock, Politician Barbera, Bank employee Lucie, Homeless Arle
Shuffle Alliance (4 players) Detective Shamlock, Athlete Ulrika, Crossdressing d'Autriche, Clown Lolo
The Mysterious Five (5 players) Detective Shamlock, Warlock Valeria, Shrine Maiden Towa, Sister Christina, Psychic Akira
The Students 1 (5 players) Detective Shamlock, Class rep Alistair, Vice class rep Miranda, Teacher Verna, Student Luma
The Students 2 (6 players) Detective Shamlock, Elder Twin Cyril, Younger Twin Beryl, Class rep Alistair, Vice class rep Miranda, Teacher Verna
The Big Six (6 players) Detective Shamlock, Policitian Valeria, Military Teresia, Teacher Vienetta, Archaeologist Mindy, Class rep Alistair
(Names reproduced as printed in the source, including "Policitian Valeria" and "Teacher Vienetta"; the character cards are headed "Warlock Valeria" and "Teacher Viennetta".)
The Students 3 (7 players) Detective Shamlock, Elder Twin Cyril, Younger Twin Beryl, Class rep Alistair, Vice Class rep Miranda, Teacher Verna, Psychic Akira
The Students 4 (8 players) Detective Shamlock, Witness Sheena, Elder Twin Cyril, Younger Twin Beryl, Class Rep Alistair, Vice class rep Miranda, Student Luma, Teacher Verna
Light Novel Alliance (8 players) Detective Shamlock, Witness Sheena, Sleeping Beauty Cecilia, Shrine Maiden Towa, Psychic Akira, Maid Miyabi, Sister Christina, Hostess Amarillo
Character cards
About the timing of the characters' special powers
Each character has a special power that can be used at certain points during the game. Exactly when the power may be applied is important and is noted on the card within
[1] means that the power can only be used once per game.
Detective Shamlock
<Game start (1)> Select one player who reveals to you and you only whether she is a Citizen or not. <End of day time (1)> If you are the Leader, perform the above action again.
Witness Sheena
<Start of day time (1)> [1] If anyone was ejected from the game the previous day/night, select one player who reveals to you whether she is a Citizen or not. This character should only be used in 8 player games.
Student Ester
<During new moon days (2)> [1] You may change the moon into a full moon.
Student Tristel
<During full moon days (1)> [1] You may change the moon into a new moon.
Student Luma
Elder Twin Cyril
Younger Twin Beryl
Teacher Viennetta
Teacher Verna
<Voting results (1)> [1] When you are not the Leader, you may change this day's voting to 'innocent'.