SUSPECT
pocket mystery ttrpg
Version 2.0
Design Dale Blackburn, Peter Graham
Testing Katie Parker, Tariq Khawaja
Fonts Secular One, Courier Prime
used under Open Font Licence.
Licence Copyright Arcane Atlas
Games 2024.
CC-BY-4.0, make what you like
as long as it is not bigoted.
Images by Craig Whitehead,
Juan Parra, Tamara Bellis,
Vicko Mozara, Markus Winkler
used with Unsplash licence.
Silhouette by Freepik.
3 4
THE GAME KEEPING A RECORD
is afoot not every suspect is telling the truth
1 Choose or create a case Leads - Anything that helps the case -
Answer the set up questions something a suspect has said, or another
piece of evidence. They might not be
2 Investigate true.
One player starts as the Investigator.
Facts - Definite truths. Any lead can be
Investigator questions a suspect. upgraded to a fact if a few suspects
confirm it, or it makes sense in your
The other player answers as story. Highlight any leads that become
that suspect. facts.
Investigator challenges contradictions. Timeline - Inspector only. Store leads
and facts in the timeline. Challenge any
Swap roles. answers suspects give that contradict
what’s already established.
3 Crack the case
The game ends when the second suspect Suspect Notes - Store information on the
is accused. Agree a final monologue and suspect notes. Add to the notes, mark any
a teaser for what happens next. challenges and mark when their move is
used.
5 6
AS THE INVESTIGATOR
ask difficult questions I’m going to question the
manager, where were they
before the theft?
Only you can look at the timeline.
Seek a lead OR ask a question: She nervously swigs her drink.
“I was with the baron... uhh,
Lead Introduce evidence or a in the showroom showing them
witness that takes the case in the latest tommy gun.”
a dramatic new direction.
Ok, but why wasn’t the baron’s
Question Name a suspect. Ask them a guard there? They were seen in add the
question. Add their answer the kitchen? new lead
to the timeline. You can
clarify their answer with a
follow-up question. The Timeline
Challenge Point out something that Before
? doesn’t add up. Mark one
Showroom Manager showed Baron a gun
? challenge for that suspect.
Accuse 3rd Challenge: Done? You’ve
Kitchen Guard flirting with chef. lead
! found the culprit. Not done?
Reveal a scandal that proves
Chef prepared the brandy. fact
their innocence. Keep going.
7 8
AS THE SUSPECTS
Challenge - Mark when the inspector
catches you out.
stir drama, make mistakes, shift the blame Accused
The Bouncer ? ? !
Do not look at the timeline. Name
Sketch
The investigator will choose a suspect Style
and ask a question.
Motive
Respond to the question. You may add an
extra detail about the suspect. Notes
Add anything to help you
Try not to contradict any facts. play the suspect here.
But leave leads/facts to
? If you are challenged, mark one of the the timeline.
? challenges on the suspect’s notes.
! Adjust your answer to make it fit.
Honest Direct a challenge
X to another suspect.
Move Once per game you can use each
X suspect’s move to help shift
suspicion to a different
character. Mark it on the Move - use once per game, mark
suspect notes. when used
9 10
OPTIONAL TIME PRESSURE
RULES
need to be done quickly?
the rules thicken Start a timer when the first question is
asked. Choose one at each time.
20 mins
Red Herring
Change a fact
40 mins
or, Gossip
Each add a lead Intel
Each write a fact
in secret, reveal.
60 mins
or, Out of Action
Cold Case Remove a suspect
They escape, how? from the game.
or, Incriminated
What mistake did
they make?
11 Optional Rules 12
ONLINE PLAY 3+ PLAYERS
remote investigation a crack team
Can’t meet in person? No problem, most Too many friends? During the set up,
detective work is done from a distance. choose which suspects each player will be
playing.
Share the timeline and suspect sheet so
that everyone can edit them, but you can The investigator can only question
only see one at a time. You could use: suspects that they aren’t playing.
- Pages or sheets in a shared document. After the investigator has questioned
- Threads or channels in a chat program someone, or introduced a lead, they
- Separate areas of an online board. choose the next investigator.
Play the game as normal, but all players
must remain honest about only viewing the
timeline when they are the inspector.
FLAMINGO
MISFORTUNE
a suspect case
Read aloud:
Lord Billingfast III, that’s what he
called himself. A crypto millionaire,
bought himself that title, and an
untimely death I’d wager.
Last night he gathered his family at his
country estate. A modern mansion with all
the trimmings. He made some “big
announcement” about his fortune.
We found him head-first through a flamingo
float in the early hours. Nasty way to go,
but hey, it was a nice pool.
The set up is straight out of a Christie
novel, but it is up to you to solve this
one. Figure out what he announced, find
the motive, find your killer.
Oh, and if you figure out why the flamingo
was involved I’ll owe you a drink.
15 Flamingo Misfortune 16
SET UP SUSPECTS
Subheading
1
BodyThe
Text
player who most recently swam in a The Offspring
pool starts as the investigator. Spoilt - change any lead into a fact
2 Set up the timeline: The Ex-Partner
Compel - insist a suspect backs up
Locations: your answer
Pool, Lounge, Kitchen, Office
The Associate
Times: Accounts - direct a challenge to
Before, During, After another suspect
3 Set up the suspect notes The Staff
Gossip - create as many leads as you need
4 Answer the following:
The Lawyer
Fact: how did Lord Billingfast die? The will - add the secret relative as a
suspect
Fact: who stormed out dramatically?
Secret Relative
Lead: who showed up uninvited? Not a suspect until introduced by
the lawyer.
17 Flamingo Misfortune 18
TIP OFFS
Trail going cold? Get inspired:
Drama
An underhand deal
An affair
A public argument
Something Amiss
An extravagant gift
A late arrival
Something missing?
If you enjoyed this game, why not try out
Word on the street RIVALS - our two-player, PvP storytelling
Wronged in the past game about a dramatic showdown.
They work for who?!
Not the first attempt?
You can find more of our
games on our website:
www.arcaneatlas.games
