Homecoming Mistery
Homecoming Mistery
At the dance, the sinister will shimmy among the sinless and
try to go unnoticed. With their futures on the line, it will be
up to the students and staff of Mayhem High to make sure
the felon does not go free.
This murder mystery experience is designed to be easy to run and fun to play for all guests involved. The game
is played with all of your guests having active roles in the game and each guest having objectives to complete.
These objectives keep the party from being pre-scripted and allow your guests to draw their own conclusions as
to the motives and the identity of the murderer. This format also allows for great mingling among your guests
and insures all of your guests feel included. Before the night is through, each guest will have discovered that they
have a motive for killing the victim and be inclined to protect their innocence as well as seek out the murderer.
To add to the experience and suspense of the night, the murder happens during the party, not before, as in some
other murder mystery games. The victim is also allowed to play along after they “die,” since they have no clue who
murdered them. Horror at Homecoming is certain to be a hit with all of your guests.
The following pages contain a simple list of things you need to do as host in order to have the party run
smoothly. Once the party is going, it is up to the guests to make the most of it—something you will be surprised
at how well they do.
Can I upgrade or downgrade between versions after purchase? Unfortunately, you cannot. With the
exception of moving from the 15-20 guest version to the 20+ version, upgrading between mysteries is not an
option, which is why we encourage getting an accurate guest count before purchasing.
How do I get an accurate guest count? It is recommended that you send out the general invite with an RSVP
date of two weeks before the party. After your guests RSVP positive, you can send them their character sheet
and other party information.
You can download an invite at: http://www.nightofmystery.com/invitations
Is this mystery suitable for youths and/or church groups? Yes. Our site offers “clean” versions of a few other
mysteries on our site: www.nightofmystery.com. Please refer to those when hosting a party for a more conserva-
tive crowd.
• Is there a set character list? Yes. You will not be able to pick and choose which characters are included with your
mystery. This intro file has the guests listed for the 15-20 guest version. If you are curious about specifically which
characters will be included with your purchase, you can email support@nightofmystery.com to inquire about that
information ahead of purchase.
• WHO CAN I ELIMINATE WITHOUT RUINING THE MYSTERY? Information in mystery purchase.
• Because this party is dependent on a minimum number of people showing up, you need to determine ahead of
time which guests are attending before assigning characters.
• An accurate guest count is important. It is recommended that you send out the general invite with an RSVP
date of two weeks before the party. After your guests RSVP positive, you can send them their character sheet and
other party information.
• After purchase, you will not be able to “upgrade” or “downgrade” your party to the next level, so an accurate
guest count is imperative. **There is an upgrade when moving from the 15-20 guests version to the 20+ guest
version for purchase on the site, but the 15-20 guest version is the only version where the upgrade works.
• The killer will not know they are the murderer until they open their second envelope at the party.
• The victim will not know they are the victim until they get to the party. The victim will not have a list of
objectives for after the murder. Also listed in their first set of objectives is to, “fall down dead when the lights go
off.”
• The victim after “death”: If the victim wishes to play along after the murder, they can do so without an identity.
If you have an extra identity (that is, a role that is not being played), they can also assume that identity if they so
choose. *If Principal Simpson is not assigned, the victim will assume this role after they have “died.” Read below.
Can I play along without knowing who the victim and/or murderer are? OF COURSE! Unlike some other
mystery parties, we have designed our materials so that the hosts can play along! As host, you will read the host’s
guide in full to ensure that you are setting the game up correctly WITHOUT letting you know who the murderer
is! If you wish to know the murderer, you can simply read the solution.
Will a murder happen AT the party? YES again! We found this adds to the excitement, intrigue, and fun of the
party! It’s another reason why we are a stickler for “no spoilers on social media” – we can’t have pictures of the victims
for fear of ruining the intrigue for others!
How can I pick the “right” party theme? We always recommend you pick the theme that you are most passionate
about hosting and/or you believe your guests will be most excited about coming to! We do our best to accommodate
multiple sizes within each party theme to accommodate that.
• If having specific gendered roles is important to you, please see the gender counts for the version you plan on
ordering.
• Additionally, if you are worried about a mystery being too racy, please see our clean versions.
• If specific characters within a mystery are important to you, reach out to support@nightofmystery.com and we can
let you know (specifically) which characters are included with the version you are considering.
Can I run this with my business and/or group organization? With a business license, you can run these mystery
parties with your organized group and/or business. Please see our FAQ for more information on business licenses.
Do you come and run the party? We do not. Our services are in providing YOU with everything you need to
throw your party in your own home or venue. IF you have a desire for someone else to run your party, please see our
resources page for party planners who have purchased our business license and are licensed to run our parties in your
area.
A Note about Social Media: While we LOVE to see your fun parties – and often highlight and cross-promote
those who tag us – we can’t have anyone posting pictures of spoilers! This includes, but is not limited to, pictures,
videos, or mentions of the victim, murderer, and/or pertinent clues in the game. Since spoiler posts create
a calculated loss of business, you can be liable to pay the calculated loss of sales upon discovery of the
violation. So keep it fun, crazy, and show us your best spoiler-free content!!! And don’t forget to tag us
after! #nightofmystery
How does this work? All of our parties come as a professionally designed 50-125 page pdf. Immediately after
completing your order, you will be able to re-login to your account using the username and password you established
in the purchasing process. Once in your account, you can download your party (including optional emailable
invitations for your guests) for 120 days.
RavenS! resources to finance her future, her motto is “there is always room for more!”
...Save the World Quietly: Cindy Sensational. Cindy’s pleasant
attitude is only complimented by her goal of becoming a doctor. Put that with the fact that she volun-
Coach Walters, bring us home a teers as a nurse’s assistant and the girl can do no wrong.
State Championship Title! ...Become the Next Politician: Alan Algebra. He has to be one
smooth talker to get from dork to Homecoming Court!
Banker Bob
As the bank owner in the town of Deadwood, you do business with many of the people in the town and also some
of the participants of the Deadwood Poker Tournament. One of your foremost clients is Harry High-Stakes (the
Deadwood Saloon owner). In order to get the saloon established and operating in it’s first year, you have loaned Harry
a substantial amount of money. Although the saloon appears to be doing very well, you are uncertain why Harry is
continually delinquent and sometimes misses his payments on his loan. Just last month, Harry was late again on his
payment and you warned him that you will have to put his saloon into foreclosure if he cannot repay the money he owes
on the loan by next month. You suspect that Harry is throwing the Deadwood Poker Tournament in order to get enough
money so that he can repay his debt. This will be an important week to see if you will gain your money back from Harry’s
loan or if you will gain control over the saloon.
Because Harry is such a difficult and delinquent client, you hope that you will gain control over the saloon. If the
saloon becomes the bank’s property, you speculate that you may have a very wealthy buyer in Montgomery Money, an
investor from the East. Because of Montgomery’s reputation, you are certain that you will make a healthy profit off of
selling the saloon to Montgomery and he will be consistent and reliable when making his loan payments.
In addition to all the excitement of the tournament, your bank was held up at gun point. Banker Bonnie (your wife)
was watching the bank over the noon hour while you were meeting with Harry about his payments. Because of the
high ante for the poker tournament, you are convinced that the robber must have been a gambler who was trying to
accumulate enough money to pay for the entry fee. Since you view Sheriff Sam (the sheriff ) as a very lazy individual, you
plan on taking matters into your own hands when it comes to finding the culprit of the bank robbery and bringing them
to justice! In addition, you do not believe that Sheriff Sam is a moral character as well. Just this past week, you saw Sheriff
Sam taking money from Harry High-Stakes. While you do not know the details of the transaction, the secretive nature
in which the money was exchanged suggests that it was not for an honest reason.
As the Deadwood Poker Tournament Party quickly approaches, you are looking forward to attending for a few
reasons. First, the party will be a perfect place for you to talk business with Montgomery Money about his intentions on
investing in the saloon if your bank gains control of it. Second, you plan to figure out which one of the poker players may
have robbed your bank and you plan to bring them to justice! And lastly, by the end of the night, you will know whether
Harry will have enough money to pay off his debt to you or if the saloon will be yours!
Acting and Dressing Your Part: As the bank owner of Deadwood, you are a businessman first. Your bank
and your money come before everything, including your wife Bonnie. Since you will be using the party to for business
matters, you will want to dress dignified for the night. Consistent with the times, you may consider a button down shirt,
vest, ascot and hat (bowler, derby, slouch, gambler or other). Popular of the time period, you may also consider adding in
facial hair. For more ideas on how to dress and a glossary of wild western words and phrases to use at the party, please see
www.nightofmystery.com and murderatthedeadwoodsaloon.com
Banker Bob
Objectives At The Start Of The
Party
• Tell Harry High-Stakes (the saloon owner) that you need the
money he owes to the bank by tomorrow or the bank will have to
retake the saloon.
• Tell XXXX that you may have a business proposition for him
depending on how the evening turns out.
• Ask Sheriff Sam (the sheriff ) if he has any leads on who robbed
your bank earlier this week.
• Question some of the gamblers to see what they were doing dur-
ing the noon hour earlier this week when the bank was robbed.
• Ask Jesse Wales and Black Barbara (two outlaws) why they are in
town this week.
• When asked about your wife’s actions, insist she can do as she
pleases! (But be secretly concerned.)
B B
Banker Bob Banker Bob
Things You Know: Objectives After The Murder:
• You are about to foreclose on the Deadwood Saloon if • Find the murderer while maintaining your innocence.
Harry High-Stakes (the saloon owner) cannot repay his
debt to you. • Ask XXXX how much money the killer is paying him
to keep his mouth shut. (XXXXX is known to take
• Earlier this week, you XXXX handing XXXXX money. For bribes.)
what reason, you are not sure.
• Accuse XXXXX of bribing XXXXXX so he will not
• Earlier tonight, you witnessed XXXXX, talking to be found guilty of murder. If XXXXX denies it, find
XXXXXXX.
out the real reason he is bribing XXXXX.
• If asked, admit the saloon will go to XXXXXX if
XXXXX is found guilty of murder and put in jail.
• If anyone has information on XXXXX, find out what
they know. You may have to pay them to get their
information.
• Defend XXXX publicly, but question her privately on
her ties to XXXXXX.
• If XXXX threatens to XXXXXX, question where she
will get the XXXXXXX.
EXHIBIT F
Description: Picture turned over by XXXXXX.
Notes: Picture taken of XXXXX earlier tonight.
HorrorAtHomecoming.com
Simply type in HorrorAtHomecoming.com and it will take you to the “Party Tips” section of Night of Mystery dedicated to giv-
ing you the best ideas for decoration, costumes, hosting tips, etc. for THIS MYSTERY!!! Be sure to explore the “Hosting Tips”
section of this was well!
Flickr Albums
Check out pictures from other host and hostesses from your mystery theme! See how much fun others had throwing this theme
and get ideas for your own mystery party. Find the Horror at Homecoming gallery at: www.nightofmystery.com/photos-HAH/
q Schedule of the Night— A step-by-step breakdown of how the night will go.
Designed Invitations— that you can customize with the details of your party.
q
Digital Invitations— that you can customize with the details of your party. Available on site.
q
Mayhem Herald— to be sent with the invitations, it includes background information on the happenings
q surrounding the party and the guests coming to the party.
q Character Sheets— full descriptions of the characters, including costuming and acting tips.
q Character Objective Sheets —this includes objectives for each character to try to achieve at eachstage of the
game in order to uncover evidence and find the murderer.
q Name Tags
q Fake Money— to be distributed to guests and used in the party for scheming and bribery.
q Evidence — more clues to be distributed and presented during the second half of the night.
q Solution— a detailed description of who the murderer is, why the murder happened, and the clues that led
to the outcome.
q “Who Dunnit” Cards— for guests to guess the murderer, and vote for best costume and best actor.
q Award Certificates— for best costume, best actor, most money, and super sleuths.
q Party Extras!!!— Printable designs to help you make authentic and original decorations to enhance your
party! (See previous pages for more information.) Coming soon!