I’m glad you’re enjoying it! I plan to eventually update the rulebook to include advice on writing mysteries, as well as a collaborative activity to create a custom mystery as a group. Since I haven’t got around to it yet, I’ll take a stab at giving some general advice.
- Since cards are drawn in any order, consider how different combinations of locations or sequences of events might produce interesting interactions or affect the flow of the narrative.
- Try to maintain a balance between making prompts evocative and keeping them concise. Less is more! Leave gaps for the players to fill in — this is their story. Plus, gaps make room for multiple interpretations.
- Speaking of multiple interpretations, writing clues can be tricky. There are two reasons why players are asked to choose from a list of clues rather than just presenting one. First, making meaningful choices increases player autonomy, which is fun. Second, presenting multiple options increases the likelihood that one or two clues will immediately stand out to them. The game is all about connecting the dots, and those “Aha!” moments are a lot of fun.
- Speaking of autonomy, players should feel like the authors of the story, especially when drawing a card. Rather than just giving them some prose to read aloud, engage their imagination by including a question or two. This prods them to fill in the gaps, and reminds you to leave gaps in the first place!
- Use vivid descriptions, but keep context vague. Whatever they find, whoever they meet, wherever they go — should be able to happen anywhere, in any order.
- Interactivity is key. Give players interesting things to interact with. Implicit potential is enough — don’t give them instructions on what to do with it. Describing a desk is one thing, but including that the drawer is locked might make them want to open it. Mentioning that there’s a heavy-looking wrench on a workbench might make them pick it up to use as an improvised weapon, or they might try to self-repair to remove a condition… that sort of thing.
Hopefully that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.