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Feb-16-2006 10:53

What's the best order to do things in? I usually question subjects for aliby and who they suspect, then check alibys 'til I know everyone who's lying and not. Then I check out all the physical evidence until the PE guys clam (which is usually right away) then I ask the suspects who they suspect, going down the line asking only about people who I know are lying about their alibys. Is there a better way to do this? What are some other strategies?

Feb-16-2006 11:22

Deep philosophical question you've got there

Feb-16-2006 11:29

I think that checking for motive first is critical, especially in the upper level cases.

Then I do the research check.

Then if I have any PE Contact pieces to check.

Confirm or deny alibi based on if I identify someone.

Then see what is left after that.

This is the point I start on alibis for the rest of the suspects, walk through the list of townies to check on those and WE leads.

A full set of interview skills will go much farther in my opinion than a full set of smart skills.

Feb-16-2006 11:53

It depends whether I go for motives or alibis first. If I'm doing alright then I take alibis first, except if their alibi is with the townie for analzing aome of the PE. If I think I might not get enough suspects then I go for motives. I also check alibis as I go along, because this can mean that (by using the game mechanics), that I don't have to ask everyone for their alibi by seeing if I've reached the max for real or fake alibis (this was more useful on easier cases when the number or suspects with real alibis was fixed and not a range).

I also have the research page open in another tab and refresh it every time I get a new suspect so I can avoid asking for that person's alibi.

I then check the case tab and see what evidence could implicate my remaining suspects. If there's a suspect that can only be implicated by 1 PE, then that gets checked first, otherwise I check all the PE against the suspects so I can eliminate as many suspects as possible.
eg
Makensie Brewer - *check curly hair and handwriting* THEN
R Anstett - *check curly hair and handwriting*
Once the townies have clammed I try to see if I can get any witness evidence.

Oh, and if the client doesn't have an alibi then they get checked first, so I won't waste money on bribes if I know I'm not going to get a reward.

My technique differs slightly from that as I have flirt, so I generally ask men for alibis first and women for motives first. (I like London, all but one of the PE townies are female :D)

Hope I wasn't too long winded.

Feb-16-2006 12:14

You can not check my handwriting. It is so messy that no one can read it.

That black hair with a touch of grey? that is mine.

Feb-16-2006 12:53

Not even yourself? I used to be like that... I've managed to tidy up my scrawl a little bit now.

Feb-16-2006 13:06

The responses to this thread are interesting. Me, I check my nonPE contact to get a suspect, then research then, check every suspect with my PE contact and only then do I check the first suspect. Depending on how (s)he matches the PE I ask motives, then immediately alibi then I leave them.
research refresh and then on. Only after I have all my suspects and their alibis or not do I start to rule them out with PE.

I've found that leaving a suspect before asking both motive and alibi is risky as they may die or do a runner before I can get the 2nd question.

Feb-16-2006 13:56

I love dead suspects. It is almost as good as research.

Feb-16-2006 14:00

I can tell you, for sure, that the age-old strategy is motive first. It works.

Feb-16-2006 14:31

Hmm, I guess your style depends on your experience and the level of the case you're doing.

I still prefer checking alibis first. Because you can still solve some cases if you don't get the full list of people, but everyone that you do know's alibi. Whereas, if you you only have some alibis and a full list of people then you can't always be sure that you have the right man (this is assuming that you only get to ask your suspect one question before they clam completely ie. no WE).

Happened to me on a favour once. I asked for an alibi, and then she clammed up completely. I checked the PE, and then accused her. (I forgot to check the townies for more suspects).

Feb-16-2006 14:41

When u get to almost impossible level, believe me, you will want to check motive first. They clam MUCH easier, and even if u can't get an alibi b4 they clam, you can atleast get the WE against them. I would rather have all of my suspects ,with some that I cant get an alibi,then to have just a few suspects on my list and not able to get more :) As you said, it depends on the level of cases you are doing :)