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Tips for non-murder mysteries
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Inspector Joseph
Inspector Joseph

Dec-2-2008 22:34

Are there any tips for writing a non-murder scripted mysteries. If so, please do share them.
Thanks

Replies

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Dec-4-2008 14:53

Yes, you can have the victim be your client, unless you plan on killing them off.

Inspector Joseph
Inspector Joseph

Dec-5-2008 14:06

What do you mean by: Unless you plan on killing them off.
Is it that I kill my client?

David Adams
David Adams
Red-Nosed

Dec-5-2008 22:19

Yes, it's possible to kill off your client. But I'd suggest thinking through your plot/storyline before you do this. The client is the one (traditionally) who pays the detective for solving the case around here. Having a dead client would make payments a bit, umm, awkward.

Basically, you need to SERIOUSLY think out what you want each of your characters/suspects to do before you ever start writing/inputting data. You need a plan before you get going with the Mystery Writer thing they've got here. You also need to get some experience under your belt solving different types of mysteries, in different places, and in different circumstances.

Hope that helps.

Breit

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Dec-5-2008 23:24

Also, in case it helps you at all, you can have more than one person be your client. In ShadowChii's Werewolf mystery, there were, I believe, three clients.

You can have your client die or be guilty, but if you do that, the detective won't receive their reward (just like a guilty client in a regular random mystery).

Barry Grant
Barry Grant
Old Shoe

Dec-6-2008 06:36

Ms. Anikka,

Please correct me if I'm wrong but if you have the skill of Pickpocketing from The Dies Arcanum Brotherhood you get your fee from a guilty client.

*tips hat*

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Dec-6-2008 10:08

Yes, you do, but not everyone has Pickpocketing, so I'm trying not to muddy the explanation. It's one of those things to keep in mind that it occurs, mainly because not every detective has every skill and the author shouldn't assume that they do.

Barry Grant
Barry Grant
Old Shoe

Dec-6-2008 11:21

Good point.

*tips hat*

Inspector Joseph
Inspector Joseph

Dec-7-2008 06:17

One more question comes to mind:
I read the synopsis of Doomsayer: The Prisoner.
It says someone has gone into hiding. You need help from certain shady character to find that man.
Do we need 'underworld connection' skill for that.
And, how do we make one of the suspects in a case go into hiding when we write a scripted mystery.
If detective John Hale explains it, it would be better.
Thanks to all

Acemaster
Acemaster
Well-Connected

Dec-14-2008 19:49

Well, in Doomsayer, that's how the storyline goes. I played it once, but I don't remember.

In real cases though, you have to ask the WE townies, and one will tell you. Underworld Connections bypasses that, so you automatically find the person.

As for your second question, I have no clue. I was wondering that myself.

Sorry I'm not John Hale, but I can help anyway. ;-)

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Dec-14-2008 22:43

No, you don't need U.C. to solve any of the Doomsayer mysteries. The premise to the second mystery is that your killer from the first has fled the country, and you have to track him/her down. As for how to 'send' a specific person into hiding, so to speak, I'd ask an editor about how to go about it. They might have an idea as to how to go about it.

Hope that helps a bit. ;-)

Breit

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