Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Newbie Questions

Mar-22-2005 12:45

As I'm sure everyone can tell by now, I love to write and I'm really getting into this character of Peter Gunn, I left another little "story" at Big Lucy's if anyone happens to make it over there.

Anyway...I was wondering exactly how does a featured mystery work? I haven't been able to subscribe so I've never played one. Doing an intro seems easy but is a featured mystery done in the same format? Or do you write a regular story with notes that explain (suspect B has curly hair) (suspect A has no alibi)? I'd love to do a couple, I could probably even do one a month, but I can't do anything until I get a handle on the format needed.

Any help/advice would be very appreciated.

Mar-22-2005 14:10

I think Ben or Jojo can help on this one. I have never written one, plus it is hard to explain to someone who has never seen a featured mystery. Maybe jojo can send you his featured mystery, as an example. See community sites, jojo's page.

Mar-22-2005 14:19

Thanks JS, I went to Jojo's site but it seems to be down at the moment. I'll try back though.

Mar-22-2005 18:18

Alright, to start out, go to City Hall. Click on Submitting Content to Sleuth. There is a format to follow in there.


The intro: The intros are quite similar to those of random mysteries. The intros in FMs, however, are much longer in length, have much more detail, and have a formatted story to them.

I would love to send you my format for my FM, however, I will need Ben's permission to do so. I do not wish to give out the answers to a FM. I believe Ben will allow me to send you PARTS of it, but not the whole thing. I am not, however, going to send anything until I have Ben's permission.

Also, a FM is very different from a random mystery. There are unlockable questions which are special questions that are unlocked by other questions, actions, etc. These give hints to the murderer, or unlock more questions. These replace witness evidence.

The physical evidence is the same as random mysteries, however, the crime scene gives a lot of detail and really puts you at the scene.


Take a look at that format in City Hall. If you have any questions, contact Ben (Sleuth Admin) or me by PM. We would be glad to help out!

Mar-22-2005 18:19

(...Another answer that turned out to be a novel...sorry for the length)

Mar-23-2005 01:28

Thanks for the long answer, those actually seem to be easier to understand :o)

Mar-23-2005 05:53

Jojo- this question comes ones in a while, dont know if you can and will (its probably a lot of work, maybe too much) but maybe you could write an example FM? you can then post it as link in city hall (im sure ben will be glad to) and people can view it as example without need to sub. In that way you wont revel the solution to your existing FM's.

Mar-23-2005 10:34

peter gunn, you should also talk with john hale. he is the expert on writing fm's.

Mar-23-2005 11:13

An example would be very very helpful!

Mar-29-2005 00:01

heh, i'd like to see an example too