Hamster Press has just released “Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Dead Duke” at RPGNow. A paper version of the game is available on the Hamster Press web page.

Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Dead Duke
Intermediate Engle Matrix Game
Board Game RPG
Players: 2 – 10
Duration: 2 hours
Complexity: Low
Replayability: High
Cost: Paper version $12.95 PDF $6
Papers version available at http://www.io.com/~hamster
PDF version available in the “other games” tab at http://www.rpgnow.com/default.php?

The Case of the Dead Duke is a murder mystery game. Unlike the two beginner EMGs released earlier this year (Dracula and Jack the Ripper) this one is an intermediate level game. The players have a cast of 10 characters and a dead body. Each turn players make an argument for what happens next in the game (what clue they find for instance). Another player acts as referee. The referee decides how likely an argument is to happen. This sets a “to happen” roll. The player rolls for their own argument. If they succeed the argument becomes a fact. Facts build on facts to tell the story. Players pick characters to champion and are provided with a plot track to help them know what to do in the game. As they play they can try pinning the murder on one another. It all culminates in an arrest and trial.

The paper version of the game consists of a 16x21 inch color laminated map of London that folds up into a folio. Two lose leaf laminated sheets hold the rules and characters. The game also includes ten wooden counters with character stickers. No dice are included.

We play on line Matrix Games at the MatrixGame2 yahoo group. Come by and check us out! Right now we are doing a Waterloo wargame and a Jack the Ripper story game.
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/MatrixGame2/

Chris Engle
Hamster Press = Engle Matrix Games