We recently celebrated my partner’s 50th birthday. We have started to establish some traditions for these parties — Indian pizza, cake, a similar cast of characters every year — but, this year, my partner was interested in adding some kind of a murder mystery game to the festivities.
Being a fool, I decided to design one, rather than purchase one.
The Game
Trying to dictate the flow of a party amongst middle-aged people, most of whom are drinking and all of whom are snacking, is a lost cause, so what I wanted to provide was something which could be played without a lot of effort and even less pressure. I wanted something that could break into the normal rhythm of jokes and stories and conversations that occur naturally but wouldn’t require sustained attention.
Overall, I’d say the game was a success; were I to do it over, I’d make a few different choices, but it served the purpose I intended for it to serve — a low stress, lightweight game which involves everyone without leaving people out, but doesn’t intrude on the natural ebb and flow of a party.
The Premise
The premise of the game isn’t in any way novel, and is recognizable to anyone who has played any flavor of murder-mystery game; guests attend a party, they begin dying mysteriously, and a murderer is, eventually, revealed.
There are three types of players in this game: Guests, a Herald, and a Murderer. Guests receive Guest cards, the Herald receives a handful of Herald cards and the Murderer receives a The End card. Each type of card includes the following attributes:
- An icon/symbol to identify the card
- A brief set of instructions to the cardholder
- A limerick that corresponds to the player
I settled on limericks because a limerick structure is very flexible, and they’re relatively easy to write. Because of their structure, they’re also pretty easy for people to read, and they pair very well with intoxicants.
Guest cards contain limericks describing the player’s death; Herald cards contain ominous limericks warning Guests about the Murderer lurking in the midsts; The End card contains a gleeful limerick taking credit for the murders.
There’s not really much mystery to the game — this is one of the things I would have improved if I were to do it over — but it’s a fun way to bring a party together for laughs and jokes without trying to wrangle a group of middle-aged partygoers who will become increasingly tipsy as the night wears on.
The Cards
One of the things I wanted to accomplish in designing this game was providing my partner with an actual, physical thing she and our guests would be able to hold in their hands, so I chose to design a deck of cards to go with the game. I also chose to design far more of each type of card than we could ever need for a single party, which will allow us to play it again in the future if we decide to.
As far as the card design goes, I settled on a standard playing card size. I picked up a few William Morris design patterns to use as cardbacks, with each type of card receiving a different cardback pattern. I picked up a few spooky Victorian(ish) stock icon sheets to use for the icons. I purchased these patterns and icons through Etsy, but you could pick these kinds of things up anywhere stock templates or sold, or make your own. I had the cards printed through an online printer, for what I thought was a pretty reasonable price, though their templates left a little to be desired, in terms of figuring out how they worked.
I’m really happy with how these cards turned out — here are a few examples of my favorites with their corresponding cardbacks:
Playing the Game
To play the game, I selected my favorite Guest cards from the stack (they’re not all winners) corresponding to each of the guests we expected, and made a note of what icons/symbols were included in this selection. Guests selected a card when they arrived at the party, and were instructed to read the card, but not share what it said.
As the Herald, I selected a few Herald cards for myself to read at intervals throughout the evening.
The Murderer received her The End card at the end, and this is one of the things I would have changed — I should have given her a card at the beginning of the game and asked her to wait until called to heighten the mystery feel a little bit.
I picked up a Victorian(ish) tea service bell to ring when it was time for Guests to read out their fates, which now lives in my partner’s curio cabinet, though you could really use anything here — a whistle, a handclap, a shout, whatever you need to get everyone’s attention.
The timing got looser as the evening went on, but every 10-20 minutes, I’d ring the bell, call out a Guest card, and ask them to share their sorry fate. Periodically, I’d read a Herald card warning all of the Guests that they were in terrible danger from the Murderer skulking around. Finally, after all Guest cards were read, I prompted the Murderer to read her The End card, taking credit for the dastardly deeds of the evening.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the game was a lot of fun and a good time was had by all (some more than others). At some point in the future, I might take a pass at rewriting some of the limericks — some are duplicative, some don’t make as much sense as I thought on the first pass, some are duds. Additionally, I’d add a little more expository instruction to give to guests; we just sort of jumped right in. And, like I mentioned before, I would’ve given the murderer her card at the beginning with everyone else. I haven’t bothered with a name, which seemed unnecessary — for the sake of calling it something, I’ve opted here for Of Limericks and Laments, but, ultimately, for something private and low stakes, I didn’t think it needed A Brand™.
This was a fun project that brought everyone together, and I’m glad I decided to do it, and, while the effort to design and produce it wasn’t trivial, it wasn’t quite as difficult in the end as I feared it might be in the beginning.
Because the icons and patterns I purchased aren’t intended for commercial use, I’m hesitant to share the files as templates, but I’ve included the full set of limericks below, which you may do whatever you want with. If you decide to take a stab at creating your own version of this, tag me on Bluesky — I’d love to see what other people do with it.
Of Limericks and Laments — Full Limerick List
GUEST CARDS (29)
GUEST CARD #01 — BIRDCAGE
They pushed me right off of the ledge
My skull met a sharpened tool’s edge
It punched through my brain,
Left nothing but pain,
Now I’m dead at the garden’s far edge!
GUEST CARD #02 — FLOWER GIRL
They finally came looking for me
They found me, sat under the tree
Looked up in the sun,
At the end of a gun,
And that was the last I could see!
GUEST CARD #03 — THE BRIDE
They slipped something vile in my drink
I swallowed and heard the ice clink
My throat closed up tight,
I gasped through the night,
Now I’m gone in what feels like a blink!
GUEST CARD #04 — THE CHURCH
They offered me one glass of wine
I thought that the vintage looked fine
The bubbles rose fast,
That sip was my last,
Now I’m dead on the floor by design!
GUEST CARD #05 — THE LIGHT
I was handed some grapes from a vine
I ate them and thought them quite fine
Then something felt wrong,
It didn’t take long,
And suddenly I’m all out of time!
GUEST CARD #06 — THE HOUSE
I was given some berries so red
I popped them all into my head
My vision went dark,
I heard angels a’hark,
Now I’m joining the rest of the dead!
GUEST CARD #07 — THE CROSS
I gazed at dessert with a smile
The cake looked so sweet all the while
One bite sealed my fate,
‘Cause now it’s too late
And I’m cold in a permanent style!
GUEST CARD #08 — THE HAPPY COUPLE
The streamers were up on the wall
They twisted and started to fall
They wrapped ’round my neck,
And before I could check,
I was lifeless and cold in the hall!
GUEST CARD #09 — THE SHELL
Away from the party, awry
I saw geese take flight, and then fly
Then I went through the window,
My limbs all akimbo,
To the ground where I shortly did die!
GUEST CARD #10 — WINGS OF DESIRE
Out onto veranda for air
I walked; it seemed lovely out there
But then came a push, and
I fell through a bush,
And I’m dead at the foot of the stairs
GUEST CARD #11 — THE LAMB
I touched the door handle with care
A shock traveled up through the air
My heart beat no more, and
I fell to the floor,
Now I’m cold as an arctic Pol’Bear!
GUEST CARD #12 — THE STAG
I reached for the switch on the wall
The switch sparked throughout through the whole hall
The voltage ran through me,
And then all who knew me,
Must view me now draped by a pall!
GUEST CARD #13 — THE COCK
The candles, they all burned so bright
Their fragrances filled up the night
But my breathing grew hard,
Then, I fell in the yard,
Now I’m gone from the world and the light
GUEST CARD #14 — THE WORLD
Incense, it hung sweet in the air
The smoke and the scent in my hair
Then I suddenly choked,
And my lungs said, “Well, nope”,
And I’m dead with a permanent stare!
GUEST CARD #15 — THE EAGLE
The disco ball spun overhead
It cast light everywhere that I tread
Then it suddenly fell,
And that glass, mirrored shell,
Drove daggers right into my head!
GUEST CARD #16 — THE SICKLE
The laser lights looked so divine
This party, so fancy, so fine
But then I was blinded,
And quickly reminded,
That lasers can shoot through your eyes!
GUEST CARD #17 — THE CHISEL
The music was loud as can be
Stood right next to speakers, you see
Then there was a flash,
And it seemed, just, so rash,
I was dead from excessive dB
GUEST CARD #18 — TORMENTED SNAKE
I felt someone’s hand on my back
They pushed me, right into the stack
The speakers fell on me,
So much weight – right upon me,
I’m dead and my tuning is flat
GUEST CARD #19 — HERALDED HEDGEHOG
The lamp on the table burned low
It’s flame set the shadows aglow
But then it tipped over,
My luck has turned over, now
I’m burned and there’s nowhere to go!
GUEST CARD #20 — THIRD TIME’S A CHARM
I gazed in the crystal, so clear
Seeing into the future heald near
But in the reflection,
I saw malediction,
Now death is the only thing here!
GUEST CARD #21 — AN ARC
The beads ’round my neck caught my eye
I reached out to touch them and cry
But then they pulled so tight,
In the mirror – such a fright!
Now strangled is how I will die!
GUEST CARD #22 — THE KING’S HORNS
A bow crossed the strings with great care
The music rose up in the air
But then came a string,
It snapped, with a Zing!,
And sliced through my neck then and there!
GUEST CARD #23 — THE PAIR
The statue stood bright and so tall
I admired it, there in the hall
But then it fell down, without
Even a sound, and
I’ve now become one with the wall!
GUEST CARD #24 — THE WOLF
A mouse walked right in through the door
It sat right down onto the floor
I reached out my hand,
But I couldn’t withstand,
The plague it had picked up before!
GUEST CARD #25 — TIME FLIES
The new moon was dark in the sky
No light for my wandering eye
I stumbled and fell,
Got pushed down a well,
And drowning is how I now die!
GUEST CARD #26 — THE EARLIEST BIRD
My friend took me up to the roof
They swore this place would be the proof
Of a lovely view,
But I suddenly knew,
I wouldn’t survive this whole spoof!
GUEST CARD #27 — FAWN OF THE MOON
They lured me to where the bells rang
Ship anchors, they crash and they clang
They told me to stand there,
I heard such a rushed air,
And anchored I soon just became!
GUEST CARD #28 — TWO WORLDS
They offered a spyglass to me
They said, “This will help you to see!”
Up to eye I brought it, and
Before I could’ve caught it,
I was stabbed, robbed and killed, all in three
GUEST CARD #29 — THE SCROLL
A blowfish sat perched on the shelf
I thought “I should see for myself!”
They dared me to touch spines,
I should have just declined,
Now poisoned spines ended my health!
—
HERALD CARDS (11)
HERALD CARD #01
The killer surveyed all the room
They plotted each person’s sure doom
With patience, and care,
They struck here and there,
Like death was a dance they could groom
HERALD CARD #02
The murderer smiled at the scene
Their methods, so perfect, so clean
Each victim fell fast,
And up ’till the last,
The cleverest murderer I’ve seen
HERALD CARD #03
The guests never saw the disguise
The murderer hid in plain sight!
They mingled and talked,
And unknowingly stalked,
All their peers and the near-socialites!
HERALD CARD #04
The party kept on through the night
The killer had played it just right
With e’ry close step,
They’d plotted and prepped,
Now bodies lay cold in the light
HERALD CARD #05
The killings kept on through the night
Each death was so perfectly right
The killer moved close,
Like a sinister ghost,
And nobody put up a fight!
HERALD CARD #06
The murderer laughed at our games
Each victim knew not who to blame
They trusted too much,
Were seduced by a touch,
And still cannot produce a name!
HERALD CARD #07
Through shadows the killer did creep
While others were lulled into sleep
They laughed at their jokes,
Had drinks and had smokes,
Yet all found themselves down in the deep
HERALD CARD #08
Like dominoes they all fell down
The killer wore death like a crown
And with quite some grace,
They picked up the pace,
We all know they’re coming around!
HERALD CARD #09
No mercy was shown, in the end
This killer, they were never your friend
They smiled and they schemed,
While all of you dreamed,
They’ve broken more than you can mend
HERALD CARD #10
The killer’s work might soon be done
Each death brought them oodles of fun
They’ve collected your souls, and
Pushed you down the holes
Look out! They have just about won!
HERALD CARD #11
If you let them play right to the crowd
They’ll stand and bow, perfectly proud
Their masterpiece laid,
You all will have paid,
What Death has now sown and now ploughed
—
THE END CARDS (10)
THE END CARD #01
You searched for the killer all night
You gathered your clues, left and right!
But here’s the surprise,
Before all your eyes,
I planned for you all to sleep tight!
THE END CARD #02
For many, this causes dismay
After all, you’re now off to decay
But I hope you all know,
While you’re eaten by crown,
I have had such a happy birth day!
THE END CARD #03
This party was perfect, you see
Each death was arranged, just by me!
You trusted my smile, and
Were fooled all the while,
And now I am filled with such glee!
THE END CARD #04
You never suspected my hand
Each murder was perfectly planned
I moved through the crowd,
So clever and proud,
Now bow down to I, who command!
THE END CARD #05
Your shock is delicious to me
The truth that you all failed to see
Is that I orchestrated,
While all of you waited,
For someone to stop my foul spree!
THE END CARD #06
The drinks and the meals and the cake
Were all just a means to partake
In murder most fine,
All of you were mine,
Now witness the havoc I’ve raked!
THE END CARD #07
The evidence pointed to me
But none of you wanted to see
Your friend and your host,
The one you love most,
Was Death in my best finery
THE END CARD #08
I savored your screams and your gasps
Your lives were all tight in my grasp
You came to my party,
So foolish and hearty,
I put you in Death’s clammy clasp!
THE END CARD #09
The game is now over and done
My masterpiece planned, pinned and spun
You’ve all been my victims,
I say “Yes, I’ve tricked ’em”
This game’s at the end of it’s run!
THE END CARD #10
You wanted a monster to blame
But I was just playing a game
With poisoned delight,
I claimed up your life,
Now murder’s my path to new fame!
GOLIKEHELLMACHINE 