During a hellish thunderstorm, a scream echoes through the sleepy town of Ravenswood Bluff. The townsfolk rush to investigate and find the beloved local storyteller has been murdered, their body hanging limp from the clocktower. As blood drips onto the cobblestones below, a realisation slowly dawns… a demon has been unleashed, killing by night and taking on human form by day.
Can good find the demon in time? Or will evil overrun this once peaceful town?
Blood on the Clocktower is a game of murder and mystery, lies and logic, deduction and deception for five-to-twenty courageous players and one devious storyteller.
A social game played in person, seated in a circle, each player receives either a ‘good’ or ‘evil’ token with their unique character on it. Good players share information to solve the mystery whilst evil players lie about who they are and what they know. The good team wins if they can piece together their knowledge, trust each other, and execute the demon. The evil team wins if the demon can sow distrust, evade detection, and wipe out the village.
(Note: The contents of this page up to this point taken from The Pandemonium Institute website, http://bloodontheclocktower.com).
The short answer is, anyone can! And the best part is, you can even play when you’re dead. (Well, “dead” within the action of the game.)
What sets Blood on the Clocktower apart from other games is its inclusiveness and accessibility. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, a puzzle-solver or a reader of social cues, you have a part to play. Afraid it will be too overwhelming and want an “easy” role your first game? Don’t feel comfortable lying to the person you came with? Have a visual impairment or mobility issue? Can’t be there on time, or need to leave early? Just let the Storyteller know your situation and we will work with you to make it a fun and inclusive experience for everyone.
At the beginning of the game you will receive a red or blue token with your role. If your token is blue you are on the “good” team, if red, you are on the “evil” team. Each role is important in its own way. If you are good, you will be either Townsfolk (who have abilities that help solve the game or protect the town) or an Outsider (their abilities tend to interfere with the abilities of Townsfolk, even though they are on the good team, making it just a little more of a fun challenge). If you are evil, you will either be a Demon or a Minion. Minions sow chaos by creating misinformation for town or causing unexpected deaths. Demons (usually) get to kill players throughout the game. The good team wins if they execute the demon. The evil team wins if there are only two players left (and one is the demon).
The game alternates between night and day phases. At night some players are woken up to use their ability or to gain information. (This is based on your role, not the arbitrary judgment of the Storyteller.) During the day, players may talk with each other, either publicly or in private conversations. Nearly everyone has an incentive to lie, to some extent, so don’t believe everything you hear!
After a few minutes of “day,” the Storyteller will call everyone back to Town Square where you can openly discuss what you’ve learned and nominate players for execution. The accuser gives a reason for executing, the nominated player has an opportunity to defend themselves. Then the town votes. If you are executed, don’t feel bad, though. A lot of good can come from it, and you’re still an active part of the game. In fact, most games are decided by the actions and votes of the dead players.
If you ever have a question about your role, or the role you are bluffing, or just want some general strategy advice, be sure to talk to your Storyteller! New players may be afraid it looks suspicious, but it really does not. Many of the most experienced players will have several conversations with the Storyteller each game.