Cluedo Conspiracy

We had planned an 8-player session one evening to play Cluedo Conspiracy which was deliberately bought for when our large group could all make a game night – excited we were.

We were sent a link and told to watch a “how to play” video so we could get stuck in when we gathered. So, guess how many had watched it. Yep, just me, and because of work I had only managed to watch it half an hour before we met up. Discussions ensued and one player was given the rule book to read out to us as we set up.

Setting up

The gaming table this time is about 6’x2′ and Cluedo Conspiracy took surprisingly little of the space – it’s the players that needed the elbow room – and of course space for the snacks.

We set up as 3 on each side and 1 at each end – I was at one end of the table so for ease of telling the story, I’ll be player 1, so player 2 was to my left and player 5 was opposite me. Player 3 read out the rules, and it didn’t take more than a few minutes to extract the cards and pieces etc and set them up. The “safe” location was the Infinity Pool. We next each got a secret role, sneaked a look, and put them in our envelope.

Then we closed our eyes and made some noise, and the conspirators opened their eyes. Now, as I wasn’t a conspirator I can only guess what they did, I imagine that eyebrows were waggled and mischievous grins abounded, then we all opened our eyes, looked suspiciously around and consulted the rules.

Player 6 was the last off an aircraft (there was a tie for who was last on a plane, they went with player 4) so player 6 took the scout card and we started.

Choosing a location – player 5 chose the starting location recommended in the rules, which we all agreed seemed sensible, except now that I’ve had a chance to think about it afterwards, I think it was the right choice for that player; however, not the right choice every game – see my thoughts later. We didn’t discuss what cards we had to disarm the trap when choosing the location, we just went there.

Choosing a team – player 6 immediately chose player 4 to be the bodyguard, and then selected me and player 3 to join them. Then we voted – which was a unanimous yes – and so off we went – 4 of us to the Infinity Pool and the rest to raid the supply base (and snacks). As Mr Coral hadn’t taken any damage, the plot couldn’t be activated (especially as we also knew it couldn’t happen there!) so we went straight to trying to disarm the trap.

The four of us chose a card each to play – I forget what the trap was, but we needed 8 to beat it. We scored 4, then we realised that we could play more than 1 card each, so we re-played the round. We scored 6, with all cards helping to beat the trap so it was not obvious that there was a conspirator there amongst us.

So, Mr Coral was injured at the “safe” location – we moved the heart along a space and the bodyguard told us that they had found a weapon at the location (again I forget what it was) and put the token in front of them. The scout dished out the supply cards, giving 2 to the bodyguard, 1 to themselves and player 3 and none to me. I noticed that player 6 decided to give 2 cards to player 4 very quickly…

The scout moved to player 5, and a discussion ensued on where to go. Player 6 suggested the location which had the Trip Wire trap that needed a score of 10 but had both suits on it and gave a long argument as to why we should go there – the conspirators couldn’t negatively affect our scores, we are bound to win if we all go etc… I noticed that they changed their mind after player 4 had interjected…

We chose a different location, and the scout selected player 2 as bodyguard, with players 4, 5, 6 and 8. I voted against going, but was the only one to disagree so off they went, and I played in the supply base with player 3. The plot did not happen, so cards were played, and the trap was disarmed, and Player 2 took the clues and said the Botanical Spa was safe. Player 2 had used all their cards to disarm the trap and said that they had no idea what was going on. I took that to mean that they were a friend, and as player 3 agreed, I trusted them as friends as they both agreed it was confusing. Player 5 is always hard to read, so I had no idea where they stood, I was convinced that players 4 and 6 were conspirators, and I suspected player 7 was too. I wasn’t thinking about player 8 for some reason, probably because they were quiet.

So, Cluedo Conspiracy progressed, with each scout choosing a team. I became convinced that players 4 and 6 were up to no good, and again I voted against the team if they were in it – and I was the only naysayer every time. In fact, I was the only one to vote against anything. Traps were disarmed and clues revealed, and then I was the scout. I chose player 3 as bodyguard and players 2, 5 and 8 to join us. We chose a location and player 2 played their instant disarm card – nice. I was 100% certain they were a friend now.

Play continued and only once was a card played that was the wrong suit – we had a conspirator amongst the team, lol. We never again caused a trap to go off though, and never disagreed about a location so the storm never happened.

After about an hour and a quarter, we played the last round and beat the last trap – we had saved Mr Coral. He only took damage from that first location.

So, we friends managed to save Mr Coral, and it was revealed that player 6 was the ringleader, supported by player 4 and … player 8! I had no clue (pun intended) that they were not a friend.

I was asked at the end by player 4 why I thought they were a conspirator. They had not played any cards that obviously lowered the score, never voted against anything and always contributed towards the goal of saving Mr Coral. I couldn’t answer the question – I had no conscious idea why I concluded they were not friendly. I have thought about it since, and 2 things have risen from the fog of remembrance – alluded to above:

1. Player 6 chose player 4 straight away to accompany them as the bodyguard on the first turn, no hesitation. I think that I realised that they knew they were on the same side and as only the conspirators know who they are I picked up on that. I think a friend would have been slower choosing a team.

2. Player 6 really wanted to go to the location that needed 10 to beat the trap and argued for it, until player 4 disagreed, and suddenly player 6 changed their mind.

Final thoughts

Was Cluedo Conspiracy fun? Yes, and I’m not a fan of these type of games where you must work out who is secretly working against you. I’m rubbish at reading people and can’t hide my own feelings. I think the length of the game was just right; however, we should have used a smaller table.

When we were making noise, I think we should have just hummed or put on some suitable music rather than banging the table. I think I had already subconsciously decided that player 2 was a friend because of the banging coming to my left.

I think that if you are a conspirator and are the scout on the first turn, be a bit hesitant when choosing your accomplices – you know who the friends are, I’d choose one or two of them before I then chose a conspirator.

I also think it was fortunate for the conspirators on the first turn, because we unintentionally eliminated the only place where Mr Coral can’t be murdered, leaving the real murder location for later. As a friend, if I was the scout on the first turn, I’d not go to the safe place because Mr Coral is uninjured so the plot cannot be triggered on turn 1. I’d choose a different place because you have a 1 in 8 chance of choosing the only location where he can be murdered and so remove 1 way of the conspirators winning – yeah, like that will happen! Even if you aren’t lucky, if you go to the only place where he can’t be murdered on turn 1, then every other location is potentially the last place you want to go. I’d leave the safe location for later in the game.

As a conspirator, I’d vote to try to cause the storm, especially if that meant voting with a “friend”, and especially as I know the real location where the murder can happen. I also think that once the murder location is no longer available – maybe Mr Coral wasn’t injured when you went there, or the bodyguard wasn’t the ringleader – as a conspirator I’d just try to make sure Mr Coral was injured every time I was in the team and hope to win the final accusation vote. If other players thought I was a conspirator, then I’d be happy to play opposite suits – they wouldn’t listen to me anyway so have some fun.

I think it would have been more fun if we all had an idea of what to do before we started, so if you’ve not played Cluedo Conspiracy, I recommend that you watch the video. I knew what the basics were, and along with player 3, we were able to guide the group. It was only at the end of Cluedo Conspiracy that it dawned on the others that I had watched the video which surprised me – they know I like to know the games rules.

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