Tell Me Something

Rapid Game Design Challenge 02

Daniel Gallagher

Sommer Shearer

Will Guy

Michael Hovell

Scott Davis

Nick Van Dessel

A group of 4 players decide among themselves a lone player and a group of three players. The lone player is the Guesser.  The three players are known as the Group. At this time, the Guesser will face away from the other players in the area until they tell him/her they are ready. The 3 players have two tokens with them. The Blue token represents truth, the Purple token, lies. Among the three, players will decide who will gain each token, and a player that will be left empty handed. This player will be known as The One.  The player with the blue token when speaking must speak truths. The Truth player can never say “I don’t know” in the game. The player with the purple token must speak lies. The One has the choice to lie or tell the truth. Once these roles are set, the three players can also choose to give out the role of Wildcard if they want to amongst themselves. This will affect the first phase which starts after these tokens/roles have been given to each player.  

The Group members should take mental note of what tokens/roles the others in the Group posses. The Group places their tokens in their cupped hands in front of them, the opening to see the token(s) only viewable to themselves.  The One should do the same to remain discrete. The Group then calls the Guesser over by way of bird call to start the First phase: The Clue phase. The Guesser listens to a clue from each player in the Group in the order he/she chooses. The players in Group are given 30 seconds each to give their clue.

If there is NO Wild Card in the Clue phase:

Each player in the Group will tell a clue about the Group in some way.

If the player has a blue token, they must tell truth about the group or some of its players.

If the player has the purple token, they are giving a lie about the group or some of its players.

The One can choose to lie or tell the truth in this same context.

If there IS a Wild Card;

Your clue will change if you are the Wildcard for the phase.

If you are Blue (Truth) and the Wildcard: You speak a random truth that does not pertain to the Group.

If you are a Purple (Lie) and the Wildcard: You speak a random lie that does not pertain to the Group.

If you are the One and the Wildcard: This is the most open ended combination, the one with Wildcard privileges can say nearly anything.The other two players who do not have the Wildcard role will play their part normally.

After the Clue phase, the Questions phase begins. The Guesser is allowed to ask one question to each member of the Group. The Guesser is given 30 seconds to ask each question, which the Group member must answer in line with their role. The Wildcard does not affect this phase. From the Clues and the answers to Questions, the Guesser must deduce who is the One among the Group. They can also guess the other roles if they so choose. The Group presents their tokens (or lack thereof) after the guess. The Group wins if the Guesser is incorrect. The Guesser wins if they deduce who is the One correctly. This ends a round of Tell Me Something. Now players can rotate positions in the game to play multiple times as a role in the Group or as the Guesser.

Repeated Clues and Questions in later rounds are not allowed.  

Photo:

Video for prototype of the game here.

Revised Playtest Video- PLACEHOLDER