Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Make a Playing Board
Line off a 30-inch by 30-inch piece of cardboard with pencil and ruler in a grid with squares big enough to accommodate your playing pieces. The squares will be ideally be between 1/2" and 3/4" square. The board will be easier to construct if you refer to one of the traditional game boards.
Box in nine locations around the board in place of the classic game's "rooms." For example, you could create nine cities in the Holy Land, such as Jerusalem, Nazareth, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Cana, Bethlehem, Nain, Bethany and Emmaus.
Mark at least one entrance/exit square for each location, and give a couple of rooms more than one. Don't forget to include at least one "secret passage" between two or more of the locations, preferably on opposite corners of the gameboard. See original board for ideas, too.
Mark six squares around the edge of the board as starting points for your playing pieces that represent the six suspects.
Make Clue Cards
Make six suspect cards with an identical stamp or sticker on the back of each and the color of one of the playing pieces on the front of each card. Use character names from a particular Bible story or time period, or just make up fictitious names that fit characters that the Bible does not specifically name. For the cities suggested in Section 1, Step 2, you may want to use characters such as Peter, one of the 12 apostles; Mrs. Bride from the wedding at Cana; Mr. Traveler, the Good Samaritan; Joseph, the carpenter; Ms. Waters, the woman at the well; and Mr. Simon, a palace guard.
Create 6 weapon cards. Again, use an identical sticker or stamp on one side and a picture of a weapon on the other. If you can find tiny replica pieces that match your pictures, your game will seem even more authentic.
Add the locations you have on your game board to six location clue cards. Use your final set of stickers or stamps on the back of these cards.
Make Detective Notebook Pages
List each possible room, suspect, and weapon along one side of a piece of paper.
Put a grid to the side of your list where players can keep track of which elements they have eliminated from their list. Several columns will allow multiple games to be played using the same page. Players can simply check off their eliminations or put an initial in the spot representing the person from whom they received the clue.
Make enough copies for each player.
Play the Game
Use the traditional rules of the game with your newly made elements. The envelope will hold the identities of the murderer, room and weapon, while the die and miniature are used in the gameplay.
If you want even more variation, you can add to or change some of the traditional rules.
Set up the game and enjoy!