It was a lot of fun, and we played about 5 games in total over a few weeks. I received some attention from local media and one national story.
Below you’ll fund the rules. I am presenting these on a Creative Commons license. Please take the rules and change them as you like to suit your needs, non-commercially, as long as you credit this site. If you wish to use this game or a similar game as a marketing promotion or to advertise a commercial company or event, please contact me and I would be happy to help you organize it.
Rules
In brief: One guy named Mr. X runs around Toronto’s transit system in a bright yellow shirt, while three or more guys in red shirts try to find him using the clues he gives at every third stop he makes. The three detectives are coordinated by dispatchers who tell the detectives where they think Mr. X might be and how best to block him off. Mr. X’s dispatcher is relaying information about the detectives whereabouts and tries to keep him away from them. The game ends when a turn limit has been reached or X is caught.
You need:
- A Cell phone
- A Monthly or Day Pass for the TTC
Here are the rules: Scotland Yard is played by 6 or more people, half of the players are in the field, and the other half are dispatchers. Teams are paired up, one dispatcher with a field agent. Each pair is in contact with each other using a cell phone. One agent in the field is chosen to be “Mr. X” while the rest are detectives.
The object: As Mr. X, you must avoid capture for a determined amount of turns (5 or 6). As a detective, you have to capture Mr. X (optionally cuff, rough-up, interrogate and incarcerate) through team play and coordinated efforts before time runs out. Dispatchers are the people who will strategize and coordinate the detectives efforts in the field.
To start the game: BANK ROBBERY! Mr. X is placed at a stop of his choosing and must phone into head quarters when he arrives to tell his dispatcher what stop he is at, and the three methods of transportation he will be using on his next three moves (subway, streetcar, bus). The detectives are then allowed to start the game and are sent out from head quarters to find him. To stand out from the crowd, Mr. X must wear his yellow “X” shirt. Detectives must wear the red “D”.
How to move: Both Mr. X and the detectives will utilize Toronto’s public transit system during the game. Mr. X is limited to the transportation provided on the map, however the detectives may freely move about the playing field in any way they see fit.
There are two turn phases, Declare and Reveal. When Mr. X travels from one stop to an adjacent stop this is called a move. Three moves consists of a turn. At the beginning of every turn Mr. X must phone into HQ to declare what three methods of transportation (subway, streetcar, bus) he will be using on his next turn and in what order. At the beginning of every second turn (6 moves) Mr. X must reveal his location as he steps out of the train, streetcar or bus. Mr. X’s dispatcher must tell the detective’s dispatchers this information, who then tell the detectives. The detectives’ locations known by Mr. X at all times.
Mr. X is given 1 black ticket with which he may make alternate move in secret. This will be used at any time that allows him to replace a scheduled move, and does not need to be declared at the beginning of his turn. Mr. X must be say that he used the black ticket in his last turn, before the beginning of his next turn. If the alternate move interrupts his declared route and he ends in a station he can’t continue from with his planned transport, his turn ends prematurely.
When travelling by subway Mr. X must skip one subway stop for it to be considered a move. This gives the advantage of allowing Mr. X to travel greater distances in less moves, and skip by detectives, e.g.. Mr. X may travel from 47 to 35 by subway in one move but may not go from 44 to 37 in one move). All other transportation moves as expected.
The Details Mr. X may not leave the platform, station, or TTC boundary by any other means than the transportation declared. Mr. X may not deviate from his declared plan except with a black ticket.
When outdoors, the boundary is set by the stops themselves. An imaginary line is drawn around the corner stops, or subway entrances on each intersection. Failing this, a boundary the size of a soccer field would be appropriate.
Mr. X must stay in this area in open view, but if discovered, may run, jump, deke out, hide or whatever is necessary, in order to avoid his captors.
If Mr. X gets on his declared transport before being tagged, the detective may not follow him, and can either follow on foot or wait for the next one.
If there is no declared transport and Mr. X is between turns or Mr. X spots the detective first, Mr X, at HIS discretion, can hold a “SHOOT OUT” by flashing the orange SHOOT OUT card before he’s tagged.
The SHOOT OUT is simply a game of rock, paper, scissors. If Mr. X loses, the game is over. If the detective loses, he is sent back to HQ, and may not use his cellphone again till he gets there. He’s dead, but is allowed back in the game when he reaches HQ.
Once Mr. X is tagged or the turn limit expires the game is over. BE CAREFUL OF TRAFFIC AND SUBWAY TRAINS!
