The Perfect Alibi

Almanac · Schnauzer · 13 characters

Notes

This is a script where the evil team learn each other and get bluffs through unconventional means. In a Boffin game, the demon starts with a bluff, and the Boffin can keep an eye out for the player that appears to be claiming it. In a Widow game, the minion starts with all the bluffs, and will need to approach the demon themselves. Meanwhile, almost all of the townsfolk abilities help the demon match with their minion or otherwise blend in: either by giving the demon a visible effect (Virgin) or providing information that helps narrow it down. I would rule that an Imp star-passing to a Boffin gets to use the Ravenkeeper ability (even if technically the Boffin immediately leaves play). An added wrinkle... in a Snake Charmer game, a living Boffin should learn when the demon changes. The Snake Charmer should be given a new out of play character, both to signal to the Boffin that a change has taken place and to give them a rock solid alibi - they are about to need it! I've replaced the Barber with a Hatter. Barber was fun, and you could use it for all sorts of weird shenanigans like sobering up Snake Charmers or swapping a dead Boffin back onto a good player, but the jank was off the charts and it only really worked if you were really confident you knew who was on your evil team. Hatter works more as intended, as there are good reasons that any of the four evil characters might want to change mid-game. Chaos Hatter or regular Hatter, either is fine. Likewise, the Sweetheart is now a Plague Doctor. I intended for the Sweetheart to be a fun Boffin ability for a star-passing Imp, but actually... the Boffin immediately leaves play, so the drunkening goes away. Rats! The Plague Doctor does what the Sweetheart couldn't: a star-passing Imp can give the storyteller the Widow ability on death! Bonus effect: the new Widow ping might make it look like the Snake Charmer has hit the demon! And the potential for a second Boffin ability is fun, too.

Townsfolk

Chef

You start knowing how many pairs of evil players there are.

This evening's reservations seem odd. Never before has Mrs. Mayweather kept company with that scamp from Hudson Lane. Yet, tonight, they have a table for two. Strange.

"You start knowing how many pairs of evil players there are." The Chef knows if evil players are sitting next to each other. On the first night, the Chef learns exactly how many pairs of evil players there are in total. A pair is two players, but one player may be a part of two pairs. So, two players sitting next to each other is one pair. Three players sitting next to each other is two pairs. Four players sitting next to each other is three pairs. And so on. The Chef detects evil Travellers just like other character types, but only if those Travellers joined the game before the Chef acts.

How to Run

During the first night, wake the Chef. Show the Chef fingers (0, 1, 2, etc.) equaling the number of pairs of neighboring evil players. Put the Chef to sleep.

Townsfolk

Snake Charmer

Each night, choose an alive player: a chosen Demon swaps characters & alignments with you & is then poisoned.

Effendi... I am but a humble man, but my pipe is golden and a single tune will tame the wildest djinn, Inshallah. They say that greed hangs more men than rope. But not I, Effendi... not I.

"Each night, choose an alive player: a chosen Demon swaps characters & alignments with you & is then poisoned." The Snake Charmer learns player after player that is not the Demon... but becomes the Demon if they get either too greedy or too bold. Each night, they choose a player. If that player is not the Demon, nothing happens. If they are the Demon, the Snake Charmer becomes that Demon and turns evil, and the Demon becomes good and poisoned permanently. If the Philosopher has the Snake Charmer ability and becomes the Demon, the Demon becomes a poisoned Philosopher.

How to Run

Each night, wake the Snake Charmer. They point at any player.
If that player is not the Demon, nothing happens. Put the Snake Charmer to sleep.
If that player is the Demon, the old Snake Charmer changes into the new (evil) Demon, and the old Demon changes into the new (good) Snake Charmer—swap the Snake Charmer token and the Demon’s token. The new Snake Charmer is poisoned - mark them with the POISONED reminder. Wake the new Demon and show them the YOU ARE info token, a thumbs-down, the YOU ARE token, then the Demon’s token. (This shows they are now evil and the Demon.) Put the new Demon to sleep. Wake the new Snake Charmer and show them the YOU ARE info token, a thumbs-up, the YOU ARE info token, then the Snake Charmer token. (This shows they are now good and the Snake Charmer.) Put the new Snake Charmer to sleep.

Examples & Notes

In the strange situation that the Snake Charmer is evil, or the Demon good, swap their alignments as appropriate.

Townsfolk

Dreamer

Each night, choose a player (not yourself or Travellers): you learn 1 good & 1 evil character, 1 of which is correct.

I remember the Clockmaker. The sky was red and it was raining fractal triangles. There was a smell of violets and a bubbling sound. A woman with glowing eyes and a scraggly beard was hissing at the sky. Then, I awoke.

"Each night, choose a player (not yourself or Travellers): you learn 1 good & 1 evil character, 1 of which is correct." The Dreamer learns players' characters, but is not sure if their information is entirely correct. Each night, the Dreamer chooses a player and learns two characters—one that the player is, and one that the player isn’t. The false character token depends on the chosen player’s true character type. If the Dreamer chooses a player who is a Townsfolk or Outsider, the false character token is any Minion or Demon. If they choose a player who is a Minion or Demon, the false character token is a Townsfolk or Outsider. The Dreamer may not choose themself, and may not choose a Traveller.

How to Run

Each night, wake the Dreamer. They point at any player. If the chosen player’s character is a Townsfolk or Outsider, show their character token and any Minion or Demon token to the Dreamer. If the chosen player’s character is a Minion or Demon, show their character token and any Townsfolk or Outsider token to the Dreamer. Then, put the Dreamer to sleep.

Examples & Notes

If the Dreamer chooses an evil player, you can help the evil team if you show the Dreamer the good character that this evil player is bluffing as, or if you show a more secretive character such as the Snake Charmer, Sage, Mutant, or Klutz.

Townsfolk

Cannibal

You have the ability of the recently killed executee. If they are evil, you are poisoned until a good player dies by execution.

I don’t like clowns. They taste funny.

"You have the ability of the recently killed executee. If they are evil, you are poisoned until a good player dies by execution." The Cannibal eats executed characters, gaining their ability. If a good player dies by execution, the Cannibal gains that player’s ability. If an evil player dies by execution, the Cannibal only thinks that they gain an ability, since the Cannibal is poisoned. The Storyteller may be lying to them. Each time a player dies by execution, the Cannibal loses the ability of the previous player. Executing a dead player won’t grant the Cannibal an ability. Executing a living player who doesn’t die won’t grant the Cannibal an ability. A player must be executed and die for the Cannibal to gain their ability. The Cannibal is not told which ability they have gained. They must figure that out for themselves. If the Cannibal has an “even if dead” ability, such as the Recluse, or an ability that implies it works while dead, such as the Ravenkeeper or Sweetheart, the Cannibal keeps that ability when they die, but loses their Cannibal ability.

How to Run

If a good player dies by execution, mark them with the LUNCH reminder, and remove the Cannibal’s POISONED reminder if necessary. The Cannibal now has this good player’s ability (do not say which), and will wake at night when this good character would normally wake.
If an evil player dies by execution, mark them with the LUNCH reminder and mark the Cannibal with the POISONED reminder. The Cannibal is poisoned. You may wake them when this evil character would normally wake, and pretend that they have a new ability.

Examples & Notes

Pay attention to which character each evil player is bluffing as. If they are executed, then their bluffed ability is the best one to pretend that the Cannibal has gained.

Townsfolk

Ravenkeeper

If you die at night, you are woken to choose a player: you learn their character.

My birds will avenge me! Fly! Fly, my sweet and dutiful pets! To the manor and to the river! To the alleys and to the salons! Fly!

"If you die at night, you are woken to choose a player: you learn their character." If the Ravenkeeper dies at night, they get to learn one player's character. The Ravenkeeper is woken on the night that they die, and chooses a player immediately. The Ravenkeeper may choose a dead player if they wish.

How to Run

If the Ravenkeeper died tonight, wake them. They point at any player. Show the chosen player's character token to the Ravenkeeper. Put the Ravenkeeper to sleep.
We advise you to discourage or even ban players from talking about what they are doing at night as they are doing it.

Townsfolk

Virgin

The 1st time you are nominated, if the nominator is a Townsfolk, they are executed immediately.

I am pure. Let those who are without sin cast themselves down and suffer in my stead. My reputation shall not be stained with your venomous accusations.

"The 1st time you are nominated, if the nominator is a Townsfolk, they are executed immediately." The Virgin may inadvertently execute their accuser, confirming which players are Townsfolk in the process. If a Townsfolk nominates the Virgin, then that Townsfolk is executed immediately. Because there can only be one execution per day, the nomination process immediately ends, even if a player was about to die. Only Townsfolk are executed due to the Virgin's ability. If an Outsider, Minion, or Demon nominates the Virgin, nothing happens, and voting continues. The Virgin's ability is powerful because if a Townsfolk nominates them and dies, then both characters are almost certainly Townsfolk. After being nominated for the first time, the Virgin loses their ability, even if the nominator did not die, and even if the Virgin was poisoned or drunk.

How to Run

If the first player to ever nominate the Virgin is a Townsfolk, immediately declare that the nominating player is executed. That player dies—put a shroud on their character token in the Grimoire. The Virgin loses their ability—put the Virgin's NO ABILITY reminder token by the Virgin token. End the nomination process and proceed to the night phase. (No one else can be executed today.)
If the first player to ever nominate the Virgin is not a Townsfolk, continue the vote as normal. The Virgin loses their ability—put the Virgin's NO ABILITY reminder token by the Virgin token.

Outsider

Plague Doctor

When you die, the Storyteller gains a Minion ability.

Pleauze shtay shtill. Thinks nid tiime for hillink. Myrhh-myrhh.

"When you die, the Storyteller gains a Minion ability." The Plague Doctor brings an extra Minion ability into play. The Storyteller chooses which Minion ability is gained. This ability is in effect for the rest of the game. Nothing else changes for the Storyteller – they don’t become evil, they don’t become a player, they are not a legitimate player to be targeted by other abilities, and they cannot vote or nominate. If the Plague Doctor is drunk or poisoned when they die, the Storyteller doesn’t gain a Minion ability, even when the Plague Doctor becomes sober and healthy.

How to Run

When the Plague Doctor dies, place a Minion character token in the centre of the left side of the Grimoire and mark this with the Plague Doctor’s STORYTELLER ABILITY reminder. Or, mark an in-play Minion with the STORYTELLER ABILITY reminder. If applicable, add a night token to the night sheet.
When this Minion would normally act, the relevant choices are made by the Storyteller.

Outsider

Hatter

If you died today or tonight, the Minion & Demon players may choose new Minion & Demon characters to be.

One Hat. Too Hat. Three Hat. Tea Hat. Fore Hat. Thrive Hat. Six Hat. Sticks Hat.

"If you died today or tonight, the Minion & Demon players may choose new Minion & Demon characters to be." The Hatter allows the evil players to change characters. Each player with a Minion or Demon character may choose to become any character of the same type as their current character. They may choose not to change characters. If a player becomes a new character, they gain the new ability, even if it was a "you start knowing" ability or a once per game ability that had already been used. Once a player has changed character, their previous character ability has no further effect on the game. If a player dies then becomes the Hatter, the evil players do not change characters tonight. Once a character has been chosen, a second player cannot choose the same character. If it is already in play, the player with that character must choose a new character.

How to Run

If the Hatter dies, mark them with the TEA PARTY TONIGHT reminder.
During that night, wake the Minions and Demon. Show them the THIS CHARACTER SELECTED YOU info token, then the Hatter token. Each player either shakes their head no or points to another character of the same type as their current character. If a second player would end up with the same character as another player, shake your head no and gesture for them to choose again. Put them to sleep. Remove the TEA PARTY TONIGHT reminder. Change each player to the character they chose.

Examples & Notes

Optional rule: if the Hatter dies, allow the Demon to become a Minion, and a Minion to become a Demon. This may cause some chaos among the evil team as they try to communicate silently at night about who wants to be the Demon.

Minion

Widow

On your 1st night, look at the Grimoire & choose a player: they are poisoned. 1 good player knows a Widow is in play.

More wine? Château d’Ergot ’07 is a very special vintage. My yes, very special indeed.

"On your 1st night, look at the Grimoire & choose a player: they are poisoned. 1 good player knows a Widow is in play." The Widow sees the Grimoire and poisons a character of their choice. The Widow acts on their first night only, poisoning one player. The player that the Widow poisons is poisoned until the Widow dies. On the same night that the Widow acts, one good player learns that the Widow is in play, but not which player is the Widow, and not which player is poisoned.

How to Run

While preparing the first night, mark a good player with the KNOW reminder.
On the first night, wake the Widow and show them the Grimoire for as long as they need. The Widow points to a character token in the Grimoire. Mark them with a POISONED reminder. They are poisoned. Put the Widow to sleep.
Wake the player marked KNOW. Show them the Widow character token. Put that good player to sleep.

Minion

Boffin

The Demon (even if drunk or poisoned) has a not-in-play good character’s ability. You both know which.

Stellar hydrogen, vast, inert; carbon, oxygen, neon gases, all ruined. Molecular chaos, entropy, yields new cosmic phenomena, rebirth from atomic chaos, dense matter collapsing. All in a teeny little bottle.

"The Demon (even if drunk or poisoned) has a not-in-play good character's ability. You both know which." The Boffin replicates a good ability. While the Boffin is alive, the Demon has a single Townsfolk ability or Outsider ability. If the Demon is drunk or poisoned, the Demon keeps this good ability. If the Boffin is drunk or poisoned, the Demon temporarily loses this good ability. If the Demon dies and has an ability that functions while dead, such as the Sweetheart, the Demon keeps this ability. If a new Demon is created, such as via a Scarlet Woman or a Barber, this new Demon has an ability from the Boffin. This ability may be different to the previous Demon's ability. If there are multiple Demons alive, only one alive Demon has an ability from the Boffin. If the Demon has an ability that modifies the setup, such as a Choirboy, these changes are made during setup, as normal. Both the Demon and the Boffin learn which good ability the Demon has. The Storyteller may wake these players independently, or together. The not-in-play character may be 1 of the Demon's 3 bluffs. The Demon also wakes at night at the time that the good character would normally wake.

How to Run

While setting up the game, before putting character tokens in the bag, make any changes that are indicated in brackets on the Demon's two character abilities. Afterwards, place this second character token by the Demon character token.
During the 1st night, wake the Boffin and the Demon. Show the THIS CHARACTER SELECTED YOU info token, then the Boffin token, then the good character token. Place this second character token by the Demon character token.
Treat the Demon player as if they had this character ability, as well as their own Demon ability.

Examples & Notes

Good abilities that would drunk/poison themselves, such as the Sailor, only drunk/poison the Demon's good ability.

Demon

Imp

Each night*, choose a player: they die. If you kill yourself this way, a Minion becomes the Imp.

We must keep our wits sharp and our sword sharper. Evil walks among us, and will stop at nothing to destroy us good, simple folk, bringing our fine town to ruin. Trust no-one. But, if you must trust someone, trust me.

"Each night*, choose a player: they die. If you kill yourself this way, a Minion becomes the Imp." The Imp kills a player each night, and can make copies of itself... for a terrible price. On each night except the first, the Imp chooses a player to kill. Because most characters act after the Demon, that player will probably not get to use their ability tonight. The Imp, because they're a Demon, knows which players are their Minions, and knows three not-in-play good characters that they can safely bluff as. If the Imp dies, the game ends and good wins. However, if the Imp kills themself at night, they die and an alive Minion becomes an Imp. This new Imp does not act that same night, but is now the Imp in every other way—they kill each night, and lose if they die.

How to Run

Each night except the first, wake the Imp. The Imp points at any player. Put the Imp to sleep. The chosen player dies—put the Imp's DEAD reminder by the chosen player's character token in the Grimoire and put a shroud on it.
If the Imp killed themself at night, choose an alive Minion and replace their character token with a spare Imp token, changing their character to the Imp. Wake the new Imp, show them the YOU ARE info token, then show them the Imp token. Put the new Imp to sleep.
At dawn, declare which player died at night. (Do not say how they died.)
If the Imp attacks a dead player at night, let them do so. Whenever a character's ability says "choose a player," that means that any player—alive or dead—can be chosen. The Imp may be planning on bluffing as the Soldier, and this kind of thing helps their bluff look stronger.

Demon

Vigormortis

Each night*, choose a player: they die. Minions you kill keep their ability & poison 1 Townsfolk neighbor. [-1 Outsider]

All doors are one door. All keys are one key. All cups are one cup, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I give shall never thirst, but the water shall be in him a well springing up into everlasting life.

"Each night*, choose a player: they die. Minions you kill keep their ability & poison 1 Townsfolk neighbor. [-1 Outsider]" The Vigormortis kills their own Minions, but those Minions keep their ability. Every time the Vigormortis kills a Minion, they die but keep their ability for as long as the Vigormortis remains alive. The Witch, Cerenovus, and Pit-Hag still act each night. Somewhat like the No Dashii, the dead Minion’s closest clockwise or closest counterclockwise Townsfolk becomes poisoned, even if they are dead. If the Vigormortis dies or otherwise loses their ability, then those players become healthy again. One Townsfolk per Minion will always be poisoned this way, as neighboring Outsiders, Minions, or Travellers are skipped. The Storyteller chooses which of the two Townsfolk is poisoned. All Minions killed by the Vigormortis keep their ability and poison a Townsfolk, not just the most recent. If a dead Minion becomes a non-Minion character, they no longer poison a Townsfolk and have no ability. If a dead Minion becomes drunk or poisoned, they lose their ability until they become sober and healthy again.

How to Run

While setting up the game, before putting the character tokens in the bag, remove one Outsider character token and add one Townsfolk character token. (If there are no Outsider tokens to remove, do not add a Townsfolk token.)
Each night except the first, wake the Vigormortis. They point at any player. Put the Vigormortis to sleep. If the chosen player isn’t a Minion, that player dies - mark them with a DEAD reminder.
If the chosen player is a Minion, that player dies - mark them with a DEAD reminder and a HAS ABILITY reminder. The closest clockwise or closest counterclockwise Townsfolk to the Minion becomes poisoned - mark them with a POISONED reminder.

Fabled

Sentinel

There might be 1 extra or 1 fewer Outsider in play.

Name, please. Papers, please. Weapons, please.

"There might be 1 extra or 1 fewer Outsider in play." Add the Sentinel to your script to keep the number of Outsiders in play mysterious. The official character lists are carefully constructed so that the number of Outsiders is never completely known, which lets evil players safely bluff as Outsiders. Many of the games you create using the Script Tool will not have this luxury. If, for one reason or another, the number of Outsiders in a game will become certain, the Storyteller can add a Sentinel. This will confuse matters and help the evil team either bluff as Outsiders or make existing Outsiders look suspicious. Games with a Sentinel in play might have one more Outsider than normal. They may have one less. They may have the normal amount. It is up to the Storyteller.

How to Run

At the start of the game, declare that the Sentinel is in play. Add the Sentinel token to the Grimoire.
While setting up the game, before putting character tokens in the bag, add an Outsider token and remove a Townsfolk token, remove an Outsider token and add a Townsfolk token, or do neither.