BAD DOG (Stop splashing young boys)!
Gregor said:
Who should I include?
Are there any modules out there?
Anyone run a murder mystery in d&d?
Anything I should be wary of?
Include the Murderer (unless the "victim" is him - it is almost cliche' that the first one "killed" really isn't dead, and is killing the rest), multiple suspects, the "loyal servants", and the other PCs. Also, it is possible that the killer has already escaped by the time that the PCs become aware of the murder.
There doubtless are, but I can't think of one, off-hand.
I have run "The Mysterious Murder of the Silver Mage" since 1e.
Assume Clerics, Druids, Paladins, Rangers, and other such spellcasters have ALL the spells on their lists, and plan for them. With Wizards and Sorcerers (with restricted numbers of spells), you only need to plan for the ones they have access to... Consider how these can be used.
Speak With Dead can be a real game-buster... UNLESS the victim was asleep when murdered! ;-)
Note that, in AD&D, almost ANYTHING can be a witness, depending upon levels and magic items! In TMMotSM, I had a Druid question a TREE outside the Wizard's tower... and discover a clue that I honestly didn't expect the PCs to find! Likewise,
Speak With Animals and
Stonetell make even pets and inanimate objects possible witnesses!
So, what I did was, first, figure out who did what... Next, look at what clues would have been left by those actions, and what evidence was left. Then determine how that evidence could be found... Spot, Search, spells, questioning people, plants, animals, and/or stones, what the butler heard, what the maid did, etc. Appointment calendars, aides' chores, etx., could all be clues.
Don't be afraid to toss out a few red herrings, include an official Investigator to represent the law (but have him accept help from the PCs), have multiple suspects, have a few people who lie about something UNRELATED to the murder (such as sleeping with the chambermaid, etc). This allows
Detect Lies to throw them off the trail. The "suspect" was covering up his indiscretions, but isn't the killer, etc.
Have MORE clues than you think the PCs can find, magically... They will usually miss a couple, not have the spells prepared, etc. Expect them NOT to have all the info! Also, expect them to chase a few wild geese, and be patient... Also, when they can't figure it out, expect them to whine for clues, and ask for "an NPC to drop us some hints", instead of going out and looking for the clues, themselves... If being a detective were easy, everybody would be doing it!
Establish the motive(s), opportunity, and means of the murder. Decide how well it was planned, what clues were left, whether or not the murderer realizes it, and if they'll be going back to clean upafter themself... If so, how will they hide the evidence, and how will they explain it, if caught?
For instance, if Mary the Mage killed Col. Mustard in the Study with a
Fireball, expect some flame damage... Now Mary (a Mage) is pretty smart, but obviously unprepared. Otherwise, she woulda used something QUIETER than
Fireball! She is smart, however, so she gets outta there, fast... After the flames are put out, and the murder has been "reported", she might go back to she if she left any clues, explaining it away as "seeing where th' po' Col. died".
In my mystery, the PCs immediately suspected the Silver Mage's Apprentice (as I had expected). He wasn't guilty, but they thought he was, for a while, and gave him a hard time, even though he cooperated... Eventually, they decided he wasn't the murderer.
Even for the simplest cases, you have to expect the mystery to run for several sessions. They will probably also go off to someplace totally unconnected to the mystery, too... That's okay, LET THEM! It gives the murderer more time to clean up!
