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Spyfall
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Moriarty's Machinations
2014
Rules assistance for Moriarty's Machinations
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 5–10 players
- 30 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 5 players
Rules assistant for Moriarty's Machinations
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Moriarty's Machinations is a board game released in 2014 for 5–10 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Redbeard Duadikos and its main mechanics are Acting and Voting.
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About the game
The year is 1891, and the city is London. The Napoleon of Crime, Professor Moriarty, has planned out a series of fantastic heists that will grant him untold fortune and power. However, he knows that the brilliant detective, Sherlock Holmes, has caught on to his plans and is trying to sabotage them! Prepared for this possibility, he has hired all his henchmen through intermediaries and hidden himself among them. Who will be discovered first: Sherlock or Moriarty? Moriarty's Machinations is a party deduction game for 5-10 players. Each player starts with a unique role card, and which roles are in the game depends on how many players there are. Each role has different information about the other players. Phase 1: Information Exchange At the start of the game, a script is read to inform each player of their privileged knowledge about some of the other players. Phase 2: Heists Players take turns selecting crew members to go on Heists. If the majority of the table approves, then that crew goes on a Heist. Each crew member is given a set of Heist Cards. Cops can choose to Foil the Heist, and it only takes one cop to successfully do so. If no Cops Foil the Heist, then the points are awarded to the Robbers. Otherwise the Cops get the points. Phase 3: Accusation Once one team has reached the required point total, the Accusation phase begins. Jack the Ripper and Inspector Lestrade reveal their roles publicly and try to guess who the leader of the opposing team is. If they guess correctly, their team wins. If they tie, then the win is based on Heist points.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- (Self-Published)
Questions and answers
Moriarty's Machinations supports 5–10 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Moriarty's Machinations is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Moriarty's Machinations for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Moriarty's Machinations has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Moriarty's Machinations belongs to these categories: Party Game, Deduction, and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Acting and Voting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Moriarty's Machinations are: Redbeard Duadikos. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Moriarty's Machinations as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.