Black Stories Junior: Blue Stories
Black Stories Junior: Blue Stories Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Rules
blue stories can be played by two people or by a larger group of friends. Playing alone is less fun, because you need someone who knows the solution and answers your questions.
The one who knows the solution is the Captain. The other players form the Guessing Crew (German: Ratevolk), who play as a team against the Captain. The role of Captain rotates, so each of you takes a turn as Captain.
The Captain takes a card and reads the puzzle on the front aloud, then shows the Guessing Crew the picture. The Captain reads the solution on the back silently to themselves.
The Guessing Crew now asks questions to get on the trail of the puzzle. The Guessing Crew may of course confer with each other, discuss clues, and agree to have the story read out again…
The Solution. The one correct solution that is to be guessed is the part printed in bold on the back of the card. The detailed answer printed below it does not have to be guessed, but it helps the Captain answer the Guessing Crew's questions. If, as Captain, you do not understand a blue story, simply take a different card and ask your fellow players or your parents for advice later.
The Puzzles. 15 puzzles are particularly tricky. You can recognise them by the red round symbol on the card. It gets even harder if you skip looking at the pictures, because clues are sometimes hidden in them!
Some puzzles allude to well-known stories. Only the Captain knows this, and recognises them by the book symbol on the back of the card.
Sailor variant. If you want to make the game a little trickier for clever sailors, try asking only questions that the Captain can clearly answer with "Yes" or "No". In this variant each player may keep asking until the answer is "No". (The printed text reads "Käpitän", evidently a typo for "Kapitän"; rendered here as "Captain".)
Equipment: Imagination, curiosity and sharp wits!
Tips & Tricks
Tips for the Guessing Crew
Listen carefully when the Captain reads the puzzle aloud! Every single word could be a clue, but it could also be a false trail. First try to work out where the clues are hidden. You could ask, for example: "Is it important for the solution that …?" Watch the Captain's reaction to every question: does the Captain hesitate before answering? Then the question may be unimportant and will not help you solve the puzzle. Perhaps you are very close, though …
Note, however: even if your ideas are the best, the Captain is always right! Only the Captain knows the one correct solution!
Tips for the Captain
As Captain you sometimes have it tough. You must answer questions very wisely, without giving too much away. If questions are asked to which the solution text gives no answer, or which lead in a wrong direction, you may of course give helpful hints or ask for a new question. If you notice that the Guessing Crew is completely clueless, read the puzzle aloud once more and stress the clues while doing so.