Nessie's True Identity Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game Set-up
• Gameplay
• Suspected Sightings
• Scoring Method (Optional)
  • Basic Points
  • Bonus Points
  • Penalties
• 2-Player Version

Game Set-up

Arrange the components like this:

[Setup diagram: the Nessie lake token, the WHAT? tokens and the boat token laid out in a row.]

Gameplay

Only one player witnesses Nessie's True Identity.

The other players are Nessie-Fanatics. The Nessie-Fanatics are trying to find out Nessie's True Identity, while the Witness is trying to protect the gentle beast.

The Witness decides on a True Identity for Nessie and does not say it to any other player. The chosen word, a noun, can be anything. However, it's best to avoid proper nouns. Once the word has been chosen, it cannot be changed!

The Witness is allowed to discreetly write the True Identity on a piece of paper, and cover it with the lake token, should they desire.

Once the True Identity is decided, the Witness follows these steps:

1. Offer a single hint to the Nessie-Fanatics.
   • Do not lie to the Nessie-Fanatics.
2. Each Fanatic will say what word they think is Nessie's True Identity. Until they have decided, the Fanatics should quietly think to themselves. When a Fanatic is ready to answer, they will raise their hand and say their answer. They cannot repeat an answer already said by other Fanatics.
   • Although the Fanatics may not ask questions about Nessie's identity, the players are allowed to clarify the meaning of their guesses and discuss among each other. Players are allowed to use memos and take notes as well.
3. Move the boat to match the success of players. At the end of a round, move the boat token towards Nessie if a guess was said that is close to Nessie's True Identity. Let all players know that the boat has moved closer with that guess. If there was no guess that is close to Nessie's True Identity, move the boat further away from Nessie and let players know what guess was the furthest from Nessie.

Until the players have guessed Nessie's True Identity exactly, repeat steps 1-3. After each round of steps 1-3, turn one of the WHAT? Tokens right-side-up. A maximum of 5 hints can be given.

4. Entering the Nessie Close-Proximity Search. If Nessie's True Identity is said in Step 2, try to keep a pokerface. After all guesses have been made, move the boat next to Nessie and alert everyone that Nessie has been spotted. The Fanatics should not know which answer is correct. Now it is time to finally guess Nessie's True Identity.

On a count of 3, the Fanatics will point at the player they believe said the correct guess (it's okay to point at yourself).

If more than half of the Fanatics point at the player who said Nessie's True Identity, then the Witness loses. But, if fewer than half of Fanatics point to the correct Fanatic, the Witness declares victory.

If the Witness wins, revealing Nessie's True Identity to the Fanatics is not necessary. Nessie will swim back to the depths of the lake, never to be seen again.

*Player counts should round up to determine majorities. E.g. if you are playing with 3 Fanatics, at least 2 Fanatics should point towards the correct guesser.

Suspected Sightings

If the Fanatics have received 5 hints but are not able to proceed to Step 4, the Witness's testimony comes under doubt and the game ends.

Scoring Method (Optional)

If you would like to make the Fanatic team more competitive, you can play with the following rules to identify the "King of Nessie-Mania!!"

Basic Points

• In the "Nessie Close-Proximity Search":
  • If you are a player who pointed at the correct guess, get 1pt.
  • If you are the player who said Nessie's True Identity, get 1pt.
    • If you said the correct guess and pointed at yourself, you receive 2 pts total.
  • If you were on the Fanatic team and won the game, get 1pt.

Bonus Points

• If the Fanatic team is able to guess Nessie's True Identity in 1-2 hints, every member gets 1pt.
• If the Fanatic team guesses Nessie's True Identity on the 5th hint, the Witness receives +1pt.

Penalties

• If the game finishes without entering Step 5, the Witness loses 1pt.

Translator's note: the source's Penalties rule refers to "Step 5", but the procedure has only Steps 1-4. The reference is transcribed as printed; the intended step is most likely Step 4 (the Nessie Close-Proximity Search).

2-Player Version

The single Fanatic player may make 2 guesses for each hint received from the Witness. When the game enters Step 4, the Fanatic player must choose which of his 2 answers is Nessie's True Identity.