Welcome to Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft!

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the thrilling world of detective work? In this game, you’ll step into the shoes of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his brother Mycroft as they take on challenging cases. Let me guide you through the rules of the game so you can start solving mysteries right away!

Objective of the Game

The main objective of Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft is to solve four cases and collect victory points. These cases are represented by cards in the game, and each card has a different difficulty level. The more difficult the case, the more victory points it’s worth.

Components of the Game

Before we jump into gameplay, let’s take a look at the components of the game:

• Victory Point (VP) tokens: These tokens represent the victory points you’ll earn throughout the game.
• Character cards: These cards depict various characters from the Sherlock Holmes stories, such as Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, and Irene Adler.
• Case cards: These cards represent the different cases you’ll be trying to solve.
• Influence tokens: These tokens are used to take actions during the game.
• Location tiles: These tiles represent the different locations in London where you’ll gather information.
• Assistant tokens: These tokens can be earned by completing special actions and will provide you with helpful abilities.

Setting Up the Game

Before you can start playing, a few steps need to be taken to set up the game:

1. Place the game board in the center of the play area. This board represents London and its various locations.
2. Shuffle the character cards and deal one to each player. This will determine which character they’ll be playing as.
3. Shuffle the case cards and place four of them face-up on the designated spaces on the game board.
4. Give each player a set of influence tokens and victory point tokens.
5. Place the remaining components within easy reach of all players.

Gameplay

Now that the game is set up, it’s time to start playing! The game is played over several rounds, and each round consists of the following phases:

1. Action Phase

During the action phase, each player takes turns using their influence tokens to perform actions. These actions include gathering evidence, recruiting assistants, and more. Each action requires a specific number of influence tokens to perform.

2. Investigation Phase

In the investigation phase, players take turns visiting different locations on the game board to gather evidence and gain assistance in solving cases. Each location provides different benefits, so choose wisely!

3. Case Solving Phase

Once all players have taken their actions and visited locations, it’s time to solve cases. Players can spend their gathered evidence and assistance tokens to solve the face-up case cards on the game board. Each case requires a certain amount of evidence and assistance tokens to solve.

4. Cleanup Phase

After the case solving phase, the round ends, and the cleanup phase begins. During this phase, players collect any victory points earned, discard any remaining evidence and assistance tokens, and reset the game board for the next round.

Game End and Scoring

The game ends once all four case cards have been solved. At this point, players count up their victory points to determine the winner. The player with the most victory points is declared the greatest detective!

Are You Ready to Solve Mysteries?

Now that you’re familiar with the rules of Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft, it’s time to put your detective skills to the test. Gather your evidence, recruit your assistants, and dive into the intriguing world of Sherlock Holmes. Good luck, detective!

One early morning in February 1895, London was shaken by a loud explosion. The noise of thunder roused the city from its slumber, and a massive cloud of smoke rose ominously in the air, signaling a disaster. The Houses of Parliament had been targeted by a bomb. The swift response of the security forces led to the arrest of a young worker named Michael Chapman, who was associated with anarchist groups.

My role, as assigned by the Crown prosecution, is to investigate this explosion. I am tasked with determining whether it was the work of a lone individual or part of a larger conspiracy. Conducting this investigation falls under my responsibility at the Diogenes Club, a place where I find solace in my comfortable chair. Little did I know, this case would not be as straightforward as it initially appeared.

To my surprise, I discovered that the detective hired by Michael’s parents to prove his innocence was none other than my own brother, Sherlock Holmes. The Chapmans, a farming family from Surrey, firmly believe that their son is innocent.

The showdown between London’s most brilliant minds commences. I must determine whether Michael is truly innocent or guilty. Is Chapman simply an unlucky young man caught up in the wrong crowd, or is he actually a part of an anarchist group?

Components

• Game Board
• 6 Action Markers
• Clue Deck (52 cards)
• Character Deck (12 cards)
• Investigation Markers (24 glasses)
• Optional Cards
• Rules booklet

Setup

1. I put the game board on one side between us.

2. Then, I place the character cards for Doctor Watson, Mrs. Hudson, and Inspector Lestrade on top of the game board in their respective spaces.

3. I shuffle the remaining character cards and put the character deck on the space provided on the game board.

4. Now, I draw 2 character cards and put them in the two spaces marked “Day 1” (you can also try the *Alternative Start). The game always starts with 5 characters available.

5. Lastly, I place the investigation markers in the center of the table as a reserve for both of us.

Alright, let’s figure out who’s going to go first! You can choose whether you want to be Sherlock or Mycroft. Each of us will need 3 action markers and 5 investigation markers from our stash.

Now it’s time to shuffle the clue deck and put it next to us, in between the two players.

After that, we’ll draw 4 clues from the deck and arrange them in a line so we can see them. And just like that, we’re ready to start the game!

Game Play

Alright, let’s talk about how this game works. Basically, you need to gather clues to either accuse or clear Michael Chapman’s name. To do that, you’ll use action markers to interact with different characters in London.

The game is divided into 7 turns, which represent one week of investigation. Each turn has a few phases, like this:

Start of the Day

In London, a new character joins the scene. This character is chosen from the character deck and placed on the current day. To begin the day’s search, I stand the 6 action markers on the character cards. It’s important to note that this phase is skipped on the first turn.

Now, let’s dive into the investigation!

So here’s the deal: I start by grabbing one of those action markers that’s sitting on top of a character, and I put it down on another character who doesn’t have any markers yet. Right away, I can use the skills of this second character. Then it’s the other player’s turn, and we go back and forth like this until both players have put down all three of their action markers.

But hold on. There’s a rule you need to remember: You can’t put an action marker on a character that already has an action marker of the same color, whether it’s standing up or already laying down. That’s the only condition for making this move.

Oh, and one more thing: On the very first turn, when nobody has put any markers on the board yet, we just put them straight down on the characters. Once the markers are on the board, they have to stay there and move from one character to the next.

When the Day Is Done

Let’s make sure we check if there’s a character that both players are using. If that happens, we’ll consider that character “spent.” This means we’ll turn the card face-down to show that they’ve left the city or are hiding. That character won’t be available for the next turn.
Remember: The three initial characters (Doctor Watson, Mrs. Hudson, and Inspector Lestrade) are always available to us and never considered “spent.”
Also, any character that was “spent” this turn needs to be turned face-up again, so we know they’ll be available for the next day.

The Skills of the Characters

Characters are an essential part of the game, allowing me to collect investigation markers and use them to get clues. These clues come from the visible line in the middle of the table or directly from the clue deck.

• When I get the investigation markers, I place them in my play area. You must be able to see how many markers I have.
• When I collect clue cards from the line, I must place them on my side of the board. I organize them by type of clue and slightly overlap them, so you know how many clues I have.

When you play the game, you’ll draw clues from the deck and replace them so that there are always 4 visible clues. If all the clues in the deck are used up, you’ll need to shuffle the discarded cards to create a new deck.

Investigation Markers

You can only have up to 24 investigation markers. If your skills allow you to have more, you can only pick the ones that are left.

Discarded Clues

Some characters might require you to discard clues from the visible line or from your play area. The clues that you discard are placed face-down in a separate pile.

Hidden Clues

Did you know that some characters in the game allow you to get hints directly from the deck? These hints are like secret information that only you can see and they stay hidden on your side of the board. You’ll put them on top of each other so that your opponent can see how many you have, but not what they are.

At the end of the game, all the hidden hints will be revealed and placed in their proper category. It’s pretty cool, right? During the game, no character can mess with these hidden hints. They’re like super powerful and can’t be taken away or traded.

But the wildcard is a special type of hint. It can never stay hidden. If you draw a wildcard from the deck, you have to show it right away. No secrets with the wildcards! They’re always out in the open.

Special Clue: Wildcard

When you draw a wildcard, you have some choices. You can use it to increase the number of a clue you already have, or you can save it to start a new type of clue later on.

But remember, you can’t use more than one wildcard on the same clue.

Let me give you an example: Let’s say I have 2 Cigarettes and 1 Bullet, and I draw a wildcard. I can use that wildcard to increase the number of any clue I want, but instead, I decide to save it for later. In my next turn, I draw 1 Button and place it on top of the wildcard. Now, it’s like I have 2 Buttons.

Puzzle Alert: Explore the Mysterious Map

Guess what? I stumbled upon a super intriguing discovery! I found a map of the Parliament, but here’s the twist – it’s broken into five pieces. And get this: the more fragments you collect, the more points you score at the end of the game. How awesome is that?

Just a quick heads up, you can’t use any wildcard to complete the map fragments. You gotta solve the puzzle with the pieces you have. It’s all about strategy!

A Glimpse of the Characters

Introducing Doctor Watson

Hey there! Allow me to introduce myself – I’m Doctor Watson, an army doctor and the loyal sidekick of the brilliant detective, Sherlock Holmes. Together, we embark on thrilling adventures and solve mind-boggling mysteries. You see, I have the important role of narrating all of Sherlock’s investigations and providing expert medical knowledge.

Let me share a useful tip with you: If you ever find yourself stuck and in need of a clue, just use one investigation marker. By doing so, you’ll be able to uncover one vital clue from the visible line of evidence. It’s like having a secret weapon up your sleeve!

Mrs. Hudson

I’m Mrs. Hudson, the landlady of Holmes and Watson. They live at 221 Baker Street. Let me tell you, it’s never a dull moment with these two tenants. Sometimes I wonder why I put up with all the chaos they bring into my house, but I guess I’ve grown accustomed to it.

But despite all the trouble they cause, I do worry about them. After all, they’re such peculiar individuals. Holmes is always on some new investigation, his mind constantly racing with clues and deductions. And Watson, well, he’s always getting caught up in Holmes’ adventures, putting himself in danger.

Oh, the things I’ve seen in this house! Watson patching up Holmes after a rough encounter, books and papers scattered everywhere, strange visitors coming and going at all hours. It’s enough to make any landlord question their choices.

But you know what? Deep down, I care about these two. They may be a handful, but they’re my tenants, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So, if you’re ever in need of some investigation markers, feel free to come by. I always keep a few extra in reserve, just in case.

The Mysterious Inspector Lestrade

Let me tell you about Inspector Lestrade. He’s a Scotland Yard Agent, always looking serious and a little grumpy. But don’t let that fool you – he’s incredibly good at what he does. Sherlock Holmes may be a genius, but Lestrade follows the law by the book and doesn’t always see eye to eye with Holmes’ unorthodox approach.

Now, when it comes to raids, Lestrade has a little trick up his sleeve. He can use three investigation markers to get two valuable clues from the visible line. It’s like he has a secret key to unlock hidden information!

Meet Irene Adler

I’m Irene Adler – a woman of many talents. Singer, actress, manipulator, and even a thief. Sherlock Holmes himself calls me “The Woman,” the only person capable of outsmarting him.

Now, let’s talk about my special ability – theft. It’s quite simple, really. I use the day of the week to my advantage. By paying investigation markers equal to the number of the current day, I can snatch a visible clue from my opponent’s play area and add it to my collection of hidden clues. However, there’s a catch – I can’t take any wildcards or hidden cards.

Meet Inspector Gregson!

I’m an agent from Scotland Yard. They say I’m brave, intelligent, and highly respected by Sherlock Holmes himself. Unlike Lestrade, I believe that there are times when you have to bend the rules a little to achieve your goal.

Let’s talk about break-ins. They can provide you with valuable clues. When you’re investigating a break-in, you have the opportunity to find anywhere from 1 to 3 clues along the visible line. To do this, you’ll need to use 2 investigation markers for each clue you want to uncover.

Meet Wiggins

I was just another child left alone on the bustling streets of London. But my life took an interesting turn when I became the leader of the “Irregulars of Baker Street” – a ragtag group of street-smart orphans who know all the ins and outs of this city.

We may not have much, but we have something quite valuable – information. You see, Sherlock Holmes often comes to us for help. We know things that others don’t, and that makes us a valuable asset to the great detective.

A Network in the Dark: When you join forces with me, you gain access to a secret network that operates in the shadows. This network allows you to uncover hidden clues and gather valuable insights to aid your investigations. You’ll receive 5 investigation markers from our reserve, giving you a head start in solving the mysteries that come your way.

Meet Lang Dale Pike

Hello! I’m Lang Dale Pike, a journalist for the sensational London tabloids. Some people may say that I’m the worst thing that’s happened to journalism, but let me tell you, my ability to uncover secrets and hear rumors has actually come in handy for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson on more than one occasion.

Rumors: Let me tell you a little secret. I have a knack for deciphering clues and uncovering the truth. If you want, I can help you out by revealing 1 to 3 clues directly from the deck. All you need to do is use 1 investigation marker for each clue. Once the clues are revealed, you can keep one hidden card and discard the rest. It’s like being one step ahead in the game.

Toby

Meet Toby, the dirty and clumsy but incredibly talented tracking dog. Despite his unconventional appearance, Toby has proven himself to be a valuable asset in assisting Sherlock Holmes with his investigations.

Tracking: Here’s how Toby’s tracking ability works. Depending on the types of clues you have during your investigation, you’ll receive a certain number of investigation markers from the reserve. It’s important to note that Map Fragments are considered a type of clue, while a non-assigned wildcard does not count for this purpose.

For example: Let’s say Holmes has 3 Explosives, 1 Map Fragment, 2 Cigarettes, and 1 non-assigned Wildcard. In this scenario, when Holmes enlists Toby’s help with his tracking skills, he would receive a total of 3 investigation markers.

Meet Shinwell “Porky” Johnson

Hey there! Let me introduce you to Shinwell “Porky” Johnson. He’s a pretty interesting guy – an ex-convict turned bodyguard, and sometimes even a confidant, for none other than the great Sherlock Holmes. They keep their connection hush-hush, though, to make sure it doesn’t interfere with Sherlock’s sleuthing.

Now, let’s talk about one of Shinwell’s specialties – intimidation. He’s got a knack for sending shivers down people’s spines. You see, he can easily discard anywhere from 1 to 3 cards from the visible line. That’s no small feat, trust me.

Billy, The Bellboy

Hey there! I’m Billy, the bellboy. I’m young, cheerful, and pretty clever, if I do say so myself. I have to be careful, though, because it’s part of my job. You see, I work at a fancy hotel, where I get to meet all sorts of interesting people.

Speaking of interesting people, did you know that I once helped out the famous detective Sherlock Holmes? Yeah, that’s right! After Dr. Watson got married and moved out of Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes needed someone new to lend a hand. And that someone turned out to be me, Billy, the bellboy.

Now, let me tell you about a little trick of mine. It’s called the Errand. With the Errand, you can get rid of one clue from your play area. But not just any clue, mind you. It can’t be a wildcard or a map fragment. Once you get rid of that clue, you’ll get to take some investigation markers. How many, you ask? Well, it depends on the value of the card you played minus the day of the investigation you’re on. Pretty nifty, huh?

Von Kramm

Hey there! So, I got this case from the King of Bohemia. He’s using the name Von Kramm because he doesn’t want anyone to know who he actually is. Anyway, he came to me for help with a blackmail situation. The King has some juicy information on the nobility, and he’s willing to spill the beans to get rid of this problem.

State Secrets: Now, here’s a cool thing you can do. As the active player, you can grab 1 clue from the visible area. But wait! Your rival can also play their cards and use 1 investigation marker to snatch a clue from the deck. Sly, huh? They keep it hidden in their play area, so you won’t know what they got.

About Violet Hunter

I’m an honest and clever lady who found myself tangled in a perplexing case that left me seeking Sherlock’s keen insight. You see, I work as a housekeeper in a grand mansion, and something peculiar caught my attention. Nowadays, I am the headmistress of an esteemed school for girls.

Here’s the drill: You have the power to swap one clue from your play area with one clue from the pool of visible clues.

Optional Cards

Sherlock / Mycroft

If you’re up for a challenge, you can add an extra layer of tactics to the game by using a special two-sided card featuring Sherlock and Mycroft.

Once you’ve determined who will go first, place this card next to the second player. This player will have the advantage of being able to reserve a clue if they so desire during their turn, even after swapping out clues from the lineup if they manage to gather any.

When you reserve a clue, you take it from the visible area and place it horizontally in your play area, away from the other clues. A reserved clue is special because it can’t be affected by any skills, and it doesn’t count as a clue or a type yet because you don’t have it.

Later on, if you have a character with a skill that allows you to gain clues, you can choose to take the reserved clue instead of one from the line.

Once you reserve a clue, turn the Sherlock & Mycroft card so that the next player who wants to reserve a clue can see it. Remember, you can only have one reserved clue at a time. If you want to reserve another one, you’ll need to get your reserved clue first and have the Sherlock & Mycroft card on your side.

If the game ends and you haven’t gotten your reserved clue, you’ll lose 3 points.

Moriarty and Moran

You can add these villains to make the game more challenging. You can choose which villain to include, add them randomly, or even include both of them!

When you’re setting up the game and after drawing the first 2 characters of Day 1, put the villain card or cards in the character deck and shuffle. If one of the cards matches a villain when a new character is drawn, we temporarily pause the game until we resolve the effect of this character. Afterward, we discard the card and draw a new character.

James Moriarty

Whoa! Hold on a second! Did Moriarty really die when he fell into that waterfall? Or is the infamous “Napoleon of Crime” up to his old tricks again, lurking in the shadows with some sinister plan?

Here’s what we need to do: both of us, starting with me, have to get rid of a clue that we can see on the table or return 2 investigation markers to the reserve. And we have to do this all over again, but in reverse order.

But here’s the catch: if one of us doesn’t have any clues left and we don’t have enough investigation markers, they have to give up everything they have.

Now, let’s talk about Sebastian Moran…

Guess who’s back? It’s Moriarty’s right-hand man, a once-soldier now turned murderer. He’s been spotted in town and just caused another explosion to distract those Holmes brothers.

Alright, it’s game time! We start with the first player, and each player takes turns laying down one of their action markers. Now, during this turn, you only get two actions. Unfortunately, that means you won’t be able to use the character you just laid down a marker for.

The Game’s Grand Finale

The game comes to a close when the second player uses their third and final action marker on the seventh day. That’s when it all wraps up.

Important: Keep in mind that one character will never be used since there are a total of twelve characters in this game.

Next up, it’s time to reveal those hidden clues you’ve been gathering throughout the game. Don’t forget to assign them to their proper type. Oh, and those wildcard clues that don’t quite fit into any specific category? You can assign them now too. Once that’s done, the scoring begins.

What are the different types of clues?

When it comes to Clue, there are different types of clues that players can collect. The player who has more clues of a certain type will earn points based on the value of that type of clue, minus the number of clues of that type that their opponent has.

Let me give you an example to illustrate this. Imagine that Mycroft has 3 Cigarettes, which is a clue with a value of 5, while Sherlock only has 1 Cigarette. In this case, Mycroft would earn 4 points (5 for the value of the clue minus 1 for the clue that Sherlock has).

However, there’s another way to score points in Clue. If a player manages to collect all the cards of one particular type, they will receive a bonus of 3 points. It’s important to note that Wildcards are not considered when calculating this bonus. Let me provide you with an example to clarify this rule. Let’s say Sherlock has found all 7 Buttons, which is a clue with a value of 7. In this case, Sherlock would earn 10 points (7 for the value of the clue plus 3 bonus points for having all the buttons).

Now, let’s talk about Map Fragments. The number of Map Fragments you have can also affect your score. Here’s how the points are calculated for Map Fragments:

• If you have 1 Map Fragment, you will lose 1 point. So be careful not to lose too many fragments!
• If you have 2 Map Fragments, you will gain 1 point.
• If you have 3 Map Fragments, you will gain 3 points.

The Importance of Map Fragments in the Game

When you play the game, Map Fragments play a crucial role in your quest for victory. These fragments are scattered throughout the game, waiting to be discovered. But what exactly do they do?

Let me explain. Each Map Fragment you find adds to your score. The more fragments you collect, the higher your score will be. This score determines the outcome of the game. It’s simple – whoever has the most points wins!

So how do you earn points with Map Fragments? It’s quite straightforward. Let’s go over the rules:

• 4 Map Fragments add 6 points.
• 5 Map Fragments add 10 points.

See? It’s all about finding those fragments and accumulating points. But be strategic! Remember, the player with the most points at the end of the game takes home the victory.

But what if there’s a tie? Well, in that case, the player with more investigation markers becomes the winner. And if there’s still a draw after that, the mystery remains unsolved, and you’ll need to start a new game.

So, in summary, Map Fragments hold the key to success in this game. The more you collect, the closer you are to victory. Good luck!