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Crack the Case

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Pydro
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Crack the Case

Crack the Case is a mystery game published by Milton Bradley in 1993, and I think it might be fun to try it on the forums. Here is how it works: I will present to you a case and the mystery. Your goal is to figure out the mystery by asking yes/no questions. I will answer the questions based on the full story, but I can only give one of seven possible responses:

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Yes and No
  4. Irrelevant
  5. I Don't Know
  6. Define What You Mean By...
  7. Rephrase Your Question

 

Let's start with an easy one.

 

The Case - Easy

Donald Cartwright, arrogant lawyer, is found dead in a store. The muder weapon, in plain sight, is never recovered.

 

The Mystery

Who killed Donald and how?

 


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

Ronway
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Was the mighty Ronway involved?

Pydro
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Ronway wrote:

Was the mighty Ronway involved?

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Was the murder weapon unable to be moved? Either too large, fixed in place, etc.


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Was the murder weapon unable to be moved? Either too large, fixed in place, etc.

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Was the murder weapon something that is conventionally thought of as a weapon?


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Was the murder weapon something that is conventionally thought of as a weapon?

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Was the murder weapon a plant or animal?


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Was the murder weapon a plant or animal?

Define what you mean by "was" and "plant or animal."


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Was is more or less the same as is. Not implying that it changed FROM being that, just that it was at the time of the murder, which happened in the past.

 

Plant or animal... anything belonging to the plant or animal kingdoms? Edited to also include fungi. By which I mean, was he mauled by a dog, or poisoned by mushroom spores, or strangled by a vine or something.


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Was is more or less the same as is. Not implying that it changed FROM being that, just that it was at the time of the murder, which happened in the past. Plant or animal... anything belonging to the plant or animal kingdoms? Edited to also include fungi. By which I mean, was he mauled by a dog, or poisoned by mushroom spores, or strangled by a vine or something.

Yes.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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is the lawyer's being "arrogant" relevant to the case?


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

is the lawyer's being "arrogant" relevant to the case?

Yes.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Is the nature of the store relevant to the case? (does it matter what kind of store it is?)


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Is the nature of the store relevant to the case? (does it matter what kind of store it is?)

Yes.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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Was Donald actually murdered? (Murder being an unlawful death on purpose, accidents, suicides and other things I can't think of need not apply)


Stop lurking, it makes you look like a villain target
When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all

Temporary image until an H emoticon is added!

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Was the store one that sells some type of plant or animal?

Pydro
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Matchstickman wrote:

Was Donald actually murdered? (Murder being an unlawful death on purpose, accidents, suicides and other things I can't think of need not apply)

Yes.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

Pydro
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dpt wrote:

Was the store one that sells some type of plant or animal?

Define what you mean by "plant or animal."


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

Matchstickman
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Was Donald murdered by a Client (past or present)?


Stop lurking, it makes you look like a villain target
When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all

Temporary image until an H emoticon is added!

Pydro
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Matchstickman wrote:

Was Donald murdered by a Client (past or present)?

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Were there witnesses to the crime?

 


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Were there witnesses to the crime? 

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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was the murder premeditated?


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

was the murder premeditated?

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Was the murderer an employee (or owner) of the store?


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Was the murderer an employee (or owner) of the store?

Yes.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Ok: theory number one.

Donald is at a pet store. He gets mad for whatever reason, and threatens to sue/shut down the store. The clerk on duty, angered or what have you, has one of the animals attack him and kill him. The animal is cleaned, put back as if nothing happened, and is never recovered as a murder weapon.


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Ok: theory number one.Donald is at a pet store. He gets mad for whatever reason, and threatens to sue/shut down the store. The clerk on duty, angered or what have you, has one of the animals attack him and kill him. The animal is cleaned, put back as if nothing happened, and is never recovered as a murder weapon.

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Were any aspects of that theory correct? (the setting, the method, the perpetrator)


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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Pydro wrote:

 

McBehrer wrote:
Was is more or less the same as is. Not implying that it changed FROM being that, just that it was at the time of the murder, which happened in the past. Plant or animal... anything belonging to the plant or animal kingdoms? Edited to also include fungi. By which I mean, was he mauled by a dog, or poisoned by mushroom spores, or strangled by a vine or something.

 

Yes.

This question and answer is really bugging me, not because I asnwered it wrong, but because it might be a bit misleading. Let me reword the question and answer like this:

At the time of the murder, did the murder weapon belong to the animal, plant or fungus kindgom (as opposed to a rock or the like)? Yes.

I am not saying any more than that.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Was he killed in such a way as to leave an externally visible mark?

Followup question: if yes, was the mark left as an indicator of damage (a gash, bruise, etc. as opposed to a rash or discoloration)


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Were any aspects of that theory correct? (the setting, the method, the perpetrator)

That is part of problem of longer answers and being limited to only a few answers. You know that it was an employee or owner, but that isn't the entire "who" aspect. 

McbBehrer wrote:

put back as if nothing happened, and is never recovered as a murder weapon.

This part is correct.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Was he killed in such a way as to leave an externally visible mark?Followup question: if yes, was the mark left as an indicator of damage (a gash, bruise, etc. as opposed to a rash or discoloration)

Yes.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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Ok, then. Expounding on the perpetrator.

Was he (ignoring gender differentiation. I assume that's not relevant, for now.) a janitor?


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

Ok, then. Expounding on the perpetrator.Was he (ignoring gender differentiation. I assume that's not relevant, for now.) a janitor?

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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When you say animal kingdom, do you mean human?

Pydro
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Humble-Knight wrote:

When you say animal kingdom, do you mean human?

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

McBehrer
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phrased more concisely, was the "murder weapon" a non-human animal?


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

phrased more concisely, was the "murder weapon" a non-human animal?

Define what you mean by "animal"?


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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member of the animal kingdom. other than human.


McBehrer is the sole winner of this game... And McBehrer, I would step carefully should you find your way down dark alleys. More than one vote said simply, "McBehrer must die."

McBehrer confirmed to be Biomancer!
-- Trajector

Pydro
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McBehrer wrote:

member of the animal kingdom. other than human.

Yes and no. (Technically, the murder weapon is from the animal kingdom, but I think it might be a little misleading.)


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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Is the victim married?


Good ideas are usually just bad ideas a stubborn person eventually fixed.

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Nielzabub wrote:

Is the victim married?

Irrelevant.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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Is the fact he is a lawyer important?

Pydro
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Humble-Knight wrote:

Is the fact he is a lawyer important?

Yes.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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Is he a lawyer for the murderer?

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Is his murderer a colleague or a lawyer he is competing with?


Good ideas are usually just bad ideas a stubborn person eventually fixed.

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Humble-Knight wrote:

Is he a lawyer for the murderer?

Define "lawyer for".


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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Nielzabub wrote:

Is his murderer a colleague or a lawyer he is competing with?

No.


Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
-Robert E. Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

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Is he representing the murderer in a law suit or legal predicament?

If not, has he in the past?

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