How to Play

Game Overview

BluffJudge 瞞天估局 is a party deduction game for 3-9 players that tests your acting skills, reasoning, and psychological tactics.

In each round, a "Judge" reads out a topic, while other players act as "Knowers" or "Bluffers," aiming to confuse the Judge and each other during the conversation.

Role Descriptions

👨‍⚖️ Judge

Goal: Identify the Bluffer

The Judge reads the topic and truth description, then listens to all players' conversations and answers. At the end of the round, the Judge must vote for the player they believe is the Bluffer.

Tip: Pay attention to details, reaction speed, and changes in speaking patterns.

🕵️ Knower

Goal: Help the Judge find the Bluffer

Knowers receive the truth description of the topic at the start of the game. They can freely answer the Judge's questions, aiming to appear authentic enough for the Judge to believe them.

Tip: Provide reasonable details and maintain a consistent story. The Bluffer will try to mimic your answer style.

🤥 Bluffer

Goal: Deceive the Judge into thinking you are a Knower

The Bluffer does not know the truth and must make up a story based on the Judge's questions and the Knowers' answers. The Bluffer needs to mimic the Knowers' style and maintain a consistent lie.

Tip: Listen carefully to the Knowers' details and stay consistent with your fabricated story. Contradictions will reveal your identity.

Game Flow

Choose Topic: The system randomly selects a topic (e.g., "Egyptian Pyramids").
Secret Role Assignment: The system secretly assigns Knower and Bluffer roles. Other players become potential Judges.
Reading Time: Knowers and Bluffers have limited time (default 30 seconds) to read topic hints and prepare.
Questioning: The Judge starts asking questions, and Knowers and Bluffers take turns answering.
Voting: The Judge and Bluffer vote for who they think is the Bluffer.
Scoring: Scores are calculated based on the voting results (see next section).

Scoring System

When Knowers Win:

Judge Votes Correctly: Knower +2 points, Judge +2 points.
Judge Votes Incorrectly: Knower +3 points.

When Bluffers Win:

Judge Votes Incorrectly (Votes for Knower): Bluffer +3 points.
Bluffer Votes Correctly: Bluffer +1 point.

Game Settings

Number of Players: 3-9 players (5-7 recommended for the best experience).
Number of Rounds: Customizable (5-10 rounds recommended).
Reading Time: Time limit for Knowers and Bluffers to prepare (default 30 seconds).
Topic Library: Use the default library or import a custom JSON library.

Determining the Winner

After all rounds are completed, the system calculates each player's total score. The player with the highest score wins!

Tips & Strategy

As a Knower: Stay authentic and consistent, providing specific details. Watch for unnatural pauses or vague answers from the Bluffer.
As a Bluffer: Start looking for clues immediately, stay calm, and don't over-explain. Pay attention to specific vocabulary used by Knowers.
As a Judge: Don't just listen to the content; observe body language and reaction times. Look for contradictions.
Questioning Techniques: Mix simple and complex questions. Give specific hints or leads to see if both respondents take the bait.

FAQs

What if the Knower and Bluffer give the exact same answer?

This is perfectly legal and a great strategy! The Judge will need to ask deeper questions to find subtle differences.

Can I change my answer?

Yes, but it might raise the Judge's suspicion. Consistency is key.

Can the Bluffer ask for clarification on the Judge's question?

Certainly. The Bluffer should act naturally, just like a real Knower, which includes seeking clarification.