Dead Drop - Gameplay Demo

Initial Setup

4 players in 2 teams: Blue Team (Alice & Bob) and Green Team (Carol & Dave)

Game Board

Safe House

👤 Informant 📄 Documents

Laboratory

🧑‍🔬 Scientist 🧪 Chemicals 🕵️ Alice

Office Building

💻 Computer 🕵️ Carol

Blue Team's Secret Mission

Mission A: Extract Scientist

Safely evacuate the defecting scientist from the laboratory

Requirements:
✓ Your agent at Laboratory
✓ Scientist at Laboratory
✗ Vehicle at Laboratory (MISSING!)

Example Round

Understanding Message Areas

Key Concept: Each player has their own message area. Cards are added when:

Starting: Each player places one card from their hand
Playing off-suit: The card goes to your message area
Winning a trick: You can take ANY card from the trick to add to your message

All cards face your teammate for communication!

1. Message Building Phase

Each player places one card from their hand into their own message area:

Alice's Message Area

→ Facing Bob

7♣ VEHICLE

Bob's Message Area

← Facing Alice

NORTH

Carol's Message Area

→ Facing Dave

J♥ CAMERA

Dave's Message Area

← Facing Carol

K♠ ELIMINATE

Alice's Thinking: "Bob and I need a vehicle at the Laboratory. I'll start my message with 'VEHICLE' to hint at what we need!"

2. Trick-Taking Phase

Players are dealt trick cards. When a player can't follow suit, they place their card in their message area facing their teammate:

Alice's Message Area (Blue Team)

→ Facing Bob

Bob's Message Area (Blue Team)

← Facing Alice

Carol's Message Area (Green Team)

→ Facing Dave

Dave's Message Area (Green Team)

← Facing Carol

Trick 3 Example:

Alice leads with 10♠ (Spades)

Carol plays 3♠ (follows suit)

Bob has no Spades! He plays 7♥ off-suit

🎴 Bob's Off-Suit Message

Since Bob couldn't follow suit, his 7♥ is placed in his message area facing Alice:

Bob's Message Area

← Facing Alice

7♥ VEHICLE

Bob's thinking: "Perfect! Alice will see this and know we need a vehicle!"

Dave plays 2♠ (follows suit)

Alice wins the trick! (10♠ is highest)

🏆 Alice Takes a Card from the Trick

As the trick winner, Alice can take ANY card from the trick (10♠, 3♠, 7♥, or 2♠) and add it to her message area:

Alice's Message Area

→ Facing Bob

7♣ VEHICLE

2♠ CAMERA

Alice's choice: "I'll take Dave's 2♠ with 'CAMERA' - it might help our surveillance mission later!"

Trick 4 Example:

Alice leads with 5♣ (Clubs)

Carol has no Clubs! She plays 3♦ off-suit

🎴 Carol's Off-Suit Message

Carol's 3♦ is placed in her message area facing Dave:

Carol's Message Area

→ Facing Dave

3♦ STEAL

Carol's thinking: "I'll signal Dave about a potential steal mission!"

Bob plays J♣ (follows suit)

Dave has no Clubs! He plays 8♥ off-suit

🎴 Dave's Off-Suit Message

Dave adds to his message area, communicating with Carol:

Dave's Message Area

← Facing Carol

8♥ DRIVE

Bob wins the trick! (J♣ is highest)

🏆 Bob Takes a Card from the Trick

Bob won with J♣ and can take ANY card from the trick (5♣, 3♦, J♣, or 8♥):

Bob's Message Area

← Facing Alice

NORTH

7♥ VEHICLE

8♥ DRIVE

Bob's choice: "I'll take Dave's 8♥ with 'DRIVE' - it reinforces our vehicle message!"

3. Reading the Combined Messages

At the end of the round, each player's message area contains all their accumulated cards:

Alice's Message Area

→ Facing Bob

7♣ VEHICLE

2♠ CAMERA

Bob's Message Area

← Facing Alice

NORTH

7♥ VEHICLE

8♥ DRIVE

Carol's Message Area

→ Facing Dave

J♥ CAMERA

3♦ STEAL

Dave's Message Area

← Facing Carol

K♠ ELIMINATE

Alice's Analysis: "Bob's message clearly shows 'VEHICLE' + 'DRIVE' heading 'NORTH' - he wants me to get transportation! My 'VEHICLE' + 'CAMERA' tells him I understand and might need surveillance too."

Carol's Analysis: "Dave has 'ELIMINATE' and I have 'STEAL' + 'CAMERA' - maybe we should steal surveillance equipment or eliminate someone with a camera?"

4. Taking Action

Alice decides to use her next turn to move a vehicle to help complete their mission:

🎯 Alice's Turn

On her turn, Alice picks up an object:

Action: Pick up Vehicle token from Safe House

Then later, she can move to the Laboratory and drop it off!

Updated Board State

Safe House

👤 Informant 📄 Documents

Laboratory

🧑‍🔬 Scientist 🧪 Chemicals 🚗 Vehicle 🕵️ Alice

Office Building

💻 Computer 🕵️ Carol

4. Mission Attempt

At the end of the round, teams can attempt missions:

✅ Mission Success!

Bob reveals the "Extract Scientist" mission and points out:

✓ Alice (their agent) is at the Laboratory
✓ The Scientist is at the Laboratory
✓ A Vehicle is now at the Laboratory

Result: Blue Team scores 1 point!

Secret Signals & Counter-Intelligence

🤫 Pre-Game Strategy: Before the round starts, partners can secretly agree on signals to indicate whether cards should be read as genuine messages or counter-intelligence!

Example Signal System

Alice and Bob secretly agreed before the game:

Playing quickly: This card is a real message
Pausing before playing: This card is misdirection/counter-intel
Tapping the card: Pay special attention to this word
Playing from left side of hand: Action needed soon
Playing from right side of hand: Information for later

🎭 Counter-Intelligence Example

Bob needs to play a card but doesn't want to help the opponents:

Bob's Message Area

← Facing Alice

Q♦ BOMB

Bob's move: *pauses dramatically before playing* (Signal: This is misdirection!)

Alice understands: "That pause means 'BOMB' is fake - ignore it and focus on his other messages."

Opponents think: "Oh no, they're planning to use explosives!"

Advanced Signaling

Experienced teams might develop complex signals:

Card orientation: Slightly angled = urgent, straight = normal timing
Which hand holds cards: Switch hands = change of plans
Breathing patterns: Deep breath = important card coming
Where you look: At partner = real message, at opponents = fake

Remember: No talking or overt communication during rounds! All signals must be subtle enough that opponents might not notice, but clear enough for your partner to understand.

Communication Strategies

Word Combinations

Example: "Eliminate the Guard"

K♠ ELIMINATE

9♣ GUARD

Using Face-Down Cards

Example: "Meet North at Night"

A♥ MEET

NORTH

A♠ NIGHT

Creative Interpretation

Example: "MOSQUITO" + "SWAT" could mean:

"Eliminate the pest" (kill the accountant)
"Bug the room" (plant listening device)
"Small annoyance" (create a distraction)

Context and your team's shared understanding are key!

Strategy Tips

For Message Builders

Start with clear, direct messages until your team develops shorthand
Use face-down cards for directions or timing (NORTH, EAST, etc.)
Consider what cards you're giving opponents when you win tricks
Sometimes NOT crafting a message is the right play
Develop secret signals with your partner before the game starts
Mix real messages with counter-intelligence to confuse opponents

For Action Takers

Watch the message area constantly for your partner's hints
Pay attention to HOW your partner plays cards, not just what they play
Think ahead about which board actions will help complete missions
Moving POIs can set up multiple missions at once
Failed mission attempts become equipment - sometimes worth the risk!
Remember your agreed signals - that dramatic pause might mean "ignore this!"

Signal Development

Keep signals simple at first - too complex and you'll forget mid-game
Physical signals (tapping, pausing) are easier than counting-based ones
Have a "reset" signal in case you get confused
Practice your poker face - opponents are watching for tells too!
Change your signals between games to keep opponents guessing

Remember: Your opponents are watching the messages too! Sometimes misdirection is as valuable as communication.