Three Black Crows, Three Dead Men is an interesting story game well worth a download and a play-through. It tells the story of three dead men, hanging from the gallows, from the point of view of the three crows who are about to eat their corpses. The players, naturally, play the crows.
The three black crows are Bitter, a cynic, Pity, who sees pathos and tragedy, and Hope, who is always looking on the positive side. These three personalities also become the three forces pulling the story in different directions.
Each stage of the game corresponds to one of the three corpses. The crime of each corpse that led to their hanging is in turn described in three stages: motive, means and opportunity. A simple die roll permits each of the crows to establish each step of the stories of each of the corpses. The crow who has completed the most stories at the end of the game wins. (It is possible for there to be a three-way tie, in which case "everyone is a winner.")
This innovative little game deserves a close look. After you see how the crows' personalities provide the story impetus, players may be able to introduce other crows into future rounds, with other personalities and agendas, or to alter the setting the game takes place in, with more fantastical or historical details.
Especially for the free price, this excellent product will provide you with several evenings of fun story play. It is also very easy to teach to those who haven't played story-creation games before.
|