Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
Encyclopedia
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is a book-based game
published by Sleuth Publications in 1981. A deluxe edition was released in a leatherette binder; the game was also published in a more traditional boxed version. In 1985, it won the Spiel des Jahres
award.
Although often thought of as a board game
, SHCD has no board. Players read a brief introduction to a case, then explore a large book of clues, each of which is tied to a numerical "location" somewhere in London.
The game had a very immersive feel, thanks to the way text was spread out into a number of small books and documents. For instance, reproductions of The Times are riddled with clues; a small directory tells players which numerical location to "visit" to talk to certain characters; maps and other devices allowed for a very "free-form" gaming experience, and also made the game ideal for solitaire
play.
The first installment contained ten cases. Five supplements were published: The Mansion Murders, The Queen's Park Affair, Adventures by Gaslight, Sherlock Holmes & the Baby, and West End Adventures.
Sleuth Publications also produced a similar game called Gumshoe, the Hardboiled Detective in the 30s. The game consists of historical maps of San Francisco from the 30s, mug shots, finger print files, newspapers, crime reports, etc.
All the games are out of print. A computer and DVD versions of some of the original games are still available.
Gamebook
A gamebook is a work of fiction that allows the reader to participate in the story by making effective choices. The narrative branches along various paths through the use of numbered paragraphs or pages...
published by Sleuth Publications in 1981. A deluxe edition was released in a leatherette binder; the game was also published in a more traditional boxed version. In 1985, it won the Spiel des Jahres
Spiel des Jahres
The Spiel des Jahres is an award for board and card games, created in 1978 with the stated purpose of rewarding excellence in game design, and promoting top-quality games in the German market. It is thought that the existence and popularity of the award is one of the major drivers of the quality...
award.
Although often thought of as a board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
, SHCD has no board. Players read a brief introduction to a case, then explore a large book of clues, each of which is tied to a numerical "location" somewhere in London.
The game had a very immersive feel, thanks to the way text was spread out into a number of small books and documents. For instance, reproductions of The Times are riddled with clues; a small directory tells players which numerical location to "visit" to talk to certain characters; maps and other devices allowed for a very "free-form" gaming experience, and also made the game ideal for solitaire
Solitaire
Solitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself or with other people. The solitaire card game Klondike is often known as simply Solitaire....
play.
The first installment contained ten cases. Five supplements were published: The Mansion Murders, The Queen's Park Affair, Adventures by Gaslight, Sherlock Holmes & the Baby, and West End Adventures.
Sleuth Publications also produced a similar game called Gumshoe, the Hardboiled Detective in the 30s. The game consists of historical maps of San Francisco from the 30s, mug shots, finger print files, newspapers, crime reports, etc.
All the games are out of print. A computer and DVD versions of some of the original games are still available.
External links
- Game entry at BoardGameGeekBoardGameGeekBoardGameGeek is a website that was founded in January 2000 by Scott Alden and Derk Solko as a resource for the board gaming hobby. The database holds reviews, articles, and session reports for over 45,000 different games, expansions, and designers. BoardGameGeek includes German-style board games,...