Game Objective

Welcome to Crime City, detectives! Prepare your magnifying glasses and sharpen your eyes, because the objective in MicroMacro: Crime City is simple, yet challenging: solve crimes! You will play together, as a team, to unravel the mysteries that plague this seemingly peaceful city. Each case is a visual puzzle, and the victory condition is clear: solve all tasks of a specific case, following the clues and finding the correct scenes on the gigantic city map. Prepare for an investigative adventure where every detail matters!

Setup

Setting up the crime scene is the first step to becoming a successful detective. Follow this practical guide to begin your investigation:

1. Unfold the City Map: Open the City Map in a suitable location. A large table is ideal, but the floor or even a wall can work. The important thing is that all players have a good view and can move freely around it.
2. Lighting is Key: Ensure good lighting! Tiny details are crucial in MicroMacro, and strong light (natural or artificial) will make all the difference.
3. Keep the Map Clean: The City Map should always be completely visible. Keep drinks and food away to avoid accidents.
4. Prepare the Case Cards: The game comes with 120 Case Cards and 16 Envelopes. Each case has its own deck of cards, marked with a case icon and a number in the upper right corner. Place the cards for each case in its respective envelope, in the correct order.
5. The Detective's Magnifying Glass: Stick the provided sticker on the Magnifying Glass. It will be your best friend for examining specific scenes in detail.
6. Choose Your First Case: To start, we recommend the introductory case: “The Top Hat”. Take the deck of cards for this case from its envelope and place it near the map (but not on it, so as not to cover clues!).
7. Name the Chief Investigator: Choose one player to be the Chief Investigator. They will be responsible for leading the investigation and reading the card texts.
8. Begin the Investigation: The Chief Investigator reveals the initial card of the case (the top one of the deck) and reads the text on the back aloud. This card introduces the crime and the main character.

The Game Turn

In MicroMacro, the game flows cooperatively, without rigid turns, but with a clear process for solving each task:

1. The First Task: After the initial card, the next card on top of the deck (with a black background) describes the first task to be solved. The Chief Investigator reads this task aloud, without turning the card over. For example: "FIND THE BAR!"
2. Finding the Scene: All players, as a team, must now look for the scene corresponding to the task on the City Map. Use the Magnifying Glass if you need help seeing the details.
3. Verifying the Solution: When the group believes they have found the correct scene, the Chief Investigator turns over the task card.
4. Correct Solution: If the coordinates and scene revealed on the back of the card match the group's discovery, the solution is correct! The Chief Investigator reads the text aloud and shows the illustration to the other players. This card is then set aside.
5. Incorrect Solution: If the solution is wrong, the Chief Investigator immediately returns the card (without reading the text on the back) and informs the group that they need to investigate further. The Chief Investigator, now knowing the answer, can no longer actively participate in solving that specific task, unless the group is completely lost and needs a small hint.
6. Next Task: Once a card is solved and set aside, a new card is at the top of the deck. This is your new task!
7. Hints and Multiple Tasks: Some cards may contain a hint icon, indicating useful information for future tasks. Additionally, if an instruction appears on the front of a case card to "Place this card next to the deck so that the next question can also be seen!", it means you will have two (or even more) tasks to work on simultaneously.

Remember: don't guess! Always look for a scene on the map that confirms the solution. Following the steps of each character will help you better understand the story and solve the crime.

End of Game and Scoring

In MicroMacro: Crime City, the game is a cooperative experience and the "score" is the satisfaction of a job well done!

• The game ends when all tasks of a specific case are solved. There is no traditional scoring system; victory is achieved collectively by fully unraveling the mystery.
• Once the last mystery of the case is solved, you, as a team of detectives, are victorious!
• If you have solved all 16 cases, congratulations! You have mastered Crime City. How about hanging the map on the wall as a poster and inviting friends for a quick game?

Tips for Winning

To become the best detectives in Crime City, here are some valuable tips:

1. Mark the Clues: Don't underestimate the power of good marking! It can be extremely useful to mark relevant scenes on the map with coins, bottle caps, or any other small object. This helps to trace the path of criminals and maintain focus on important points.
2. Communication is Everything: As in any cooperative game, communication is fundamental. Make sure that all players have the same opportunities to interact and participate in the investigation. Share your observations, theories, and doubts. Sometimes, a detail that one player didn't notice can be the key for another.
3. Follow the Story: The case cards tell a story. Instead of just looking for objects, try to follow the steps of each character. Understanding the sequence of events will help connect the clues and find the correct scenes on the map.