This game is a fundraiser for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. See below for how to help.

Inspired by books like Harriet the Spy, Encyclopedia Brown, and Nancy Drew, Kid Detectives is a game of middle school kids in the mid 1980s solving mysteries in the sleepy town of Ida Falls. Who stole the soccer coach’s lucky hat? Who spread the vicious rumors about a friend? 

As they do they’ll spend time with their friends, grow closer to their family, and form bonds that will last a lifetime. Meanwhile, a deeper conspiracy lurks. The adults are up to No Good. It's up to you to uncover their secrets.

Kid Detectives uses the mystery mechanics from Brindlewood Bay to tell stories of friendship, responsibility and reconciliation. The mystery is solved with apologies and repaired relationships, not with punishments. The GM presents a web of accusation, hurt feelings and anger. The players sort through the mess and create a solution that makes everyone happy. Roll well enough and it works! 

Individual actions are resolved with two distinct mechanics. The Kid Move move is for facing down other kids and kids sized problems. Consequences are rough but they can be more easily avoided. Standing up to a grownup or an adult sized problem requires the Grownup Move. Consequences are always the worst possible thing that could happen in that moment.

But don’t worry, you can always mark a Trouble to avoid a consequence. This steps up the result one tier, from a failure to a mixed success or a mixed success to a full success. (You can even turn a success into a critical success, if you want!) Keep an eye on how much trouble you have. Between mysteries you roll +Trouble and higher rolls means more problems at home.  

Meanwhile, the campaign arc features an actual criminal conspiracy in Ida Falls. Grownups may be smuggling drugs, running guns or planning a bank robbery. No matter what the Detectives know the truth but no one listens to kids. The Detectives pin clues to a corkboard and connect them with string to prove their theory is correct. And be careful, if they grownups find out you’re on to them they’ll come looking for you. 

Includes:

• 47 page ready to print rule book with everything you need to play
• Custom character sheet
• Reference sheet with all the moves
• A premade mystery booklet to start your story
  • A second coming soon!
• Google Sheets character keeper for online play
  • Coming soon! 

How to get Kid Detectives

• Donate any amount to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
• Forward your confirmation email to kiddetectivesttrpg@gmail.com
• Wait for an email with the download information

Want more information? Check out the reference sheet and premade mystery below.