The Civilian's Handbook: A Guide to Victory
The Golden Rule
Your Mission: You are the guardians of truth. Your goal is to create a web of logic so tight that the Imposter has nowhere to hide.
🧠 Act I: The Foundation - Building a Baseline of Truth
The first round is not about finding the Imposter; it's about establishing what is "normal" for your group and this specific word.
The Art of the First Clue
- Be Specific, but Not Too Specific: Your first clue should be undeniably true for the secret word, but leave some room for interpretation. Example: If the word is "Apple," a good clue is "fruit," not "iPhone."
- Listen More Than You Speak: Pay extremely close attention to the first 3-4 clues given. This forms your "truth baseline."
Case Study: Establishing a Baseline
- Secret Word: "Sun"
- Player 1 (You): "celestial"
- Player 2: "hot"
- Player 3: "bright"
Analysis: You've collectively established a clear baseline: it's a hot, bright, celestial object. Any clue that deviates significantly from this is highly suspicious.
🔍 Act II: The Investigation - Spotting the Cracks
Now that you have a baseline, your job is to hunt for anomalies.
Common Imposter Mistakes to Look For:
- The Echo Chamber: The Imposter often just repeats or slightly rephrases a previous clue (e.g., if someone says "hot," they say "warm").
- The Vague Generalist: Their clues are often extremely broad and could apply to almost anything (e.g., "it exists," "it's a thing").
- The Over-Compensator: Sometimes, a nervous Imposter will give a clue that is far too specific and slightly wrong, based on their incorrect guess of the word.
The Power of a Direct Question
Don't be afraid to challenge a suspicious clue. A simple, non-accusatory question can reveal a lot.
"Player 4, your clue was 'food.' That's interesting because the rest of us were thinking along celestial lines. Can you explain how 'food' connects?"
An Imposter will often stumble or become defensive. A Civilian with a different perspective will have a logical (even if unusual) explanation.
🤝 Act III: The Alliance - Building Consensus and Voting
Finding the Imposter is useless if you can't convince others to vote with you.
How to Rally the Troops:
- State Your Logic Clearly: Don't just say, "It's Player 4!" Instead, say, "I suspect Player 4. Here's why: Their clue 'food' contradicts our established baseline of 'hot, bright, celestial.' They haven't been able to logically connect it."
- Find an Ally: Identify another player who also seems suspicious of your target. A 2-person accusation is much stronger than a 1-person accusation.
- Control the Narrative: Summarize the evidence right before the vote to remind everyone of the logical inconsistencies.