Post by pip on Jul 14, 2021 20:57:54 GMT
The Crown versus Doctor Watson
by Gerald Lientz
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Do not read further if you don't want this gamebook to be spoiled for you.
Another good entry in the series, this one takes place during the time Sherlock Holmes is supposedly dead, so in this adventure you will report to his brother Mycroft instead. Just for fun, there is an optional subplot that may allow you to not only find out Sherlock is still alive, but also to briefly interact with him (under disguise). This however has nothing to do with the case, so the walkthrough will not go over that.
For the purpose of this walkthrough, I will consider the game is lost if you are offered to try again, even though the book acknowledges partial successes and also allows you to just give up and read the solution.
Skills
For this adventure, I recommend downgrading Scholarship and Artifice, and giving the extra points to Athletics: it is not tested much, but there is a good chance it will make a difference in an important encounter at the end.
Walkthrough
Keep in mind that when I tell you not to bother doing so or so, it’s because, as long as you are using this walkthrough, it has no use when it comes to getting a good ending. Of course, taking these optional paths might still provide useful clues when it comes to solving the case in your head, or if you’re not strictly following the walkthrough. We’re just focusing on the easiest way to solve the case gamebook-wise here.
The first part of the investigation takes place at the Three Continents Club. Unless you got some very lucky dice rolls there and got the chance to arrest the culprit prematurely, Mycroft will review your clues after that. In order to continue the investigation at that point, you will need to have found either Clue F, Clue J or Clue Q. Using the walkthrough, there is a sure-fire way to find Clue F, so we won’t be looking for the others. During the rest of the investigation, there are many different combinations of clues that can make you win, so I will just walk you through the path that gives you the best chances to check as many of them as possible.
Chapter 1: First steps with McDonald and Watson
McDonald has useful information, but none that is absolutely required to win, so you don’t need to bother asking more questions.
When you visit Watson, do NOT ask him to describe what happened, and this will lead Watson to talk about something else, namely his business venture with Sir Terrence. On a successful Intuition 7+ test, you will then check Clue E. Conduct the rest of Watson’s interrogation in any way you like.
Chapter 2: The crime scene
You examine the crime scene at the Three Continents Club. You may be asked at some point if you want to search for secret passages, but this is not needed as, while there is a secret passage in the room, it’s irrelevant to the case. Just keep searching the room until you can ask Strickland to hide behind the curtains. He will do so and provide you with Clue F. After that, you may also find Clue I on a successful Observation 8+ test.
Chapter 3: Questioning the witnesses
Don’t bother questioning Strickland or Johnson. Chambers, Grant and Sullivan can provide you with clues, but none that will be used in the walkthrough, so there’s no need to bother either. Lord Howard has nothing useful for you.
Choose to question John Howard (not the same person as Lord Howard). Ask his opinion of Sir Terrence, and, on a successful Intuition 7+ test, you will get to ask if other members invested with Sir Terrence, leading to Deduction 8 (note that there will be another chance to find that deduction later on). Continue questioning him. At a later point, you will get to ask him what he saw when Chambers called out. Do so, then ask him who he was talking to to find Clue O.
Lawrence, the next person you can question, can provide you with Clue O as well, but you already have it by now, so there’s no need to question him. Don’t bother with Martin either.
If you don’t already have Deduction 8, question Lewis. Ask his opinion of Sir Terrence and, on a successful Intuition 7+ test, you will get to ask him who recommended the investment, leading to Deduction 8.
Question Marshall. You may ask him about the fight. You had a chance to find Clue P from Martin earlier, which would allow you to ask Marshall about the contradiction here, leading to Clue M. It however doesn’t matter if you don’t have Clue P, which is why we didn’t bother with Martin, because immediately after this you will get to ask Marshall what he did until the body was discovered, which also gives you Clue M. Since you have Clue O from earlier, at this point, you will understand Marshall is lying to you. Here you can choose to confront Marshall, which may lead to an early arrest if you pass some difficult tests, but this might also prevent you from obtaining Deduction 9, which makes things easier for you later on if the confrontation didn’t happen or was unsuccessful.
If you want to confront Marshall, ask him to explain the differences in the stories. If you pass an Intuition 9+ test, ask him why he lied, pass a Communication 10+ test, accuse him of murdering Sir Terrence, then pass a Communication 11+ test, Marshall will confess and you can then skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8). If you fail either of the Communication tests, Marshall will just leave the room angrily.
If you don’t want to confront Marshall, or if you failed the first Intuition test, continue questioning him until you can ask his opinion of Sir Terrence. As long as you got either Clue E or Deduction 8 from earlier, you can then ask him why he lied to obtain Deduction 9. Even though he will act like it means nothing, he will understand he is compromised and will later on try to murder John Symington (and probably succeed). The reason I recommend to obtain this deduction is that things will be easier for you later on if Symington got murdered.
After this, you will leave the club. On a successful Intuition test, you will get to question the man handing out flyers on the street who has an interesting story to tell, but it’s not mandatory as, if you’ve followed the walkthrough, you already have enough clues to pass the upcoming interview with Mycroft.
Chapter 4: First visit to Mycroft
You will be prompted for different clues here. Just having Clue F from earlier allows you to continue the investigation. There’s nothing to gain from inquiring about Waynesborough or Lewis. Do inquire about Symington for Deduction 14. Next, you will be asked if you notably have both Clue M and Clue O, which you do have (note that, if you don't, the other option requires you, among other things, to have Deduction 4, which is nowhere to be found in the book, at least in my edition... was it Deduction 14?). This will net you Deduction 19. Nothing mandatory is to be learned during the rest of the discussion. Note that, just before the end, you may get to ask Mycroft for a letter authorising you to read through Sherlock’s archives, which is Decision 17 (it really is 17, you’re given a wrong decision number in the book). Having this decision, however, serves no real purpose.
Chapter 5: Visit to Symington
If you have both Deduction 9 and Deduction 14, visit Waynesborough and ask him anything you like. When you return, as long as you indeed have Deduction 9 and Deduction 14, McDonald will inform you that Symington was murdered. Choose to go with him. On a successful Observation 6+ test, you will obtain Deduction 21. If that fails, search the room and, if you both have Clue I and pass an Observation 8+ test, you will also obtain Deduction 21. After that, search the desk and you will find a very interesting letter (it doesn’t matter if you pass the Artifice test). At this point, if you have either Deduction 21, Clue E or Deduction 8, you will have enough proof to incriminate Marshall, and you can then skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8).
If you didn’t find enough proof to incriminate Marshall, or if you don’t have Deduction 9 (you will necessarily have Deduction 14 after following the walkthrough), you will be asked what your next move will be. If you have Decision 17, you will be asked if you want to go to Baker Street, but decline and instead visit Symington right away. Otherwise, you will just be asked if you want to visit Symington. Do so.
If you have Deduction 9, and as long as you chose to visit Symington immediately (without visiting Baker Street first) you may catch a glimpse of Marshall on this new crime scene. You can first find Clue T on a successful Observation 11+ test. If you make it, ignore Marshall and come back one hour later to see Symington. If you didn’t make it, choose to hide and wait for the man. You have another chance to find Clue T here on a successful Artifice 8+ test. If you make it, ignore Marshall and just go see Symington. If that test also failed, it is too risky and not worth it to follow Marshall, so also ignore him and just go see Symington. Enter the office and you will find Symington’s dead body. If you have Clue T, you will have enough proof to incriminate Marshall, and you can then skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8). If you didn’t manage to get Clue T, don’t call the police and search the office instead. Continue searching until you can search the desk. On a successful Artifice 8+ test, you will find a letter. Read it, you will then have enough proof to incriminate Marshall, and you can skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8).
If, on the other hand, you don’t have Deduction 9, Symington will be alive and well, and you can question him. Do not ask his opinion of Sir Terrence. Instead, ask him who helped Sir Terrence. On a successful Communication 8+ test, you will obtain Deduction 11 (note that there will be another, more convoluted chance to find that deduction later on ; also note that some editions label this deduction Deduction 27, but it makes no difference as the later checks are coherent with this).
After this, you may be asked if you want to go to Baker Street, but there’s still no point.
Chapter 6: Wrapping up
Go to Sir Terrence’s house. Ask Perkins to help you look through his papers. If you pass an easy Communication 5+ test, you will find Clue X. If you fail the test, you get Clue W instead, which is not as strong a clue but may help later on.
Since you at least have Deduction 19 (among other potential requirements), you will be asked if you want to search Marshall’s house. Do so. Try a basement window. You can get inside the house with a successful Artifice 8+ test (if you fail, you won’t be able to enter and you can skip to the next chapter). On a successful Observation 8+ test, a shelf will attract your attention. Examine it to find Clue Y. After that, whether you noticed the shelf or not, you will take another Observation 8+ test. If you succeed, and if you have Clue W from earlier, you will obtain Deduction 11 if you don’t have it already. Make sure to straighten the room before you leave! If you don’t, Marshall will find out someone went through his stuff and will escape prematurely, preventing you from arresting him later on.
Chapter 7: Final visit to Mycroft
Accuse Marshall. You have Clue M and Clue O. In order to continue further, you will then need either Clue X, Deduction 11, Clue E or Deduction 8. Note that if you’re going with the Clue E or Deduction 8 requirement, the book will also require you to have Deduction 4, which is nowhere to be found (at least in my edition). I believe this should instead be Deduction 14, which you will always have if you’ve followed the walkthrough. If you were very unlucky with the dice and have none of these requirements, the game will be over. Otherwise, proceed to the next chapter.
Chapter 8: Arresting Marshall
As mentioned above, if you've searched Marshall’s house and didn’t straighten the room before leaving, Marshall will be far away by now and you will fail here. If you have Clue Y, you will know about the secret exit in Marshall’s house, and you will arrest him automatically.
Otherwise, you will begin chasing Marshall. Running after him and trying to outsmart him can both work, but it’s easier if you run after him, so do that. On a successful Athletics 7+ test, run onto the boat and ask the captain to seize Marshall. You will arrest him. If you failed that Athletics test, this is going to be harder. You’ll have to pass an Observation 7+ test and an Athletics 9+ test, jump onto the boat, pass an Athletics 8+ test, then ask the captain to seize Marshall and you will arrest him. If any of these tests fail, you won’t make it.
Mandatory tests for the easiest path
Athletics 7+ to catch Marshall, and either one of these:
* Communication 5+ for Clue X
* Communication 8+, or Artifice 8+ and Observation 8+ for Deduction 11
* Intuition 7+ for Clue E
* Intuition 7+ for Deduction 8 (two chances)
Best skill configuration AFAIK: boosting Athletics to +3 by downgrading Scholarship and Artifice to -2 gives you a 97.4% success rate
by Gerald Lientz
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Do not read further if you don't want this gamebook to be spoiled for you.
Another good entry in the series, this one takes place during the time Sherlock Holmes is supposedly dead, so in this adventure you will report to his brother Mycroft instead. Just for fun, there is an optional subplot that may allow you to not only find out Sherlock is still alive, but also to briefly interact with him (under disguise). This however has nothing to do with the case, so the walkthrough will not go over that.
For the purpose of this walkthrough, I will consider the game is lost if you are offered to try again, even though the book acknowledges partial successes and also allows you to just give up and read the solution.
Skills
For this adventure, I recommend downgrading Scholarship and Artifice, and giving the extra points to Athletics: it is not tested much, but there is a good chance it will make a difference in an important encounter at the end.
Walkthrough
Keep in mind that when I tell you not to bother doing so or so, it’s because, as long as you are using this walkthrough, it has no use when it comes to getting a good ending. Of course, taking these optional paths might still provide useful clues when it comes to solving the case in your head, or if you’re not strictly following the walkthrough. We’re just focusing on the easiest way to solve the case gamebook-wise here.
The first part of the investigation takes place at the Three Continents Club. Unless you got some very lucky dice rolls there and got the chance to arrest the culprit prematurely, Mycroft will review your clues after that. In order to continue the investigation at that point, you will need to have found either Clue F, Clue J or Clue Q. Using the walkthrough, there is a sure-fire way to find Clue F, so we won’t be looking for the others. During the rest of the investigation, there are many different combinations of clues that can make you win, so I will just walk you through the path that gives you the best chances to check as many of them as possible.
Chapter 1: First steps with McDonald and Watson
McDonald has useful information, but none that is absolutely required to win, so you don’t need to bother asking more questions.
When you visit Watson, do NOT ask him to describe what happened, and this will lead Watson to talk about something else, namely his business venture with Sir Terrence. On a successful Intuition 7+ test, you will then check Clue E. Conduct the rest of Watson’s interrogation in any way you like.
Chapter 2: The crime scene
You examine the crime scene at the Three Continents Club. You may be asked at some point if you want to search for secret passages, but this is not needed as, while there is a secret passage in the room, it’s irrelevant to the case. Just keep searching the room until you can ask Strickland to hide behind the curtains. He will do so and provide you with Clue F. After that, you may also find Clue I on a successful Observation 8+ test.
Chapter 3: Questioning the witnesses
Don’t bother questioning Strickland or Johnson. Chambers, Grant and Sullivan can provide you with clues, but none that will be used in the walkthrough, so there’s no need to bother either. Lord Howard has nothing useful for you.
Choose to question John Howard (not the same person as Lord Howard). Ask his opinion of Sir Terrence, and, on a successful Intuition 7+ test, you will get to ask if other members invested with Sir Terrence, leading to Deduction 8 (note that there will be another chance to find that deduction later on). Continue questioning him. At a later point, you will get to ask him what he saw when Chambers called out. Do so, then ask him who he was talking to to find Clue O.
Lawrence, the next person you can question, can provide you with Clue O as well, but you already have it by now, so there’s no need to question him. Don’t bother with Martin either.
If you don’t already have Deduction 8, question Lewis. Ask his opinion of Sir Terrence and, on a successful Intuition 7+ test, you will get to ask him who recommended the investment, leading to Deduction 8.
Question Marshall. You may ask him about the fight. You had a chance to find Clue P from Martin earlier, which would allow you to ask Marshall about the contradiction here, leading to Clue M. It however doesn’t matter if you don’t have Clue P, which is why we didn’t bother with Martin, because immediately after this you will get to ask Marshall what he did until the body was discovered, which also gives you Clue M. Since you have Clue O from earlier, at this point, you will understand Marshall is lying to you. Here you can choose to confront Marshall, which may lead to an early arrest if you pass some difficult tests, but this might also prevent you from obtaining Deduction 9, which makes things easier for you later on if the confrontation didn’t happen or was unsuccessful.
If you want to confront Marshall, ask him to explain the differences in the stories. If you pass an Intuition 9+ test, ask him why he lied, pass a Communication 10+ test, accuse him of murdering Sir Terrence, then pass a Communication 11+ test, Marshall will confess and you can then skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8). If you fail either of the Communication tests, Marshall will just leave the room angrily.
If you don’t want to confront Marshall, or if you failed the first Intuition test, continue questioning him until you can ask his opinion of Sir Terrence. As long as you got either Clue E or Deduction 8 from earlier, you can then ask him why he lied to obtain Deduction 9. Even though he will act like it means nothing, he will understand he is compromised and will later on try to murder John Symington (and probably succeed). The reason I recommend to obtain this deduction is that things will be easier for you later on if Symington got murdered.
After this, you will leave the club. On a successful Intuition test, you will get to question the man handing out flyers on the street who has an interesting story to tell, but it’s not mandatory as, if you’ve followed the walkthrough, you already have enough clues to pass the upcoming interview with Mycroft.
Chapter 4: First visit to Mycroft
You will be prompted for different clues here. Just having Clue F from earlier allows you to continue the investigation. There’s nothing to gain from inquiring about Waynesborough or Lewis. Do inquire about Symington for Deduction 14. Next, you will be asked if you notably have both Clue M and Clue O, which you do have (note that, if you don't, the other option requires you, among other things, to have Deduction 4, which is nowhere to be found in the book, at least in my edition... was it Deduction 14?). This will net you Deduction 19. Nothing mandatory is to be learned during the rest of the discussion. Note that, just before the end, you may get to ask Mycroft for a letter authorising you to read through Sherlock’s archives, which is Decision 17 (it really is 17, you’re given a wrong decision number in the book). Having this decision, however, serves no real purpose.
Chapter 5: Visit to Symington
If you have both Deduction 9 and Deduction 14, visit Waynesborough and ask him anything you like. When you return, as long as you indeed have Deduction 9 and Deduction 14, McDonald will inform you that Symington was murdered. Choose to go with him. On a successful Observation 6+ test, you will obtain Deduction 21. If that fails, search the room and, if you both have Clue I and pass an Observation 8+ test, you will also obtain Deduction 21. After that, search the desk and you will find a very interesting letter (it doesn’t matter if you pass the Artifice test). At this point, if you have either Deduction 21, Clue E or Deduction 8, you will have enough proof to incriminate Marshall, and you can then skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8).
If you didn’t find enough proof to incriminate Marshall, or if you don’t have Deduction 9 (you will necessarily have Deduction 14 after following the walkthrough), you will be asked what your next move will be. If you have Decision 17, you will be asked if you want to go to Baker Street, but decline and instead visit Symington right away. Otherwise, you will just be asked if you want to visit Symington. Do so.
If you have Deduction 9, and as long as you chose to visit Symington immediately (without visiting Baker Street first) you may catch a glimpse of Marshall on this new crime scene. You can first find Clue T on a successful Observation 11+ test. If you make it, ignore Marshall and come back one hour later to see Symington. If you didn’t make it, choose to hide and wait for the man. You have another chance to find Clue T here on a successful Artifice 8+ test. If you make it, ignore Marshall and just go see Symington. If that test also failed, it is too risky and not worth it to follow Marshall, so also ignore him and just go see Symington. Enter the office and you will find Symington’s dead body. If you have Clue T, you will have enough proof to incriminate Marshall, and you can then skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8). If you didn’t manage to get Clue T, don’t call the police and search the office instead. Continue searching until you can search the desk. On a successful Artifice 8+ test, you will find a letter. Read it, you will then have enough proof to incriminate Marshall, and you can skip to the last chapter (Chapter 8).
If, on the other hand, you don’t have Deduction 9, Symington will be alive and well, and you can question him. Do not ask his opinion of Sir Terrence. Instead, ask him who helped Sir Terrence. On a successful Communication 8+ test, you will obtain Deduction 11 (note that there will be another, more convoluted chance to find that deduction later on ; also note that some editions label this deduction Deduction 27, but it makes no difference as the later checks are coherent with this).
After this, you may be asked if you want to go to Baker Street, but there’s still no point.
Chapter 6: Wrapping up
Go to Sir Terrence’s house. Ask Perkins to help you look through his papers. If you pass an easy Communication 5+ test, you will find Clue X. If you fail the test, you get Clue W instead, which is not as strong a clue but may help later on.
Since you at least have Deduction 19 (among other potential requirements), you will be asked if you want to search Marshall’s house. Do so. Try a basement window. You can get inside the house with a successful Artifice 8+ test (if you fail, you won’t be able to enter and you can skip to the next chapter). On a successful Observation 8+ test, a shelf will attract your attention. Examine it to find Clue Y. After that, whether you noticed the shelf or not, you will take another Observation 8+ test. If you succeed, and if you have Clue W from earlier, you will obtain Deduction 11 if you don’t have it already. Make sure to straighten the room before you leave! If you don’t, Marshall will find out someone went through his stuff and will escape prematurely, preventing you from arresting him later on.
Chapter 7: Final visit to Mycroft
Accuse Marshall. You have Clue M and Clue O. In order to continue further, you will then need either Clue X, Deduction 11, Clue E or Deduction 8. Note that if you’re going with the Clue E or Deduction 8 requirement, the book will also require you to have Deduction 4, which is nowhere to be found (at least in my edition). I believe this should instead be Deduction 14, which you will always have if you’ve followed the walkthrough. If you were very unlucky with the dice and have none of these requirements, the game will be over. Otherwise, proceed to the next chapter.
Chapter 8: Arresting Marshall
As mentioned above, if you've searched Marshall’s house and didn’t straighten the room before leaving, Marshall will be far away by now and you will fail here. If you have Clue Y, you will know about the secret exit in Marshall’s house, and you will arrest him automatically.
Otherwise, you will begin chasing Marshall. Running after him and trying to outsmart him can both work, but it’s easier if you run after him, so do that. On a successful Athletics 7+ test, run onto the boat and ask the captain to seize Marshall. You will arrest him. If you failed that Athletics test, this is going to be harder. You’ll have to pass an Observation 7+ test and an Athletics 9+ test, jump onto the boat, pass an Athletics 8+ test, then ask the captain to seize Marshall and you will arrest him. If any of these tests fail, you won’t make it.
Mandatory tests for the easiest path
Athletics 7+ to catch Marshall, and either one of these:
* Communication 5+ for Clue X
* Communication 8+, or Artifice 8+ and Observation 8+ for Deduction 11
* Intuition 7+ for Clue E
* Intuition 7+ for Deduction 8 (two chances)
Best skill configuration AFAIK: boosting Athletics to +3 by downgrading Scholarship and Artifice to -2 gives you a 97.4% success rate