Murder Mystery Kit Generator
Website User Guide

Welcome to EnigmaKits!

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using the Murder Mystery Kit Generator website to create your own custom murder mystery party kits.

---

1. Getting Started

Accessing the Site

Visit the Murder Mystery Kit Generator homepage where you'll find:

• Information about how the generator works
• The kit creation form on the right side
• Options to sign up, log in, or continue as a guest

First-Time Users: Choose Your Path

---

2. Account Types & Benefits

Guest Access (Free)

• Weekly Limit: 3 kits per week
• Monthly Limit: 12 kits per month
• Theme Options: Curated preset themes only
• Kit Storage: Download links expire in 7 days
• Best For: Trying out the service or hosting a single event

Personal Account (Free)

• Weekly Limit: 5 kits per week
• Monthly Limit: 20 kits per month
• Theme Options: Expanded customization options
• Kit Storage: Access to previously generated kits
• Email Verification: Required for account security
• Best For: Regular party hosts and enthusiasts

Commercial Account (Premium)

• Weekly Limit: 10 kits per week
• Monthly Limit: 40 kits per month
• Theme Options: Full access including venue-specific prompts
• Advanced Features: Analytics and usage tracking
• Priority Support: Faster response times
• Best For: Event planners, venues, and professional hosts

---

3. Creating Your First Kit

Step 1: Fill Out the Customization Form

The form is organized into several sections. Here's what each field means:

Theme & Atmosphere

Theme/Setting

• Choose the primary location type (e.g., Mansion, Cruise Ship, Speakeasy, Corporate Office, Space Station)
• This determines the overall environment and aesthetic
• Examples: Victorian Mansion, 1920s Speakeasy, Modern Tech Startup

Era

• Select the time period for your mystery
• Options: Modern Day, 1920s, Victorian Era, Sci-Fi Future, Regency Period, and more
• Affects character archetypes, language style, and technology available

Location Flavor

• Add geographical personality to your setting
• Examples: New York City, Paris, Coastal Maine, Desert Oasis, Small Suburb
• Influences character backgrounds and local color

Tone

• Comedic: Light-hearted with humor and witty banter
• Serious: Dramatic and intense
• Dark: Noir-style with mature themes
• Romantic Intrigue: Love triangles and passionate secrets

Venue Detail

• Specify the actual hosting location
• Options: Private Home, Restaurant, Hotel Ballroom, Country Club, Office Space
• Helps tailor setup instructions and prop suggestions

Party Configuration

Number of Players

• Select how many male and female characters you need
• Range: 4-12 total players
• System automatically includes 1-2 backup/alternate characters

Group Type/Social Frame

• College Friends: Younger players, casual atmosphere
• Young Adults: 20s-30s, mix of serious and fun
• Career Builders: Professional setting, workplace themes
• Seasoned Pros: Mature players, sophisticated content
• Team Building: Corporate groups, work-appropriate content

Difficulty Level

• Easy: Obvious clues, straightforward solution, great for beginners
• Medium: Balanced challenge with some red herrings
• Hard: Complex mystery with subtle clues and multiple suspects
• Host-Directed Arc: Host reveals clues at specific moments for maximum drama

Personalization

Special Requests

Use this field for:

• Dietary restrictions for suggested menus
• Accessibility needs for activities
• Specific character requests ("Can one character be a chef?")
• Thematic preferences ("Include a butler character")
• Content boundaries beyond the checkboxes

Delivery Email

• Where your download link will be sent
• Must be valid—check for typos!
• Check spam folder if you don't receive it within 30 minutes

Content Options (Personal & Commercial Accounts)

Allow Mild Scandal

• Enables PG-13 content (romantic affairs, financial crimes, social scandals)
• Keeps content appropriate for adults but not explicit
• Default: Family-friendly content

Include Red Herrings

• Adds misleading clues that point to innocent suspects
• Increases challenge and suspense
• Recommended for Medium and Hard difficulty levels

Include Hidden Alliances

• Creates secret relationships between players unknown to others
• Adds layers of intrigue and role-playing opportunities
• Great for experienced groups

Step 2: Review Your Quota

Before submitting, check your remaining quota:

• Logged-in users: See your quota in the navigation bar
• Guests: Quota displayed near submit button
• If you've reached your limit, wait until the weekly reset or upgrade your account

Step 3: Submit Your Kit

1. Click "Generate My Mystery Kit"
2. You'll see a confirmation message
3. Your kit is now queued for generation
4. An email will be sent when it's ready (typically 5-15 minutes)

---

4. Understanding Kit Options

Choosing the Right Theme

Consider your audience:

• First-time players? Choose a classic setting (Mansion, Cruise Ship)
• Genre fans? Pick Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or Western themes
• Specific occasion? Holiday themes, corporate events, or seasonal settings

Balancing Difficulty

Using Special Requests Effectively

Good examples:

• ✓ "One guest uses a wheelchair—please avoid activities requiring stairs"
• ✓ "We're vegetarian—please suggest meatless menu options"
• ✓ "Can you include a character who's a jazz musician?"
• ✓ "Please keep all content appropriate for ages 16+"

Avoid vague requests:

• ✗ "Make it good"
• ✗ "Surprise me"
• ✓ "Include a twist ending" or "Make the murderer unexpected"

---

5. Kit Generation Process

What Happens After You Submit?

1. Queued (Immediate)
   • Your kit enters the generation queue
   • You receive a confirmation message
   • Kit ID is created for tracking
2. Generating (5-15 minutes)
   • AI analyzes your parameters
   • Creates unique characters, plot, clues, and solution
   • Generates individual PDF files
   • Uploads to secure cloud storage
3. Complete
   • Email sent to your delivery address
   • Includes secure download link
   • Link expires in 7 days
   • Maximum 5 downloads per link

Expected Timeline

• Normal: 5-15 minutes
• High traffic: Up to 30 minutes
• Didn't receive email? Check spam/junk folder
• Still nothing after 1 hour? Contact support with your email address

---

6. Downloading Your Kit

Accessing Your Download Link

1. Check your email at the delivery address you provided
2. Look for subject: "Your Murder Mystery Kit is Ready!"
3. Click the secure download link
4. You'll be directed to the download page

Download Page Options

Option 1: Download as ZIP File

• Click "Download Complete Kit (ZIP)"
• Contains all PDFs in one compressed file
• Easiest for most users
• Unzip on your computer to access individual files

Option 2: Download Individual Files

• Scroll through the file manifest
• Click individual PDFs to download separately
• Useful if you only need specific components
• Good for re-downloading one character packet

What's Included in Your Kit?

Your downloaded kit contains 6-8 PDF files:

1. Host Packet - Your master guide (read this first!)
2. Character Packets - One for each player (4-12 PDFs)
3. Invitation Template - Send to guests before the party
4. Clue Cards - Physical evidence to distribute
5. Interrogation Round Cards - Questions for the host
6. Solution Envelope - The reveal (don't peek!)

Download Link Limitations

• Expiration: 7 days from email delivery
• Usage Limit: Maximum 5 downloads
• Security: Unique token prevents sharing

Saving Your Kit

Best Practices:

1. Download the ZIP file immediately
2. Save to your computer's Documents folder
3. Back up to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
4. Keep a copy in your email
5. Don't rely on the download link after 7 days

---

7. Managing Your Account

Email Verification

Personal and Commercial accounts require verified email:

1. Sign up with your email
2. Check inbox for verification email
3. Click verification link
4. Email is now verified
5. Full account features unlocked

Didn't receive verification email?

• Check spam/junk folder
• Click "Resend Verification Email" in account settings
• Ensure email address is correct
• Wait 5 minutes between resend attempts

Viewing Your Kit History (Personal & Commercial)

1. Log in to your account
2. Click "My Kits" in navigation
3. View list of previously generated kits
4. Re-download kits (within 7-day window)
5. See generation parameters for each kit

Checking Your Quota

Logged-in Users:

• Quota displayed in navigation bar
• Shows remaining kits for current week/month
• Resets every Monday at midnight (weekly)
• Resets on 1st of month (monthly)

Guest Users:

• Quota shown near submit button
• Limited visibility into past usage
• Consider creating account for better tracking

Password Reset

1. Click "Forgot Password?" on login screen
2. Enter your registered email
3. Check email for reset link
4. Click link and create new password
5. Log in with new credentials

Upgrading Your Account

To upgrade from Personal to Commercial:

1. Contact support via contact form
2. Request account upgrade
3. Provide payment information (if applicable)
4. Upgrade processed within 24 hours
5. New quota limits take effect immediately

---

8. Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Solutions

"I didn't receive my download email"

Solutions:

1. Check spam/junk/promotions folders
2. Wait up to 30 minutes for delivery
3. Verify email address for typos in form
4. Check if email provider is blocking automated emails
5. Contact support with your kit request details

"My download link expired"

Solutions:

• Links expire after 7 days
• If you still need the kit, submit a new generation request
• Prevention: Download and save kits immediately

"I've reached my weekly quota"

Solutions:

• Wait until Monday for weekly reset
• Upgrade to a higher account tier
• Use a different email address as guest (not recommended)

"The form won't submit"

Check:

• All required fields are filled
• Email format is valid (contains @ and domain)
• Player count is between 4-12
• You haven't exceeded quota
• Internet connection is stable

"I can't log in"

Solutions:

1. Verify email address is correct
2. Check Caps Lock is off
3. Use "Forgot Password" to reset
4. Clear browser cache and cookies
5. Try a different browser
6. Ensure email is verified (check inbox for verification link)

"My downloaded ZIP won't open"

Solutions:

• Ensure download completed fully (check file size isn't 0 KB)
• Use built-in unzip tool (Windows Explorer, Mac Finder)
• Try free software: 7-Zip (Windows), The Unarchiver (Mac)
• Re-download the ZIP file
• Try downloading individual PDFs instead

---

9. Contact & Support

How to Get Help

Contact Form:

1. Scroll to footer of homepage
2. Click "Contact" or find contact form
3. Fill out:
   • Name
   • Email address
   • Subject (briefly describe issue)
   • Message (provide details)
4. Complete CAPTCHA if prompted
5. Submit form
6. Expect response within 24-48 hours

What to Include in Support Requests

For download issues:

• Email address used for kit
• Date and time of submission
• Kit ID (if available)
• Error messages received

For technical issues:

• Browser and version (Chrome 120, Safari 17, etc.)
• Device type (Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, etc.)
• Screenshot of error
• Steps to reproduce issue

For billing/account issues:

• Account email address
• Account type (Guest, Personal, Commercial)
• Nature of issue

Feature Requests

We love hearing your ideas! Use the contact form to suggest:

• New themes or eras
• Additional customization options
• Improved features
• Integration ideas

---

Tips for Success

Planning Your Event

1. Generate kit 1-2 weeks before party
   • Gives time to review materials
   • Allows for printing and preparation
   • Reduces last-minute stress
2. Read the Host Packet first
   • Understanding the mystery helps you host better
   • Review setup requirements
   • Note any special props needed
3. Print in advance
   • Character packets: 1 per player
   • Clue cards: Full page or half-page format
   • Host materials: Keep separate from player materials
4. Test your printer
   • Ensure PDFs open correctly
   • Check print quality
   • Consider color vs. black & white

Customization Strategy

Mix and Match:

• Modern era + mansion setting = Reality TV show mansion
• 1920s era + corporate office = Prohibition-era speakeasy disguised as office
• Sci-Fi era + cruise ship = Space cruise liner

Content Boundaries:

• Be honest about your group's comfort level
• Use special requests to specify boundaries
• Better to be too conservative than too edgy

Player Count:

• Invite 1-2 extra people as backups (alternates provided)
• Account for possible no-shows
• Smaller groups (4-6) are easier for first-time hosts
• Larger groups (10-12) create more intrigue but take longer

---

Welcome to the Mystery!

You're now ready to create incredible, custom murder mystery experiences for your guests. The kit generator handles the complex work of creating balanced, solvable mysteries—you bring the hosting magic that makes it memorable.

Ready to get started? Head to the form and create your first kit!

Need the hosting guide? See the companion "How to Host Your Murder Mystery Party" guide for step-by-step party instructions.