Post by LadyEvatrice on Jan 28, 2017 4:39:30 GMT
These nine (technically ten, but one of them doesn't apply to the story) rules were created by the mystery writer Ronald A. Knox in 1929 to ensure that a mystery can be solved by a reader (aka fair play whodunnit). They are a useful tool for the reader and player to use to solve the mysteries presented. They are as follows:
Knox's 1st
It is forbidden for the culprit to be anyone not mentioned in the early part of the story.
(Think how the killer in Persona 4 was somebody from the very start.)
Knox's 2nd
It is forbidden for supernatural agencies to be employed as a detective technique.
(To argue a proper defense against the witch, magic, the occult, and the like are not acceptable as techniques to fight the witch.)
Knox's 3rd
It is forbidden for hidden passages to exist.
(No hidden doors, no secret passages, and no secret rooms can figure into the murders.)
Knox's 4th
It is forbidden for unknown drugs or hard-to-understand scientific devices to be used. (None of what is listed can be considered as how the culprit committed the crimes.)
Knox's 5th
(not included)
(It basically states that any obviously racist stereotyping for a criminal should never be considered as a culprit, and to put that story down if it does.)
Knox's 6th
It is forbidden for accident or intuition to be employed as a detective technique.
(No "I don't understand why my gut is telling me to investigate this painting, but here I am." Things should not easily fall into one's lap, one should properly investigate.)
Knox's 7th
It is forbidden for the detective to be the culprit.
(In other words, whoever claims to be the detective of the game board cannot commit the crime. A person who says that they are a detective, but aren't THE detective of the game board can very well be a culprit, ala Persona 4.)
Knox's 8th
It is forbidden for the case to be resolved with clues that are not presented.
(No Sherlock Holmes-ing it. The mystery is cheapened if the reader/detective themselves does not see the clues used to solve the crime.)
Knox's 9th
It is permitted for observers to let their own conclusions and interpretations be heard.
(The detective can seek advice from other characters, but let it be known that anybody who is working with the culprit can lie easily.)
Knox's 10th
It is forbidden for a character to disguise themselves as another without any clues. (No twins, disguises, or body doubles are acceptable as an answer without prior proof.)
Knox's 1st
It is forbidden for the culprit to be anyone not mentioned in the early part of the story.
(Think how the killer in Persona 4 was somebody from the very start.)
Knox's 2nd
It is forbidden for supernatural agencies to be employed as a detective technique.
(To argue a proper defense against the witch, magic, the occult, and the like are not acceptable as techniques to fight the witch.)
Knox's 3rd
It is forbidden for hidden passages to exist.
(No hidden doors, no secret passages, and no secret rooms can figure into the murders.)
Knox's 4th
It is forbidden for unknown drugs or hard-to-understand scientific devices to be used. (None of what is listed can be considered as how the culprit committed the crimes.)
Knox's 5th
(not included)
(It basically states that any obviously racist stereotyping for a criminal should never be considered as a culprit, and to put that story down if it does.)
Knox's 6th
It is forbidden for accident or intuition to be employed as a detective technique.
(No "I don't understand why my gut is telling me to investigate this painting, but here I am." Things should not easily fall into one's lap, one should properly investigate.)
Knox's 7th
It is forbidden for the detective to be the culprit.
(In other words, whoever claims to be the detective of the game board cannot commit the crime. A person who says that they are a detective, but aren't THE detective of the game board can very well be a culprit, ala Persona 4.)
Knox's 8th
It is forbidden for the case to be resolved with clues that are not presented.
(No Sherlock Holmes-ing it. The mystery is cheapened if the reader/detective themselves does not see the clues used to solve the crime.)
Knox's 9th
It is permitted for observers to let their own conclusions and interpretations be heard.
(The detective can seek advice from other characters, but let it be known that anybody who is working with the culprit can lie easily.)
Knox's 10th
It is forbidden for a character to disguise themselves as another without any clues. (No twins, disguises, or body doubles are acceptable as an answer without prior proof.)