Game Configuration Worksheet

MALWARE & MONSTERS - GAME CONFIGURATION WORKSHEET

QUICK SELECT TEMPLATE (or configure manually below):

Quick Demo (35-40 min)
Lunch & Learn (75-90 min)
Full Game (120-140 min)
Advanced Challenge (150-170 min)

Template selected: _______________________ (or “Custom”)

Target Time Available: __________ minutes

MAJOR TIME IMPACT - Choose These First

These are your time budget levers - they have the biggest impact on session length:

Number of Rounds:

1 round (~30 min base)
2 rounds (~60 min base)
3 rounds (~90 min base)

Actions per Player:

1 action per round (-10 min/round)
2 actions per round (standard)

Base Time Estimate: __________ minutes

MODERATE TIME IMPACT - Fine-Tune Your Target

These options adjust how rounds play out:

Investigation Structure:

Guided - IM presents clues on timeline (-10 min/round)
Open - Players choose investigation paths (standard)

Response Structure:

Pre-defined - IM presents 2-3 clear options (-10 min/round)
Creative - Players develop own approach (standard)

Team Size:

2-3 players (hybrid roles, -10 min total)
4-6 players (standard roles)

Time Adjustments: __________ minutes

MINOR TIME IMPACT - Polish the Experience

These add small adjustments:

Success Mechanics:

Automatic - Good idea = success (-5 min/round)
Dice/Cards - Add chance element (standard)
Complex - Network Security Status tracking (+5 min/round)

Debrief Length:

Quick (5 min)
Standard (10 min)
Extended (15-20 min)

Turn Timer:

None (standard)
Soft/Hard - Enforced time limits (-5 min/round)

Final Time Estimate: __________ minutes

COMPLEXITY OPTIONS - No Time Impact (Choose Freely)

These affect challenge and realism, not time. Choose based on player experience level:

Attack Complexity:

Single vector
Multi-stage

Evidence Type:

Obvious
Subtle
Mixed

Red Herrings:

Present
Absent

Containment Clarity:

Clear type effectiveness
Ambiguous

NPC Count:

Essential (2-3)
Full cast (4-6)

Badge Tracking:

Reference Materials:

Available
Not available

FINAL TIME CALCULATION

Gameplay: __________ minutes Setup: __________ minutes (5 min small / 10 min standard) Buffer (15%): __________ minutes

TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: __________ minutes

NOTES & REMINDERS

Templates: Pre-configured starting points, adjust options as needed.
Evolution mechanics: ALWAYS ENABLED (core M&M feature).
Full storytelling: ALL configurations use complete hooks/NPCs/context.
Complexity options: Adjust for player experience, not time constraints.

Example Filled Worksheets

Example 1: Quick Demo (35-40 min)

QUICK SELECT TEMPLATE: Quick Demo

Target Time Available: 40 minutes

MAJOR TIME IMPACT:

1 round (~30 min base)
1 action per player (-10 min/round) Base Time Estimate: 20 minutes

MODERATE TIME IMPACT:

Guided - IM presents clues on timeline (-10 min/round)
Open - Players choose investigation paths (standard)
Pre-defined - IM presents 2-3 clear options (-10 min/round)
Creative - Players develop own approach (standard)
2-3 players (hybrid roles, -10 min total)
4-6 players (standard roles) Time Adjustments: -30 minutes

MINOR TIME IMPACT:

Automatic - Good idea = success (-5 min/round)
Dice/Cards - Add chance element (standard)
Complex - Network Security Status tracking (+5 min/round)
Quick (5 min)
Standard (10 min)
Extended (15-20 min)
None (standard)
Soft/Hard - Enforced time limits (-5 min/round) Final Time Estimate: 5 minutes

COMPLEXITY OPTIONS:

Single vector
Multi-stage
Obvious
Subtle
Mixed
Present
Absent
Clear type effectiveness
Ambiguous
Essential (2-3)
Full cast (4-6)
On
Off
Available
Not available

FINAL TIME CALCULATION: Gameplay: 5 minutes Setup: 5 minutes (small team) Buffer (15%): 5 minutes TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 35 minutes

Example 2: Lunch & Learn (75-90 min)

QUICK SELECT TEMPLATE: Lunch & Learn

Target Time Available: 90 minutes

MAJOR TIME IMPACT:

1 round (~30 min base)
2 rounds (~60 min base)
3 rounds (~90 min base)
1 action per player (-10 min/round)
2 actions per player (standard) Base Time Estimate: 60 minutes

MODERATE TIME IMPACT:

Guided - IM presents clues on timeline (-10 min/round)
Open - Players choose investigation paths (standard)
Pre-defined - IM presents 2-3 clear options (-10 min/round)
Creative - Players develop own approach (standard)
2-3 players (hybrid roles, -10 min total)
4-6 players (standard roles) Time Adjustments: -20 minutes

MINOR TIME IMPACT:

Automatic - Good idea = success (-5 min/round)
Dice/Cards - Add chance element (standard)
Complex - Network Security Status tracking (+5 min/round)
Quick (5 min)
Standard (10 min)
Extended (15-20 min)
None (standard)
Soft/Hard - Enforced time limits (-5 min/round) Final Time Estimate: 50 minutes

COMPLEXITY OPTIONS:

Single vector
Multi-stage
Obvious
Subtle
Mixed
Present
Absent
Clear type effectiveness
Ambiguous
Essential (2-3)
Full cast (4-6)
On
Off
Available
Not available

FINAL TIME CALCULATION: Gameplay: 50 minutes Setup: 10 minutes (standard team) Buffer (15%): 9 minutes TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 69 minutes (adjust to 75-90 min with flexible debrief)

Example 3: Full Game (120-140 min)

QUICK SELECT TEMPLATE: Full Game

Target Time Available: 130 minutes

MAJOR TIME IMPACT:

1 round (~30 min base)
2 rounds (~60 min base)
3 rounds (~90 min base)
1 action per player (-10 min/round)
2 actions per player (standard) Base Time Estimate: 90 minutes

MODERATE TIME IMPACT:

Guided - IM presents clues on timeline (-10 min/round)
Open - Players choose investigation paths (standard)
Pre-defined - IM presents 2-3 clear options (-10 min/round)
Creative - Players develop own approach (standard)
2-3 players (hybrid roles, -10 min total)
4-6 players (standard roles) Time Adjustments: 0 minutes

MINOR TIME IMPACT:

Automatic - Good idea = success (-5 min/round)
Dice/Cards - Add chance element (standard)
Complex - Network Security Status tracking (+5 min/round)
Quick (5 min)
Standard (10 min)
Extended (15-20 min)
None (standard)
Soft/Hard - Enforced time limits (-5 min/round) Final Time Estimate: 100 minutes

COMPLEXITY OPTIONS:

Single vector
Multi-stage
Obvious
Subtle
Mixed
Present
Absent
Clear type effectiveness
Ambiguous
Essential (2-3)
Full cast (4-6)
On
Off
Available
Not available

FINAL TIME CALCULATION: Gameplay: 100 minutes Setup: 10 minutes (standard team) Buffer (15%): 15 minutes TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 125 minutes

Example 4: Advanced Challenge (150-170 min)

QUICK SELECT TEMPLATE: Advanced Challenge

Target Time Available: 160 minutes

MAJOR TIME IMPACT:

1 round (~30 min base)
2 rounds (~60 min base)
3 rounds (~90 min base)
1 action per player (-10 min/round)
2 actions per player (standard) Base Time Estimate: 90 minutes

MODERATE TIME IMPACT:

Guided - IM presents clues on timeline (-10 min/round)
Open - Players choose investigation paths (standard)
Pre-defined - IM presents 2-3 clear options (-10 min/round)
Creative - Players develop own approach (standard)
2-3 players (hybrid roles, -10 min total)
4-6 players (standard roles) Time Adjustments: 0 minutes

MINOR TIME IMPACT:

Automatic - Good idea = success (-5 min/round)
Dice/Cards - Add chance element (standard)
Complex - Network Security Status tracking (+5 min/round)
Quick (5 min)
Standard (10 min)
Extended (15-20 min)
None (standard)
Soft/Hard - Enforced time limits (-5 min/round) Final Time Estimate: 90 + 5 + 15 = 110 minutes

COMPLEXITY OPTIONS:

Single vector
Multi-stage
Obvious
Subtle
Mixed
Present
Absent
Clear type effectiveness
Ambiguous
Essential (2-3)
Full cast (4-6)
On
Off
Available
Not available

FINAL TIME CALCULATION: Gameplay: 110 minutes Setup: 10 minutes (standard team) Buffer (15%): 18 minutes TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 138 minutes (adjust to 150-170 min with flexible debrief and complexity)