Fantasy Flight Games

The Hunt Is On

Published 7 September 2017 | Whitehall Mystery

The Hunt Is On

Whitehall Mystery Is on Sale Now

In the spring of 1888, the slayings of Jack the Ripper shook London. For months, citizens lived in terror until the murderer suddenly disappeared into thin air. His reign of terror was almost forgotten until, in October of that same year, a severed torso was discovered at the construction site of what was to become the New Scotland Yard. This was soon matched to an arm and a leg found at other points around the city, beginning what would become known as the Whitehall Mystery.

Now that the killer has re-emerged, the race is on for investigators to capture saucy Jack and bring him to justice before he fades into the London fog once more, possibly forever. Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce that Whitehall Mystery is available now!

Lies and Alibis

Whitehall Mystery is a game of bluffing and deduction that transports two to four players to 1888, where the shadow of Jack the Ripper haunts the streets of Victorian London. In this new game of thrilling cat and mouse, Saucy Jack leads the police on a chase through the city’s smoggy streets, leaving macabre mementos for the investigators on his tail.

This new standalone game in the Letters from Whitechapel series gives players the opportunity to play as both Jack the Ripper and the investigators who took on the impossible task of finding him under the ever-increasing scrutiny of the press and the public. The leader of this historic investigation, Sergeant Arthur Ferris leads the hunt as the blue investigator. With the help of surgeon Thomas Bond, the red investigator, and the yellow investigator, journalist Jasper T. C. Waring and his loyal dog, Smoker, there's nowhere the nefarious criminal can hide.

Cat and Mouse

Over the course of four rounds, Jack must constantly evade investigators to reach four predetermined Discovery Locations where he plans to leave limbs for the police to find. One of these marks his starting point while the other three are places that Jack must reach in any order over the course of the game. If the killer can reach these locations without being captured, he earns his place in history as London’s most notorious serial killer and wins the game. However, if the investigators find him at any point in the game, his reign of terror ends and he must face the chilling justice that awaits him.

To begin the Hunt, Jack escapes into the night by moving up to fifteen spaces and recording them on his track sheet. The killer’s growing confidence pushes him to take ever greater risks as he moves his twisted game from Whitechapel to the closely-knit district of Whitehall. As such, he must find new tricks to keep him one step ahead of the investigators. In addition to the coach and alley movement tiles that let him slip through the streets, the district’s unique obstacle, the river Thames, confronts Jack with a need for new boat movement tiles. These allow him to move from one blue space on the map to another within the same marked section of the river. Jack may be outnumbered, but a little cunning will keep him out of the law’s reach until his grotesque task is complete.

Next, the task falls to the investigators who must consult and then disperse to search for clues across London. While Jack acts alone in defiance of the law, the investigators work as a team to bring the killer to justice. Each of the investigators comes equipped with a special ability to help contribute to their cause: Ferris can use a boat movement tile in place of looking for clues or executing an arrest, Bond can use an alley movement tile, and Waring can move a fellow investigator to a space adjacent to himself. The race is on to find where Jack has hidden, and the investigators cannot afford any mistakes that may cost them precious time. If Jack reaches his last Discovery Location, the Hunt ends immediately and the Ripper is victorious.

Tailored Challenges

Whitehall Mystery offers customizable gameplay to accommodate players at every level of experience. Newspaper Fabrications allow Jack to reuse either an alley or a boat tile while Murderer at Large lets him use a special movement tile without revealing it to the investigators. But the Ripper is not the only one with new tricks up his sleeves. The investigators of the Whitehall Mystery have the option to either Roll Up Their Sleeves or Hire Reinforcements. With the former, they may use the special abilities detailed on their character tiles while the latter allows them to bring in the two investigators from the Dear Boss expansion. These engaging choices give players all the tools they need to create a challenge worthy of Jack of the Ripper.

Choose Your Side

Now that Jack has emerged from the shadows, the race is on to capture him before his bloodlust claims another victim. Spin your web of deceit and become history’s greatest killer, or gather your team and solve one of history’s most intriguing cold cases!

Pick up Whitehall Mystery (VA102) online or at your local retailer today!

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© 2013 Tiopi srl. Letters from Whitechapel and Sir Chester Cobblepot are trademarks owned by Tiopi. All rights reserved. Letters from Whitechapel is licensed and produced by Giochi Uniti under license by Tiopi srl. Giochi Uniti logo is trademark of Giochi Uniti srl. Letters from Whitechapel is distributed worldwide in the English language by Fantasy Flight Games. Fantasy Flight Games and the FFG logo are registered trademarks of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

A New Horror in London

Published 9 August 2017 | Whitehall Mystery

A New Horror in London

Maneuvering the New Whitehall District

And now everyone is speculating as to whether the shadow of Jack the Ripper lurks behind this mysterious Whitehall murder. I think that if gentlemen like myself wasted a little less time on the newspapers’ fabrications and instead rolled up their sleeves, we would live in a better city.
- Jasper T.C. Waring, journalist

After the savagery of Jack the Ripper’s murder spree shocked all of London, it was a criminally short amount of time before a new series of grisly horror occurred in October of 1888. A bundle of human remains was discovered at the construction site of the new Scotland Yard and, while investigators were reluctant to admit any connection to the Ripper murders, the media and the public remained convinced that Jack had returned to mock the police, leaving a total of four limbs scattered throughout the Whitehall District.

In Whitehall Mystery, the new standalone game in the Letters from Whitechapel series, players become both Jack the Ripper and investigators of the Metropolitan Police. This time, players maneuver through a new, smaller district of London, moving from Whitechapel to Whitehall. Before you begin your evasion or pursuit through the streets of London, Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to offer you a preview of the vibrant and dangerous Whitehall District, the setting of Whitehall Mystery.

London’s Labyrinth

The condensed map of Whitehall Mystery offers players a streamlined gaming experience in this fast-paced strategic adventure. The pressure is on as Jack has less space to outmaneuver the police and investigators have less time to track Jack before he disappears.

The game consists of four rounds taking place over a series of turns, with Jack first making a move and then the Investigators responding. The round ends when Jack has either made fifteen moves or has reached a new Discovery Location. To track these, Whitehall Mystery comes with thirty Jack Move Track Sheets for the killer to secretly record his chosen Discovery Locations and how he navigates Whitehall with his fifteen moves per round.

Once Jack has made his move, the Investigators have their chance to discuss and then disperse. By consulting, the investigators can share their intel and formulate a plan to either search for clues across the largest area of Whitehall, or track down the killer if they believe they know his whereabouts. Compared to the original Letters from Whitechapel, the investigators have less distance to cover, but they also have less manpower with only three investigators, unless they use the optional rule to Hire Reinforcements from the Dear Boss expansion.

The close-knit streets of Whitehall also present a new challenge for Jack the Ripper. The killer’s confidence has pushed him to take more risks with this new game of cat and mouse by putting himself in closer proximity to the police than ever before. Staying in one place would ensure his capture and, for this reason, Jack must make a move each turn. He cannot remain on the same numbered circle for two consecutive turns, but he also cannot move over a Crossing occupied by an Investigator figure unless he has a Coach. If Jack cannot make a move, he loses the game.

The Muddy Banks of the Thames

Unlike the Whitechapel District, the Whitehall District is split by the River Thames that flows through the heart of London. In Whitehall Mystery, the Thames is divided into several blocks of water containing blue numbered circles. These areas are marked with blue and black dotted lines that act as boundaries. To navigate this new location and its water feature, Jack updates his crafty escape tactics by introducing the Boat special movement tile. This tile states that Jack can use a boat to move from one blue numbered circle to another within the same block of water.

But players should use these tiles carefully as each boat can only be used once. After the tiles have been spent, the Thames becomes a large obstacle that neither Jack nor the Investigators can cross except for only two bridges just wide enough for one person to stand on. This can force saucy Jack into a dangerous situation if he must reach his next Discovery Location on the far bank, but an Investigator blocks his only path.

Among the optional rules that players can use to customize the game, Newspaper Fabrications allows Jack to reclaim one alley or boat tile that had previously been used. If Jack finds himself in a scrape with the Investigators closing in, this ability could buy him a freedom for a few moves, maybe just long enough to drop another limb at a Discovery Location.

Murderer at Large lets Jack use a Special Movement tile according to the normal rules of the game, but instead of placing the tile face up, potentially giving the Investigators a clue about his location, Jack places the tile face down. Investigators are left to ponder whether Jack has used a boat to cross the Thames, or a coach to pass an Investigator who is not anywhere near the river.

Stalk London's Streets

Now that Jack has emerged from the shadows, the race is on to ensnare the Ripper before he disappears forever. Explore the Whitehall District in its Victorian glory. Save the city or make it your ghastly playground—the choice is yours!

Look for Whitehall Mystery (VA102) at your local retailer in Q3 of 2017!

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An Impossible Task

Published 17 July 2017 | Whitehall Mystery

An Impossible Task

Meet the Investigators of the Whitehall Mystery

"Jack or not, we will find this murderer. It is a stain on the honor of the police: it would be a terrible irony for the new Scotland Yard to be built on the very site of an unsolved murder…"
- Arthur Ferris, sergeant, Metropolitan Police

On October 2nd, 1888, the severed torso of a woman is found during the construction of the new Metropolitan Police headquarters near Whitehall. One week later, on October 9^th, surgeon Thomas Bond releases a statement revealing that the torso matches an arm that had been discovered along the Thames in September. As the press questions the police as to whether this crime is once again the work of macabre murderer Jack the Ripper, sergeant Arthur Ferris organizes an investigative team to scour the Whitehall district for clues. Journalist Jasper T.C. Waring joins the search party and on October 18th, he and his dog lead the team to uncover a leg buried near the construction site. Despite the accumulation of clues, suspects, and tragedy, this strange crime would forever remain unsolved and go down in history as the Whitehall Mystery.

The Metropolitan Police reaches beyond its department to form a new team of experts in Whitehall Mystery, the new standalone game in the Letters from Whitechapel series. This fast-paced game draws directly from history by allowing players to portray both Jack the Ripper and the men who tracked him. But before you decide which side of the law you favor, Fantasy Flight Games offers you a preview of the investigators of the Whitehall Mystery.

The Good Doctor

Dr. Thomas Bond, represented in Whitehall Mystery as the red investigator, is the local surgeon for the Metropolitan Police. In October of 1888, he matches the torso discovered at the New Scotland Yard construction site to a right arm and shoulder that had been discovered on the muddy banks of the Thames a month earlier. When the arm was first discovered, it was assumed to be a medical student’s prank, but Bond’s analysis confirms the police’s worst fear: a killer once again stalks the streets of London.

Dr. Thomas Bond’s ability allows him to use an Alley in addition to his normal movement once per game. If Bond does so, he may not look for clues or execute an arrest. However, if the Investigative team has already gathered enough evidence to deduce Jack’s whereabouts, his ability may give Investigators the boost necessary to corner Jack before he deposits more limbs.

The Honorable Sergeant

The blue investigator, sergeant Arthur Ferris, is the man placed in charge of the Whitehall investigation. Ferris cannot allow the blight of an unsolved murder to persist on the site of what is to become the New Scotland Yard and immediately sets to work gathering the police’s forces to catch the killer. As the head of A Division, Ferris is reluctant to link the Whitehall murder with those of Jack the Ripper, but both the press and the public are merciless in their hunger for answers.

Once per game, Ferris can use a Boat movement in addition to a normal movement. This prevents him from looking for clues or executing an arrest, but it could place the investigator directly in Jack’s path to either block him or force him to take a longer route to his next Discovery Location. If Jack cannot reach his Discovery Location within fifteen moves due to this blockade, the Investigators win the game.

The Inquisitive Journalist

Jasper T.C. Waring is the yellow investigator in Whitehall Mystery. In the Ripper’s London, Waring works as a journalist, trying to call the public to action and aid in the police investigation. In one article, Waring famously states: “We don’t need heroes: we just need good legs and my faithful Smoker’s nose.” Obeying his own directive, he offers his services to the authorities in their search. With the permission of the police department and help from his Spitzbergen dog, Smoker, Waring finds a left leg that was severed above the knee and buried near the construction site.

Among the optional rules to customize gameplay, players may choose to add Waring's dog Smoker to the Whitehall investigative team. The Spitzbergen comes with his own ability that allows his owner to either move his figure by one additional Crossing or look for clues in every adjacent numbered circle, even if he has already found a clue. If investigators think they’re on the trail, this can offer players a huge advantage. However, if the yellow investigator does not come across any additional information, they should not lose heart. Not finding a clue can still aide in the investigators' deductions of where Jack hasn't been.

Jasper T.C. Waring gains power by operating collaboratively within the game, much as he did in real life. Waring’s ability allows him once per game to move any of his fellow investigators to a Crossing adjacent to himself. By doing this, the moved investigator is rendered temporarily immobile and cannot look for clues or execute an arrest until the end of the turn, but in a game where time is of the essence, the additional movement can quickly bring an investigator away from a dead end and rejoin the greater efforts.

End the Ripper’s Reign

If Jack the Ripper truly has returned, investigators must combine their skills to track the murderer before his bloodlust adds another victim to his list. Bring history’s most notorious killer to justice and protect your city.

Look for the investigators in Whitehall Mystery (VA102), coming to retailers in Q3 of 2017!

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Whitehall Mystery

Published 9 June 2017 | Whitehall Mystery

Whitehall Mystery

Announcing a New Standalone Game in the Letters from Whitechapel Series

It was just past three o’clock in the afternoon. I had gone down to the basement to look for some boards, and I immediately noticed the package: roughly two by three feet, wrapped up in paper. What the devil was it? I unwrapped it to find black fabric underneath. A petticoat? Even before I saw what was inside, the stench that had been unleashed explained everything.
- Frederick Wildborn, carpenter

In 1888, construction of the New Scotland Yard in London’s Whitehall District comes to a screeching halt when a woman’s torso is left on the police’s doorstep. Though somewhat out of character with the most recent wave of brutal murders, the grisly nature of the crime can only mean one thing: Jack the Ripper has returned.

This time, the killer emerges with a new game of cat-and-mouse as he plans to leave four more limbs in unknown locations throughout the city. The New Scotland Yard must reach beyond their precinct to assemble a new team of experts to hunt down the monster and bring him to justice. This may be the investigators’ last chance to capture the murderer before he slips away forever.

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Whitehall Mystery, the newest addition to the Letters from Whitechapel series. The hunt for history’s most notorious serial killer continues in this streamlined standalone adventure that explores one of London’s most intriguing unsolved cases.

An Impossible Task

Whitehall Mystery gives players the opportunity to both pursue Saucy Jack and step into his shoes. Two to four players take on the roles of Jack himself or the real-life Investigators who famously took on the case at the height of the Ripper’s reign of terror. The game expands the Letters from Whitechapel universe by introducing three new Investigators, including journalist Jasper T.C. Waring and his loyal dog Smoker, surgeon Thomas Bond, and Sergeant Arthur Ferris.

This new standalone game draws directly from history for its gruesome details and dramatic pacing. Whitehall Mystery emulates the unpredictable nature of the historical crime and limited ability of London’s police force at the time by allowing the Ripper’s movements to remain unknown to the other players while he commits his crimes about the city. Without the trappings of modern criminal investigations, Investigators of Jack the Ripper’s London will have to rely on their wits and powers of deduction to track the notorious criminal across Whitehall.

Whether players choose to chase the villain or evade the law, the hunt is on in Whitehall Mystery.

The Hunt Is On

Whitehall Mystery is a fast-paced strategic game played over four rounds filled with narrow escapes and close calls as Jack searches for new places to deposit his victims' limbs and the Investigators seek to stop him.

Before the game commences, the Jack the Ripper player secretly chooses and records four Discovery Locations where he will leave body parts for the police to find; one as his starting point, then three he must reach during the game’s three rounds. Once Jack has planned his ghastly crime, the hunt begins.

Each round takes place over a series of turns, with Jack first making a move and then the Investigators responding. The round ends when Jack has either made fifteen moves or has reached a new Discovery Location.

The first step of each round starts with Jack the Ripper as he prowls Whitehall’s streets toward the ideal place to leave his victim’s next limb, then disappearing before he can be captured. Jack escapes by following the streets of London from one Discovery Location to the next, all while avoiding the police on his trail. To accomplish this task, Jack may use Special Movement tiles representing alleys, coaches, and newly added boats to navigate between Investigators with his ghastly cargo. If he can reach all four Discovery Locations over the course of three rounds without being captured, he ensures his place in history as London’s most infamous criminal and wins the game.

After Jack moves about Whitehall, the Investigators begin their hunt by first consulting, then dispersing throughout the city to cover as much ground as possible. Investigators will want to discuss options with each other before heading out into the city as, the more information they share, the better equipped they will be to ensnare Jack before he disappears into London’s labyrinthine alleyways.

Once divided, the Investigators may either look for clues or make an arrest. The pressure is on for players to gather as much information as possible in an attempt to deduce Jack’s location and his next target. If they fail to capture the Ripper by the end of the round, the killer might announce that he has reached a new Discovery Location and leave his pursuers another frightful souvenir.

New Tricks Up Their Sleeves

Whitehall Mystery continues the tradition of Letters from Whitechapel and its newest expansion, Dear Boss , by offering players the ability to adjust elements of gameplay to accommodate every level of experience.

Players may also enforce optional rules to help the outnumbered Jack. Newspaper Fabrications increase Jack’s stealth by allowing him to reuse either an alley or a boat tile at the start of one of the game’s four rounds. Murderer at Large allows Jack to use Special Movement tiles without revealing them to fellow players, leaving Investigators to wonder whether the killer is on the other side of the city, or simply one short block over.

On the side of the law, Investigators can choose to Roll Up Their Sleeves when readying to better track down the malicious murderer. This option gives players a one-time opportunity to use the ability described on each of their tiles. The inclusion of special abilities carries over even to the furriest addition to the Whitehall investigative team—Smoker’s Nose gives his owner, Jasper T.C. Waring, an additional ability that can also be used once per game.

While Whitehall Mystery is a standalone adventure, players can incorporate elements from other iterations of the game to aid their characters. Jack the Ripper can look back on past experiences by utilizing False Clues from the original Letters from Whitechapel game, while Investigators can Hire Reinforcements from the Dear Boss expansion to aid in the villain’s capture.

With nearly endless customizable opportunities, Whitehall Mystery offers an engaging gaming experience for both new players and longtime followers of the Letters from Whitechapel series.

One Last Chance

Now that the Ripper has emerged, the race is on to capture him before he disappears again, possibly forever. Investigators cannot let this opportunity slip through their grasp.

Leave your mark on history. Make London quake at the mention of your name or capture Jack and end his reign of terror, once and for all.

Look for Whitehall Mystery (VA102) to be available at your local retailer in Q3 of 2017!

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Resume the Hunt

Published 2 March 2017 | Whitehall Mystery

Resume the Hunt

The Dear Boss Expansion for Letters from Whitechapel Is Available Now

How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games…

Yours truly,

Jack the Ripper

The case has remained unsolved for months. Despite their best efforts, the police are no closer to capturing the shadowy monster terrorizing the Whitechapel district. Letters from the unseen killer taunt the them each time he claims a new victim and disappears into the night, narrowly escaping their clutches. But the police are vigilant. They continue to patrol Whitechapel, hoping to pick up the trail…

The tense cat-and-mouse action of hunting down Jack the Ripper—or evading the police as Jack himself—returns with Dear Boss, the thrilling expansion for Letters from Whitechapel, available at retailers now!

Explore the Legend

Dear Boss returns you to the streets of London and the hunt for the enigmatic serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. As the monster continues to prowl Whitechapel, baffling the police and putting residents on edge, Dear Boss gives you new tools to face this terrible threat. Additionally, this new expansion draws you deeper into the historical circumstances surrounding the Ripper killings of 1888 with even more variants than those found in the base game. Alongside the twelve beautifully-sculpted plastic miniatures that replace the Policeman, Jack, and Wretched tokens from the base game, Dear Boss provides the definitive Letters from Whitechapel experience.

Combined with the variants from the base game, the three new modular decks in Dear Boss allow you to find the perfect balance between Jack and the police. No matter which side you choose, you’ll have plenty of new tools to either aid you in closing the net on the killer or giving the police the slip.

Patrolling the Streets

If you are playing as the police, two of the new decks give the investigators new methods for tracking down their elusive quarry. The new Policemen cards grant every officer a special ability, allowing the police to bend the rules of the game and more efficiently corner Jack. While Edward Watkins is the Head of Investigation, for example, he allows a patrolling constable to look for clues after moving during the "Police: Hunting the Monster" phase. Even though that constable won't be able to perform an action during the next phase, this ability can put the police on Jack's trail much sooner than normal.

At the same time the police are getting more freedom, Jack finds himself more constricted than ever if one of the Jack Suspect cards is in play. The Ripper murders were never solved, and Dear Boss explores twenty-five of the potential suspects through this new deck. Each card provides details about the suspect’s life and their potential links to the Whitechapel killings. Additionally, if Jack is randomly assigned one of these cards, his hideout, targets, and movements are limited on certain nights. Aaron Kosminsky, for example, is limited to one Coach and two Alleys on the first Night. Although this card remains secret, it greatly limits Jack’s options for movement and placing his hideouts, making him more predictable and vulnerable to the police. If they’re paying close enough attention, that is.

Choosing Your Victims

Even though the Policemen and Jack Suspect cards tip the scales in the favor of the players taking the role of the investigators, Jack also has a few new tricks up his sleeve. If the police are enjoying too much of an advantage, saucy Jack can always turn the tables with his new Potential Victim cards. Jack can play the nearest one of these cards whenever he targets one of the Wretched, giving him a leg up on the police and increasing his chances of eluding their grasp.

In addition to providing information about the real victims of the Whitechapel murders, these cards also give Jack an advantage over his pursuers, such as giving him more time to escape. Combined with the optional Jack’s letters found in the base game, these cards make catching up with Jack a tall order indeed.

Welcome to London

In addition to the new gameplay variations it introduces, Dear Boss heightens the experience of playing Letters from Whitechapel by immersing the player even more deeply in the historical circumstances surrounding the Whitechapel murders. Each of the new cards provides a glimpse into the lives of the police, suspects, and victims who experienced these mysteries firsthand.

Coupled with the twelve beautiful miniatures, sculpted with exquisite attention to detail in order to draw you ever deeper into the drama, Dear Boss invites players to Victorian England like never before.

Pick Up the Trail

Dear Boss is now available, and the foggy streets of London await you. Will you, as the police, utilize these new tools to track down one of history’s most notorious serial killers? Or will you take on the role of one of that dreaded monster, stalking the night, only to vanish without a trace? Choose your movements carefully. Whichever side you're on, one wrong turn could lead to disaster.

Dive even deeper into the Victorian era and get a first-hand glimpse into some of the world’s most infamous unsolved murders with Dear Boss, now available at a retailer near you!

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Letters From London

Published 9 November 2016 | Whitehall Mystery

Letters From London

Bryan Young Visits the Infamous Locations of Whitechapel

We here at Fantasy Flight Games pride ourselves on creating board games that immerse our players in a thrilling narrative by taking on the roles of interesting characters dealing with challenging situations, where every choice matters. Today's article takes this immersion one step further as guest writer Bryan Young discusses his recent trip across the pond to London and how his time there provided a new perspective on how the elements of both the city and time were cunningly portrayed in Letters From Whitechapel, the board game that pits resourceful investigators against the notorious Jack the Ripper in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Walking the Streets

Letters From Whitechapel is a game that puts you in the middle of the hunt for the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper. Over the years, the case has been the subject of countless books, movies, articles, and even comic books, all of them hoping to solve the grisly murders and discover the true identity of the notorious slasher. The game is already a tense nail-biter, but if you know the context of its history, it’s even better.

I’m a history nerd, so when I was in London for Star Wars™ Celebration Europe I made it a point to tour the Jack the Ripper sites to get a better sense of the history behind the murders. There were so many questions I had that I wanted answered, but, like everyone else, the biggest question on my mind had no answer at all: who was the real Jack the Ripper?

In my mind, a great game has a great story, and there are few stories more fascinating than this one.

Unpredictability

One of the things that made the crime so difficult to solve was its unpredictable nature. London was a big place and there were thousands of women who fit the profile of Jack the Ripper’s preferred victim. Letters From Whitechapel simulates this by spreading the potential victims and sites for their murder across the massive game board, a map of old London. The game lets you get into the shoes of both the killer and the police as you try to predict where the next murder will happen. How difficult will it be to catch him? Where will he strike next? We can only imagine what this must have felt like at the time it was happening, but the game offers a compelling simulation of that dread and uncertainty.

The Disorganization of the Police

As I toured through the Whitechapel area, I kept crossing back and forth between the different sides of the London Wall. The London Wall was the first defensive wall built by the Romans when they established the city in the 2nd or 3rd century. What I didn’t realize was that this was a natural border between two different cities: London and Greater London. Since Jack was crossing between the borders of the cities to do his killing, this meant there were two different police organizations trying to capture the killer, all without cooperating with each other. The game represents this disorganization brilliantly by putting a different player-as-police-inspector in charge of the investigation and deployment of police every round. It helps build in a kind of leaderless chaos the police must have been feeling at the time.

The Increasing Panic and the Letters

The news made things worse by fanning the flames of distress in the community. These Whitechapel killings were obviously big news and sold papers for a long time. Journalists were so successful at sensationalizing the murder-spree that we’re still talking about it today, well over 125 years later.

Imagine how high the panic in the city must have been being in the midst of it? There are people who, still today, get unsettled thinking about the grisly crime scenes and what Jack the Ripper did to those poor women. The letters, allegedly from the killer, only added to that panic, the final one delivered with a human kidney.

This is obviously where the game gets its name and provides a fascinating dynamic, allowing the Jack the Ripper character to misdirect the police in different ways, based on the letter being used.

The Wretched

The game characterizes the women who were the potential victims of Jack the Ripper as “The Wretched,” but taking the tour around the city, you realize it was a lot more complicated than that. These poor souls were doing everything they could to survive.

When I went on the tour of Jack the Ripper’s sites, one place I visited and was given details about were the houses where many of these women would try to spend a night to get out of the streets. Many of the prostitutes working in the area had no where to go at night—sewage was openly dumped into the street, making sleeping there nearly impossible. The cheapest option for many was to sleep sitting against the wall of a shop; the proprietor would tie a rope across the line of people sleeping there to make sure they didn’t fall over or lie down.

Think about how awful that life must have been! Many of the victims were down on their luck and living in a situation they couldn’t help. Bearing this in mind certainly adds an edge of righteousness to those players who control the police investigation.

Collaring the Killer

Seeing the places and hearing the stories of Jack the Ripper brought a new life to my understanding of the history. Then getting to play the game after having been there added a whole new dimension to the game.

Do you have what it takes to catch Jack the Ripper before he kills again? Letters From Whitechapel will put your deduction abilities to the test, accurately simulating all the challenges and trials the police and populace had to face in this dark time in history. Diving deeper into this very history makes this already great game even better.

Thanks Bryan! And don't forget the upcoming release of Dear Boss, the expansion to Letters From Whitechapel that adds many modular elements that tweak and perfect your games of Jack-catching!

When Bryan Young's not busy tracking the steps of history's most notorious criminals, he is a regular columnist for StarWars.com and a frequent contributor to Star Wars Insider. You can also hear him on the Full of Sith podcast and follow him on Twitter @swankmotron.

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Dear Boss

Published 16 August 2016 | Whitehall Mystery

Dear Boss

Announcing an Expansion for Letters from Whitechapel

Dear Boss,
I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they won’t fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track…

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce Dear Boss, an expansion for Letters from Whitechapel!

There’s a monster abroad in the streets of Whitechapel district, moving quietly and unnoticed through the smog and mire of industry. Each night, he kills again, and each night, the police race to close the net before the killer can escape. By morning, another letter is found in Whitechapel, taunting the Chief of Police and signed by “Jack the Ripper.” The days are growing short. Time is running out for the police to catch the killer before he disappears into the twisted alleys and winding streets of Whitechapel…

You’ve already experienced the battle of wits between the policemen and Jack the Ripper in the cat-and-mouse struggles of Letters from Whitechapel. Now, you’ll gain a host of new variants for the game with the Dear Boss expansion! Within this expansion, you’ll find three modular decks to aid the policemen or Jack, alongside rules for tweaking the balance of the game until it’s perfect, no matter which side your group favors. Twelve beautifully sculpted plastic miniatures invite you to replace the Policemen, Jack, and Wretched pawns from the base game and a new Jack screen implements this expansion's variants. Finally, every inch of Dear Boss is overflowing with historical detail, giving you even more insight into the lives of the men and women who played out this tragedy in 1888.

From Hell

If you’ve already played Letters from Whitechapel, you know that the base game offers a wealth of variants that allow you to alter the balance of your game, based on whether Jack or the police are winning more often. With the Dear Boss expansion, you’ll find three new variants alongside a guide on exactly how to introduce these variants to your game for the first time.

Three new modular decks make their debut in the Dear Boss expansion for Letters from Whitechapel, and each allows you to tweak the balance of the game between Jack and the police. If Jack’s victories are coming too easily, you may introduce the Policemen cards, which give each Policeman player a unique special ability. For instance, while Charles Le Grand is the Head of Investigation, you may use an alley to move your policeman from one crossing to another crossing on the same block of houses—giving you an unparalleled chance to catch up to Jack or head off his escape.

Alternatively, Jack may be randomly assigned one of the twenty-five Jack Suspect cards. This card is kept secret and forces Jack to adapt his hideout and targets to the sectors shown on his card. Jack’s assigned role may be Joseph Barnett, for example. Not only does this determine the sectors of the board where Jack can place his hideout and make his kills during the first and fourth nights, it also forces him to use an Alley as his first movement during the first night. As the Jack player, freedom and unpredictability are your greatest advantages, so anything that prevents you from acting how you choose can be a significant disadvantage.

On the other hand, perhaps your police are easily dragging Jack into a jail cell, and you want a little more mystery and terror to descend on the streets of Whitechapel. If that’s the case, you can certainly introduce the Potential Victim cards. Whenever one of the Wretched is targeted, Jack may trigger the nearest Potential Victim card, giving him a distinct advantage at the very beginning of the chase. Mary Ann Nichols, for instance, immediately gives Jack some more time by moving the Time of the Crime to the very beginning of its track.

As you return once more to the dirty streets and filthy corners of Whitechapel district, you’ll notice again that the Dear Boss expansion is filled with the same historical detail that drew you into the terrifying events of the base game. Every card in this expansion is filled with lines of history, giving you significant insight into the lives of the policemen, suspects, and victims who defined these nineteenth century tragedies. What’s more, twelve beautifully sculpted miniatures for Jack, the Policemen, and the Wretched invite you to experience the terror and mystery of Whitechapel more keenly than ever before.

Yours Truly

The killer stalks the streets of Whitechapel once more. Every stranger must be feared. Every letter could hold a sinister message of future violence. Will you join the police force and fight to catch this monstrous murderer? Or will you play as Jack himself, vanishing into the night after his dark deeds are done? Transport your games of cat-and-mouse back to Whitechapel district with the Dear Boss expansion for Letters from Whitechapel!

Look for Dear Boss at your local retailer in the fourth quarter of 2016.

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The Battle of Wits Begins

Published 5 July 2013 | Whitehall Mystery

The Battle of Wits Begins

Letters from Whitechapel Is Now On Sale!

A lone detective moves swiftly through the darkened alleys and back streets of the Whitechapel District. A chill works its way through his body, though the night is not terribly cold. He can feel a presence before he can make out the shape of a man in front of him. The man turns a corner. The detective follows. He is surprised to find the man facing him, and he stops suddenly. The man tips his hat and smiles. For a moment, they just look at one another, killer and cop, sizing each other up…

The letters have gone out, and the Ripper returns! Letters from Whitechapel is now available at your local retail store. Experience all the terror of Whitechapel district at the end of the nineteenth century in this engrossing game of cat-and-mouse between the seasoned London detectives and the most cunning murderer they ever faced.

In Letters from Whitechapel, one player will take the role of Jack, and up to five others will control the movements of a few policemen and investigators as they scour the tortuous streets of the worst part of London. Over a series of four rounds, Jack strikes out each night, and claims the life of another victim.

Deduce the Path and Hideout of the Killer

At the beginning of the game, Jack chooses a secret hideout somewhere in Whitechapel district that he can retire to after committing his dastardly deeds. Each night, Jack commits a murder, and removes the Wretched pawn at the location of the murder. Now, the night explodes into action, as Jack races unseen to his hideout, and the investigators close in, hoping to cut him off, and trap the murderer.

The detectives must send out patrols and work together to defeat the threat of the Ripper, as Jack moves invisibly through the alleys and byways of Whitechapel. Eventually, the policemen will be able to track Jack further every night, closing in on his hideout and finally capturing him, but if they fail to catch him within four rounds, the game is over, and Jack the Ripper escapes unconvicted.

Immerse Yourself in the Historical Horrors

Crafted with painstaking historical detail, Letters from Whitechapel has been expressly designed to make the board game an accurate representation of historical events. On the bloodstained city map of Whitechapel district, streets, important locations, and the sites of Jack’s murders are laid out corresponding to reality. Fascinating historical notes on the game board, and in the rulebook add to the horrific aura surrounding the actions of the serial killer.

Whether you choose to perpetrate the villainies of the Ripper, or band together with your friends to stop them, check out our past previews, wherein we examine the main phases of each round, Hell, Hunting, and Jack's Special Movements. Once you’ve braced yourself, pick up Letters from Whitechapel from your local retailer today.

Good hunting!

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A Race Through the Streets

Published 20 June 2013 | Whitehall Mystery

A Race Through the Streets

The Rules for Letters from Whitechapel Are Now Online

In Letters from Whitechapel, designed by Gabriele Mari and Gianluca Santopietro, one player takes on the role of the Jack the Ripper. The other players become Police detectives, trying to deduce Jack’s location and arrest him before he can commit any more horrific murders.

Played over four Nights, Letters from Whitechapel immerses players in the terror gripping London’s Whitechapel district. This thrilling one-versus-many game features a series of phases carried out by one team or the other, as Jack plans his kills while the Police work together to close in on him.

Over the past several weeks, in a series of in-depth previews, we have roamed the streets with the Ripper, joined the hunt with police detectives, and looked at optional rules to up the difficulty for both sides. Today, with the release of Letters from Whitechapel just a few weeks away, we are pleased to present the full rulebook, so you can prepare for your own game of cat-and-mouse in the streets of the Whitechapel district.

Head to our support page to download the official rulebook (pdf, 9.5 MB), and then keep your eyes out for news of the release of Letters from Whitechapel!

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The Case Remains Unsolved . . .

Published 8 May 2013 | Whitehall Mystery

The Case Remains Unsolved . . .

A Preview of Letters from Whitechapel

The sound of footfall is heavy on the crooked stones of the streets. The officers split up, venturing alone into the foreboding alleys, in dogged pursuit of the killer they are seeking. On the main street, the rumble of carriage wheels is mostly unheeded. Those who bother to glance at the coach only see the shadowy outline of its passenger. From the street, no one can see the eerie smile on the man’s face, nor the bloodied handkerchief he tucks back inside the pocket of his coat. As he is carried off into the darkness, the police hunt on.

In Letters from Whitechapel, players take on the roles of detectives, scouring the streets of London’s Whitechapel district in a hunt for history’s most notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper. One player steps into the mind of the killer, trying to commit his savage acts of murder while eluding police capture. The game pits one against many, as the police try to apprehend Jack before he can claim five unfortunate victims, while Jack races to make his kills and escape to his Hideout.

In earlier previews, we looked at both parts of the game, Hell and Hunting. Today, we will discuss Special Movements Jack can use in his escapes, the sinister Double Event, and optional rules for both the Ripper and the police.

Special Movement and the Double Event

As Jack flees the scenes of his horrific murders, he has a few tricks up his sleeve to fool investigators. Each Night, Jack receives Special Movement tokens that he may use to better elude his pursuers. Using a Coach token, Jack may hire a carriage to move two circles instead of one. Also, by using the Coach, Jack can move undetected through crossings containing Policeman. The Alley token lets Jack cross a block of houses that is bounded, but not interrupted by the dotted lines. This lets Jack sneak his way past detectives and move more rapidly toward his Hideout. However, Jack cannot declare his escape after using a Special Movement to move onto his Hideout; he must always take a normal movement to end on his Hideout space.

In the above example, Jack uses an alley token to move from 139 to 115.

On the third Night, the Ripper ratchets up the stakes for detectives by committing two murders. This is known as the “Double Event.” Regular rules are followed, though this time Jack kills one victim, and stealthily moves to another location to murder a second. He records the number of each crime scene on his Move Track sheet, in any order he wishes. The Hunting phase does not commence until both murders are revealed, and since the detectives cannot be sure which order the kills took place in, they cannot be certain which location Jack is escaping from at the beginning of Night three. This makes their job of trying to hem him in even more difficult, as they must choose to either focus their forces on one crime scene, or attempt to divide and conquer. If the police don’t manage to capture Jack on this night, or at least narrow down his Hideout, the Ripper only has to kill one final victim and escape to dodge justice for his heinous crimes once and for all.

Optional Rules to Help the Ripper

For players who want to present the Police with an added challenge, optional rules can be implemented to assist Jack in carrying out his vile acts and escaping from those who would seek to stop him. Jack’s Letters is one of these rules, and it allows Jack to use one of his letters on Nights two through four. The Ripper, known for his taunting missives to detectives and other important figures in the Whitechapel Murder cases, can use a letter once per Night to change the position of the Police Patrols attempting to stop him. The letters are “Dear Boss,” “Saucy Jacky,” “From Hell,” and “Goulston Street.” Each of these letters has a different effect, but all result in a disruption of the carefully laid plans of the Police players.

For example, Jack can use his “Saucy Jacky” letter to move two Police patrol tokens to other positions on the board, so that he may kill and flee the scene more easily. The “Goulston Street” letter, which represents the Goulston Street Graffito, allows Jack to choose a Policeman pawn (red, green, or blue). The Police players must then choose to move either Jack’s chosen pawn or the brown pawn to Goulston Street, disrupting the plan they had set up to capture the Ripper.

With the addition of the False Clues optional rule, Jack may gain blue False Clue markers, which he can use to throw the pursuing detectives off his trail. For every five yellow Clue markers Jack reveals to the Police during a single Night, Jack receives a False Clue. These can be placed on any numbered circle at the beginning of the Clues and Suspicion phase, and block that circle for the rest of the Night. The False Clue prevents Policeman pawns from searching for Clues and executing arrests on that circle. This means that Jack can safely use that space during his escape without detection or capture.

Optional Rules to Assist the Police

In order to better help the Police as they search for the devious Jack the Ripper, the following optional rules make the killer’s horrible agenda more difficult to carry out.

Rushing allows detectives a third action to choose from. When a detective chooses to Rush, he may move his Policeman pawn to any adjacent Crossing. This is particularly useful if other detectives have turned up Clues that allow detectives to get an idea of Jack’s potential location. Rushing allows a detective to block Jack’s escape, possibly leading to a capture!

The addition of Area Arrests means that a detective may Execute an Arrest on all of the numbered circles adjacent to his location, instead of just one. This wider net makes the Police extremely difficult opponents to elude.

The I Know Your Address optional rule involves a special Police role called the Head of Investigation. Each Night, the police players randomly determine who will lead the task force for the night by turning over the top tile in the Head of Investigation pile. The Policeman of the corresponding color will take command for the Night. Interestingly, each Head of Investigation tile has an image and name of a real member of the Whitechapel Murders Investigations.

The I Know Your Address optional rule comes into play if Swanson (brown) or Abberline (red) become Head of the Investigation for the Night. Once per game, when either of these players is Head of the Investigation, he may immediately Execute an Arrest and name any circle on the game board. If that circle is Jack’s secret Hideout, the detectives win the game. Finally, with the Catch Me, If You Can optional rule, Jack may not choose red numbered circles OR numbered circles adjacent to them as his Hideout. This allows detectives a head start in deducing possibilities for Jack’s Hideout, while making the Ripper’s choice of hiding spots even more difficult.

Join the hunt for Jack the Ripper, or take on the role of the killer himself in the suspense-filled game of cat and mouse that is Letters from Whitechapel. Pre-order at your local retailer today, and check keep checking back for more on Letters from Whitechapel!

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From Hell

Published 4 April 2013 | Whitehall Mystery

From Hell

A Preview of Letters from Whitechapel, an Upcoming Board Game

The night is black and the air foul. Wrapping his cloak tighter, he navigates the alleyways by memory. He takes careful note of those around him, mostly unkempt street urchins and stumbling drunks. A few streets away, a shrill scream pierces the night. A smile breaks over his face; his work has been discovered. Setting the dark hat upon his head, Jack the Ripper fades away into the blackness of the Whitechapel streets.

In the upcoming board game Letters from Whitechapel, players are thrust into the grimy streets of London’s Whitechapel district, hunting grounds of history’s most elusive serial killer, Jack the Ripper. In this revised edition of the game designed by Gabriele Mari and Gianluca Santopietro, one player takes the role of the Ripper, who wanders the streets of Whitechapel, committing grisly murders and trying to escape to his Hideout. The other players take the roles of the Police, trying to close in on Jack and make an arrest.

The game unfolds over four Nights, each beginning with Jack choosing potential victims to slaughter. After each horrific murder, the detectives must use their phases of the game to track Jack’s movement from the scene of the crime to his Hideout. If Jack escapes, he is back on the prowl the following night, and will kill again. Divided into two parts, Hell and Hunting, Letters from Whitechapel is a battle of wits between Jack and the Police players. Today, we will discuss part one, Hell, following a hypothetical game turn as played by Jack the Ripper.

Saucy Jacky

Jack begins the game by secretly selecting a numbered circle on the board to be his Hideout, then recording this number on his Move Track Sheet. This is the location to which he must try to escape each Night, after he completes his brutal slaying. Now, the Ripper places the black Jack pawn on the Night Track, to signal the game has begun and the killer is roaming the streets!

In our example, Jack chooses circle 150 as his Hideout.

The board’s Night track. The game has begun!

In the first phase, The Targets are Identified, Jack signals that he has begun to narrow down his potential targets by placing Woman tokens facedown on the red numbered circles of the game board, arranged in any way he wishes. Interestingly, these starting circles represent actual murder sites, further contributing to the game’s faithful historical accuracy.

Woman Tokens. Most have undersides marked with red to indicate the are potential victims. Some are blank on the underside – these are false targets to confuse the Police!

Next, the Patrolling the Streets phase begins, which is carried out by the Police players. It is time for the detectives to arrange patrols of the streets of Whitechapel. The Police place Patrol tokens on the board at the Crossings (black squares) outlined in yellow, based on where they believe the Ripper might strike next. Five of these are marked with colors corresponding to Policeman pawns who can spring into action after a murder occurs to track and arrest the culprit. The other two are blank – these are false patrols used to confound Jack.

Police Patrol Tokens

Now, The Victims are Chosen. In this phase, the Ripper reveals the beginnings of his dastardly plot by turning the Woman tokens faceup. Jack replaces the victims marked for possible death with the Wretched pawns, and removes the false targets. This gives the Police a better idea of where Jack might kill. Jack, on the other hand, has no idea which Police patrols are real, and which are decoys.

The Wretched pawns replace the Woman tokens on the red numbered circles.

During the Blood on the Streets phase, Jack must decide whether to strike immediately, or wait a bit longer to claim a victim. The Ripper cannot delay indefinitely – eventually he will be over come with bloodlust and must kill, but he may choose to wait a few rounds in an attempt to get a better idea of where police patrols are located. For now, let’s say Jack decides to wait a round. Play passes to the detectives.

Police Suspense Grows and the patrolling detectives are nervous to discover where the Ripper will strike. Police players have the opportunity to ruin Jack’s plans by moving his potential victims. They can move each Wretched pawn one space, hopefully closer to the hidden patrols, making it easier for their pawns to hem Jack in and capture him. However, they must be cautious, because they may be playing right into Jack’s hands by moving a Wretched pawn into a position that makes it easier for him to make a kill.

The Police move this Wretched pawn one numbered circle (158 to 159) along the dotted line.

Play passes back to Jack in the Ready to Kill phase. Jack has the opportunity to gain valuable information about where Police patrols are located. He may choose one Patrol token and reveal it. Knowing where a Policeman pawn will be stationed helps Jack determine which victim to choose, so that he will be able to escape.

Making the Kill

The game continues with another round of the Blood on the Sidewalk phase. For our example, we will say that this time Jack feels he has waited long enough, and the time has come to kill! He selects a Wretched pawn, and replaces it with a red Crime Scene marker.

Jack selects the Wretched pawn on 159, and replaces it with the red crime scene marker, signifying that he has killed.

Now, in the Corpse on the Sidewalk phase, Jack must prepare to flee the scene of his horrific crime. He records the number of the crime scene on his Move Track sheet. From this location, Jack must move from numbered circle to numbered circle as he attempts to escape to his Hideout.

In the last phase of Hell, Alarm Whistles, the Police discover the crime scene and sound the alarm! All of the Patrol tokens are revealed, and replaced with the corresponding Policeman pawns. The hunt is for the notorious Jack the Ripper begins!

Policeman pawns are placed on the board, and begin to close in on the crime scene.

Will Jack escape, or will the Police succeed in capturing him? Join us next time, when we will attempt to track down the sly Jack as he races toward his Hideout in the Hunting phases of Letters from Whitechapel!

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Dear Boss...

Published 17 January 2013 | Whitehall Mystery

Dear Boss...

Announcing Letters from Whitechapel, a Board Game of Deduction and Intrigue

London, 1888. As soon as you step off the coach, you realize this is the wrong stop. A few minutes ago you were in the posh city center, but now crowded and smelly alleys branch off around you. Hawkers, shouting merchants, and dirty children covered in rags who run through the crowd and pull your jacket, begging for money... all you see is poverty and dreariness. Some people call this district hell.

A Revised Edition

Players familiar with the previous English-language edition of Letters from Whitechapel (published by Nexus Games in 2011) may be wondering what, if anything, is different about this revised edition. Visit our Letters from Whitechapel website for a list of differences.

Some others– less fortunate – call it home. Here, for a penny or less, you can see street acrobats and freak shows, or you can get drunk in one of the pubs. Prostitutes, those lonely wretched souls, haunt every street corner. These are his hunting grounds. Welcome to Whitechapel. Welcome to Jack the Ripper’s streets.

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Letters from Whitechapel, the revised edition of Gabriele Mari and Gianluca Santopietro’s chilling board game of the hunt for history’s most notorious criminal!

Letters from Whitechapel is a thematically engrossing board game of deduction and bluffing in which one player takes the role of the infamous Jack the Ripper, while up to five other players are detectives working together to pursue him through Victorian London. After committing his horrible murders, Jack must outmaneuver the detectives in the tangled streets of the Whitechapel District.

Meanwhile, the detectives must use clever deduction and their superior numbers to hunt Jack the Ripper down before he can kill again or elude them forever.

High-Stakes Cat-and-Mouse

Played over four rounds, Letters from Whitechapel is an engaging game of cat-and-mouse. Each round, the player controlling Jack selects a victim, commits a grisly murder, then attempts to escape to his secret hideout before being apprehended by any of five pursuing investigators. As for the investigators themselves, they must watch and wait, springing to action when Jack strikes then working together to narrow down his true location and make an arrest.

To begin, the Jack player secretly chooses the location of his hideout, a numbered space on the board to which he must run after his nightly butchery. Jack writes the number of this location at the top of his move track sheet, on which he also records his movements each round. This all-important document will remain hidden behind Jack’s special screen throughout the game, masking his heinous activities from those who seek to apprehend him.

When Jack strikes, he removes one of the white Wretched pawns from the map, representing the murder of an unfortunate lady of the night. Suddenly, the scene of the murder becomes the starting point for a high-stakes race. As Jack attempts to elude police and make it back to his Hideout (ending the round in his favor), the police detectives search the spaces near the crime scene for clues to his trail. With skill, communication, and a bit of luck, the police detective players will gradually establish a radius surrounding the location of Jack’s hideout, before finally closing in and stopping him.

Will Jack escape justice, surviving to kill again, or can the police put a stop to history’s most notorious killer? Learn more at our Letters from Whitechapel website, then join the hunt early in the second quarter of 2013!

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