The Vampire Run
He is a genial, jovial and dapper host, with just a hint of the sinister, tall and slender Jonathan Laury lurking in the shadowy basement, red lit and draped, his crystal ball and book of spells on the table before him, in smoking jacket and cravat as he welcomes his guests for an attempt at The Vampire Run, possibly foolish, possibly futile.
A multiplayer game of social deduction with a twist, possibly in the ankle as the victims run from their fate, possibly in the spine of the bowler-hatted dimwitted butler who answers the door to the residence of the dread Maximillian von Dracul, possibly for many hundred years, fortunately there is more than one entrance beyond the apparent and more than one way to progress up the levels of Castle Morvania.
Interactive and unpredictable, the moves of the player are limited to three when presented with each successive challenge – brains, brawn and bragging – but the nature of the threat in each space means the defences must be measured and adapted as the trio of trepidatious vampire hunters move from the haunted hallway to the ghastly gallery and beyond.
Never sure if there is a traitor in their midst, The Vampire Run would benefit from some extra surprises to keep the format fresh, perhaps a few more hideous and disturbing props or some wild cards scattered among the standard roster which could be retained for future use à la Monopoly, silver bullets and flamethrowers, but Laury is an excellent, energetic and enthusiastic host… if not entirely trustworthy.
The Vampire Run continues at the Laughing Horse at Home Bar until Sunday 30th August
