Hidden Mic

## Description

Learns all actions and free uses that occur to a target.

Also learn if any effects were self used by the target.

## Notes

* Also detects self use item effects like Fortify and Cake.

## Strategy

### **Hope**

Hidden Mic is one of 4 red investigation items that are easy enough for even new players to use. Hidden Mic informs the user of all actions that targeted the target (but not who performed any of the actions targeting the target). Sometimes this will reveal items that the target used on himself/herself, but it's important to note that not all free use items must be used on the user. For example, Hidden Mic could reveal that the target was targeted with Poison, but the only way to know for sure if the target was targeted with Poison by somebody else or used it on himself/herself is if Hidden Mic results specify that no effects were self-used by the target.

### **Blackened**

Hidden Mic in itself can't help the blackened very much. It could, however, be used in a particular ploy that could create an alibi for the blackened, if it's already in the blackened's inventory on the night of the murder. Firstly, the blackened would have to ensure a murder happens, such as using the eliminate action on another character. Secondly, the blackened would have to discard the Hidden Mic on the night of the murder so that it can be found during the investigation phase later. Thirdly, during the trial, the blackened would claim to have *used* the Hidden Mic on the previous night and discovered that the eliminate action was used on the victim (among any other apparent actions to occur to the victim, as stated in the alibis of other players). The advantage to this tactic is that most players would trust this alibi as long as a Hidden Mic was found in the investigation phase. After all, why would a blackened go through the trouble of securing a Cake and a Hidden Mic to use both the eliminate action and an item that would expose himself? And even if the blackened did use a Hidden Mic, it would be very easy to lie about the results. The disadvantage to this tactic is that it can easily fall flat if either, by chance, another character used a Camera on the blackened- in which the blackened is out of luck anyways- or somebody can confirm an action they performed on the victim that wasn't mentioned in the blackened's alibi.

### **Game Masters**

Resolving a Hidden Mic's effects is fairly easy. Unless the target character has an ability or item in use that obscures results (such as Cloaking Device), the game master tells the player using the Hidden Mic all the actions and free uses that specifically targeted the target. Most often, this can be done by panning the game master's player board to the right of all game controls and looking for all actions and free uses that include the same target number as the target of the Hidden Mic. Sometimes, the results will just be "Hidden Mic". Sometimes the results will include multiple items and abilities. (For example, "Hidden mic, Knuckle Sandwich, and Pocket Sand.") Regardless, the game master should also answer if any of the actions/free uses were self uses- meaning the user targeted himself/herself with an ability or item. This must be a "yes" or "no" answer; the game master should *not* specify which items were self uses, if any were at all.