Interactive Communication Game “The Criminal Conversation Club

The criminal syndicate has received word: by the end of the year, a constitutional amendment is expected to be ratified that will repeal Prohibition — the law that has so far been the mafia’s main source of income. Once the production and distribution of alcohol become legal, the entire bootlegging business of the 1920s will lose its purpose, and the mafia will be forced to urgently seek new sources of revenue. In such a situation, survival belongs not to the strongest, but to those who know how to talk, negotiate, and manipulate.

In search of new spheres of influence and investment opportunities, a representative of the “Commission” has secretly arrived in Chicago from New York — a city where the five most powerful families are already implementing new strategies in preparation for life after Prohibition. Under the cover of a lavish reception, a meeting of all interested parties takes place, where Chicago’s two major gangs — the Skeleto and the Tomasino families — must reach an agreement on the new spheres of influence that will shape the city’s future balance of power.

1. On August 1, the U.S. Senate adopted the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited the production, sale, and transportation of any intoxicating beverages, defining as “intoxicating” even drinks containing more than 0.5% alcohol. This gave rise to a vast illegal market, which in turn allowed the mafia to become the most influential force in the shadow economies of many cities. Now, as Prohibition threatens to be repealed, the rules of the game are changing dramatically, and the new reality will demand new ways of thinking.

“The Criminal Conversation Club” is a communication game based on almost real events, featuring both fictional characters and figures known from history. The game’s dynamics reflect the harsh atmosphere of the Prohibition era and the approaching Great Depression, when every agreement could become a matter of fate.

To fully immerse yourself in the world of the 1920s, we recommend that participants arrive dressed in period-appropriate attire: for ladies — elegant dresses, boas, long gloves, and hats; for gentlemen — sharp suits, tuxedos, hats, and even artificial moustaches “à la Max Linder”. The more authentic the atmosphere, the more convincing your character — and the more intense the duel of negotiations.