Round & Revel / Cooperative deduction
The Post Office Paper Trail
Four private manuals. One public parcel ledger. Put the procedures together.
Original printable party game. Timing is a planning estimate; this edition has not had a live group playtest.
Good for: A small-group puzzle where everyone contributes a piece of information.
What you need
- One copy of the four private desk cards and twelve public batch cards
- Answer appendix, kept covered until each batch is locked
- Three blank four-row ledgers, scrap paper, and pens
- An optional six-minute timer
How to play
The shared job
For friends or family who enjoy comparing clues, four desks have handled the same batch of parcels. Each desk knows one part of the procedure, and nobody initially has the whole manual. Work together to find the venue allocated to every parcel, its physical location inside the depot, and whether its label needs correction. Nothing has been stolen and nobody is accused of anything: this is a fictional sorting audit before the trolleys leave. The challenge is combining distributed information, rather than catching a bluffer or remembering a hidden scene.
Print and prepare
Print one copy of the four PRIVATE DESK cards and the twelve PUBLIC BATCH cards. Keep the answer appendix covered. Choose three different batch cards without reading their answers. Make a public ledger with four rows per batch and columns Parcel, Allocated venue, Physical location, and Label correction. Provide a separate scrap for each desk. All words are identifiers: stamps and seals do not require matching colours or recognising pictures.
Share out the desks
Make four desk groups, each containing one or two people. At four players, everyone runs one desk; with five to eight, distribute additional people as evenly as possible. Randomly give each group one private desk card. People sharing a desk may see their own card together. They cannot show it to another desk, photograph it, or copy the entire card into the public ledger. They may consult it whenever they like. Choose a recorder from one desk; that person still participates normally.
Understand a parcel record
Every public parcel has a recipient name, a written venue, an instruction, a stamp, and a seal. A field saying PLAIN means exactly that printed value, not missing information. Each batch is independent and all its parcels remain inside the depot while you investigate. An allocated venue is a destination label; a physical location is a depot shelf, a trolley, or the waiting cage. Never treat a venue name as proof that a parcel has already arrived there.
Open the audit
Reveal the first public batch. Allow each desk a quiet minute to read its manual and consider the four records. Then, in desk-number order, each group shares one useful explanation of its procedure. Paraphrases, examples, names, and exact field values are allowed. You may not simply read your whole card aloud in a single turn. This opening round makes space for all four desks before the quickest speaker starts assembling a full answer.
Ask and reconstruct
After the opening, discussion is unrestricted: ask another desk how a particular parcel would be treated, explain a rule in smaller pieces, and correct misunderstandings openly. Nobody must conceal a relevant fact or give a misleading answer. Keep private cards private, but write deductions and short rule summaries in the ledger. Take the parcels in any order. When a conclusion depends on two desks, ask both to confirm it. Move the pen to a different person for each ledger row.
What to record
For every parcel, enter exactly one allocated venue and one physical location. The permitted location formats are “[venue] shelf”, “EAST trolley”, “WEST trolley”, and “waiting cage”. For Label correction, write NONE when the written venue already matches the recipient directory; otherwise write the recipient’s correct venue. A REDIRECT instruction can route a parcel correctly while its original label still needs correction. This distinction is intentional. No delivery occurs during the audit, so nobody rewrites the actual parcel record.
Lock, then check
Before locking the batch, invite each desk to flag one unresolved issue or say “ready”. The group may keep working until everyone is ready; a suggested six-minute discussion limit is optional. Lock all twelve ledger cells together. Only then uncover the answer for that batch. Award one point per correct cell, for a maximum of twelve. A synonym such as “east cart” counts if it unambiguously identifies EAST trolley. Half-correct cells do not receive half-points.
Continue and finish
Discuss one mistaken inference, if any, then rotate the four private desk cards one group clockwise. Use a fresh ledger and the next batch. Complete three batches for a maximum of 36 shared points. Aim for 30; 36 is a completely accurate audit. These are suggested challenge targets, not playtested benchmarks. There are no individual winners or tie-breakers. If two tables compare scores, use the same batch cards and agree on the same time allowance before play; equal totals remain tied.
A small worked example
Suppose a parcel says ASTER, Lantern, REDIRECT, CIRCLE, PLAIN. The directory assigns Aster to Grove. REDIRECT therefore allocates Grove, and CIRCLE puts the parcel in a sack. A redirected sack with a PLAIN seal waits in the cage. The original Lantern label needs correction to Grove. If only the seal changed to URGENT, the same parcel would be on the WEST trolley. Changing the seal does not change the allocated venue or fix the written label.
Access, disagreements, and replay
Read public records aloud and enlarge private cards when useful. A desk partner may serve as reader or scribe; there is no speed or memory requirement. If secrecy makes access difficult, play with all manuals public and keep the rotating explanation round. The printed procedures settle disputes; ask the relevant desk for the exact sentence after the batch is scored. Replay with unused batches, different desk assignments, or newly written parcel records using the same five fields. Always calculate a new record’s answer before using it as a scored challenge.
Printable cards and components
Print single-sided and cut on the borders. Read the setup before sorting the cards; some games use separate card types or fewer copies for smaller groups.
PRIVATE DESK 1 · Recipient directory
Keep this card within your desk. ASTER belongs at Grove. BIRCH belongs at Lantern. COBALT belongs at River. DUNE belongs at Quarry. The directory never changes between batches. A written parcel label needs correction if, and only if, its written venue differs from this directory. A parcel can be routed correctly while still carrying an incorrect original label.
PRIVATE DESK 2 · Allocating a venue
Keep this card within your desk. For instruction PLAIN, allocate the written venue, even if another desk thinks the label is wrong. For instruction REDIRECT, ignore the written venue and allocate the recipient’s directory venue instead. Never invent a fifth venue. You decide only allocation; the stamp and seal are handled at other desks.
PRIVATE DESK 3 · Shelf or sack
Keep this card within your desk. TRIANGLE always goes onto the shelf for its allocated venue. CIRCLE always goes into a sack. SQUARE goes onto its allocated venue’s shelf when that venue is River or Quarry; at Grove or Lantern, SQUARE goes into a sack. Use the allocated venue, which may differ from the written venue. Shelved parcels stay shelved regardless of their seal.
PRIVATE DESK 4 · Dispatch
Keep this card within your desk. Only sacks enter this procedure. A sack bearing REDIRECT and a PLAIN seal goes into the waiting cage. Every other sack is loaded now: allocated Grove or Quarry goes on WEST trolley; allocated Lantern or River goes on EAST trolley. URGENT does not move a shelf parcel. Trolleys have not departed; every parcel is still inside the depot.
PUBLIC BATCH 01
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 01A: ASTER | Grove | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | URGENT
01B: BIRCH | River | PLAIN | SQUARE | PLAIN
01C: COBALT | Grove | PLAIN | CIRCLE | PLAIN
01D: DUNE | River | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | URGENT
PUBLIC BATCH 02
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 02A: ASTER | Lantern | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | PLAIN
02B: BIRCH | Quarry | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
02C: COBALT | Lantern | REDIRECT | SQUARE | URGENT
02D: DUNE | Quarry | PLAIN | CIRCLE | PLAIN
PUBLIC BATCH 03
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 03A: ASTER | River | PLAIN | SQUARE | PLAIN
03B: BIRCH | Grove | PLAIN | CIRCLE | URGENT
03C: COBALT | River | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
03D: DUNE | Grove | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
PUBLIC BATCH 04
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 04A: ASTER | Quarry | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | URGENT
04B: BIRCH | Lantern | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
04C: COBALT | Quarry | PLAIN | CIRCLE | PLAIN
04D: DUNE | Lantern | PLAIN | TRIANGLE | URGENT
PUBLIC BATCH 05
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 05A: ASTER | Grove | PLAIN | CIRCLE | PLAIN
05B: BIRCH | River | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
05C: COBALT | Grove | REDIRECT | SQUARE | URGENT
05D: DUNE | River | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | PLAIN
PUBLIC BATCH 06
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 06A: ASTER | Lantern | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
06B: BIRCH | Quarry | PLAIN | CIRCLE | URGENT
06C: COBALT | Lantern | PLAIN | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
06D: DUNE | Quarry | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
PUBLIC BATCH 07
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 07A: ASTER | River | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | URGENT
07B: BIRCH | Grove | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
07C: COBALT | River | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | PLAIN
07D: DUNE | Grove | PLAIN | TRIANGLE | URGENT
PUBLIC BATCH 08
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 08A: ASTER | Quarry | PLAIN | CIRCLE | PLAIN
08B: BIRCH | Lantern | PLAIN | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
08C: COBALT | Quarry | REDIRECT | SQUARE | URGENT
08D: DUNE | Lantern | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | PLAIN
PUBLIC BATCH 09
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 09A: ASTER | Grove | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
09B: BIRCH | River | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | URGENT
09C: COBALT | Grove | PLAIN | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
09D: DUNE | River | PLAIN | SQUARE | PLAIN
PUBLIC BATCH 10
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 10A: ASTER | Lantern | PLAIN | TRIANGLE | URGENT
10B: BIRCH | Quarry | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
10C: COBALT | Lantern | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | PLAIN
10D: DUNE | Quarry | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | URGENT
PUBLIC BATCH 11
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 11A: ASTER | River | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | PLAIN
11B: BIRCH | Grove | PLAIN | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
11C: COBALT | River | PLAIN | SQUARE | URGENT
11D: DUNE | Grove | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | PLAIN
PUBLIC BATCH 12
Field order: parcel | recipient | written venue | instruction | stamp | seal. Audit all four records. 12A: ASTER | Quarry | REDIRECT | SQUARE | PLAIN
12B: BIRCH | Lantern | REDIRECT | CIRCLE | URGENT
12C: COBALT | Quarry | REDIRECT | TRIANGLE | PLAIN
12D: DUNE | Lantern | PLAIN | SQUARE | PLAIN
Answer notes: open only when the rules tell you to check
Keep these notes away from players during a puzzle or writing round. This section is excluded from the website print view. The PDF player kit includes a separate answer appendix.
B01
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 01A: Grove; Grove shelf; correction NONE. 01B: River; River shelf; correction Lantern. 01C: Grove; WEST trolley; correction River. 01D: Quarry; Quarry shelf; correction Quarry.
B02
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 02A: Grove; waiting cage; correction Grove. 02B: Lantern; Lantern shelf; correction Lantern. 02C: River; River shelf; correction River. 02D: Quarry; WEST trolley; correction NONE.
B03
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 03A: River; River shelf; correction Grove. 03B: Grove; WEST trolley; correction Lantern. 03C: River; River shelf; correction NONE. 03D: Quarry; Quarry shelf; correction Quarry.
B04
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 04A: Grove; Grove shelf; correction Grove. 04B: Lantern; waiting cage; correction NONE. 04C: Quarry; WEST trolley; correction River. 04D: Lantern; Lantern shelf; correction Quarry.
B05
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 05A: Grove; WEST trolley; correction NONE. 05B: Lantern; Lantern shelf; correction Lantern. 05C: River; River shelf; correction River. 05D: Quarry; waiting cage; correction Quarry.
B06
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 06A: Grove; waiting cage; correction Grove. 06B: Quarry; WEST trolley; correction Lantern. 06C: Lantern; Lantern shelf; correction River. 06D: Quarry; Quarry shelf; correction NONE.
B07
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 07A: Grove; Grove shelf; correction Grove. 07B: Lantern; waiting cage; correction Lantern. 07C: River; waiting cage; correction NONE. 07D: Grove; Grove shelf; correction Quarry.
B08
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 08A: Quarry; WEST trolley; correction Grove. 08B: Lantern; Lantern shelf; correction NONE. 08C: River; River shelf; correction River. 08D: Quarry; waiting cage; correction Quarry.
B09
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 09A: Grove; waiting cage; correction NONE. 09B: Lantern; EAST trolley; correction Lantern. 09C: Grove; Grove shelf; correction River. 09D: River; River shelf; correction Quarry.
B10
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 10A: Lantern; Lantern shelf; correction Grove. 10B: Lantern; waiting cage; correction Lantern. 10C: River; waiting cage; correction River. 10D: Quarry; Quarry shelf; correction NONE.
B11
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 11A: Grove; waiting cage; correction Grove. 11B: Grove; Grove shelf; correction Lantern. 11C: River; River shelf; correction NONE. 11D: Quarry; waiting cage; correction Quarry.
B12
Order: allocated venue; physical location; label correction. 12A: Grove; waiting cage; correction Grove. 12B: Lantern; EAST trolley; correction NONE. 12C: River; River shelf; correction River. 12D: Lantern; EAST trolley; correction Quarry.
Round & Revel. Edition 1 / October 2026. No purchases, accounts or specialist equipment beyond the listed materials are required.