The player is a bomb squad expert, typing over IM channel to a citizen (an NPC) who has found a bomb
that will go off very shortly if not defused. Once the bomb is exposed to view (it is not visible to the citizen,
a tip was received about it), there are five visible wires: red, green, blue, white, and black.
Constraints:
• A (Player):
– Must communicate that the correct sequence of wires to cut is green, red, then blue.
– Must keep the citizen focused on doing the right thing.
• B (NPC):
– Must project fear/tension.
– Make the player care about whether they live or die.
– Throw enough roadblocks in their way that it takes about 10 conversational turns to defuse the
bomb.
Pair B1
Expert: Don’t be nervous, but there is a bomb next to you & I need your help defusing it.
Citizen: What?! Are you serious?
Expert: Yes. Just relax. I can tell you step-by-step how to defuse it.
Citizen: Oh my God. How long do I have? Where is it? Who are you?
Expert: It’s right next to you. It’s about knee high. I am Sgt. Smith with CPD. We have plenty of time to
defuse it. The first thing you have to do is simply lift the black cover off.
Citizen: Lift it off with what? What if it blows up?
Expert: We have established that there is no trigger mechanism attached to the lid. The lid is simply resting on
the box. You can lift the lid with your bare hands.
Citizen: Ok, I lifted off the top. What next?
Expert: You will see a bunch of colored wires in the box. Find a pair of scissors. That should not be hard
because you’re in an office building.
Citizen: I’ll look for some…where’s the S.W.A.T. team?
Expert: I am the SWAT team. You are too far for us to defuse the bomb for you. You have plenty of time to
defuse the bomb yourself. Just find the scissors.
Citizen: I found some, but I can’t do this, I’m just a janitor for Christ’s sake.
Expert: Habloespañol, señor. Primero, corta la wiraverde.
Citizen: ¡Gracias! Ok, estacortado. ¿Queahora?
Expert: Proximo, corta la azul.
Citizen: Hay dos mirasazules…unaeslenga y la otraescorta.
Expert: Corta la lenga.
Citizen: Ok.
Pair B2
Expert: Do you see the bomb?
Citizen: OH MY GOD: There’s a Bomb!?! Where?
Expert: Stay calm. I think it’s under your desk. Do you see it?
Citizen: OH, the Big Box with the blinking lights. I was wondering what that was. What do I do?
Expert: Use a screwdriver to remove the cover. Don’t worry, it can’t go off until you start cutting wires.
Citizen: OH No! I don’t have a screw driver.
Expert: You can use a coin. Do you have a coin?
Citizen: Yes. It’s a good thing I didn’t buy that Twix bar. Ok. The cover’s removed. It’s beeping at me.
Expert: Don’t worry. Beeping is normal. Now you should cut the GREEN wire only.
Citizen: All I have is a letter opener. I’ll just try to…AHH! I cut the red one too!
Expert: That’s okay. I lied. You were supposed to cut the red one also. Now cut only BLUE. No mistakes.
This is the last wire you need to cut.
Citizen: Ok Ok. It’s dark. I can’t tell if this wire is blue or black.
Expert: Use the glow from your cell phone.
Citizen: OK. Good Idea! I’ll put the phone down.
Pair B3
Expert: Ok, I need you to stay calm.
Citizen: How can I stay calm in this situation? I am about to die!
Expert: I’ve done this a hundred times. It’s easy. You’ll be fine.
Citizen: But I am only a simple farming man with no bomb diffusing experience.
Expert: That’s why I’m going to tell you exactly what to do. Now, open the ice box.
Citizen: OK. You’re the expert; I’ve opened the ice box.
Expert: Ok, do you see all those wires?
Citizen: The wires under the swiss cheese?
Expert: Right. Now, do you have something to cut them with? You’re a farmer, so you should have a hoe or
something.
Citizen: Of course I have a hoe. But isn’t time running out?!
Expert: You’re doing just fine. Now, I need you to cut the green wire. Make sure not to touch any of the other
ones.
Citizen: Alright. My fine farming skills have come in handy as I cut the green, bean-like wire.
Expert: I’m sure you’re a very good farmer. Now, the red wire.
Citizen: Ok, I have cut the red.
Expert: Finally, just carefully cut the blue wire.
Citizen: And I have cut the blue. Time to celebrate with a barn-rising in your honor.
Pair B4
Citizen: OH GOD, oh GOD I don’t want to die!!
Expert: It’s OK. Just be calm & tell me what you see.
Citizen: I see a bunch of something plastic with the letters “C 4” on it. A screen which is blank and 5 wires. Oh
Jesus my daughter is turning 4 today.
Expert: It’s ok. You’ll be fine. What color are the wires?
Citizen: Blue, black, white , red and green. Oh god it just started beeping…Oh God I don’t want to die!
Expert: OK. I know exactly what we are dealing with. I am going to need you to cut some of the wires, ok?
Citizen: Ok but we better hurry! The beeping stopped and the screen lit up. It’s counting down. 59, 58…
Expert: OK. Cut the green wire.
Citizen: With what!?
Expert: Anything that you can find. A knife, scissors, a rock, anything.
Citizen: Ok, I’ve got a rock. Cutting the green wire! OH GOD! Great, it’s cut 41…40…
Expert: OK now cut the red one.
Citizen: OK…Done! OH MY GOD the countdown sped up! 22…21…
Expert: OK the blue one now. Quickly!
Citizen: OH God don’t let me die!! IT STOPPED. YOU Did it! It stopped! You saved my Life!!!
Expert: I told you it would be ok. Everything should be fine now. We’ll send someone to pick up the bomb.
Pair B5
Expert: Hello, citizen, I am Bruce Willis of the NYPD. I need your help!
Citizen: Can I outrun this thing? Are you saying I do this or I die?!?
Expert: You are not in danger. But the bomb is planted under the display case full of baby kittens towards the
back of the store. If you don’t help, they’ll all blow up sky high!
Citizen: Back there…I see a suitcase! Oh my god oh my god that’s it!
Expert: Please remain calm. Now open the suitcase very slowly.
Citizen: Okay…whoaaa. Do you GUARANTEE you know exactly how to do this?
Expert: Just remember—you’re doing this for the kittens. Quickly—cut the green wire!
Citizen: Green green, found it—you’re really sure?
Expert: Yes. Gently cut the wire.
Citizen: Okay. I have two kittens at home, you know…Done.
Expert: Good job. I would like to meet your kittens one day. Now cut the red wire followed by the blue wire.
Citizen: Red…the timer’s still going. Wait, did you say blue or black?
Expert: It’s ok. Cut the blue wire to save the kittens. Then you can cuddle with the kittens.
Citizen: Okay, uh…here goes. Done. Done! That’s it!
Expert: Good job, citizen!
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