When I send the murderer their character package, should I also send their 2ND character booklet along as well? SO they know their going to be murdered ahead of time?
I would send them their second characters also. I would speak to them and let them know why they have 2 characters, although their background does tell them they are being murdered and how to handle it. They just need to know which characters they will be playing first.
Does the victim know who murders them ahead of time?
No. The only person who knows the identity of the murderer is the murderer him/her self.
If not, once they are murdered then don't they know who the murderer is, and doesn't that kind of ruin the rest of the guessing game for them?
This applies to the original staged murder: They will still not know who the murderer is even after their murder. The first murder is planned out before the party and the actual murderer will not be seen to be involved in this murder so as not to give their identity away. It is staged by the victim and possibly the host.
Is it the murderer or the murdered that come to tell me (the host) that there has been a murder?
This pertains to further murders done with weapons cards only: It will be the murderer, but this does not apply to the original murder which is the one that everyone is trying to solve. NO ONE will know the identity of this person.
I thought I read that the murderer tells me......but then I know who did it and I can't really play anymore?!?
You will know only the identity of 'other' murderers, but not the original one. This will in no way affect your ability to play. Just play your character and in no way use any information you acquire while carrying out your hosting duties. Only use information your character has discovered.
There is just soooo much more to our games than solving any murder. So even if you accidentally discovered the murderer, it would in no way affect your ability to play.
I write these, so I know much more than just the identity of the murderer & I still love playing them. Everyone handles information differently, so while I may know the identity of a murderer, I will not have a clue about all the schemes developing all around me by my devious guests. There really is just so much more going on than murder. Everyone has their own plots and schemes. Everyone has to watch their backs while they plot against their enemies, of which there are many!