Lil’ Guardsman puts 12-year-old Lil in charge of the guard shed at the entrance to the Sprawl while she covers a shift for her father. Every day brings a new group of humans, elves, goblins, cyclopes, and other visitors who want to enter the city. Lil has to question them, investigate suspicious details, and finally decide whether each person should be admitted, denied entry, or sent to jail. More than 100 characters appear during the story, and decisions made at the gate can affect later events.

Questioning the Visitors

Each visitor presents a small deduction puzzle. Lil can ask questions, follow up on suspicious answers, consult royal advisors, or use equipment from the guard shed. The Royal Writ provides instructions for the current shift, including information about criminals, political issues, and people the kingdom wants watched. Players have limited opportunities to investigate each visitor, so choosing the right method is important before making the final decision.

Tools for Finding the Truth

Different tools reveal different kinds of information. Some expose lies, while others detect hidden objects or decode messages. Their uses are limited, and gold earned from successful shifts can be spent on improving the toolkit.

The available investigation tools include:

•         Truth Spray for forcing honest answers;
•         a Metal Detector for finding concealed metal objects;
•         an X-Ray for inspecting hidden items;
•         a Decoder Ring for translating messages and codes;
•         a Bullwhip for specific situations where other tools may not help.

Correct decisions earn better ratings and more money, but the consequences go beyond a single shift. The Sprawl becomes involved in political disputes, a royal marriage between competing kingdoms, and eventually a siege. People admitted earlier can return later, while refusing entry to someone may change who is available during future events. The final state of the city therefore depends partly on Lil’s earlier judgments.

Rewriting a Bad Decision

Lil eventually receives the Chronometer3000, a device that allows earlier encounters to be replayed. Players can return to a previous interrogation, try different questions or tools, and change the decision made at the gate. This makes it possible to search for better ratings or explore alternative consequences instead of restarting the entire story. Progress in Lil’ Guardsman comes from understanding each visitor, managing the toolkit, earning gold, and deciding who should be allowed into the Sprawl as the larger conflict develops.