Q: The Interrogator card says that if the MacGuffin “has not been seen” then the Backup MacGuffin must be shown, but what if the MacGuffin has “been seen” because it is in the discard pile?

We had been playing that if the MacGuffin is in the discard, it “has been seen” and the Backup MacGuffin need not be shown, but then we noticed that the rulesheet says “if no result,” in which case the Backup MacGuffin should be shown if the real MacGuffin is in the discard. Which is correct?

A: The interpretation you’re getting from the rulesheet is the correct one. Essentially, the Interrogator has the power to call out whoever currently has the “most real” MacGuffin. If the real MacGuffin is in the discard pile then it’s as though it has been destroyed or no longer exists, so NOW the only MacGuffin that matters is the Backup, so that is what needs to be shown.

Since The Interrogator has no effect once the MacGuffin (or “most real” MacGuffin in the game) is in play, and it’s rare for it’s location to become unknown again once revealed, obviously, it’s best used early in the game.