The Long Con: Designing Multi-Session Schemes

The Long Con: Designing Multi-Session Schemes

October 18, 2025

Any thug can swing a bat and any grifter can palm a pocket watch. But the true crown jewel of a Zoo Mafia campaign? The Long Con.
This isn’t just one heist, one hustle, one “quick in-and-out.” This is the caper that unfolds over multiple sessions—layered, dangerous, and ripe for reversals. Pulling it off means weaving a web of trust, betrayal, and tension until everyone at the table feels like they’re part of an unfolding crime saga. You can dive into some Zoo Mafia Family Politics here.

What Makes a Long Con Different?

A normal Zoo Mafia score has a clear setup and payoff: rob the peanut rum train, shake down the rival speakeasy, nab the necklace from the penguin duchess.
The Long Con, though, is built on three elements:

Time. The plan takes multiple sessions to fully reveal itself.
Shifting Stakes. Every step complicates the next—players must adapt or die.
Reversals. No plan survives contact with the Flatpaws, and betrayal is always one deal away.

Zookeeper Tips for Running a Long Con

1. Break the Scheme Into Acts

Think like a playwright:

Act I (Setup): Introduce the mark. A wealthy rhino banker? The tiger-run peanut rum smuggling ring? Set the stage and show why this is a score worth risking it all.
Act II (Complications): Something breaks. The mark wises up. Another gang catches wind. A human visitor almost sees behind the curtain.
Act III (Climax): All the lies and risks come crashing down. The con is either pulled off spectacularly—or it explodes in everyone’s faces.

2. Dangle False Security

Let the crew feel like they’ve pulled it off—then yank the rug. Maybe their forgeries don’t pass the zebra inspector’s eye. Maybe the “inside man” meerkat gets cold feet. Every success should sow the seeds for future trouble.

3. Build in Betrayal Potential

Offer NPC allies that might flip sides when the heat rises. Is the rat fixer actually playing both gangs? Is one of the crew’s own family members tempted to sell them out for safety? Encourage suspicion at the table.

Player Tips for Playing the Long Con

1. Protect Your Cover

If you’re the Grifter running an alias, lean into the tension: how long before someone recognizes you? A scarred hyena from your past, a jealous rival, or even a slip of the tongue can unravel everything.

2. Chase Side Objectives

Don’t just aim for “the big score.” Want to smuggle some of the goods for yourself? Protect your little cousin working at the rival speakeasy? Hide evidence before the humans catch wind? These mini-missions keep everyone invested.

3. Expect to Be Double-Crossed

The Zookeeper will throw knives at your back—sometimes literally. Lean into it. When betrayal comes, it makes the payoff even sweeter (or bloodier).

Twists & Reversals to Drop Into the Long Con

The Mark Isn’t Who They Seem: That “dumb” hippo banker is actually an ex-enforcer in hiding.
The Rival Gang Moves First: The crew arrives to find the vault already half-emptied.
The Humans Interfere: The blackout ends early—or the cops show up with flashlights and guns.
Family Trouble: One PC’s kin is tied up in the scheme, forcing tough choices.

Why Play the Long Con?

Because in Zoo Mafia, the thrill isn’t just cracking skulls or cracking safes—it’s cracking trust.
A Long Con makes every session a nail-biter, every decision a gamble, and every betrayal sting twice as sharp. Run one, and you’ll give your table something to talk about long after the dice stop rolling. If you are a fan of Zoo Mafia and want to be notified when we go live on Kickstarter make sure you head over to the follow page to get notified. If you want to be on the newsletter to get all the details as we release them you can sign up here.

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!