Toby is the waiter at the party. Both the spy and the sniper can easily recognize him due to his distinct appearance, the grey triangle over his head, and the drink tray in his hand. The spy cannot assume his role, nor can he be chosen for other cast roles. A guest list rests on Toby's tray; stealing it is the spy's objective in the Purloin Guest List mission.

Drinks Edit

Toby looks for guests who are not currently holding anything in their left hand, then goes up behind them and offers them a drink. Drinks are always held in the left hand. A spy whose left hand is empty can summon Toby, or can wait for Toby to come to them spontaneously. Once Toby is offering them a drink, the spy can choose to take or refuse it. Refusing a drink causes Toby to immediately seek out another guest to visit. If the spy ignores Toby for 10 seconds, he will give up and find someone else to serve. NPCs never ignore Toby so long that he gives up, although they may walk away while he is offering a drink.

While holding a drink, the spy can choose to sip or gulp it. A drink takes three sips to finish, while a gulp will drain whatever is left in the glass. Once the drink is finished, the glass disappears, and the spy's left hand becomes empty again. Sometimes a partygoer will start the game with a drink already in hand; in that case, the drink always has only one sip left in it. NPCs never gulp drinks.

Holding a drink affects the spy's ability to accomplish missions (because their left hand is occupied):

• Can't perform: Transfer Microfilm, Swap Statue, Inspect Statues, Purloin Guest List
• Options limited: Bug Ambassador (can only bug with the right hand), Fingerprint Ambassador (can't lift prints from books or statues)
• Unaffected: Contact Double Agent, Seduce Target

Spy Strategy Edit

You typically don't want to be holding a drink because it prevents you from accomplishing some missions. But NPCs accept drinks, so never taking one makes you look suspicious.

After accomplishing the Purloin Guest List mission with a white or red action test, you will have a drink in your hand. A sniper who quickly notices that the guest list is missing might find you suspicious for holding a drink.

Sniper Strategy Edit

You can safely shoot anybody who accepts a drink from Toby and finishes it in less than three sips. It's also safe to shoot anyone who ignores Toby offering them a drink for 10 seconds without leaving, or who accepts a drink as Toby is retracting his tray. Holding a drink shortly after the guest list has been purloined is suspicious, particularly when the character is known to have been near Toby at the time. Some snipers highlight Toby when the Purloin Guest List mission is active in order to keep track of him more easily.

Background Edit

Originally, the waiter was unnamed. Beta tester zerotka posted a poem in the SpyParty forums in which the waiter was given the name Toby. Chris Hecker later reproduced the poem on the SpyParty blog, and in build 1970 the name was added to the game as an undocumented change.