Detective Story!

[Supercape]

Ok, Im am thinking about running another slow burning, moderately long thread as GM (None of my characters in it).

Its going to be a detective / mystery type thread. Keeping it fairly street and I don't want more than three PCs this time (it will get to overcrowded for an investigative thread)

Whilst it will have combat it in, its not a thread if you want to go in, punch some lights out, and go home. At all.

IN keeping with the mystery, it will have a degree of suspense, and I would like to keep the stats of the enemies secret (its not a thread for sadistically making people suffer however, the challenge is solving the mystery not one shotting a villain!)

Also, to keep it relatively mysterious, I would like to keep this around PL 7-9 or so. And avoid anything like mind reading powers.

I am debating setting this in Earth Victoriana, for three reasons: it may give a hook in for my next character, it throws in more need for social skills (as you are more a fish out of water), and I just like it. But this isn't a cert.

That's my initial take on it, but its only a skeleton - Id just quite like to GM an investigation thread over a long time.

[Aoiroo]

I want to throw Sil in, or if it's Earth Victoria, Carrie.

[Cubist]

So you want characters to spend a long time in another universe? Hmmm... will there be a friendly Time Machine pilot to ensure that the characters arrive back in Prime at the same moment they left? If not, there may be certain practical problems...

[Supercape]

I should be clear I mean extended thread as in the thread will take some time to actually "play out". The actual characters wont be busy for more than a day or two - probably.

Although the nice thing about dimension hopping is that time can get a bit wobbly - just for the the purposes of making sure nobody stays busy too long! Meaning if it rolls that way (several days of adventuring for the characters) the time wobble could mean only a day away in Earth Prime.

[KnightDisciple]

I'm a bit cautious about what you mean when you say "I would like to keep the stats of the enemies secret". If by this you mean you're not going to tell us what all their skill bonuses, powers, stats, etc is, that's one thing. I'm hoping it doesn't mean you won't at least let us know what we need to roll to hit them, perceive them, hurt them, etc. Because that's not quite as fun.

That all being said, I'd like to get Fenris involved. While he's not a detective, if nothing else his scientific knowledge could prove useful.

[Supercape]

Yes its the latter, Knight D.

I mean not showing the precise breakdown of what they can do, as it will spoil suspense (tbh this is how I would always prefer to play).

The latter just slows down the game!

But Fenris would work well with an INT of 18, techy skills, and an aristocratic lineage! Skills like sense motive, notice, search, diplomacy, intimidate, might also come in handy and he has a smattering of these.

I'll sign up Carrie and Fenris so far then.

[Semi-Autogyro]

I'd be interested as well. Technically Myrmidon doesn't even start classes at Claremont until fall. He's just there as a place to live at the moment.

[Quinn]

Hmm, if Myrmidon's going, I'll use Crow instead of Push if you'll let me in. He's got better investigative skills, and it'd be handy if 'don had someone he knew at Claremont before he arrived! :D

[Cubist]

Hmmm... Jubatus in Earth-Victoria... that could be interesting in more ways than one. I'm game if you are!

[Supercape]

OK Im going to have to draw a line under this to keep it managable I'm afraid, 4 is my normal limit, but witha detective story I wanted it to keep it to three.

In order of sign up for interest, we have

Carrie / Aoiroo

Jubutus / Cubist

Fenris / Knight D

Mymiridon / Semi A

Crow / Push

All are PL 7-9 so I'm happy with that. I would like to keep it to three if at all possible, sorry about that, meaning Mymirion and Crow may have to be pushed to reserve status. I could possibly squeeze up to four (with a little tredipdation) if people wish.

Could I have confirmation first about who, then I will get to some other stuff re: thread.

[Cubist]

I'm in.

[Quinn]

Confirmed, and I'm cool for a reserve list spot with Crow.

[Aoiroo]

Definitely want Carrie to be in this.

[KnightDisciple]

I'm in with Fenris.

[Supercape]

Ok Running with Fenris, Jubatus, and Lady Carrie of Silhouette.

Sorry to others!

This will be a moderate length murder mystery thread - with plenty of social rolls, and a bit of combat too. Setting is in Earth Victoriana.

Ill need a week or so to let all my idea perculate and form into something reasonable to run!

First off, prior to any more protracted thread my standard GM questions to PCs:

1. What chance do you want of "failing" in some manner (not solving the mystery, the murder escapes, or some other frustration). A value of "zero" is fine.

2. What chance do you want of getting seriously beat up (or even killed). A value of "zero" particularly for the latter is fine.

3. How much combat / socialising / stealthing / diplomacy / whatever do you want?

and

4. Is there any particular dramatic elements or conflict you want thrown in?

Any other comments or requests also gladly appreciated.

I ask not in the expectation that I can meet everyones wishes, but at least If I know what people want I can sail the ship in that direction!

Some particular queries for characters:

Carrie: has been to EV before, and is effectively knighted. Is there anything you want thrown in, in relation to this?

Jubatus: will look dead weird as a Cat Person. EV is not crawling with metahumans, so you will need some cover story (whilst the character may not prepare for this, think about it yourself). E.g. "Come see the amazing cat-man from darkest Africa" with stage show chains etc.

Fenris: Is an aristocrat, and EV is an aristocratic world. He may not have the legal documents, but he would certainly have the (potential for) the airs and graces. And money for servants etc. Any conflict or story you want in relation to this.

EV and detective stories are not a good place for pride and flaunting around spiffy powers. Best to leave the E-Peens behind, although there will certainly be a few (more subtle?) punch ups! (or more, if you fall foul of society!)

[Aoiroo]

Firstly, Carrie isn't a detective, she is reasonably intelligent, and has a good amount of sense with dealing with a world not her own and effectively blending in as well as asking questions but her failing to do something like solving the case, or solving a murder isn't really out of the question as she's just as likely to get it as anyone else.

Getting beaten up is another thing entirely, unlike Silhouette, Carrie will avoid fighting the best she can, why, it makes you seem conspicious. If someone directly threatens her, she'll flee, or hide, and she is pretty freaking good at hiding even without her powers. Now, if someone else is threatened, a child, or anybody who is either uninvolved or very clearly innocent, she has no problem taking the sword off the mantle and throwing down because even without her powers, Carrie can reasonably kick ass if she's properly armed(her powers essentually just give her the hide and plain sight feature, and more damage to her hits but that's about it) which would be an awesome climax I'd think with the other characters.

Carrie isn't a diplomacy type of character, she will TRY to reason with someone, but as sound as her logic may be, taking advice from her is effectively like taking advice from a random stranger on the street, you might consider it but you don't really trust this person nor feel any reason too. She is however stealthy as all heck, even with the fact that she has been effectively knighted, people would probably not recognize her at all because she 'doesn't seem the type', I've stated previously that she does carry the metal around in her purse so if she does need to be idenified as such she'll have it handy.

[KnightDisciple]

First off, prior to any more protracted thread my standard GM questions to PCs:

1. What chance do you want of "failing" in some manner (not solving the mystery, the murder escapes, or some other frustration). A value of "zero" is fine.

Hm. I'll go with 1 out of 10. I do like some tension, but I like actually stopping bad guys. I'm more open to mid-story frustrations than "murderer escapes, someone is wrongly imprisoned, and people keep dying".

2. What chance do you want of getting seriously beat up (or even killed). A value of "zero" particularly for the latter is fine.

Beat up: 5 out of 10. I like a challenge in combat, but not an impossible one.

Killed: 0.

3. How much combat / socialising / stealthing / diplomacy / whatever do you want?

Hm. Let's split that with percentages:

Combat: 15%

Socializing: 45%

Stealthing: 0% (I am the opposite of stealth with Fenris )

Diplomacy: 30%

Other: 10%

4. Is there any particular dramatic elements or conflict you want thrown in?

Hm. Nothing immediately springs to mind, beyond complications that are on my character sheet.

Fenris: Is an aristocrat, and EV is an aristocratic world. He may not have the legal documents, but he would certainly have the (potential for) the airs and graces. And money for servants etc. Any conflict or story you want in relation to this.

While he'd probably be pretty good with navigating aristocratic society, unless we do something to transfer bank accounts, money will be a problem. Unless we're talking alternate-earth-versions of the characters. Otherwise, most of his money is electronic, and his paper money is likely rather different. Then again, if he had some prior warning, I'm sure he could get a hold of gold or the like.

Also, if we're going to be in EV Britain, keep in mind he's from Sweden. I'm sure there's at least some inherent tension right there, the English being the English. :P

[Cubist]

Preferred chance of failure: Greater than zero, because I like it when the good guys earn their happy ending.

Preferred chance of getting beaten up: Again, greater than zero. Intelligent characters will presumably try to plan things out so as to minimize the chance of harm to themselves, but you know what they say about "the best-laid plans of mice and men"... Character death should come in one of two flavors: First, as a pre-arranged plot element with the cooperation of the character's player. Second, when a character has gone waaaay the heck out of their way to be really, really, really stoopid. I'm pretty sure that neither of those flavors of character death will be applicable here?

Preferred level(s) of combat, socializing, etc: GM's choice. As long as Jube has opportunities to be useful, I'm okay with it.

Dramatic elements/conflicts to include: What is the Measure of a Man? Jube isn't biologically human, so it's likely that some folks will treat him like the animal he resembles...

Jube's 'cover story': He's a MIRACLE OF SCIENCE from the Americas, of course! (no way on Odin's green earth that Jube is ever going to employ a 'cover story' that entails his pretending to be an *animal*)

Afterthought: As you correctly note, Jube is much different from the other characters. So how come he gets taken to EV with the others? Maybe-answeer: Jube's Timeshift makes Time itself run faster or slower -- hence, he's directly manipulating the fabric of the space/time continuum. What would happen if there was a trans-dimensional traveler in the 'vicinity' while Jube is actively twisting Time? Possibility of some sort of feedback/interference...Jube could perhaps get sucked into the traveler's "wake", or vice versa.

[Supercape]

And we are off!

Please see OOC thread for how to hook in - although these are suggestions, feel free to crowbar yourself into the thread another way!