Messages

1

RPGs / Re: Red Markets at GenCon/Upcoming Beta

« on: August 05, 2015, 09:00:28 PM »

I'd love to get in on the playtest.  I host the actual play podcast "Of Steam, Steel and Murder" and we have a sizable stable of players of which many would be interested.  Since we record our session it might be of use to you to hear how a group handles the rules straight from copy.  I need not release said recordings into the wild if you prefer.  Thanks for the consideration!

2

Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Re: Running an investigative game

« on: February 23, 2010, 04:28:21 AM »

I've played in and am currently running RPG's that have, as a basis, a murder mystery plot.  The toughest thing that I have found, is getting the players out of the "kill it and take it's stuff" mind set.  You can lay out clues, you can set up an environment of police procedural ideals....but it takes a while for the group to change gears and start thinking instead of swinging.  To help foster the idea that deduction is the primary goal, I ask the players to bone up on current T.V. shows like: Castle and Monk, or go old school and watch a few episodes of Murder She Wrote.  Investigations games are a lot of fun and there is a certain satisfaction when a player suddenly "gets it" and stages a "here's what happened" moment.  On the GM'ing side of things, this sort of game needs lots of preparation and plotting.  I use a piece of mind mapping software called Free Mind that allows you to graphically show links between text objects.  Sort of a flow chart for ideas.

My group runs A Skype based, Steam punk thriller every other week and podcasts it.  The every-other-week comes from the length of time it takes me to hash out plots that are internally consistent, give fair clues to make the story actually solvable, and making sure I haven't left any gaping holes in the plot!