This kicks off the Pitch Session. We need to figure out what we want to do with the new game and we need to set a schedule to meet and play. Let the planning begin.
We already discussed that we want to do a murder investigation with a supernatural twist to it. I am already coming up with some interesting things to do with that. I want to set the time period of the game, and I also want to determine the degree of supernatural content we want to play with. For example, do we want to play in our modern world with everything being familiar as it is, or do you want a different time period. Regarding the supernatural, do you want to play as if supernatural occurrences are thought to be impossible, or do you want to play in a world where people expect supernatural occurrences.
I am leaning towards playing in a our regular world, with our regular non-supernatural expectations. I can really surprise you with the murder, the plot, and level of supernatural since none of it will be expected. The investigation of the murder will become two fold: who is the murderer and through what means of supernatural tinkering did they commit the crime.
Let me know what you think of this premise so far. Do you like the idea of playing in modern world? Do you like the idea of being surprised by "what possibilities exist in the world."
Post your replies below. Let's try to get a schedule figured out too.
Better gaming through discussion
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A link to the FATE manual is in the "links" section on the blog below.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am happy to be doing a murder mystery! I wouldn't mind having the setting be in our modern world as we know it, but I also wouldn't mind doing a completely weird world. Bozena, since you're the one who suggested we add a supernatural element, what's your preference on setting?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am all for surprises, in whatever form they come.
I also like the real world idea and just like in the real world I would like to play with the assumption that supernatural things are not considered "normal".
ReplyDeleteMurder mystery is great. Surprises are welcome. This will be fun! Bring it on, Adam and we will elaborate, cooperate, mistrust, disagree... all that and much more. :o)
Okay, sounds like we are going to do a low/no paranormal expectation game. This isn't to say that your character couldn't be really into the paranormal. There are people today who believe in ghosts and aliens. There are people today who work full time jobs investigating strange occurrences. Shevon, it sounded like you wanted to play with a supernatural element from the beginning. I see a possibility for you to create a character who is an expert on the supernatural. Perhaps its the reason you are called in to investigate this murder? You could be a lay-person who is an expert in the field, like Robert Langdon (Dan Brown Novels).
ReplyDeleteAlternately, you guys can make a character who is directly effected by the murder. Perhaps you knew the person, perhaps they are a close or distant relation. If you choose to play a character who knew the victim you can provide input. You could suggest that the victim was into occult things, maybe they were a weirdo relative who everyone thought was crazy.
Again, you don't have to play a character with any previous knowledge of the victim, or with any preconceptions of the paranormal. You can play as someone who staunchly believes that supernatural occurrences can always be explained by normal physical methods. Or you could be very superstitious, or very religious, both of which would add something to flavor of the game.
These are all just ideas. If one speaks to you, run with it. Come up with your own what-if's. Just remember that you don't want to adopt to many quirks right from the beginning. I WOULD NOT suggest being a paranormal expert, who also works for the FBI, who was also the college roommate of the victim, who was also very religious as a child and went to church with the victim (whose father was a minister), and had a change of faith as a teen when your mother was killed by a murderer (who has now struck again and committed the murderer of your college roommate). I think it goes without saying that this type of character will do you no good. Pick one quirk or angle you want to play and stick with it.
We can talk much more about character creation at the actual Pitch Session. Which bring me to the next item that requires our attention. When can we meet to have the Pitch Session? We have established Saturday as our day. Please suggest some dates. I am open for whole month of November so far.
This is enough information to begin with my own private brainstorming sessions for the character I want to play. I just wish I had more time or better time management skills.. ;)
ReplyDeleteDates for Pitch Session: I am available on 11/12 and 11/19 (preferably the 19th).
I'm up for the 19th. Let's she how that works for Shevon.
ReplyDeleteIf either of you have time read over the FATE manual. There are tons of good ideas in there, plus it will help you take advantage of your Aspects and Skills if you know how they work during gameplay. Skip anything having to do with the GM (Game Master: My role).
If you have even more time you might get alot of listening to one episode of the Narrative Control Podcast (linked below) the episode that I think would be really good to listen to is episode #34. It talks about character creation, storytelling, and how to make good protagonists.
The 19th is good for me! Is 10 or 10:30 OK? We can meet at my house if you want. Or if you'd rather do it at Adam's that's fine, too.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, we will meet on the 19th, let's shoot for 10:00. Why don't we kick this thing off at Shevon's place. Post your address so we can get directions.
ReplyDeleteKeep thinking about character ideas. Don't post your character ideas to the blog, I want to keep them separate until the Pitch. See you soon.
My address is 3751 W. Giddings St., Chicago. It's just south of Lawrence, east of the expressway. It's a brick bungalow with white trim. See you Saturday!
ReplyDeleteI have been absolutely swamped by work ever since we met last. I get back in town from a design workshop I am running on Thursday night, and that should be the end of this crazy run of work. I am really looking forward to to role-playing therapy on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same, Adam. Crazy time... last weeks of the year. Between work, moving and film festival I can't catch my breath. But I will definitely see you both tomorrow. Thanks for having us, Shevon.
ReplyDeleteI thought of an idea for Bozena's character on the drive home. What if you are already part of the church (from your native country) but you were sent to a church in Chicago to look into some strange practices? You said you wanted a character that travels the world, and also a character who was interested in the church. Maybe you have investigated other churches (in different places around the world) and written reports back to the Vatican to report misconduct and blasphemy.
ReplyDeleteTo play off of the "temptation" perhaps you have looked into occult things yourself or perhaps you are attracted to occult sects of the Catholicism. Maybe you wonder if it’s actually wrong to pass judgment on congregations that practice occult worship, since you yourself are somewhat attracted to it. Money doesn't have to be the only thing that causes temptation.
There are plenty of other sins in the world. It may be worth thinking about creating a character that comes to Chicago to uncover or investigate specific "unholy" practices. This would certainly give you a reason to stay or to dig deeper. Maybe none of this works for you, but perhaps it gets you thinking.
A plot is starting to form in my head. I will share with you what I have so far in hopes that it helps you with some character ideas. The full scope of the game is totally undefined as of now but I do have an idea for the first session. One idea that is really sticking with me is this idea of integrating actual locations in Chicago (although we will fictionalize them entirely) and also the idea that we integrate Spanish into the game. We talked about Shevon’s old neighborhood becoming ”gentrified” and I really like that. Taking it one step further I think it would be a cool twist to have Shevon’s old neighborhood be mostly Hispanic. Therefore, instead of neighborhood we call it the “barrio.” Shevon you don’t have to play a Hispanic character, but you grew up in the barrio, so you fit in. You were part of the culture.
ReplyDeleteShevon’s character receives a cryptic email from a good friend back in her old Chicago barrio. Her friend sounds like she is in trouble. The message comes 3 days before Shevon’s “mortal enemy” is released from prison after a 10 year sentencing.
It takes Shevon 5 days to make arrangements to return to the barrio. 10 years away is long time. A lot has will have changed. You come back to try to help your old friend. That will be where your story line begins.
Things for Shevon to think about:
What did you see your enemy do? Who else was involved, why couldn’t they be implicated too? You had to leave to avoid those who weren’t arrested.
Bozena’s character has come to Chicago to visit an old church which is rumored to have some strange practices going on in its congregation over the past year. Perhaps you speak English very well perhaps you don’t, however you do not speak Spanish very well, and the church in located in a neighborhood that is in major turmoil. For the last several years old warehouses have been converted to condos, and as the local businesses slowly die out developers and franchisees are buying up the real estate.
Your initial research into the church and the neighborhood indicate that the area can be really rough in some spots. There is a major cultural divide going on as the neighborhood changes hands. The old church is in the heart of some of the roughest blocks in the neighborhood. The church is called “Santa Teresa de Ávila.” As of a few weeks ago there have been reports of at least one case of “stigmata” related to the congregation.
Things for Bozena to think about:
Why are you coming to see this church? What do you need to accomplish before you are able to leave? What is your involvement with the Catholic church?
*There is a lot of room for growth in this premise. I will continue to build up my plot but I think that the information I have presented here works with the main themes we discuss on Saturday. This may tweak some of your ideas for your characters. Hopefully it tweaks them for the better. If you are struggling with something post it on the blog. I can help. Otherwise give me a call and I can talk it out with you. If we can get your characters to a “near game-ready” state before we meet next we will be able to focus on playing instead of more character creation. So far we are aiming for our first session to take place on December 17th. Let me know if that works.*
Love it. I lived in Logan Square for 5 years, a formerly Latino neighborhood that is now changing over to hipsters. It's an interesting neighborhood, centered around a monument on the "boulevards," which are lined with old mansions that for a while were a little creepy looking but are now beautiful. There's a nice mix of Latino and working-class families, young starving artists, and new, up-and-coming businesses, nightlife, condos, etc. Could be a good location if we want to give our barrio a name.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking we could include a "botanica," which is a kind of borderline occult/folk medicine place common in Latino neighborhoods. They have the typical candles to the Virgen de Guadalupe, other items related to saints, but also sort of brujeria/backwoods magic. Love potions, evil eye, and the like. Could be an interesting place for a side character.
I'm still thinking about what it is I saw, and what's going on with the other people who were not implicated.
The 17th is good for me. Same time? We can do it at my house again, unless you want to have it out there. Either one is fine for me.
Good stuff. I really like it. Consider it part of the game world.
ReplyDeleteLogan Square is cool. I have been to Logan Square Auditorium and The Empty Bottle (near Logan Square) for concerts several times. I don't know the area terribly well but if you do we can use it.
Typically I use a map for the game, if we can get a map of the Logan Square area to make notes and alterations to it will work perfect.
This is aimed at Bozena (since Shevon has the FUDGE book) but both of you may find it useful.
ReplyDeleteHere is a weblink to the skills listed in the FUDGE book:
http://members.dsl-only.net/~bing/frp/fudge/fudge1.html#sec1.32
Additionally here is a weblink to character examples (it starts on "modern characters"):
http://members.dsl-only.net/~bing/frp/fudge/fudge6.html#sec6.33
As you think about skills also be thinking about your back-story... Why did you learn the skills you have? Who taught you? How do your skills relate to your past or your goals?
I hope this is helpful.
Okay, we aren't going to meet before the Holidays. No surprise there, the Holidays have always thrown a wrench in every game I have ever played in.
ReplyDeleteI want to pick out a date in January to get together. The earlier the better. The 14th seems like a good date for me right now. Let me know what your schedules look like.
Holiday this year is a bit more busy for me than before. First two Saturdays of January I have to work but I can do the 21st.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to both of you! :)
Hi guys, Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the 21st is not good for me. What about any of those Sundays? Or else the 28th?
I did get a chance to stop by a botanica, one of those folk medicine shops. It was pretty interesting. I'll tell you about it when we meet.
Shevon
Sundays are open for me. The sooner we can meet the better. When we do meet we will need to figure out a schedule so that we can get a rhythm going.
ReplyDelete8th, 15th, 22nd? Which one works for you both?
22nd would be best for me.
ReplyDeleteI just typed out a huge post for over 20 minutes and then accidentally hit refresh and deleted the whole thing. I don’t want to recreate it so I will try to summarize quickly.
ReplyDeleteWe are on for Sunday the 22nd. If you guys don’t mind it would be helpful to have it at my house. Janelle and I have a party to attend Sunday afternoon and I have a test to take on Monday, so the less time I spend traveling the easier it will be on me. My address is:
1164 N. Hickory Ave.
Arlington Heights
For Sunday: Come to the session with a well formed idea of your character. Try to think about their past, their goals, fears, and faults. Look at my blog posts from Nov. 19 & 20. I put a lot of information there; try addressing some of the things in those posts.
Bozena: Last time your character never really took shape. This gives you a lot of flexibility. If you want to change your concept go for it. If you are apprehensive about playing a religious character don’t do it. There are plenty of other things that you could do that relate to the Church or to the supernatural world. Remember the lessons learned from your character Robin from last game; make sure the driving force behind your character is something you want to pursue and follow through will (even when its suicide to do so). Just make sure that you are excited about what you choose, remember you have to play that role for a couple months.
Shevon: All of the above applies to you too. However, your character was much more formed at the end of last session. Keep going with it. Focus on what you ran away from. Answer the questions I posted on the 20th. The answers to those questions will shape a large portion of the conflicts your character will come up against in the game.
I left a lot of information out from my first post; just prepare the best you can. If you guys have a good handle when we start I can launch us into some backstory game play perhaps by the end of the session.
See you guys Sunday at Adam's. As usually, thank you for the guidelines GM.
ReplyDeleteUgh, refresh!! 10:30 at Adam's is good. See you guys then!
ReplyDelete