tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post5559087054214344600..comments2024-03-27T19:02:58.368-04:00Comments on BARKING ALIEN: Mystery IncorporatedAdam Dicksteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-4511749179971917932014-06-20T19:41:11.494-04:002014-06-20T19:41:11.494-04:00You could. As a matter of fact that's a great ...You could. As a matter of fact that's a great idea. It's not exactly very Batman like though (I'll get to this in a moment).<br /><br />I have not been addressing what happens if the players fail to solve the mystery. The main reason is, if that is how you're playing your game, then fine. That works. Granted, from a standard RPG stand point, PCs may simple not be able to deduce the answer to the relevant conundrum.<br /><br />What I've been talking about in these last two posts, is what happens when you want the PCs to solve the mystery, even need them to, and they can't because, again traditionally, the dynamic for having the PCs solve the mystery doesn't really facilitate that happening (in my experience).Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-69132695243448421162014-06-20T19:31:01.172-04:002014-06-20T19:31:01.172-04:00It is an excellent way to do it, but with one cave...It is an excellent way to do it, but with one caveat. It is an excellent way to do this. This one thing here. It fits perfectly. <br /><br />If you are running a campaign of a more or less traditional nature however, the format we're using doesn't work as well. It doesn't really afford the GM or players enough time to develop the world or the characters. Things often feel a bit rushed if we have to go into great detail about anything.Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-46295790991039844492014-06-20T15:03:23.909-04:002014-06-20T15:03:23.909-04:00Why not just have the too-loyal-to-Catwoman PCs be...Why not just have the too-loyal-to-Catwoman PCs be wrong? They go after and presumably throw down with the wrong target (a comics tradition, after all)--and then Catwoman sends 'em a thank-you (or shows up to gloat/steal/run), purrfectly delighted about the "help" they've provided. Motivation to go after Catwoman next week!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-55857733817766521572014-06-20T14:11:27.241-04:002014-06-20T14:11:27.241-04:00"The typical format is to have four or five s..."The typical format is to have four or five short missions during our roughly 4 to 4 1/2 hour sessions."<br /><br />Just a drive-by comment: That sounds like a really excellent way to do it, btw. Variety, an automatic cure for encounter slog (or even scenario slog), and a time limit. I love it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-18651744866880524972014-06-19T20:11:08.512-04:002014-06-19T20:11:08.512-04:00He didn't just use the Batcomputer. Let's ...He didn't just use the Batcomputer. Let's look above...<br /><br />"he would attempt to use the Batcomputer, his own knowledge and experience with Gotham's criminal element, and his contacts with Commissioner Gordon..."<br /><br />One needn't be a detective to play a detective, if they aren't being asked to do detective work. <br /><br />If you are, well, good luck I guess.<br /><br />I personally dislike having the players able to say, "I roll my 'The-Die-Can-Be-Smart-So-I-Don't-Have-To-Be' Skill. In nearly every game I run, regardless of genre, setting, or system, if you want to make a skill check involving Deduction, Investigation, Intimidation or other such skills that border between being Perception and Social/Charisma based, the player needs to give me, the GM, something to go on. Something. You can not roll for answers in a Barking Alien game.<br /><br />This simple rule is why I build my mysteries the way I do. It inspires the player to think, not just the character. Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-26405537209780056022014-06-19T16:04:02.314-04:002014-06-19T16:04:02.314-04:00Good tips, but honestly whoever was playing Batman...Good tips, but honestly whoever was playing Batman comes across as lazy to me. Just using the Batcomputer and expecting answers? One needn't be a detective to play a detective.But some effort is called for. Perhaps someone more suited for playing Batman should have had that role. And possibly the "rules light" approach stymied this endeavor. A decent set of rules would at least allow the player to use his character's skill set to get answers the player might not, and ask questions that might not occur to the player as well. Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-3824744664027492912014-06-19T10:15:37.701-04:002014-06-19T10:15:37.701-04:00It is one of my go-to techniques as well, though t...It is one of my go-to techniques as well, though there is one caveat I must add.<br /><br />The players shape the solution, but it still has to make sense based on the information you, the GM, have provided. If the clues point to something Cat-themed, as above, and the players say 'The Joker!', make sure they lay that train of thought out for you before you commit to it.Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-37523901978194213012014-06-19T00:46:05.209-04:002014-06-19T00:46:05.209-04:00Your #3--"let the players shape the solution,...Your #3--"let the players shape the solution, and pretend that was your intention the whole time"--is the secret of my GMing success.<br /><br />Works in any genre, too!Justin S. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14881276106170920830noreply@blogger.com