Solo Ghostbusting - 'Computer Glitch' - Part I

Scenario I, Session 1:

Phase 1: Introduction / Opening

Fumiko Magari was sitting at her desk, randomly scrolling through a dating app on her phone wondering why she was scrolling through a dating app on her phone. She was weird by Japanese standards and (kind of) proud of it. She wasn’t going to meet anyone on this thing. She turned to look at her co-worker and friend Michio Tsumura who seemed to have a new girlfriend every few months. He was asleep at his desk with an unfinished report on his computer screen. 

The door to the Boss’s office opens quickly to reveal the ‘The Old Man’, Mr. Kori Koarishi, standing there with his customary frown. As those in the office turn to see what’s up, Koarishi nods at Miss Aya Nakamura in General Affairs and motions her into his office with a sharp movement of his nose. Nakamura enters without a word and a few moments later exits holding a folder. She walks between the desks of Fumiko and Michio and reveals that that she has a Project for them.

  

“Ghostbusters: Ningyotoshi Ghost Research has gotten a call from Hiroshi Taniguchi, the Head Network Engineer with Seijitsu Soryūshon (Sincere Solutions). Several members of his department, including himself, were experiencing computer issues with no discernible source or explanation. Eventually, a couple of them saw a Desktop Computer, complete with Tower, Screen, Keyboard, and Mouse, moving on its own about the office. When pursued the Computer ran away and seemed to disappear. He finished with ‘Please help Ghostbusters! We have numerous projects and sales reports due’!”

Happy to have some action (really anything constructive to do), Magari and Tsumura suit up. As they enter the Gear Locker room, each takes a Proton Pack with a Neutrona Wand, a Ghost Trap, and a Walkie-Talkie. Additionally, Fumiko takes Ecto-goggles. As they enter the garage, Kenji Boudreux tosses Michio the keys to the Ecto-NT 1 (a 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser).  Michio adjusts the seat and mirror and then reaches for the siren but Fumiko gets to it first and sticks her tongue out at him, then smiles wide. Michio smirks and shakes his head as they drive off to their destination.  

Miss Nakamura calls them while they’re enroute to let them know she will be their Manager on this Project if they need anything from headquarters/the home office. 

Project #1: 

Project Name: Computer Glitch

Number of employees required: 3 people

Number of phases: 3

Recommended skills: None

Client: Hiroshi Taniguchi, Network Engineer Manager at Sincere Solutions

Ghost: Class V Animated Phantom Tsukumogami – Computer Spirit

Phase 2: Investigation

The team of two arrives at the office building and head upstairs to the 5th floor (really the 4th, an unlucky number in Japan). Upon stepping off the elevator they are able to locate Mr. Taniguchi easily as he was hiding…I mean waiting for their arrival. “Thank goodness you’re here!”, shouted Mr. Taniguchi, a lot louder than was necessary. Yes, there was noise in the background – yelps and gasps from employees, falling chairs and coffee cups, etc. – but he was no more than a few feet in front of the Ghostbusters. 

Michio started to ask for the current details about the situation but Mr. Taniguchi shouted, “Excuse me? Speak up please! The ruckus caused by this…whatever it is is very loud!”. 

Fumiko exchanged glances with Michio and then leaned in close to him and whispered, “I’m thinking something made a loud noise near his head. He might be temporarily hard of hearing until he…”, but before she could finish the client stamped his foot and pointed at her with a frustrated face and finger.

Fumiko makes a Task Roll using her Brains to figure out why Taniguchi appears hard of hearing. She gets a Success with Trouble, taking 1 point of Mental Damage and 1 point of Environmental Damage. She is embarrassed and thinks she might be reflecting poorly on her company. 

“I said PLEASE SPEAK UP! Don’t whisper. Whispering is obviously the opposite of speaking up. My goodness, I thought you all were professionals! I…”

Michio stood up straight, puffed out his chest, and moved quickly into Taniguchi‘s ‘personal space’. Tsumura put on a frown and a furrowed brow and his message was quite clear. Mr. Taniquchi backed up, took a deep breath, and apologized. “Terribly sorry young lady. I think I’m having trouble hearing, I am at my wits end with this…situation…and again, my apologies.” 

Fumiko gave a polite bow. “Completely understandable!,” she shouted, actually catching Michio off guard and startling others in the area. “My fault entirely. I should have realized I was being impolite. Can you tell us exactly what’s going on?”

Taniguchi proceeds to describe what began as a normal if busy day but one which changed dramatically just after lunch/midday. Various computers in the office started having issues, including not saving work, sudden shutdowns, going onto naughty sites of their own accord, and other strange activities. As the issues spread, Taniguchi and some of his best people checked the servers, ran diagnostic programs, and even investigated the buildings electrical systems. Nothing seemed wrong and the problems made no sense. 

Finally, someone in the main offices screamed and a small, almost robot-like figure appeared. It seemed to be made up of computer hardware from an older model desktop. It began running around and as it passed people’s desks even more network issues and IT problems erupted. Taniguchi and others tried to catch it but it made a Laptop on someone’s desk explode and then disappeared in the chaos. 

Fumiko asked how the ‘Computer Boy’ blew up the laptop. While no one knew exactly, someone nearby said she saw it press a button on the laptop’s keyboard before the item exploded. “We should take a look at the remains of that device”, said Michio. Fumiko agreed. 

Mr. Taniguchi escorted the Ghostbusters duo through the office as concerned company personnel looked on. He brought them to the desk of a young woman named Arai Hotaru who stood beside her chair looking very frightened. A charred, open laptop sat on the burnt surface of the desk, bits of metal and plastic scattered across the area like confetti. Taniguchi introduced Miss Hotaru to the pair of Paranormal Investigators and Michio noted she had some minor burns, cuts, and her hair was all frizzy. 

“Are you alright Miss Hotaru?”, asked Michio in a purposely slow, warm manner, with a calm and kind tone. The woman blinked and looked up at him as if she had just that moment noticed that anyone was there. 

Miss Hotaru said in a quite and shaky voice, “I moved away from the laptop as soon as I heard it sizzle and smelled smoke but …I feel hot and there’s a tingle…”. She trailed off unable to focus. Tsumura placed one of his large hands on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring look. He nodded to Magari with a particular expression she knew quite well. 

Using her cellphone, Fumiko called the Fire Department and explained the situation*. She followed that with a quick call in to Nakamura back at the GB: NGR office to fill her in on the information they had so far, which wasn’t a lot. Nakamura let her know that as Project Manager she can coordinate with the Paramedics at the local hospital and can send back-up Field Operatives if needed. Magari nodded (even though Aya couldn’t see her) and let Nakamura know they hadn’t yet encountered the entity, so don’t send reinforcements just yet. Fumiko recommended Aya keep them on stand-by. 

*Fumiko calls the Fire Department and not an Ambulance or Paramedics. Why? Well, in Japan it is the Fire Department that handles transporting injured people to medical facilities. They are trained with basic Paramedic skills. Once at a hospital or emergency clinic, full Paramedics respond to the patients and get them to doctors and nurses in the facility as necessary.

Michio and Mr. Taniguchi helped Miss Hotaru get around her desk and Taniguchi walked her towards the elevators. Tsumura grimaced, narrowed his eyes, and looked about the place as if he could simply sense the entity they were searching for. Thing is…he could. He had always had this knack for feeling the presence of spirits and the supernatural. Here…

Michio makes a Task Roll using his Spirit Perception Skill. I made the Difficulty Number 8, Slightly Difficult, as I wanted this first entity to be hard to locate. Why? Something to explore later. I rolled a 6. Instead of a Success with Trouble I decided that Michio straight up fails in his attempt.

When this happens, the character takes 1 Point of Damage, in this case Mental, and also gains 1 Point of Overtime. He can now activate his Overwork Skill once by spending the point of Overtime. Going to save that for later.

Tsumura let out a sigh. Nothing. He almost felt like there was some sort of 'background noise' making it really difficult to sense this thing. He turned, hoping to locate Magari and continue with their investigation of the premises only to virtually slam right into her. "Eh?! Fumiko, were you right there the whole time?”

For her part Fumiko was standing barely a foot in front of him, almost on her tippy-toes, grinning widely, and holding the burnt laptop to her chest with both hands. “I think I’ve figured something out!” 

I decided to have Fumiko’s ‘Player’ ask the following question(s):

1) Can I determine what caused the laptop’s battery to explode and is there any connection between this cause and the other issues Sincere Solutions have been experiencing due to this entity. 

Hmm. I’ll use an alternative system here. To answer the first half, ‘Can I determine what caused the battery to explode…’, I rolled a D100 (Two 10-sided dice read High/Low) and consulted the chart ‘Ask The Gamemaster’ in the One-Page Mythic GM Emulator. I’ll expend a use of her Super Search Technique Skill to accomplish this. 

I rolled a 40 against the Difficulty Level of ‘50/50 or Unknown’. This results in a Yes! Cool. 

For the second part, ‘is there any connection between this and the other issues Sincere Solutions have been experiencing?’, I roll again on the same chart, this time applying Fumiko’s Office Chair Detective Skill. The roll is 17 – Yes again! OK. So, what is that connection?

I got it!

“Electricity! That’s the key! After a thorough analysis of the damaged laptop I discovered that the battery had been overloaded. Other evidence pointed towards an electrical surge as the cause. Then I thought about the other issues the employees have experienced and wondered, ‘If the electricity going into the other computers…um…hiccupped…wouldn’t that cause the computer to do strange things like fail to save documents, shut down suddenly, etc.?’”

Michio considered this. It all made sense though he would be the first to admit he was no computer specialist. On the other hand, Fumiko was and so he had faith she was on to something. He nodded and said, “OK, let’s go with your theory.  So the entity can control electricity or at least it can transfer it into technology to cause glitches…or worse”, he said motioning toward the ruined laptop. “How do we stop it? Ground it? How do we do that?”

Fumiko’s big grin shrank, then faded even further as she spoke, “I’m not sure actually. Thing is…Mr. Taniguchi reported that he and several other people had seen what appeared to be an old computer walking around looking somewhat like a person. This would indicate a spirit possessed item or an item that’s developed a spirit. Like a…um…”

“A Tsukumogami”, said Tsumura. He then waited for his friend to continue.

“Right! A Tsukumogami! Wait…don’t those take a really long time to form? I mean, there isn’t going to be a hundred year old computer in this place.” Michio nodded to confirm as she put her index finger on her chin. Then she snapped her fingers and her eyes brightened, “What if its pretty old, a classic model, and someone has been turning it on and using it off and on. Suddenly, for whatever reason, they’ve stopped and the spirit is upset?”

“If someone were really attached to it, their feelings might have accelerated the formation of the spirit within. That could be. Hmmm.” Michio trailed off, a lot of questions still running through his head. 

Suddenly, a loud, grating noise blared through out the offices. It was awful! The Ghostbusters tried to cover their ears – Difficulty 7. Michio, using Physical Skill rolls a 7. Just made it. Fumiko using Brains rolls -holy smokes – a 7 as well! 

Can either member of our team recognize the sound? Difficulty ‘50/50 or Unknown’ for Michio and Likely for Fumiko. Percentile Rolls. 16 for Michio and 44 for Fumiko making it a Yes for both of them!

“A dial-up modem?!?” exclaimed Magari.

“Make it stop!!!” shouted Tsumura.

 

To be continued...

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Barking Alien

A key factor in my enjoyment of this exercise in Solo Gaming is the speed at which it moves, which is basically 'as fast as I want it to'.

 
I've mentioned in the past that my old games progressed really quickly compared to the ones I've run over the past decade or so. This is largely do to playing the majority of my games online and the limitations of the medium.

That isn't the only reason though. Now I apologize as I get a little ranty. 

It's also the fact I have been gaming with players unaccustomed to my rapid fire approach; most people didn't grow up gaming at the breakneck pace I find 'normal'.

I get it, it takes time to process what the GM has said, ask questions to get a clear idea of situation the PCs are in, and to define the details of the scene's setting and environment, etc.

I don't have to do any of that when I'm gaming Solo. If I randomly roll up that there's a 'Large Crowd', thats 'Gawking' at something in the 'Fish Market District',, I know EXACTLY what that looks like. I can instantly see it in my head.

I can further dispense with the [usually] unimportant questions most players will ask at that moment like 'how far away are we from the crowd', 'are there any fisherman or sailors there?', or 'what kind of fish do I see?'.

Since the answer to these types of questions is always the same, 'What does that $^#&ing matter?!?', I can get right to having my characters actually do something. This is how it always worked with my Grade School, High School, College, and New Jersey crowd but these days people seem to need everything spelled out to commit to a course of action. Honestly, it's weird.

Obviously that's not the case when playing solo.

The Thin Blue Line

This is it! The first half of a two-part breakdown of the fifth and final session of the Smurfs TRPG five session mini-campaign, The Smurfs and The Palace of The Silver Princess. 

Based on/Inspired by the Dungeons and Dragons module B3 Palace of the Silver Princess and using the upcoming The Smurfs Roleplaying Game from Maestro Media, the sessions were run over Discord with five players (Andrew, Brandon, Heather, René, and myself) and a Gamemaster/Storyteller Smurf (Stephen).

While the first three sessions were roughly 4 1/2 hours each, Session Four was about 5 1/2-6 hours, and Session Five was about 5 hours. 

To catch up check out this post on the Player Character Smurfs and for the recaps of the previous sessions, you'll want to read:

Something Burrowed, Something Blue - Session One, Part 1

Singing The Blues - Session One, Part 2

Blue Green Red - Session Two, Part 1Cry Blue Murder - Session Two, Part 2

Tangled Up in Blue - Session Three

Blue Blazes - Session Four, Part 1

Blues Clues - Session Four, Part 2

OK, here go...

Session Five, Part 1

With the Court Magician Mirabillis freed from the influence of The Eye of Arik's dark magic, the next logical step was to obtain Arik's Sword. When the two items - the Eye and the Sword - touch each other, both will be destroyed. 

The problem of course was that the Sword was being kept in the Royal Armory protected by a mighty Ogre. Then there was something about a Dragon...

"YES, the Dragon! I should have mentioned the Dragon right away" said Mirabillis in a somewhat embarrased tone. 

"Yes, you should have", said Apathy Smurf flatly. 

"I mean really, it is just proper etiquette you know", added Suave Smurf.

Mirabillis cleared his throat, "The Princess' betrothed is Sir Ellis, a Knight of the Order of the White Drakes. This isn't just some fanciful title. Sir Ellis landed in the castle's courtyard astride a pale dragon the length of the four horses nose to tail. It had red-pink eyes and a look of cunning intellect. It breathed a burst of bright flame in display, to the excitement and terror of the crowd."

This started a short discussion about how or why a White Dragon might be able to breath fire. We quickly came to the conclusion that this may be A) an important element to the mystery of the adventure, B) evidence this isn't really a White Dragon,  or C) it doesn't really matter and here White Dragons breath fire. All good. 

"When the crimson light of the Eye of Arik flashed its awful brilliance, the White Dragon - called Fellbane - took off into the castle. Strangely, during my time walking the Palace's halls as both a sane man and my corrupted self, I never again saw the Dragon. It may have been corrupted by the Eye's evil, it may have fled, or it may be hiding somewhere within the these walls", Mirabillis finshed, concern etched on his face. 

"OK...", Apathy began, "So who else is really excited to keep going?", finishing with a mocking 'hurrah!'.

The gang decided there was nothing to be done regarding the Dragon for the time being (other than being on alert for its potential presence). Instead, the Smurfs would proceed to the Royal Armory to face the Ogre and obtain the Red Sword of Arik...somehow. We suggested to Mirabillis that he use the cure to the Petrification Curse to free Rowena the Minstrel, as we recalled the information from an earlier clue that 'merry music' irrated Arik and might weaken his power. There was agreement, the wishing of luck, and off we went.

It took us a fairly short time (roughly a random encounter with rat skeletons and a scene transition) to locate the Royal Armory. Readying ourselves for battle - or possibly talking our way through this - the team smurfed themselves up mentally and went to unlock the door.

"Who goes there!?", he bellowed. "I smell not beast, nor man, nor fairy. A scent I do not know? Be wary! Whomever you are come forth but be warned! You face the might of Suffertooth's scorn!"

"Suffertooth?", whispered Smurfcornflower, a look of both anxiousness and skepticism on her face. Apathy shrugged in response.

The door had a normal keyhole but the Smurfs took a chance and used the Magic Key with the Blue Crystal to try and open the door. It worked! Brash, Honeysuckle, and Apathy slowly pushed the door open, largely because it was big and heavy, as Suave and Cornflower readied themselves for whatever would be revealed.

The latter were under no delusion that the two of them could handle the Ogre themselves. Quite the opposite. The team decided it was best for the tougher Smurfs to enter the room first, placing them closer to the Ogre sooner. It was the group's hope that Smurfcornflower and Suave Smurf might be the best to assess the situation and think of a plan...from a slighter safer distance.

What they saw was... 

A collective 'Gulp' was made by all [the Smurfs]. 

Suffertooth was massive. He stood two heads taller than the tallest knight they'd ever seen and nearly three times as wide. His hands could hold two or three Smurfs within them and crush them easily by making a fist. He carried a long handled club with a heavy head studded in spikes.

For his part, Suffertooth the Ogre took a ready stance but his face twisted into an expression of confusion. He definitely wasn't expecting five tiny, blue people and yet he didn't immediately laugh nor did he ignore them. He was clearly wise enough to not take any chances. 

Suave and Cornflower each had an idea which came to them at the same time. Their eyes widened, they looked at each other, smiled, and turned back to the Ogre at hand. Suave stepped forward with his characteristic charismatic charm as he gave a deep bow. Smurfcornflower on the other hand stepped backward, allowing the focus to be placed squarely on Suave so she could slip a Potion out of her bag. 

"What manner of invader enters this room? What creatures are these that come to their doom?", Suffertooth called out, ending with a droll chuckle.

"Greetings mighty Suffertooth! My name is Suave Smurf and on behalf of my colleagues and I, may I say what an honor and a privilege it is to be in the presence of such a magnificent warrior as yourself!"

Suffertooth starred hard at Suave, a grimace etched into his rough and leathery face. He then smiled what could only be called a polite smile and said, "You may! You may I say! Tell me now small blue one, what brings you here? Why don't you run? I am mighty that is true and could easily smash the lot of you." Once again the Ogre chuckled.

All the while he failed to notice Cornflower handing a Potion to Brash, making sure Honeysuckle was right beside him, and gave the two of them quick instructions. Apathy looked around for the Sword of Arik, though the room was surprisingly big and full of weapons of all sorts, he was certain a blade of such terrifying power wouldn't be too difficult to notice.

"Why we came to marvel at your might and majesty m'lord. We have heard that you guard the great Sword of Arik the Vile. Certainly only the strongest of wills and most battle-hardened men-at-arms would be charged with such a task.We have come to pay homage and congratulate you on a task well executed." Suave spoke with air of admiration, doing his best to hide his building fear of Ogre. 

"I see, I see but you can't fool me. You have come to try and steal the blade. Perhaps so the Eye may be unmade? Well then, well met my brave foolish friends. Sadly you have come to meet your end. My strength is real, my prowess true. The time has come to smash each of you." Looking almost disappointed, Suffertooth raised his mace above his head such that it scrapped the ceiling of the Armory. As he swung it down, sparks flew where weapon met stone.

It hit the ground with a thunderous sound but missed each and every Smurf. Apathy, Cornflower, and Suave were knocked back a bit by the sheer force of the blow but were otherwise unharmed.

"NOW!" shouted Cornflower. 

Brash Smurf drank half of the contents of the Potion bottle she'd given him. He than handed it off to Smurfhoneysuckle who downed the other half. At first, nothing happened. Everyone started to get very, very nervous. 

Suddenly the two Smurfs shook in place, vibrating and trembling, before they grew and grew...six apples tall, then twelve, then twenty-four! Within seconds Honeysuckle was the height of the Ogre and Brash (proportionally) just a bit less so. "Cornflower!", Suave practically squealed her name, "You clever, clever girl! A Growth Potion! Genius!" For her part Smurfcornflower blushed and did a slight curtsy-bow. 

"Now then...", Brash said with a serious look and just the faintest of grins, "let's see who smashes who, huh?"

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Barking Alien

I was originally going to try and right up this session in a single post but between some of the fun dialogue I wanted to include and my giving more description in the retelling then was present in the actual game, I ended up with a lot more material then I intended.

That is also why this post has taken so long to come out.

My apologies. See you soon!

Incidentally, you may be thinking...

"Hey, how did Smurfcornflower know to make a Growth Potion? She didn't know they'd be facing an Ogre until they freed Mirabillis. We call shenanigans!"

A Growth Potion was one of the potions I had Cornflower brew in the Magician's laboratory and it had nothing to do with the Ogre or any other single monster in particular. I simply noticed that as we went on many of the obstacles and opponents we were facing were really big and we Smurfs are really small. It only made sense to even the playing field by making a Growth Potion and putting us on the same level (roughly) as our adversaries. 

Solo Ghostbusting 101

I've started my Solo Tabletop Roleplaying Game journey and I am [surprisingly] really enjoying it! The game in question?

Ghostbusters: Ningyotoshi Ghost Research is a Solo TRPG campaign by me for me! I'm using the Japanese indie RPG 'Tokyo Ghost Research' with some modifications for my own Ghostbusters adapted setting and the fact that its a Solo game.

The campaign follows the paranormal investigation and elimination cases, called 'Projects', of a Ghostbusters franchise in the (fictional) Japanese Coastal City of Ningyotoshi (Mermaid City). The main characters are a pair of Ghostbusters field operatives named Michio Tsumura (Male - 32) and Fumiko Magari (Female - 28).

Michio Tsumura (whose first name means 'Man on a Journey' and his last name 'Harbor Village') is a 32 year old, single Male who was born and raised in Ningyotoshi. He went to high school locally and university in Kyoto, majoring in History and Folklore Studies.

Prior to joining the Ghostbusters he mostly did odd jobs for neighbors and other local residents. All the while he read and learned as much as he could about Japanese Mythology in general and Ningyotoshi legends in particular. Eventually he applied for the Ghostbusters in an attempt to both further his knowledge and put it to practical use.

Michio is in the Sales Department because of his ability to get along with both the living and the dead. His knowledge of local legends and ghosts in general allows him to negotiate with paranormal beings instead of having to always blast and trap them.

Tsumura has a kind of 'sixth sense', an ability to detect supernatural entities that he's had all his life. It is part of the reason for his interest in the paranormal.

Michio is a big fellow, not especially tall (though above average for a native Japanese male)  but he's got a lot of muscle. He can be charming and warm like a large teddy bear but also gruff and intimidating. He knows this and uses it to his advantage when dealing with other people. Good looking in a rough way, many think of him as a 'ladies man' but that's not really true per say.

He is well known and liked throughout the city from his odd job days and just has a lot of female friends. He dates but its mostly just looking to enjoy the company.

'Sure I know a lot of woman and yeah, its fun to go out and do something but it isn't serious or deep. It's not like my friendship with Fumiko. I mean, the two of us can get into some really wild conversations and man, is she smart. And her hair...I really like how she colors it just 'cause she wants to and it makes her happy and...what? Get outta here! Me and Fumiko? Nah, man...I'm..ya'know I'm just sayin."

Fumiko Magari (whose first name means 'Intellectual' and whose last name means 'A Twist or Distortion')  is a 28 year old single Female who was born in Ningyotoshi but travelled across Japan with her family due to her father's job.

She is incredibly smart and understands the physics and metaphysics of the Ghostbusters technology and science. She attended the Fukui University of Technology while also taking classes at two other colleges online. After graduating she immediately applied to the Ghostbusters in order to get her hands on devices like the Proton Pack, Ghost Trap, and the Ghost Light (an item unique to the Tokyo Ghost Research game that I love. It's a Flashlight that emits charged particles similar to the Proton Thrower and Trap which cause invisible supernatural entities to appear visible within its beam).

She serves in the Investigations Department of Ningyotoshi Ghost Research as her analytical mind makes her an excellent detective.

Fumiko is scientifically and technically brilliant but a bit socially awkward. She gets excited very quickly and can't hide it. She wants to be herself but gets embarrassed when people see her as different and not adhering to Japan's social norms. She gets along well with her co-workers (most of whom would also be thought of as weird by most of Japanese society) but doesn't have a lot of outside friends. She sometimes hangs out with the Unconventionals, a community of artists, writers, and musicans who live in the Northeastern area of the city along the river.

A romantic at heart, Magari would really like to meet someone special but because of her outside-the-box thinking, her failure to prioritize Japan's usual social practices, and her job, she finds it hard to meet anyone compatible.

"How does Michio do it? I mean, sure he's kind of good looking and physically fit...and he's interesting...even sort of cute when he's talking about his interests...but...WHAT AM I SAYING?! Deep breaths Fumiko. I should probably go...modify a nuclear accelerator. That always calms my nerves."

The current supporting cast consists of:

Aya Nakamura (first name means 'Colorful' or 'Beautiful', last name means 'Middle Village') is the Project Manager for most of our Ghostbusters: NGR heroes' outings. Her abilities fall under the Career Type/Department of General Affairs. She is very good at coordinating a group's efforts, cutting through red-tape, and controlling who knows what information (so she can spin screw-ups to look better to the press and bureaucrats).

She always wears something colorful but odd, such as a business blazer made from blue flower pattern kimono material or a brightly hued plaid skirt.

Kenji Boudreaux - last name pronounced Bo-du-ru by the Japanese - is a second generation mixed ethnicity Ningytoshi native (for various reasons, Ningyotoshi has more foreign and mixed ethnicity residents than most Japanese cities its size. A follow up post will go into detail on the city itself). He is a back-up Field Operative Ghostbuster as well as being in charge of the team's vehicle. (His first name means 'Strong or Healthy Second Son'. His last name, of French Creole origin, means 'Leader of the Group'. He's basically the outfit's Second-in-Command after the boss).

Finally...The Boss! You randomly roll up the Boss in Tokyo Ghost Research and I was quite inspired by what I got. Here's Kōri Koarashi.

Boss: Kōri Koarashi (whose name means 'Cold Little Storm')

Position: Nearing Retirement Age

Appearance/Impression: Age Unknown

Nature: Nothing is said. Rarely speaks. 

Bad Habits: Cold Gags – Dark sense of humor.

Another native of Ningyotoshi who lived in Tokyo in his college years. Koarashi was one of the first Ghostbusters in Japan, having served for over two decades with GB: Tokyo Ghost Research. While generally said to be 'near retirement age', no one is certain how old he actually is.

The Boss rarely speaks, preferring to communicate through grunts and motioning with his head. When on rare occasion he does say something, its often a dark joke of dubious appropriateness.

I have a lot of thoughts about this whole endeavor but I'll start with this epiphany...In a Solo TRPG you are in the role of Player. The Gamemaster role is 'automated'.

I know this seems rather obvious to most people but it took a while for this to sink in for me. My brain defaults to thinking like a GM; to thinking that I AM a GM. This is why it was so difficult for me to grasp not just the idea of Solo gaming but also why one would even like doing it. 

Once I was able to let go (sort of - keep reading) of trying to be fully the GM and fully the Player at the same time, I had a lot more fun with the exercise. Focusing on the Player role and letting the Game System, Tables, and Dice be the referee is what makes the whole thing work. That said...

As noted, I am a Gamemaster at heart. If I wasn't going to get involved with creating the game's narrative and actively world-building, I'd probably get bored with the whole process pretty quickly. So, what I've decided to do is roll randomly for many of the key elements of the game and then generate a story, a setting, and the encounters myself using those prompts. Essentially this how all Solo RPGs function, I understand that. What I'm trying to do is add a bit more from my head than from random generation. 

If Solo TRPGs typically have the Dice and Mechanics handling 75% of the Gamemastering duties and you filling in the remaining 25%, my approach is more 60/40. These aren't real or exacting numbers but just a way of helping to visualize how I'm looking at it. 

I have a ton of other thoughts and ideas about this in addition to a recap of my first session. I hope to run my second session tomorrow (I've been busy OK! Sheesh). Before I go though, I want to share a table I made that I am really proud of. This is my custom 'Ghostbusters: Tokyo Ghost Research Japanese Ghost Generator'.

For this campaign, I start most scenarios by getting a Client using one of several online NPC generators (such as this one for example: Chaotic Shiny Modern Character Generator) and then going to a different site to give the character a Japanese Name. I do a little research on the names I find interesting and alter them if needed to get one I like that has the meaning I'm looking for. 

Next, I use the table above to create the Ghost haunting the Client. As you can see, you roll 1D10 four times, or just 4D10 I suppose, and put together the results. The first three categories are clearly from the Ghostbusters franchise and the same CDI identifiers I use in my other homebrew/kit Ghostbusters game. The last column adds a Japanese Yokai Type - a spirit/ghost/monster from Japanese folklore - to the mix to give The Call an appropriate local feel. 

The best thing about this is that it can result in some very unique or at least unusual Japanese supernatural entities. An Oni for example is a powerful Ogre-like demon but what if you're dealing with a Class II Terminal Mist Oni? This is an Oni that can barely manifest itself. It can be made to shuffle off back to the ghostly realm (Terminal) but what will make it do that? If you don't do that, will it get stronger and eventually fully form? So many possibilities!

Let's do one right now to show you what I'm talking about. We start with a Client. 

Interesting. A Photographer. OK, getting an idea immediately but before I'll get to that I need to give him a Japanese name. Let's see...

After several attempts I saw a couple of names that I liked but decided to combine two in order to make:

Hibiki Fushimiya (Hibiki means 'Echo' and Fushimiya means 'Hidden Shrine'). Hmm. A photo is like a visual echo, no?

OK, now let's roll 4D10 using an Online Dice Roller. 

What have we here? A Class IV Repeating Phantasm Mōryō.

A Mōryō is a supernatural wilderness being connected to mountains, forests, and most especially water, usually streams and rivers. This Yokai is generally viewed as a nature spirit but also as an eater of the dead, consuming corpses like a ghoul. While it might 'live' near a riverbank or waterfall, it can often be found skulking around graveyards looking for a meal. 

So combining this result with the Client I can generate the Project or Scenario for an adventure. 

Project Name: Picturing The Dead

Number of employees required: 2-3 people

Number of Phases: 4

Recommended skills: Any

Client: Hibiki Fushimiya, Freelance Photographer

Ghost: Class IV Repeating Phantasm Mōryō.

While doing some Wildlife Photography near a forest stream East of the city, a young man named Hibiki Fushimiya saw something strange and accidentally caught it on camera, though it is difficult to clearly make out what it is. 

That was a week ago and every since (Random Rolls on Various Tables) Hibiki has since seen strange lights, ghostly figures, and heard distant voices at random wherever he goes. Returning to the site of stream he found parts of a dead body in the water. It looked very old (long since deceased) and like it had been chewed or gnawed on by some very large animal. 

Taking pictures of the scene, Fushimiya once again caught a bizarre image in a photo, a monstrous being reflected on the surface of the water. He called Ghostbusters: Ningyotoshi Ghost Research (Random Motivation Roll: Lust? Huh. The Lust result matches the 'Favorite Sin' entry on his NPC info. Got It!) and specifically asks for Fumiko Magari for help as he has seen her on TV and Social Media and has a crush on her.

How will she react? Will Michio get jealous? Why is this creature now haunting this poor guy?

That, as they say, is the adventure! 

Well, that's all for now but as noted there's a lot more where this came from*.

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*That would be my head.

I'm Not Dead I'm Regenerating

Sorry for another long, quiet stretch but I've been working on...just so many things.

Trust me when I say there are a lot of new posts on the way, though it might still be some time before I get the first of them out. 

Real LifeTM and the actual doing of the things are eating up a lot of time and leaving me pretty exhausted. Add to that New York City's recent heat wave and in the words of the immortal Madeline Kahn, "Let's face it, I'm tired."

As far as what you can expect in the [hopefully] very near future: 

Daggerheart

I've played Daggerheart and - SPOILERS - I liked it! Whaaat? Yes! In fact, I enjoyed it enough to join in on an ongoing campaign of indeterminant length. I definitely want to talk about Daggerheart a little. 

Ghostbusters: Tokyo Ghost Research - Solo RPG Campaign

I have figured out Solo Roleplaying Games - or at least I have solidified my take on Solo Roleplaying Games - and I am having a lot of fun with it! I hope you'll join me for Ghostbusters: Ningytoshi Ghost Research, a Ghostbusters Solo campaign set in the (fictional) coastal city of Ningyotoshi, Japan using my GB flavored version of the Japanese TRPG Tokyo Ghost Research. 

私は幽霊を怖がらない!*

Smurfs

Great smurf in the smurf! I need to complete my recounting of our smurfy adventure/mini-campaign 'The Smurfs and The Palace of the Silver Princess'. I am sooo sorry to all my fellow Smurf adventurers out there that I've not finished this series of posts already. I've really smurfed the smurf on this one. 

I really want to get this done because the game will hopefully be out later this year and I'll want to start working on new ideas to add to it. I feel like I need to clean my plate before I start on the next course. 

Star Wars 

Skeleton Crew, Andor, and the upcoming VISIONS have inspired me to run a short Star Wars campaign with one of my groups. Additionally, and equally as importantly, the members of this group have never played the West End Games D6 System Star Wars RPG. What the Force? Right?! How crazy is that? I feel a deep need to remedy this situation.

Set during the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire (roughly Season One of Andor to Return of the Jedi), I am lucky enough to have gotten some truly classic Star Wars archtypes. We're looking at an Ace Pilot, a Bounty Hunter, an mysterious orphan Kid, and a Smuggler. 

I have some other thoughts - a lot actually - but they're still formulating, so that's it for now. 

Talk to you soon,

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Barking Alien

*Watashi wa yūrei o kowagaranai or I'm not afraid of ghosts.

Going Solo

I've never understood Solo TRPGs and still don't to be honest. I'm also absolutely fascinated by the idea.

I've made several attempts to 'get it' in the past but always end up with the same question, 'Why am I rolling dice if no one is here to see it?'

Now that probably sounds like a 'Why can't I just cheat?' question but it isn't, at least for me. Its a question of whether I need to roll. Of course if I don't I'm not really playing a game am I? I'm just writing fiction. So...why aren't I simply writing fiction?

The entire excercise feels like a paradox with little benefit. Solo RPG gaming is what you do when you aren't fortunate enough to have someone else to play with. It isn't something one wants to do but has to do given your particular circumstances. 

Except that I know that isn't absolutely true. It isn't the only reason. There are a ton of motivations that might lead one to be interested in the concept of gaming Solo.

Maybe you want to try out a new system or scenario before bringing it to the table with your regular group. Perhaps you have an interest in a game that your group isn't into; why shouldn't you get to run and play it anyway? Maybe you do want to write a story of short fiction but want to experiment with prompts and other parameters that will test your ability. What if...now stay with me on this...you just think it could be fun?

I am in a few of those camps. Sometimes I get bored or more accurately 'less inspired' by my regularly scheduled games and I want to try something different while everyone else wants more of what we're already doing. Fairly often I'll come across an RPG, particularly one within my niche sub-hobby of collecting Japanese TRPGs, and I really want to test it out before I feel comfortable with my translation of it. Sometimes I just have a crazy thought I want to explore. 

The bottom line is that I'd like to give this a shot...and can't seem to get started. There are a lot of reasons for this but the main one is not being about to shake the feeling that its kind of a waste of time. Pointless. Why do this instead of trying to set up a session of some with other people or working on one of my other active campaigns, preparing for a future campaign, and/or writing a blog post?

Why? Because...I don't know. I really don't. I just want to. 

Another major hurdle has to do with the nature of how a Solo RPG general works. After a long conversation with my friend Mark - who has quite a bit of experience playing Solo - I realize that my brain may not be wired correctly for this endeavor. 

Generally speaking, when a situation comes up in a Solo game (which is generated by random rolls) and your character reacts (and you randomly roll to determine if you intended reaction is successful), you then roll randomly to determine what happens next, how your opponents reacts, or whatever. 

That's A LOT of random rolling. Waaay too much for me. Being the player in the scenario I kind of get that I'll be rolling a lot but being the GM also it becomes far more random than I am used to. It's not how I Gamemaster normally and the idea of doing it here really isn't enticing.

I don't rely on random die rolls to determine things as much as I guess the average GM does. If it's been established that the alien/monster we've been tracking is cold-blooded and the one of the players thinks of a way to decrease the local temperature, I am going to have the PC roll to see if or how well he pulls off this trick but once pulled off I'm not rolling again to see if the creature is slowed. It's just slowed. That's what happens to a cold-blooded lifeform in a chilly place. It's science, it's been established in the continuity of the game, and the PC effectively pulled it off. Logic and story elements always supercede randomly results in my games. 

So what's the issue? Just do the same thing here, right? Sure but then once again I feel like I'm writing a story and I can just do that without the need for rules. Ugh.

In conclusion, I still want to give Solo gaming an honest go but not just yet. I waiting for something to speak in to me in a way that makes me say, "Yes! This is what I want to go with." Until that happens, I certainly have things that can occupy my time.

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Barking Alien

Coming To Save The World This Summer

It's June 8th, 2025 - Happy Ghostbusters Day to one and all!

For a month or more prior to the release of the film posters with the Ghostbusters 'No Ghost' logo appeared in train stations, in movie theaters, and in a variety of all places. No one [I knew] had any idea what they were for. 

Eventually they were replaced by the poster you see above, the mysterious emblem accompanied by the words, 'Coming To Saving the World This Summer'. My grandfather, a theater manager, didn't get the film in his movie house but it did show in one of his previous locations with whom he was on very good terms. 

Through this connection my younger sister and I went to go see it together, just the two of us as I recall, at the Kings Highway Theater in Brooklyn, NY. We got in free since we were 'Al's Grandkids'. I would've been 15 years old and my sister about 10. I don't recall if it was opening day but I do remember I was one of the first among my friend group to have seen it.

That was 41 years ago and I've been an avid fan of the franchise and especially that first film ever since. 

Yesterday was the celebration of Ghostbusters Day at Hook and Ladder No. 8 in Downtown Manhattan (New York City, NY), the real world working firehouse that serves as the Ghostbusters HQ in the films. I was down there myself last year and I hopefully will be there next year but unfortunately, for various reasons, I wasn't able to attend myself in 2025. 

Jason Reitman, son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman and current head producer and writer for the GB franchise, was there along with Carrie Coon and McKenna Grace of Afterlife and Frozen Empire. Serving as ambassadors of good will between the studio and the fans (and doing an awesome job!), the event featured music, walking tours of the film locations, product announcements, and lots of people in incredible cosplay. Oh and the Ecto vehicles! The Ecto Vehicles! Absolutely awesome!

Last but far from least, Sony Pictures teamed with Ghost Corps and the massive collection of fandom franchises to initiate 'Ghostbusters Give Back', a year long competitive charity drive wherein Sony will match donations up to $150,000. You can learn more about this here and at the Ghostbusters Give Back hub.

The various Ghostbusters Fan Club 'Franchises' across the USA and the world have long been involved with charity events and fundraisers. This is not only an extension of that tradition but yet another example of how well the Ghostbusters IP partners with those who love it, something other studios could learn a lot from. 

I do wish they'd given us more details on some of the upcoming film and animation projects but I feel like that will be coming soon enough as the Annecy International Film Festival begins today.

You'll definitely be seeing some Ghostbusters RPG ideas from me in October but keep an eye out; you never know when and where a paranormal imanifestation will appear. When it does...Who You Gonna Call?

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The Last Dragon...Magazine

An unfortunate 'Sign of Our Times'...

It's the end of an era going back 37 years as Japan's Dragon Magazine - home of Dragon Half, Patlabor, Slayers, the Sword World RPG, and Weathering Continent among many others - has ceased publication this year. The final issue apparently came out in May of 2025. 

Haven't bought it or even seen in a long while but I was an avid collector from the late 80s to the mid 90s. Honestly I'm feeling a little heartbroken. This magazine was my first glimpse into the world of Japanese Tabletop RPGs and introduced me to many of my favorite games, as well as Replays, TRPG related Manga, and the idea of Light Novels.

Sayonara Dragon Magazine, Gokurousama.

(Goodbye, thank you for all your hard work)

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The Unmitigated Gaul

Asterix, also known as Asterix The Gaul, Asterix and Obelix, or The Adventures of Asterix, is a franchise based on the French Comic Strips and Albums of the same name(s) created by René Goscinny (Writer) and Albert Uderzo (Artist) and originally published in the Franco-Belgian comics magazine Pilote, first released in 1959.

I am a big fan of the Asterix comics - 41 Volumes as of this post selling over 393 million copies in 111 language across the world - as well as the animated films - a dozen of those I believe - and the recent 3D Computer Animation series Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight (in French) on Netflix (based on the story from a comic album published in 1966). I haven't seen any of the 5 live-action outings yet - two of which were among France's high grossing films! - as I'm nervous they won't be able to duplicate the feel of their illustrated counterparts. 

Like the Smurfs, I first came across those in both French and English adaptions when I was very young and so I was familiar with Asterix and his adventures long before they'd gained any kind of widespread footing in the book and comic book stores of the USA. In addition to the artwork and humor, I loved the mix of History and Fantasy. As with Smurfs, there was an occasional anachronistic twist on the setting and its inhabitants that was expertly handled and so I pretty much fell in love with it.

 

The premise is fairly simple and nearly every Asterix story begins...

The year is 50 BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely... One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders.

The mighty Legions of the Roman Empire, four of which camp not too far from this small Gaul village, have been unable to defeat these 'barbarians' as they possess a secret weapon; their Druid Panoramix (Getafix in English versions) has created a potion that temporarily gives the imbuer Superhuman Strength. In addition, one member of the village, Obelisk, has permanently enhanced strength as he fell into a cauldron of the concontion when he was a child.

As with all things that interest and/or inspire me, at some point I have to ask myself, "How do I game this?" 

As it turns out, Asterix is no stranger to gaming. 15 Board Games, a few dozen Computer/Video Games, and even a series of 10 'Choose Your Own Adventure' style Gamebooks have been produced over the decades since 1970. Impressive, no? Of course, I'm talking about Tabletop Roleplaying Games and it's very likely I'm the only one crazy enough to want to...wait a sec. What's this?

Indominable Gauls by Thomas M. Grenery is an Asterix inspired game that uses an interesting mechanic based on the game Cthulhu Dark [as I understand]. It is very clearly Asterix with the numbers filed off and that's not a criticism. That was basically the objective and he achieved his goal. 

So we have our Asterix game, yes? It would certainly make my life a lot easier to just use this instead of trying to make my own version, if indeed I was looking to run an Asterix RPG. Well...I do intend to do this, I've never been one for 'the easy way' if there might be 'a better way', and I actually do I a system in mind. 

I think Asterix and his world could benefit from the game system designed to run the adventures of our gallant Gaul's Franco-Belgian Comics cousins the Smurfs. 

Please note this is a fan made creation. As of this writing Maestro Media does not have the license to and is not making an Asterix RPG to my knowledge. If that changes in the future, call me guys. 😉

Gamemechanix

The core rules of the Smurfs RPG regarding Character Creation, Difficulty Level/Dice, and how Actions are resolved will largely remain the same. Probably identical at their most basic level. Having one 'Specialty' or signature ability that can lower the Difficulty Dice as well as Expending Effort will also be handled in the same way.

Where things get interesting is that Smurfberries and Smurf Power would need to be renamed or replaced, especially Smurf Power. I am thinking I need something that simulates how the Gaul Villagers become Super Strong once they drink their magic potion and that should be more reliable than the way Smurf Power works but also perhaps more rare.

Rare or infrequent isn't really the correct terms though. Conditional or Contingent Upon is a better way to put it. Their Superpower comes from drinking this elixir and it lasts X amount of time and that's it. There is no way to spend points to that. It either happens within the context of the narrative or it doesn't. 

Asterix getting his drink of the Magic Potion in Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight

Maybe. I am suddenly thinking of an alternate approach wherein one can spend or activate a condition, like how Smurf Power functions, to gain Super Strength but you need to explain it. 

GM: Your group is surrounded by Romans who happen to have lions with them. It seems they were taking them to the Colosseum when they ran nto you.

Gaul Player 1: Lions?! Well that does it! I activate my Indominable Power! Now I have Super Strength (However I decide to have that function mechanically)! 

GM: Wow! How did you get a potion?

(You must come up with a reason why you have a potion handy if not anywhere near one).

Gaul Player 1: Uh...wait! Remember when I was discussing with Druid whether the potion would still work if reheated or frozen? Well I took a small vial to test my idea at some point and still have it on me.

GM: Ah-ha! Most fortunate! The vial is small though so it will only last one round.

Gaul Player 1: That's all I need! *Rolls up sleeves*

I'll need to think on this some more and test it in play a few times and see if anything else needs major adjustments. Overall, I think the conversion from the Smurfs to Asterix should be pretty smooth. 

Theatrix

A key component of Asterix's charm are the characters and the interactions between them. The Roleplaying opportunities abound! While its pretty obvious that Asterix and Obelix are best pals and Dogmatix is just the best friend doggo a Gaul could have. The rest of the village is a bit more complicated and surprisingly nuanced. 

While the men of the village seem to do all the things - Vitalstatistix (French: Abraracourcix) is the Village Chief, Fulliautomatix (French: Cétautomatix) is the Blacksmith, Unhygenix (French: Ordralfabétix) is the Fishmonger, etc. - it is the women of the village that have the real power, at least to a considerable extent.

A Variety of Female Characters from the Asterix Franchise

The wives of the aforementioned villagers are crucial to the smooth operation and continual existence of this group of Gauls. For example, Chief's wife Impedimenta (French: Bonemine) has numerous flaws but fights along side the men against the Romans, often wielding a Rolling Pin as a club. She is not only a good fighter and the village's best cook but is often able to rein in the chaos of the rest of the village when her husband can not. 

Many of the relationships and therefore the characters themselves are very old. The Druid Getafix (French: Panoramix) and the eldest villager Geriatrix (French: Agecanonix) are depicted as looking exactly the same in prequel and flashback stories that show the rest of the villagers as children or very young adults. Geriatrix makes references to having fought in a number of earlier wars and has knowledge of other villages long gone. Imagine playing an older character who remembers fighting Romans before the magic potion!

So many ideas in this category, I could easily write an entire post just on character concepts and stories. Hmm. Perhaps the 'Motivation' entry on the Smurfs Character Sheet could be modified to Relationship so you can identify what other character is important to your PC and why.

Geographix

Where does Asterix take place? Obviously Gaul, in the year 50 B.C.. On to the next...OK, OK, I'll expand on this. 

The Gaulish Village of Asterix and his friends is a seaside town, giving the inhabitants easy access to as much fish as they like. Unfortunately, they are somewhat limited in where they can travel by the four encampments of Roman Legionnaires near by (See above). 

That said, the villagers and their stories go all over the place in the Asterix Comics thanks to use of their magic potion, clever trickery, and dealings with those in power from other lands. Asterix and Obelix have gone to Roman, assisted Cleopatra in Egypt, and traveled to Spain, Germany, and Britain to name just a few of their exstensive travels. 

Sometimes the adventures come to them. Other Gaul tribes occasionally stop by to ask Chief Vitalstatistix and/or Getafix the Druid for assistance. The villagers are constantly confronted by Roman Soldiers of course. Additionally, Asterix's group of Gauls has been visited by the Normans (in the comics. The Vikings in the animated film adaption) and Huevos Y Bacon, the leader of a small town near Montilla in Hispania (Spain), and his son Pepe. 

I can see a nearly limitless series of scenarios of mixing Comedy, Action, Adventure, and Historical Fiction. That's not even addressing the Fantastic Elements of the franchise. 

Mythologix

Asterix takes a really interesting approach to Magic and Mythology. While there definitely is magic as evidenced by the Magic Potion that grants Super Strength, in many other cases the mystical falls more squarely into the realm of heresay and folklore.

Gods of both the Gauls and the Romans are referenced regularly but never seen in the 'flesh', nor do they appear to directly effect the stories in any physical way. In Asterix and The Griffin, the rumored half-eagle and half-lion creature is revealed to be a dinosaur skeleton frozen in a lake. 

However...in some stories and the animated films, the Magic Potion if made improperly can create other effects such as causing people to change color, glow, fly, and even give Getafix 'telekinetic' control over the imbuer. We've seen other evil Druids perform tricks of their own and Sulfurix (aka Demonix) [in Asterix and The Secret of the Magic Potion] grew into a giant after following into a puddle of bad potion. 

So are there 'real' magical creatures, spells, and/or gods in Asterix. It would seem the answer is...maybe. Yes?

Does magic exist? The answer is certainly yes. It takes a subtle hand and a bit of finesse to balance the nature and supernatural worlds of Asterix's setting in my opinion. Personally I love this sort of thing but I can see it being difficult to resist adding a host of witches and dragons and other major sorcerous elements. It can be done but takes a little mental effort to keep the feel of the comics authentic. 

Appendix

This project obviously needs a lot more thought and work but I was so jazzed about it I figured I'd share what I did have. If you have any suggestions, questions, or ideas on the subject I'd love to hear from you. 

Thanks for indulging me and onward ho!

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Barking Alien