My HPL Historical Society Secret Santa loot. Very cool stuff from some local artists, which I always appreciate. It’s nice to support individual crafters.
Working on the RPG this morning.
There was some stuff that needed a first draft generated, and now it has been. I’ll be having more talks about this with a layout guy this afternoon. Expect to see some Backerkit info coming up in the near future, in fact.
Again, first draft. I won’t need a polished version of this until January at the earliest.
What is this book?
The Fermi Resolution RPG is a standalone campaign book using the GUMSHOE rules. GUMSHOE is a games engine originally created by Robin Laws which has been designed specifically for investigative campaigns. While there are rules for combat, fighting is not the primary focus of a GUMSHOE campaign. Your players are more likely to be solving mysteries, exploring abandoned facilities, and interacting with other people for resources and information. All of which, admittedly, can sometimes require combat rolls.
No other books are needed to play in this universe, but check out Pelgrane Press (https://pelgranepress.com/2018/02/14/gumshoe/) for more GUMSHOE games, and my own site (https://books2read.com/ap/8V1GKr/Moe-Lane) for the original books. At the time of writing, the Fermi Resolution universe features three novels and two short story collections, with more works planned.
How do you play this game?
GUMSHOE is a game of information and resource management. One core principle of the game engine is that players should never have to rely on random chance to solve a mystery; having the right Investigative Abilities will automatically give them the Core Clues they need for their investigation. It’s still up to them to figure out what those clues all mean.
Players also have General Abilities which are used in situations where the degree of success or failure is important, like seeing how well someone disarms a trap, rides a horse, or swing a sword. The rating of an Ability determines its pool size; pools can be used to ensure success on a dice roll. Once spent, pool points can only be refreshed at certain points in the adventure. Determining when to spend pool points is a critical component of the game.
Finally, while the world of the Fermi Resolution is adventurous, it is also a dangerous place that is particularly dangerous to the solitary adventurer. GUMSHOE is not a system that rewards moody loners who are alienated from everyone, including the other party members. Part of the character creation process includes an explanation as to why player characters are out adventuring in mixed company, and the game encourages cooperative play and eclecticism.
GM Tips
The Fermi Resolution RPG mostly can be run like any other fantasy RPG, but there are some specific points that are GUMSHOE-specific:
- Strictly speaking, there are no advantages or disadvantages in the game. Physical appearance, gender, social status, reputation, and other attributes are at the discretion of the player and the GM.
- GUMSHOE rewards eclecticism, particularly in parties. Whenever possible, have the players design their characters with an eye to making sure that all Investigative Abilities have been taken by at least one character, and most of the General ones.
- Player-characters start out competent. Even a rating of one in an Ability implies a decent amount of expertise. Uncontested or routine Ability use should not be subject to rolls.
- There is a difference between an Ability’s rating, and its pool. The rating always stays the same, but the level of its pool fluctuates. Pool points are used to boost the chance of success in an Ability check, but the Ability can still be used even if the current pool is zero.
- Investigative Abilities trigger Core Clues automatically. Their dice pools are used to get extra information, at the GM’s discretion.
- General Abilities are for contested rolls. They can also sometimes be used as Investigative Abilities, if the GM decides that simply having the Ability is enough to achieve success.
- Core Clues should never require a roll. This game engine was expressly designed to eliminate scenarios where a critical piece of information had to be denied the players solely because their dice hated them that night.
- The rate at which Ability pools can be refreshed will have a direct effect on game pacing. If players know that they can count on regular refreshes, they will spend pool points freely. If they know that refreshes are few and far between, they will save their pool points for emergencies. “GM discretion” is usually a code phrase for “We couldn’t think up a rule for this,” but this genuinely feels like a situation where the GM and players need to decide which system is more fun.
- GUMSHOE is an investigative game. When in doubt – and particularly when they are stuck – encourage the players to get more information.
- It is perfectly fine to simply tell the players, “There is nothing left to find in this scene.” Some GMs recommend printing a sign, and waving it when appropriate.
‘The Holly and the Ivy.’
The Holly and the Ivy, Medieval Baebes
#commissionearned
12/02/2024 Snippet, TIMMY AND THE BAD PLACE.
Not as much done as I’d like, but I’m still feeling my way in this story.
Timmy wasn’t surprised that Frostvale Pines was really clean, especially the parts that were supposed to be dirty. The worst parts of the town didn’t smell bad at all, and were one good sweeping from being pristine. The people were different, too. No bad breath, no skin problems, nobody skinny or too fat, and everybody’s teeth gleamed. They all looked like they were from what Timmy remembered of TV, but they would, wouldn’t they? Everybody sounded the same, too. Even the bums — who looked like everybody else, except for a couple of smudges on their faces — talked like they went to college.
He’d been warned about that ahead of time. It wasn’t a glamour, or anything like that. The rules were just different here. Things either didn’t break, or were really easy to fix.
What surprised Timmy was that he wasn’t resentful about how nice Frostvale Pines was. He was sort of expecting to be, since he’d grown up rough and everything, but the town just wasn’t real enough to be worth getting mad over. It’d be like getting mad at a play.
Pre-ordered: @exjon’s SINK THE RISING SUN.
Jon Gabriel, an old buddy of mine from the Before Times, has written a book! SINK THE RISING SUN, a World War II submarine novel. No supernatural or fantastical stuff in it, but I pre-ordered it anyway.
Also: Jon’s a brave man. I personally quail at the thought of writing a historical war novel. There are just too many people out there with opinions on the smaller details, and they look upon new historical fiction writers as fresh meat…
#commissionearned
Self-Tweet of the Day, This Is Apparently Real edition.
(H/T: @iowahawkblog) The thing is, I don’t know who should be more offended (and possibly contemplating a trademark suit): DC, or Mattel.
Spider-Man meets Thomas the Tank Engine!
I saw this a couple of days ago, but GeekTyrant reminded me of it. You’ll need to have watched both SPIDER-MAN 2 and THOMAS AND FRIENDS to get the full effect, but getting that combo is easier than it sounds. You just need to be a geek who has kids.
#commissionearned
12/02/2024 Snippet, CALL OF THE MOON-BEASTS.
Lack of art!
He looked around, blinking unconsciously at the strain of standing up suddenly. Grabinski kept a neat room, even by the standards of the increasingly resource-starved lunar colonies. He had a bed, a perfunctory shower/bathroom combination stripped down to the fixtures, and a desk. There were no personal touches. Not even a toothbrush.
There was also no art. “Check me, Asenath,” Tobias wheezed. He could feel his entire upper respiratory system loosening up under the sudden humidity, only it wasn’t actually pleasant. “No sign of Grabinski drawing on the walls themselves, right?”
Correct, Commander. Do you see the discolorations on the wall?
“Yeah. Grabinski must have been hoarding sticky tape.” He bit down on the sudden spike of white-hot, murderous rage the thought had triggered. “Or maybe he had something else. Anyway, either he didn’t do any painting here, or he took it with him when he left. When was the last time he was here?”
‘Adeste Fideles.’
#commissionearned
The Shadowrun 4E MEGA Bundle of Holding.
I always wanted to play Shadowrun, but it never quite worked out, scheduling-wise. Ach, well. The Bundle of Holding looks tempting, at least.
Moe Lane
PS: I should finish those video games, though.