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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Investigative Abilities trigger Core Clues automatically. Their dice pools are used to get extra information, at the GM’s discretion.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. GUMSHOE is an investigative game. When in doubt – and particularly when they are stuck – encourage the players to get more information.
  10. 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.

So, movement on the RPG front.

It looks like I can actually get that blessed thing finally done. Which means that I need to allot some time in December to finish a couple things, and also set up a Backerkit to help crowdfund it. So I’ll be doing that next month.

Feel free to take a look, if you haven’t yet: .80version. And check out my Patreon!

And check out my two books that go on sale tomorrow!

Having a conversation on getting the TTRPG finished up.

This would be the Fermi Resolution RPG. Getting it done will almost certainly involve crowdfunding; once I have more of a firm timeline on how long the project will take, I’ll likely set something up exclusively on Backerkit. They’re getting into the crowdfunding business itself, and their customer service game is already very strong. If I can tap into that, and their existing audience, it will be very useful for future projects.

If not? Well, I tried. Sometimes things don’t work out.

If you have a QR scanner, I need to check this code for the pre-release Fermi Resolution RPG.

Version .80, more or less. The code works for me, but I want to make sure that people can download the PDF properly. And yes, this means that if it works I’m giving out the pre-release for free. I plan to offer this at Farpoint as an inducement. I also plan to do something similar for the Kickstarter, but I want to make sure I’ve done it right first.

FROZEN DREAMS Kickstarter backers, check your email!

You should be getting the Kickstarter version of the Fermi Resolution RPG rules. Cover and internal art, edited, etc. etc. etc. I’ve also closed that Kickstarter, now that the stuff is being distributed. Let me know if there’s a problem.

Keep watching this space for news on when I’m actually printing this puppy. You can also pick up FROZEN DREAMS here… (#commissionearned)

Prepping for the remote game session Friday.

It’s the $250 Kickstarter tier session for FROZEN DREAMS: obviously, $250 buys a certain amount of actual prep work, but I’ve done this adventure before and I know how it’s going to go, generally. The trick is keeping seven people entertained at once, but that’s why we run con games, right? Sweat more now, bleed less later, and all that.

I am debating whether to put in more than one gaming session tier for the next Kickstarter, though. I don’t know whether anybody would sign up for it; but then, I didn’t expect anybody to sign up for the last one, either. Gotta think about it some more.

So that was what I was doing today.

The FERMI RESOLUTION RPG sourcebook has been sent to layout.

I finally bit the bullet, broke my fingers, and sent that sucker off to be laid out. It’s now out of my hands: which is good, because I had to break all my fingers* before I’d let go of it, hey? I honestly hadn’t realized how much of a chore it was going to be, either. Swear to God, the next edition of this is going to have a dedicated editor who I can pay to do the job…

But that’s all good. It’s out to layout, I’ll get it to my backers when it’s done, and that’s the last thing on the checklist except for the sonnets and the game session. And those are being worked on, too…

Moe Lane

*I did not actually break any fingers.

Preliminary sketches, the FERMI RESOLUTION RPG worldbook cover.

I have to keep reminding myself that it’s OK to show stuff like this off. This is just the preliminary pencil sketch; there are a couple details that need to be tweaked, and obviously the final is going to be in color. But Ben Fleuter here hit all the notes that I wanted hit. I’m really happy with the way it’s coming out.