In the latest episode of their wave-lashed podcast, Ken and Robin talk aha moments in investigative games, Lucian Freud, Winslow Homer, and the triumphant return of Ken’s London book haul.
Tag Archives: GUMSHOE
Ever thought of playing in a 60s cold war version of Night’s Black Agents? Traversing The Gaean Reach modified for Charles Stross’ Laundry Files? Perhaps a Byzantian take on Swords of the Serpentine set in Constantinople is part of your gaming wish list? If so, then look no further. After successful seasons of games for […]
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The War of the Sisters STRANGER: Have you fashioned your masks? CAMILLA AND CASSILDA: Father, they shall not be masks for long. STRANGER: From what have you fashioned them? CAMILLA: From Rodrigo’s red flesh. CASSILDA: From my song of green joy. Cassilda’s Song, a massive scenario series for The Yellow King Roleplaying Game, spans all […]
In the latest episode of their 12-sided podcast, Ken and Robin talk randomness vs choice in RPG design, the Chicago Film Festival, Tristan Zimmerman’s Shanty Hunters, and saving Franz Ferdinand.
In response to our scenario design workshop, we were asked to delve a bit further into the distinction between core and alternate scenes in a GUMSHOE adventure. TL;DR: Make sure there’s one path through a GUMSHOE scenario. Those are your core scenes. Add more paths. Those are your alternate scenes. A Core Scene provides one […]
For International GMs Day, Ken’s favorite GMing tip is very timely indeed. GUMSHOE is the groundbreaking investigative roleplaying system by Robin D. Laws that shifts the focus of play away from finding clues (or worse, not finding them), and toward interpreting clues, solving mysteries and moving the action forward. GUMSHOE powers many Pelgrane Press games, […]
One of the most horrible aspects of this whole pandemic – at least, from where I’m sitting – is that roleplaying conventions will be one of the last events to return safely. Your typical convention is also ideal for spreading coronavirus: a bunch of people talking loudly at short range? In rooms that are famously […]
When running a most improvised scenario (either something as ambitious as the Dracula Dossier or just riffing off a paragraph or two of notes), One Useful Trick is to have a copy of the investigative ability list for your game to hand, and check off abilities as you call for them or the players use […]
The following articles originally appeared on an earlier iteration of See Page XX in April 2008. This month we step beyond the limitations of the pixel and into the glorious world of sound. James Semple introduces us to the new theme for Esoterrorists, Luke Crane shares air with Vincent Baker, and Paul MacClean advises us […]
The following article originally appeared in an earlier iteration of See Page XX in June 2008. A column on roleplaying by Robin D. Laws The Trouble With Tasers Technology is ruining the storytelling business. Lately it seems like every new innovation of communications technology renders another classic plot device moot. GPS tracking, widespread closed circuit […]