GUMSHOE--The Esoterrorists (Sundays): screen shots, session notes & organization

[Hector Trelane]

Great job by the players today in digging in to the investigation! Here are some screen shots:

[Hector Trelane]

Overcharging for clues?

A player pointed out to me that the GM arguably overcharged for a clue given to another players’s character. In retrospect, I think that’s right, and at least one point can be restored.

If there are similar future points to raise, feel free to do so — in game if it can be done briefly, or afterwards if a more lengthy discussion is needed. Some point spends are a gray area, and if players can propose a skill use that should be lower- or zero-cost, it’s perfectly acceptable to do so.

This is a game of collaborative storytelling in a mystery horror genre. It is most definitely not a game of “hose the players”!

[Raz_Kabooz]

Today Thurston Davenport witnessed the true horrors of outer dimensional entities used by the nefarious forces of The Esoterrorists. He also contemplates his feelings for Astra LaFontaine and fondly reminiscences to himself over their one-night of shared unbridled passion from so many years ago (tmi?).

[damned]

esoterrorists.jpg

[Hector Trelane]

Nice job roleplaying your characters today, players, and good forward motion in the story. Nice touch in particular to Thurston who RP’d the moment of his first “field case” as significant and shocking to him.

I also appreciate the screenshots!

[Hector Trelane]

Some individual plotlines: Each of you receives a text or voicemail message at some point during the current day:

• Henry: Sequoia Falls High School wants you to photograph all the students at prom once again. The dance is in a few weeks. It's a bit of a mind-numbing job but lucrative. At least you get to see that cute teacher who usually chaperones the dance at the banquet hall.
• Astra: Your friend, chamber of commerce chair Lori Wilson, has scheduled a bank meeting for you to get a loan to open that Yoga Center in the middle of town. Can you be there tomorrow? It means you'd put your store into heavy debt. But she'll help line up a small business loan and is also asking the mayor's wife, Carol Crowe, to arrange an economic development grant.
• Thurston: A new artist in town, Lenore Danek, has just gotten in some avant garde art pieces she thinks you may want to acquire: they are collages and neon paintings of "memes shattering to remove pop science truths obscuring our minds like a film of scum covering a pond." She's also just made a sculpture, inspired by a late night conversation you two shared. She wants your to come to her farmhouse studio on the edge of town tomorrow midday for a viewing. (You met her before at one of your "sessions" and you think she could be legit and capable of meeting your... rarified... tastes.)
• PJ: You get a message from Dina Chambers (the goth tattooed waitress) with her shift schedule for tonight. "Here's when I get off. Pick me up. Come get me..."
• Wade: You get a series of texts and one voicemail from the mouthy kid, Stuart Mills, asking you how Latrice is doing, and can he see her? The hospital people won't let him in. In the background of the voicemail you can hear a paint can shaking and the hiss of a spray nozzle.

OOC note from GM: These plotlines are mostly to give you things to think about in between sessions. Let's play group stuff in-game. For those individual plot actions that can be handled solo (some can, some can't), you can post here. If in doubt, go ahead and post, and I can respond accordingly.

[Hector Trelane]

Nice session yesterday. We are now fully in sandbox mode.

Yesterday, the two Ordo Veritatis agents, Wade Garrett and PJ, made their initial findings report to Mr. Verity, who gave them orders to proceed with establishing a long-term station for under-cover operations in Town. The agents chose a mobile phone resale, service, and repair shop storefront as their cover, a plausible fit with their previous cover as visiting FCC inspectors.

Here are features and details of the Station, as created in-game by players: [Placeholder link to for future Google Doc]

Here are some images of what the Station might look like: [Placeholder]

To refresh our memories on town personalities and features, check this Google Doc listing the elements players created during our Town Creation Session (click here).

[Raz_Kabooz]

Thurston might be a bit fuzzy on the exact details but sure this is the general concept PJ and Wade were driving at.

Here are some images of what the Station might look like: .

In all seriousness, great game Hector!

[Hector Trelane]

Reminder--game this Sunday!

[Raz_Kabooz]

Reminder--game this Sunday!

And Gen Con event registration that day at noon! It's not too late for you Hector!