[New WoD] Any interest a "mortals" sourcebook?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

Seeing as how in the new edition, core WoD is going to be all about mortal
characters, with various greeblies to be appended as expansion
sourcebooks... would anyone have a hankering to see some supplementary
material for running all-mortal campaigns, in the style roleplaying games
such as "Call of Cthuhlu" and "Dark.Matter", or television shows such as
"The X-Files"? Heck, a paranormal version of "CSI", even?

I'm presuming that the core book is going to have some of that in it
already - how could it not, after all? - but personally, I can see a market
for an entire sourcebook or two devoted to the genre; what do you think?

- David Prokopetz.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

David Prokopetz wrote:

> Seeing as how in the new edition, core WoD is going to be all about mortal
> characters, with various greeblies to be appended as expansion
> sourcebooks... would anyone have a hankering to see some supplementary
> material for running all-mortal campaigns, in the style roleplaying games
> such as "Call of Cthuhlu" and "Dark.Matter", or television shows such as
> "The X-Files"? Heck, a paranormal version of "CSI", even?

> I'm presuming that the core book is going to have some of that in it
> already - how could it not, after all? - but personally, I can see a market
> for an entire sourcebook or two devoted to the genre; what do you think?

I'm sure I would. 'Frex, a "World of Darkness: Organized Crime" thing
that deals with the various crime syndicates with a WoD spin. Like a
more broad WoD: Mafia.
--
Stephenls
Geek
"I'm as impure as the driven yellow snow." -Spike

 

[william]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

Stephenls wrote:

> David Prokopetz wrote:
>
>> Seeing as how in the new edition, core WoD is going to be all about
>> mortal
>> characters, with various greeblies to be appended as expansion
>> sourcebooks... would anyone have a hankering to see some supplementary
>> material for running all-mortal campaigns, in the style roleplaying games
>> such as "Call of Cthuhlu" and "Dark.Matter", or television shows such as
>> "The X-Files"? Heck, a paranormal version of "CSI", even?
>
>
>> I'm presuming that the core book is going to have some of that in it
>> already - how could it not, after all? - but personally, I can see a
>> market
>> for an entire sourcebook or two devoted to the genre; what do you think?
>
>
> I'm sure I would. 'Frex, a "World of Darkness: Organized Crime" thing
> that deals with the various crime syndicates with a WoD spin. Like a
> more broad WoD: Mafia.

That would be cool, but it wouldn't be my dream Mortals book. I'd like
to see a "World of Darkness: Journalism" sourcebook. It just seems so
natural and obvious. I can't think of a more interesting place to have
almost-clueless mortals living their lives on the edge of discovering
the supernatural. And what a place for layers upon layers of personal
feelings, driving goals, conspiracies, revelations, brilliant insights
and incredible stupidities all tangled up into an unbreakable knot.

William

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"William"
> Stephenls wrote:

> > I'm sure I would. 'Frex, a "World of Darkness: Organized Crime" thing
> > that deals with the various crime syndicates with a WoD spin. Like a
> > more broad WoD: Mafia.

> That would be cool, but it wouldn't be my dream Mortals book. I'd like
> to see a "World of Darkness: Journalism" sourcebook. It just seems so
> natural and obvious. I can't think of a more interesting place to have
> almost-clueless mortals living their lives on the edge of discovering
> the supernatural. And what a place for layers upon layers of personal
> feelings, driving goals, conspiracies, revelations, brilliant insights
> and incredible stupidities all tangled up into an unbreakable knot.

Back in the day, I wanted to have a book that would detail forensics in
terms of the World of Darkness. What DOES a ME think when looking at
Garou-inflicted wounds? What enzymes are left in a vampire bite?

And, the one thing that I've always wanted in a WoD book so I could go to
stupid storytellers, the trip a dead body makes. How long to get to the
morgue, how long it sits on the shelf under what circumstances, how long it
takes to perform the autopsy, and what would be concievably found during
such an examination. Cause if ONE MORE STORYTELLER comes up to me and says
"20 minutes after you kill so and so, the police track you down and have
your dental impressions in the victim", I'll deck him.

But, you know, covering all the WoD supers.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

Shane Graves wrote:
> Cause if ONE MORE STORYTELLER comes up to me and says
> "20 minutes after you kill so and so, the police track you down and have
> your dental impressions in the victim", I'll deck him.

Let me guess. LARP?

--
J. H. Frank

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"J. H. Frank"
> Shane Graves wrote:

> > Cause if ONE MORE STORYTELLER comes up to me and says
> > "20 minutes after you kill so and so, the police track you down and have
> > your dental impressions in the victim", I'll deck him.

> Let me guess. LARP?

But of course.

And once, in a table top game, the turn around time for the coroner's lab
results was mind-bogglingly quick.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

Shane Graves wrote:
> J. H. Frank wrote:
> > Shane Graves wrote:
>
> > > Cause if ONE MORE STORYTELLER comes up to me and says
> > > "20 minutes after you kill so and so, the police track you down and
have
> > > your dental impressions in the victim", I'll deck him.
>
> > Let me guess. LARP?
>
> But of course.
>
> And once, in a table top game, the turn around time for the coroner's lab
> results was mind-bogglingly quick.

That's reasonable, though. A slow night and an interesting case can lead to
a quick turnaround.

--
J. H. Frank

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"J. H. Frank"
> Shane Graves wrote:

> > But of course.

> > And once, in a table top game, the turn around time for the coroner's
lab
> > results was mind-bogglingly quick.

> That's reasonable, though. A slow night and an interesting case can lead
to
> a quick turnaround.

Less than two hours from doing the deed to handcuffs (while not on the scene
and the only evidence being DNA) in NYC?

 

[william]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

Shane Graves wrote:
> "J. H. Frank"
>
>>Shane Graves wrote:
>
>
>>>But of course.
>
>
>>>And once, in a table top game, the turn around time for the coroner's
>
> lab
>
>>>results was mind-bogglingly quick.
>
>
>>That's reasonable, though. A slow night and an interesting case can lead
>
> to
>
>>a quick turnaround.
>
>
> Less than two hours from doing the deed to handcuffs (while not on the scene
> and the only evidence being DNA) in NYC?
>
>

That's not just unlikely, that's impossible.

People in my lab do RNA and DNA studies. Two hours isn't even long
enough to start replicating the DNA, never mind harvest and type it.

William

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"William"
> Shane Graves wrote:

> > Less than two hours from doing the deed to handcuffs (while not on the
scene
> > and the only evidence being DNA) in NYC?

> That's not just unlikely, that's impossible.

> People in my lab do RNA and DNA studies. Two hours isn't even long
> enough to start replicating the DNA, never mind harvest and type it.

Exactly why I thought a book about all manner of forensics as a general
guideline would be awesome.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"Shane Graves" <lobsterhut@earthlink.net> wrote:
> "William"
> > Shane Graves wrote:

> > > Less than two hours from doing the deed to handcuffs (while not on the
> scene
> > > and the only evidence being DNA) in NYC?
>
> > That's not just unlikely, that's impossible.
>
> > People in my lab do RNA and DNA studies. Two hours isn't even long
> > enough to start replicating the DNA, never mind harvest and type it.
>
> Exactly why I thought a book about all manner of forensics as a general
> guideline would be awesome.

That could make a handy modern-day gaming supplement for any rule
system. The topic is not particularly tied to the game mechanics
aside from the Perception/Investigation/Spot Hidden rolls.

I wonder how long before we see "CSI D20." I'm also thinking the
LARP version would constantly draw onlookers - and more attention
from police than usual for a LARP.

Spoke too soon: Hogshead offers "Crime Scene D20," including one
book on forensics and another on investigating the supernatural:

http://www.hogshead.demon.co.uk/hgshdcrime/crimescene_forensics.htm

http://www.hogshead.demon.co.uk/hgshdcrime/crimescene_supern.htm


Call of Cthulhu (5th ed.) had a nice section on this. In fact, I
was just thinking about it, out of the blue earlier this evening.
I was wondering whether I would ever find a use for its memorable
statement "Insects are always present within 24 hours."

Another good resource was taking a Criminal Justice class back in
junior college (CJ54 - Introduction to Evidence). It was a fun
class, but if you don't have the time to take one like it, see if
anyone who's taken such a class wants to part with their textbook
on the cheap. You won't get the entertaining stories, but you'll
get a good idea of the procedures and some disturbing photos in a
pretty solid hardcover.


Also I hear New York by Night has at least one Ritual for dealing
with crime scenes.


Vis Sierra

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"Vis Sierra"
> "Shane Graves"

> > Exactly why I thought a book about all manner of forensics as a general
> > guideline would be awesome.

> That could make a handy modern-day gaming supplement for any rule
> system. The topic is not particularly tied to the game mechanics
> aside from the Perception/Investigation/Spot Hidden rolls.

> I wonder how long before we see "CSI D20." I'm also thinking the
> LARP version would constantly draw onlookers - and more attention
> from police than usual for a LARP.

> Spoke too soon: Hogshead offers "Crime Scene D20," including one
> book on forensics and another on investigating the supernatural:

> http://www.hogshead.demon.co.uk/hgshdcrime/crimescene_forensics.htm

> http://www.hogshead.demon.co.uk/hgshdcrime/crimescene_supern.htm

Meh. Good for them. I need one for the Storytelling System. ^_^

> Call of Cthulhu (5th ed.) had a nice section on this. In fact, I
> was just thinking about it, out of the blue earlier this evening.
> I was wondering whether I would ever find a use for its memorable
> statement "Insects are always present within 24 hours."

Man, I LOVE playing FBI characters in the WoD. Not FBI with numina. Just
FBI regular guy. To this day I had more fun with that character than I
could ever imagine playing one of those "I'm a unique and delicate flower
because I have X Discipline" characters.

> Another good resource was taking a Criminal Justice class back in
> junior college (CJ54 - Introduction to Evidence). It was a fun
> class, but if you don't have the time to take one like it, see if
> anyone who's taken such a class wants to part with their textbook
> on the cheap. You won't get the entertaining stories, but you'll
> get a good idea of the procedures and some disturbing photos in a
> pretty solid hardcover.

There are also "writers guides" for people who dabble in murder mysteries.

> Also I hear New York by Night has at least one Ritual for dealing
> with crime scenes.

That, I believe, it did.

Mostly, I'd want the book for a good heavy chapter on general material (most
people don't know what happens to a body when it gets picked up from a crime
scene). Everything from "The trip a dead body makes" to "What would lead an
investigator to think suicide vs murder" to "how long does labwork take"?
Then sections involving each critter. In WoD1 terms, what do certain
Disciplines do to a body? What kind of Resonance would an Awakened
investigator find from what? What do supernaturals do to cover up their
tracks (ala that ritual from NYbN)?

If they can make two books on Thaumaturgy and a book dedicated to a single
background, a book on clean up corpses would sell rather well, I imagine.

That, and I'd like to see what the WoD legal system looks like. What
happens when a vampire gets arrested?

Again...I find these books interesting and would be willing to buy them. So
I'm not expecting to see either anytime soon.

....

Wow...when did I become one of those crotchity trolls?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

>
> That would be cool, but it wouldn't be my dream Mortals book. I'd like
> to see a "World of Darkness: Journalism" sourcebook. It just seems so
> natural and obvious. I can't think of a more interesting place to have
> almost-clueless mortals living their lives on the edge of discovering
> the supernatural. And what a place for layers upon layers of personal
> feelings, driving goals, conspiracies, revelations, brilliant insights
> and incredible stupidities all tangled up into an unbreakable knot.
>
> William

Hm. Kolchak-The Night Stalker Roleplaying!

CB

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

> If they can make two books on Thaumaturgy and a book dedicated to a single
> background, a book on clean up corpses would sell rather well, I imagine.


Only if Forensics could somehow give you KEWL POWERZ.

> That, and I'd like to see what the WoD legal system looks like. What
> happens when a vampire gets arrested?

Masquerade Breach?

> Again...I find these books interesting and would be willing to buy them.
So
> I'm not expecting to see either anytime soon.

Most urban dramas in RPG's are based on TVs and movies. In a WoD 1 set up,
expect to have the medical examiner's office in the backpocket of the Prince
or some other powerful Elder. Thus, that aspect of the Masquerade (in WoD 1)
is sewn up. But, yes, the info would be handy.

But I suspect that most gamers would not be interested in such info, and
most ST's would hand wave it for the needs of their story.

CB

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"Intelligroove"

> Most urban dramas in RPG's are based on TVs and movies. In a WoD 1 set up,
> expect to have the medical examiner's office in the backpocket of the
Prince
> or some other powerful Elder. Thus, that aspect of the Masquerade (in WoD
1)
> is sewn up. But, yes, the info would be handy.

I refuse to let there be a blanet statement like that. Maybe in some
cities, but certainly not in ALL cities. I want to see what happens when
the safety net of the Masquerade fails.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

>"J. H. Frank"
>> Shane Graves wrote:
>
>> > But of course.
>
>> > And once, in a table top game, the turn around time for the coroner's
>lab
>> > results was mind-bogglingly quick.
>
>> That's reasonable, though. A slow night and an interesting case can lead
>to
>> a quick turnaround.
>
>Less than two hours from doing the deed to handcuffs (while not on the scene
>and the only evidence being DNA) in NYC?

That's way too quick. In the stories I've done, it usually takes about 4 to 5
days (or longer) before any evidence implicating a supernatural comes back to
the ME's office.

Then, the police won't get the evidence from the ME's lab until at least 10
days later, then they go track the supernatural who did the deed.

Dang... think I've been watching too many Law and Order and CSI eps lately...


Stephie

"Let's get to work..."
Angel - "Not Fade Away"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

>> That would be cool, but it wouldn't be my dream Mortals book. I'd like
>> to see a "World of Darkness: Journalism" sourcebook. It just seems so
>> natural and obvious. I can't think of a more interesting place to have
>> almost-clueless mortals living their lives on the edge of discovering
>> the supernatural. And what a place for layers upon layers of personal
>> feelings, driving goals, conspiracies, revelations, brilliant insights
>> and incredible stupidities all tangled up into an unbreakable knot.
>>
>> William
>
>Hm. Kolchak-The Night Stalker Roleplaying!

In my current Play By E-Mail game, I have a Kolchak-type journalist in Chicago
who just messed with the wrong vampire... bwa-ha-ha-ha!


Stephie

"Let's get to work ..."
Angel - "Not Fade Away"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

William <wilit0613@postoffice.uri.edu> wrote in message news:<2hfgcfFccv00U1@uni-berlin.de>...
> Stephenls wrote:
>
> > David Prokopetz wrote:
> >
> >> Seeing as how in the new edition, core WoD is going to be all about
> >> mortal
> >> characters, with various greeblies to be appended as expansion
> >> sourcebooks... would anyone have a hankering to see some supplementary
> >> material for running all-mortal campaigns, in the style roleplaying games
> >> such as "Call of Cthuhlu" and "Dark.Matter", or television shows such as
> >> "The X-Files"? Heck, a paranormal version of "CSI", even?
> >
> >
> >> I'm presuming that the core book is going to have some of that in it
> >> already - how could it not, after all? - but personally, I can see a
> >> market
> >> for an entire sourcebook or two devoted to the genre; what do you think?
> >
> >
> > I'm sure I would. 'Frex, a "World of Darkness: Organized Crime" thing
> > that deals with the various crime syndicates with a WoD spin. Like a
> > more broad WoD: Mafia.
>
> That would be cool, but it wouldn't be my dream Mortals book. I'd like
> to see a "World of Darkness: Journalism" sourcebook. It just seems so
> natural and obvious. I can't think of a more interesting place to have
> almost-clueless mortals living their lives on the edge of discovering
> the supernatural. And what a place for layers upon layers of personal
> feelings, driving goals, conspiracies, revelations, brilliant insights
> and incredible stupidities all tangled up into an unbreakable knot.
>
> William

You too, eh?