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19:19, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

IC: Mortals against the supernatural.

Posted by wolfecubb
wolfecubb
member, 93 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Fri 16 Aug 2019
at 19:02
  • msg #1

IC: Mortals against the supernatural

Thinking of running a CoD game where the characters are either investigators or affiliates of Cathedral Investigations. The company will investigate missing people, uncover secrets during messy divorce cases and other "mundane" cases - however one of their primary contracts is with the popular television show Paranormal UK and its sister show Paranormal International.

Characters are responsible for researching and investigating cases of hauntings and ghostly goings on within the UK and Europe, as well as a number of more mundane cases (just to keep the finances flowing). In a world where psychic phenomenon, supernatural and paranormal instances are on the increase, Cathedral Investigations try to find the truth behind the shadows and investigate the unknown.

They are regularly asked to research into sites of historical significance or well known haunted locations. And the public love the show, so often will call the production team with problems, sightings or other suspected ghostly goings on.

Cathedral Investigators take on the cases that other investigative companies won't or can't. They look into the shadows and darkness with the expectation that not everything they find can be fully explained away by current, conventional understanding. But they look anyway, they try to uncover the truth and help where they can. And of course, some of what they uncover is broadcast on the popular Paranormal UK / Paranormal International show.

Questions?? Interest??
This message was last updated by the user at 09:50, Wed 04 Sept 2019.
wolfecubb
member, 94 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Tue 27 Aug 2019
at 20:50
  • msg #2

IC: Cities of Darkness

Psionics are beginning to erupt into a world similar to our own. Shadowy organisations and government departments follow hidden agendas, people vanish in the night never to be seen again - or worse return different to who they were before.

Things man was not meant to know prey on the innocent. And a group of like-minded Psionics have banded together to protect themselves and their kin from kidnap, experiment and exploitation.

Cathedral and their affiliates stand on threshold of the darkness; they look into the shadows to know what is there, to investigate - and if their research can be made into an episode to be broadcast so much the better.

A slightly different spin on the paranormal investigator / hunters theme set in a world where the darkness has claws, and mankind is evolving to fight back.

Does this appeal or should I return it to the shadow from whence it came??
PCO.Spvnky
member, 411 posts
Tue 27 Aug 2019
at 21:05
  • msg #3

IC: Cities of Darkness

What is this game system?  I've never heard of it?  But it sounds interesting.
wolfecubb
member, 96 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Tue 27 Aug 2019
at 21:49
  • msg #4

IC: Cities of Darkness

New World of Darkness - Onyx Press. Using mortal rules rather than Vampire, Werewolf or the like.
PCO.Spvnky
member, 412 posts
Tue 27 Aug 2019
at 22:02
  • msg #5

IC: Cities of Darkness

Oh!  I played a mortal in that system before!  I would play!
PCO.Spvnky
member, 413 posts
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 05:25
  • [deleted]
  • msg #6

IC: Cities of Darkness

This message was deleted by a moderator, as it was a bump, at 05:47, Thu 29 Aug 2019.
wolfecubb
member, 97 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Thu 29 Aug 2019
at 18:49
  • msg #7

IC: Cities of Darkness

In reply to PCO.Spvnky (msg # 5):

Nice, thanks - that's one with interest. Was hoping for 3-4, but don't really want to run it as a solo run if I can help it.
Rook Seidhr
member, 134 posts
Sat 31 Aug 2019
at 01:04
  • msg #8

IC: Cities of Darkness

Potentially interested.
wolfecubb
member, 98 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Sat 31 Aug 2019
at 01:58
  • msg #9

IC: Cities of Darkness

Potentially??

What would you need to know or want in / get from the game to help decide??
Rook Seidhr
member, 135 posts
Sat 31 Aug 2019
at 10:51
  • msg #10

IC: Cities of Darkness

Minimum and maximum posting rate, expected proportions of investigation, social interaction and combat, and the text of your RTJ instructions. Especially the first. I only play in games that have a minimum expected posting rate of "daily with some exceptions" or higher.
wolfecubb
member, 99 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Sat 31 Aug 2019
at 15:59
  • msg #11

IC: Cities of Darkness

Post rate would depend on player base, hence why this is an interest check rather than a request for players. RTJ and fluff will be decided if I get enough interest.

I can post daily, and aim to do at least 4-5 decent posts a week. My job prevents me from posting at all hours, but I can usually check and respond on lunch hours and evenings GMT/BST.

Investigation and social conflict will be primary, as the system is lethal for mortals (even psionic ones) and the availability of guns is low - but I do expect some physical conflict to happen, so fights will occur. Proportion wise would depend on the investigation itself.

The overall arc will be mortals discovering the supernatural and even their own psychic abilities, learning about the darkness and trying to protect themselves (and possibly others) against the bad guys. Some will be player led others the characters hired to investigate / deal with.
wolfecubb
member, 100 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Wed 4 Sep 2019
at 09:50
  • msg #12

IC: Cities of Darkness

Mortal characters (supernatural qualities, if required) investigating and overcoming supernatural threats.

Was originally going to do this using Onyx Path Cities of Darkness system (nWoD) however the limited amount of interest has made me question whether it is the system or the premise. I would consider running using Unisystem or GURPs, as the premise itself is easily transferred with but a little work for myself, though I'm more familiar with GURPs v3 than v4.

May even consider using d20 Modern, however I'd prefer to consider the other 3 options first.
Rook Seidhr
member, 136 posts
Wed 4 Sep 2019
at 22:27
  • msg #13

IC: Cities of Darkness

Ah. Well, count me out then. No interest in any of those systems.

You do realize that most users of this site don't visit GPIA, right? You might get a dozen RTJs if you actually created a game and put up an ad in Wanted - Players.
wolfecubb
member, 101 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Thu 5 Sep 2019
at 11:31
  • msg #14

IC: Cities of Darkness

Am happy to do CoD, in fact that's the preferred system. Wanted to check interest, and to see if it was system or concept.

You may be right about advertising in Players Wanted, didn't want to go through process to start a game if no interest.
icosahedron152
member, 983 posts
Fri 6 Sep 2019
at 12:15
  • msg #15

IC: Cities of Darkness

I've only just noticed this thread.

The first premise looks very interesting, the second less so because it seems more geared to defensive conflict with a partially known foe rather than investigation of the unknown.

I'd be interested in a slower paced game, since I'm near my gaming limit. However, this (premise #1) is just something I can't say no to - if it runs.

I may not be able to post daily, but I can manage several times a week.

However... I don't have any of the rule sets you've mentioned and I'm not looking to buy anything. Can a player take part without a rule set?
wolfecubb
member, 102 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Sun 8 Sep 2019
at 15:16
  • msg #16

IC: Cities of Darkness

In reply to icosahedron152 (msg # 15):

Not having the books is fine - I'll have all the character generation info written up, and am willing to help out. Once created I'm not someone who will ask you to roll for everything.

Not quite sure what you mean by difference premises - it's all the same one. Fundamentally, the characters will investigate cases that involve the the unknown and how the world is changing. There are things that have been around forever, preying on mankind, as well as new threats that are emerging. The characters will be employed by the agency to look into cases involving the paranormal as well as investigate what they themselves are interested in - or what the game throws up at them.

Add in a mix of the usual competition; government agencies, corporations, small groups and individuals who are also investigating / researching / interacting with the paranormal for their own various and personal reasons (not all of them will want to bring about the end of the world) so that not everything revolves around the paranormal itself or having a different "monster of the week" approach. And definitely not everything will be a "solve this or the world end" scenario. Consequences might not be good, but not everything will be world shaking.

Is this more in line with what you meant by "premise #1" of my posts??
icosahedron152
member, 984 posts
Tue 10 Sep 2019
at 09:45
  • msg #17

IC: Cities of Darkness

Less so, I'm afraid.

Your first post suggested a game where normal people were investigating the paranormal without any idea of whether the paranormal was real or not - a sort of grown-up version of Scooby Doo.

In your second post the investigators are not normal people, they are psions who are defending themselves against a partially-known foe who is abducting them. More 'Supernatural' than Scooby Doo.

I read your line "A slightly different spin" to indicate that the second post described an alternative premise to the first post. I see now that you meant the whole thing was a different spin from other games/stories.

I'm not so sure it's what I thought it would be. Sorry.
wolfecubb
member, 103 posts
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely
Tue 10 Sep 2019
at 11:26
  • msg #18

IC: Cities of Darkness

OK,sorry.

Individual characters would have opportunity to start as normals, latent psychics or psychically aware. Whether they believed, were experienced or innocent to the dangers is again an individual choice.
PCO.Spvnky
member, 415 posts
Tue 10 Sep 2019
at 14:50
  • msg #19

IC: Cities of Darkness

Yeah, the first one sounded better to me too.
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