Noir type game

[RedEve]

Would there be people interested in a small group game in a noir setting?

I'm thinking 1940s, shortly after the war.

The exact plot details can be discussed, but as far as characters are concerned, I'm thinking private investigators, sassy and smart secretaries, femme fatales, gangsters, coppers (both dirty and honest ones), perhaps an idealistic female newspaper gal (trying to break the glass ceiling), ...

Or any other archetype which would fit into such a setting.

I would like a lengthy and collaborative brain-storming session in terms of the actual plot before I get started. Naturally, I would need some interested parties before I can start with that.

So feel free to state your interest in here (as well as possibly what character archetype would most interest you).

If you want to know what atmosphere I am hoping for, then think of these features: "Double Indemnity", "The Naked City", "Where the sidewalk ends", ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3wjJcuGsVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfH3aY-Qy6I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA4mk1ecGs8



CS template

Code Select Expand

[float=right][img width=400 padding=20]http://(enter character image URL here)[/img][/float]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Role:[/b] (a short description of the basic character archetype, e.g. "weathered detective", "night club chanteuse", "gangster moll", etc.)
[b]Background:[/b] (a short bio of your character, I would like at least two paragraphs, somewhere in the 300-400 word range. More is allowed. Just give us enough to get a feel of who the character is supposed to be.)

Some extra info: I would start this game in the Spring of 1946. The war is over, though many G.I.s only recently returned from the conflict. Conversely, many Rosie the Riveters only recently (and some quite reluctantly) went back to their lives as stay-at-home housewives and/or mothers. In terms of the Los Angeles crime scene, Bugsy Siegel is still alive (though he would only be around for another year at this point).

Please send your character sheets to my PM inbox for approval prior to posting them in this topic. Thanks!

[Lynnette]

I'm interested, probably in some secretary-esque role :)

[Beguile's Mistress]

Made me think of a Lauren Bacall as a lounge singer in a dim and smokey jazz club. :-)

[RedEve]

Made me think of a Lauren Bacall as a lounge singer in a dim and smokey jazz club. :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSj92Wvr-As

:)

[Beguile's Mistress]

*nods*

The joint grows dim.  Cigaret smoke drifts toward the ceiling in ghostly wisps.  Deep in the shadows the bands instruments shoot of sparks of light.  Suddenly the spotlight beams and a pair of smokey eyes looks out across the crowded tables.

:-)

[RedEve]

I'm interested, although I would feel more at home in the mid to late 30's. It seems a little grettier and more in line with the type of characters that you seem to be looking for than post war era. *shrugs* But, still posting an early interest... if only there was room for a barn-storming pilot. ;)

Ooh, there certainly is. :P

[RedEve]

Well noir encapsulates more than the interbellum.

e.g. "The Big Heat" and "Kiss me deadly" are both considered classics of the genre as well, yet they were both released in the 50s.

The reason why I like the post-war era is that it might be used in some way in the plot (war contraband/war criminal hiding in the US/valuable item or art piece linked to the conflict as the MacGuffin).

[Beguile's Mistress]

While there are certainly some movies from the 30s that could be a remarkable depiction of the genre the actual "film noir" era began in the 40s with movies like 1941s "The Maltese Falcon" and continued through to 1958 with Orson Welles "Touch of Evil."  The mood was recognized as one that set a tone for the telling of a darker, seamier story.

Those of us who want to know more about this mood can check out this site.  I found it most interesting.

[RedEve]

I believe noir had its origins in German Expressionism (visually anyway).

[AndyZ]

Personally, I (and I may be alone) consider the first two Max Payne games and the Dresden Files books to fit into the Noir style.  Keeping an eye on this but dunno what I'd play.  I could probably pull off a detective but it may be overdone, but then, having one in the setting would help cement things I'd think.

[Beguile's Mistress]

One of my favorite noir movies is "Laura" with Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews.  One reason I like it is that I found each character to be believable in its own quirky way.  The police detective played by Dana Andrews was very well done.

[Lynnette]

Personally, I (and I may be alone) consider the first two Max Payne games and the Dresden Files books to fit into the Noir style.  Keeping an eye on this but dunno what I'd play.  I could probably pull off a detective but it may be overdone, but then, having one in the setting would help cement things I'd think.

The storytelling does take a lot of inspiration from the original noir genre, I'd say it stretches on to the third game as well, in the way that the story is told.

[Foxy DeVille]

I could be down for this, maybe as the trophy wife of a disreputable sort (gangster/greedy businessman/corrupt politician).

[Ontan]

You’ve got your alcoholic widower detective right here. World weary, self-destructive and fundamentally damaged goods, his slow demise seems set in stone until he stumbles upon that one case that cuts through the gin-soaked fog, sharp and bright as a razor's edge.

... So yes, I'm interested.

I could probably pull off a detective but it may be overdone, but then, having one in the setting would help cement things I'd think.

I’m pretty sure it’s mandatory to have one or two. I’m happy to share the role: they can be partners, or if you’re more of a lone wolf type, we can have one police detective and one P.I..

[Scribbles]

This is a lovely setting but one which will probably have a few hurdles squeezing in so many roleplayers, it doesn't exactly lend itself to the idea of having three grizzled detectives and three femme-fatales shuffling about together, gathering clues...

It might work with a storyteller, a villain/ess, playing the actors involved like so many puppets. You could have three seemingly separate cases at the start with each leading their respective detectives to a single location, a place which could become a meeting point between the group where all involved can mingle, relax and discuss clues before heading out in their separate directions to chase the next lead. It might make the story a little linear but it would open up the setting to more roleplayers. Mind you, this is just an idea and a pretty convoluted one, there might be better options for making this work...

I'm going to throw in some tentative interest, if that's alright, mostly because I need to see how another game I've expressed interest in develops...

[GnothiSeauton]

Very interested here.

Thinking about a detective character.

[AndyZ]

I’m pretty sure it’s mandatory to have one or two. I’m happy to share the role: they can be partners, or if you’re more of a lone wolf type, we can have one police detective and one P.I..

If you're looking at it, I can think on something else ^_^

Wonder if I should look into being the owner of some sort of shady joint, maybe a casino, maybe just a bar.  I need to look into various laws for specific time periods.

[Beguile's Mistress]

There were sometimes restaurants and dance clubs that were open to the public and fronts for illegal gambling.  People knew what was going on but did acknowledge it and payoffs often kept the police raids down to a minimum or someone within the police department was paid, threatened or blackmailed to pass on information if a raid was planned.

[Ontan]

This is a lovely setting but one which will probably have a few hurdles squeezing in so many roleplayers, it doesn't exactly lend itself to the idea of having three grizzled detectives and three femme-fatales shuffling about together, gathering clues...

I think the trick would be to have several ‘interested parties’ with a common goal (or common enemy) rather than lumping everyone together in the same task force.

Classic example: sex workers are disappearing off the streets, and their bodies are showing up a few days later. You could easily have several allied factions: the police are trying to find the murder(s) responsible, the sex workers are trying to survive, a P.I. has been hired to find one of the missing women before it’s too late, and a freelance journalist thinks the story is going to be her big break. All four factions have their own path to follow, but there’s plenty of scope of communication and interaction between the groups. 

Just a thought.

[RedEve]

The idea was always for the narrative to be a combination of several loosely interwoven threads.
So the players would meet each other, but not all of them would interact with each other all the time. :)

[Foxy DeVille]

That sounds good. I hope this gets rolling because I've been thing more about ideas for my trophy wife/mistress character and she could be a lot of fun to play... especially with a properly ruthless significant other...  ;)

[Robelwell202]

Call me very interested!   I'd love to do a cop or a PI.  :D

(Adding bookmark)

[ABV0331]

Very interested and for some reason all I can think of is mickey Cohen played by Sean Penn as the perfect character for this. So if you need a common enemy...count me as a volunteer to be evil lol.

[RedEve]

I guess we should start discussing plot ideas then? And possibly a setting?

[Robelwell202]

My favorite Noir flick, 'Laura', has my favorite Noir-type cop detective, Dana Andrews as Mark McPherson. 

Setting?  I'd say a big city, just past war-time (1946+?). Plot?  Murder should come into play, but is it the primary thing, or secondary to some other nefarious plot?  (Thinking of The Maltese Falcon, in this sense.)

Just my thoughts...  ;)

[Foxy DeVille]

I like Ontan's idea about dead sex workers. That's a crime that could draw in cops, PIs, reporters, barkeeps, femme fatales, etc. As for setting, I think LA might be good because of a wealth of films set there and it could be fun to name drop celebrities. It could also open up the story to characters like a studio "fixer," wannabe starlets, etc.

[Robelwell202]

I like Ontan's idea about dead sex workers. That's a crime that could draw in cops, PIs, reporters, barkeeps, femme fatales, etc. As for setting, I think LA might be good because of a wealth of films set there and it could be fun to name drop celebrities. It could also open up the story to characters like a studio "fixer," wannabe starlets, etc.

Now, those are some damn fine ideas.  :) LA's geography might be an issue for me, but I can wing it well enough.

[Beguile's Mistress]

LA and NY have different geographies but just as much topographical diversity. 

How about a night club outside of town owned and run by a woman who is the singer in the lounge.  She has been blackmailed into allowing illegal gambling in her back rooms.  Maybe she got involved with a young gangster type trying to move up in the mob.  She didn't know he was a criminal but now he has the goods on her after getting her involved in a crime and she has to let him have his way.  Or he is the one who underwrote the financing for her establishment.

A series of murders, or the murder of a cop, is connected to the club and the police come snooping.  Also a young woman has gone missing.  Her family hires a PI to find her and the club is one of the places she is known to have been.

This would all work well with other investigations and crimes and nefarious doings with a mixed plot scenario.

[RedEve]

LA and NY have different geographies but just as much topographical diversity. 

How about a night club outside of town owned and run by a woman who is the singer in the lounge.  She has been blackmailed into allowing illegal gambling in her back rooms.  Maybe she got involved with a young gangster type trying to move up in the mob.  She didn't know he was a criminal but now he has the goods on her after getting her involved in a crime and she has to let him have his way.  Or he is the one who underwrote the financing for her establishment.

A series of murders, or the murder of a cop, is connected to the club and the police come snooping.  Also a young woman has gone missing.  Her family hires a PI to find her and the club is one of the places she is known to have been.

This would all work well with other investigations and crimes and nefarious doings with a mixed plot scenario.

This, combined with the working girls turning up dead, could make for a serviceable starting point for our plot.

The next step: what archetype does everyone want to play and how do they fit into such a plot.

[Beguile's Mistress]

We can add an extra male role by making the blackmail situation the woman's brother being in trouble instead of her or by having the brother owe a huge gambling debt to the mob.  They were going to kill him but his sister is going to get him off the hook by letting the mob use her place.

I can play the the club owner/singer.

[Chrystal]

*tries to resist*

*flails ans fails*

Okay, I am registering tentative interest. If there is an un-taken spot that needs to be filled, I'll offer my services. Madame of the whore house perhaps? Or the girl behind the counter in the local diner who just happens to be an undercover hit-woman for the Mob (lifted straight from The Sting, which is sort-of on the edge of the Noir genre). Heck, I could just play the girl on lates in the diner if you want, with no hidden agenda at all...

[RedEve]

I have a few concepts for my own character but I would prefer if everyone else expressed their own preference and I will then adapt accordingly.

Would love to have you on board Chrystal. :)

[Chrystal]

Okay then.

My preference for a character is going to be the young woman who works in the diner from midnight until 9:00 am. She takes the orders, mixes the drinks and serves the food, that is cooked by a fat Italian guy in back.

Red, if you think that her having a "secret agenda" is a good idea, we can talk about it via PM, otherwise, she can just be a simple waitress that people come to for a decent breakfast at a reasonable price, a late night snack, an insomniac's coffee, whatever. People talk to her. She sees things and hears things.

So yeah, basically a "Key Witness"!

[Ontan]

I like Ontan's idea about dead sex workers. That's a crime that could draw in cops, PIs, reporters, barkeeps, femme fatales, etc. As for setting, I think LA might be good because of a wealth of films set there and it could be fun to name drop celebrities. It could also open up the story to characters like a studio "fixer," wannabe starlets, etc.

I also like his idea.
... *cough*

I have a few concepts for my own character but I would prefer if everyone else expressed their own preference and I will then adapt accordingly.

Like I said, alcoholic widower detective! You know the type: obsessive, self-destructive, and just a bit clichéd. It wouldn't be Noir without it.

Naturally, I'm happy to share the policing role with a partner / crime squad.

[Chrystal]

Like I said, alcoholic widower detective! You know the type: obsessive, self-destructive, and just a bit clichéd. It wouldn't be Noir without it.

Naturally, I'm happy to share the policing role with a partner / crime squad.

Eddie Valiant!



Yeah, it wouldn't be Noir without that character, but I think the fact that other people want to play detective too shouldn't be a problem?

There's the drunken private dick, there's the bumbling police sergeant who wouldn't know a clue if it hit him in the face, there's the police lieutenant who is the PI's old buddy and gets him out of a jam, there's the uniform beat cop on the corner who is the one who ends up making the arrest,  There's the rival (and perhaps slightly dodgy) detective agency who are perhaps a little more involved than they strictly ought to be.,..

Plenty of scope for investigators. Not to mention the FBI getting involved!



Damn. I only just noticed. That's Ming The Merciless in the background of that pic!

[Foxy DeVille]

My rough character idea...

A gal who came to the city with big dreams. She wanted to be a star but was hindered by one problem... a lack of talent. But she managed to catch the eye of (insert local politician/mobster/union boss/studio head/real estate tycoon/whatever). For the last few years she's been his mistress and showered with gifts, including her swank pad. But there's also a dark side... a bad temper, deviant appetites, and a willingness to loan her out to help seal a deal. She wants out but she know he'd kill her because she knows too much. And how could she go back to being a nobody again?

[RedEve]

Eddie Valiant!



Yeah, it wouldn't be Noir without that character, but I think the fact that other people want to play detective too shouldn't be a problem?

There's the drunken private dick, there's the bumbling police sergeant who wouldn't know a clue if it hit him in the face, there's the police lieutenant who is the PI's old buddy and gets him out of a jam, there's the uniform beat cop on the corner who is the one who ends up making the arrest,  There's the rival (and perhaps slightly dodgy) detective agency who are perhaps a little more involved than they strictly ought to be.,..

Plenty of scope for investigators. Not to mention the FBI getting involved!



Damn. I only just noticed. That's Ming The Merciless in the background of that pic!

Another one: the by-the-book teetotaler.

[Clio]

I could play one of the prostitutes that is now in danger from whoever is murdering the girls. She could play up this bravado, thinking she's fine and not in danger...but finds out she's wrong. Perhaps she survives one of his attacks, and she's the police's key witness? And the guy wants to come back to finish the job?

EDIT: After I posted, I realized that Chrystal suggested her girl being a key witness as well. :P Oops.

[Chrystal]

The more key witnesses, the better!

Especially if we make sure our stories don't match. Let's give the investigators the run-around, with lots of crimson kippers!

[Ascia]

Any room for a female mobster?

[Chrystal]

Any room for a female mobster?

Only if she pays for her breakfast!

*snigger*

[EnglishMaster]

A character that becomes me: the lounge pianist.  He plays everything by ear.  He's not handsome, but his face has character.  He seems to be staring into nothing, but knows many people's secrets.  Illegal bets are placed through him, sometimes disguised as song requests and tips.  Let me know if he'd be welcome: many plot trails can pass through him :) 

[Chrystal]

Hi EM, our paths cross again!

*chuckles* Given that other one-on-one you just started with Becca, I would have thought you would have gone for a saxophonist...?

[Beguile's Mistress]

A character that becomes me: the lounge pianist.  He plays everything by ear.  He's not handsome, but his face has character.  He seems to be staring into nothing, but knows many people's secrets.  Illegal bets are placed through him, sometimes disguised as song requests and tips.  Let me know if he'd be welcome: many plot trails can pass through him :) 

He could work in the club out by the lake. ;D

[Green Goo Theory]

Could maybe include a crime novelist in the area sticking his nose into places it doesn't belong.  Plenty of reason to stick around and be there (or a script writer as well for the hollywood types), plenty of room for depth, could be fun...

It also gives me something to work with beyond the ex-military thing that initially came to mind.

[EnglishMaster]

He could work in the club out by the lake. ;D

That he could.  And...Chrystal...I believe he does play a little sax, but only with friends :)

[Chrystal]

*giggles*

Bass, Tenor, Alto or *eep* Soprano?

Could maybe include a crime novelist in the area sticking his nose into places it doesn't belong.  Plenty of reason to stick around and be there (or a script writer as well for the hollywood types), plenty of room for depth, could be fun...

It also gives me something to work with beyond the ex-military thing that initially came to mind.

Someone's been watching "Castle"? *chuckle*

Do we have a journalist yet? The ubiquitous newspaper hack, in relentless pursuit of that ever illusive scoop...

[Green Goo Theory]

*giggles*

Bass, Tenor, Alto or *eep* Soprano?

Someone's been watching "Castle"? *chuckle*

Do we have a journalist yet? The ubiquitous newspaper hack, in relentless pursuit of that ever illusive scoop...

Castle hadn't even come to mind, actually.  This would have taken a far darker route as a writer with far less official strings to pull.  Also probably not as funny as Fillion/Castle would be either (I just don't know if I could be!). 

Mostly 'cause the idea I've been trying to play for years would definitely fall into the realm of DM control/NPC.  So, probably not going to even try that one.

[Beguile's Mistress]

A thought about the journalist in this setting...

He publishes a story that makes the headlines and goes national when it's picked up by the wire services.  He had done all the interviews and verifications necessary and his editor and publisher backed him fully because of his reputation for journalistic integrity.  However, even as he's lauded by the journalistic community and on track to receive a major award, possibly a Pulitzer, word begins to circulate that he based his story on lies.  He is now in disgrace, on the road to ruining his life with alcohol and yet still trying to clear his name.

[RedEve]

So with the amount of people who have expressed interest, this might turn into a decently sized game.

With that in mind, would any of you be interested in a co-GM role?

[Chrystal]

Not at the moment, I'm afraid. I'm already GMing one large (in people) and two small games and Co-GMing another medium game.

Sorry.

[RedEve]

That's fine Chrystal.

The offer is open to anyone who feels up to it. :)

Just a heads up, I will be pretty busy for the rest of the day but I hope to get a CS template up sometime tomorrow.

[Ascia]

I could do it, if need be.

[RedEve]

I could do it, if need be.

Great, consider yourself deputized!  ;D

I will update the opening post with the CS template shortly.

[Chrystal]

That's great, but please don't call  Ascia "Shortly". You don't know how tall she is...!

*snigger*

[RedEve]

 ;D

The character sheet template is up (it has been up for a bit now, only I forgot to make a post announcing it).  :-\

So feel free to send me those CS! :)

[Ascia]

That's great, but please don't call  Ascia "Shortly". You don't know how tall she is...!

*snigger*

Ha. I'm 5'5.

[Chrystal]

Sent... :)

[RedEve]

Name: Valentina Zlobina is her birth name, but she goes by the pseudonym of Tina Fontaine
Age: 27
Role: Night club girl
Background: Valentina was born in Saint-Petersburg a few years after the Russian revolution. Before she turned one, her parents had bought a passage to America, only the handler had been less than honest and they had arrived on the English West coast instead. With their life savings spent, her parents had no choice but to restart their life there instead. Her father got a job at a steel mill in Liverpool and Valentina and her two older brothers attended school in Heswall, the town where they had settled. Her mother, who had been trained as a nurse back in Russia, got a job at the newly opened Children’s Hospital in their new hometown.

Her parents soon forgot about their dream of moving to the United States, getting quite settled in their new lives. Valentina herself might  have never had ended up in the country if the wireless and the nascent movie industry did not render her completely intrigued by the country. It was a sentiment she shared with her older brother Vitaly. When Vitaly turned 20, he quit his job at the steel mill and announced that he was to use his savings to book a passage to New York. The then 18 year old Valentina, whose room was adorned with newspaper clippings of Hollywood stars like Jean Harlow, Barbara Stanwyck and Vivien Leigh saw it as an opportunity to fulfill her own dreams, so she swiftly quit her own job as a salesgirl and joined her brother on the trip.

They arrived in the new world in 1937 and settled in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn. Vitaly quickly got a job as a dock worker. Valentina supplemented their income with a part-time job at a shoe store. In the afternoon and evenings, she took acting classes and practiced her American accent – which had been a weird mix of Scouse and some Russian influences upon her arrival. During this time, she also adopted her stage name of Tina Fontaine. In 1940, she finally departed for the west coast, hoping to fulfill her dreams of stardom. Unfortunately, the reality was not quite as easy as she had imagined in her puerile fantasies. She struggled to get even non-speaking parts, yet further honed her talents in the Los Angeles amateur stage circuit. Her credits never got any further than some tiny parts in B-movies. To support herself, she accepted a job as a cigarette girl at a night club. This left her days available for auditions (of which she got increasingly few). Eventually she graduated to the role of night club girl, her job description: looking glamorous, getting patrons to buy her expensive drinks and adding to the general pleasant, sexy air of the place, as “living furniture”.

During her time working there, she has met all sorts of celebrities (actors, singers and mobsters) and had her picture taken with the likes of Clark Gable, Gene Tierney and Ava Gardner. Though her own dreams of stardom haven’t come to fruition, and as a woman over the age of 25 in Tinseltown, she knows her window of opportunity is fast shrinking.

extra photograph

Valentina's natural hair color is red, the blonde hair is an attempt to reference the glamour of Harlow and Lake.

[RedEve]

Chrystal, if you want to make Tina one of the targets of Liza's "clumsy" flirting, feel free to do so. :)

I could make Tina go into the diner after her shift at the night club ends for a cup of coffee and a chat.

[Chrystal]

Chrystal, if you want to make Tina one of the targets of Liza's "clumsy" flirting, feel free to do so. :)

I could make Tina go into the diner after her shift at the night club ends for a cup of coffee and a chat.

That works :) ... Oh I've added one small detail I forgot - That her dad was killed during the Battle of Midway.It's not an essential detail but little things like that make a character come alive, IMO.

Name: Elizabeth Douglas (prefers Liza - pronounced as Lie-zah)
Age: 21 (just)
Role: The All-night eatery waitress - and possible key witness
Background: Liza should be proud of her dad. That's what they tell her. He was a hero. He was one of the pilots on the Yorktown, and was personally responsible for sinking a Japanese carrier at the battle of Midway. Some how, Liza doubted that he did it all by himself, but apparently it was his torpedo that struck the fatal blow to the stricken Japanese vessel. Unfortunately, his plane was then hit by anti-aircraft fire from a Japanese destroyer, and crashed into the pacific. His body was never recovered.

The fact that her dad gave his life for his country, though, left Liza feeling angry, not proud. Her mother was working in the local munitions factory, and Liza did her best to help out at home, looking after her kid brother. With the war over and the men returning home, Liza got the only job she could in order to support her mother, who was now sick from breathing in mercury fumes in the factory. She took a job as a waitress in the local all-night diner. The only shift she could get was midnight to 9:00am. Fortunately, this is the shift that pays best, because nobody really wants to do it.

Liza is somewhat cynical about life. She has no illusions that things will ever get any better for her. Her mother is dying, and only the war bonds purchased while she worked at the factory are helping to pay for her medical care. She has absolutely no desire whatever to find "the right man" and settle down. While she has no idea what a "lesbian" is, she knows that she finds the female form to be attractive, and the male form to be somewhat repellent. She is snarky towards male customers who come on to her, but tends to flirt with the ladies without even realising she's doing it. The chef in the diner working the same shift finds this highly amusing and occasionally teases her about it.

Face Claim: Tammy Blanchard (Playing Judy Garland).

[Ascia]

Name: Theodea 'Theo' Diodata Varani
Age: 27
Role: Prior: Mafia Princess, Current: Mafia Boss.
Background:

Theodea Varani was the youngest of four children to Carlo Varani, himself the younger brother to two Italian Mafia bosses in the National Crime Syndicate. When her two uncles were slain in a "misunderstanding" with Murder, Inc, Carlo swore off the life of organized crime—this he believed would keep his children safe. Of Carlo's three adult sons, only the youngest, Geno, would return safe from fighting in World War II. Carlo himself would be died before the end of '44, many claiming the man died of a broken heart, leaving his small Banking empire to Geno.

When Geno Varani, a line officer in the 101st, finally returned home he did so with an acute case of "battle fatigue." Faced with a need to support the wives and children of her brothers and an heir barely able to get out of bed some mornings, Theodea Varani was left with no choice but to act. Calling in favors gained from assisting OSS with intelligence during the invasion of Sicily, Theodea began sowing influence within California's labor unions and developing communities. At the very same time, the remnants of the Varani crime family went west en masse, hoping to turn Geno back to what many saw as the Varani blood line's true purpose.

When the former capos and soldiers arrived they were shocked to find the Varani family involved in, seemingly, supporting OTHER criminal empires, such as Bugsy Siegel's, as if the Varani were incapable of producing their own criminal empire. Such outrage quickly paled in comparison to the outrage felt when they discovered Geno was not calling the shots; Theodea was. With a woman calling the shots, they groaned, no wonder the Varani clan was in the state it was in.

Stuck between desperation and no escape, Theodea shot one of her uncle's former Capos (one beginning to claim dominion over the assembly) in her father's study, without warning, in front of most the East Coast Varani refugees that had gathered at Carlo's old avocado ranch in the Santa Monica hills. Then she asked for silence, with the smoking revolver still in her hand, in order to explain herself: using tax fraud and stock manipulations, Theo had gained back much of what their family had lost following the great market collapse. She had used this new wealth to 'invest' in everything from labor unions to organizing latin farm laborers to drug trades other Italian families would never touch. In doing what other families considered themselves too good for, Theo had turned the Varani into a blank cheque book for Bugsy and his Jewish killers, a group that knew no end of want for funding their 'Las Vegas' desert dream.

All of this, Theodea declared, so that when the time was right the Varani could turn on Siegel and claim blood payment for the murder of her uncles at the hands of Murder, Inc. On that day the Varani would reveal themselves the true criminal power of Los Angeles, and take everything, even Las Vegas, away from Siegel's crumbling powerbase.

If any of her uncle's former men had an issue with any of that, or if they wanted to discuss "the leadership structure of the Varani family", they knew where to find her...and that silver plated revovler of her's.

[RedEve]

Just a general remark about historical characters: it's perfectly alright if your character interacts with them in NPC form or is (loosely) affiliated with one or the other. In fact, it might add an extra flavor to this game.
However, I would like for all PCs to be original characters. Also, our own narrative will take precedence on the historical facts.
So if say, it is in the interest of our plot that Bugsy Siegel dies a different way than the historical truth, we will use our idea and ditch the history.
However, this does not mean that I will actively look to subvert the historical facts, and nor should anyone else.
But they should not stand in the way of us writing our own story either.

[Ascia]

If it helps someone with character creation, a character could certainly have an association with Theo. Maybe Geno's wife, or the wife of a deceased brother? Maybe a secretary? Or a cop on the take? Even a Mafia mole in Hollywood. I offer because there are a lot of possibilities there, so please know it's an option if anyone gets 'stuck.'

[EnglishMaster]

Name:  George Carpentier
Age:  38
Role:  pianist and gambler
Background:  It's hard to know where fiction begins with George's biography.  He's been in the merchant navy, he's played cruise ships, he's written hit tunes and frittered all the money away on women and the horses, he's loved and lost.  These are just some of the tales he tells.

One biographical fact that's been attested by more than one visitor to the club where he now plays nightly, is that he was playing piano in Shanghai in the 1930's, leaving late in that decade when his minor complicity in drug-smuggling became known, drifting slowly home in work on ships.

Since then he's been back here - he failed the navy medical for poor eyesight, he'd had to cheat to be in the merchant navy in his youth - playing piano, taking bets, passing on information to hoodlums (and some say to the cops), keeping his counsel.  He's an instrumental rather than a major player.  Women from the boss to the cigarette girl tend to confide in him because, despite his drunken tales, he gives off a closet-homosexual vibe.  Where there's a heavy gambler, George was the go-between; when something needs hiding, George knows a place.

How does he drink so much and seem to stay in control?  Was he really born in France like he says, or just in the back streets of New Orleans?  Is there a secret love for whom he writes his melancholy lyrics and if so are they man or woman?

[Foxy DeVille]

OK, I'm working on my character. If anyone fellas wanna be her sugar daddy, let me know. Otherwise I'll just make one up for her.

[Beguile's Mistress]

I'll be sending you my character sheet for the chanteuse tomorrow afternoon.  It's been a bear of a day today.

[RedEve]

I'll be sending you my character sheet for the chanteuse tomorrow afternoon.  It's been a bear of a day today.

That is fine. :)

[Foxy DeVille]

I left her boyfriend vague in case someone wants to play him. If not he'll be a studio "fixer" type...

Name: Noel Eve Fallon
Age: 26
Role: The Mistress
Background: As might be deduced from her name, Noel Eve was born on December 24th. Her place of birth was Chicago, to an Irish-American beat cop and his seamstress wife from Quebec. Bobby Fallon wasn't exactly crooked but he knew how the world worked. He made sure his little girl had the smarts to survive the streets. Her mother Christianne doted on her and tried to raise Noel Eve as a proper lady.

Without much in the way of prospects in Chicago, Noel Eve decided to go west to seek her fortune. Arriving in Hollywood, she tried to get into the entertainment biz but her lack of talent in either acting or singing kept her out of the spotlight. Even modeling was out of her range as Noel Eve's short stature and fuller figure failed to interest photographers. Still, she had a good eye for fashion and the skills her mother taught her. Noel Eve was able to find work as a costumer in various productions.

Around four years ago, Noel Eve caught the eye of a Very Important Person. Although married, the VIP found his lust for Noel Eve impossible to ignore. He showered her with gifts and took her to the swankiest joints. She loved the attention and the lifestyle. Then Noel Eve learned just how dark his sexual appetites were. He even began "loaning" her out to business associates.  As much as all this troubles her, Noel Eve can't stand the thought of going back to being in the background. She also knows about many of the VIP's shady dealings and fears what would happen if she tried to leave him.

In the meantime, Noel Eve was given a small dress shop in Beverly Hills called the Boutique. She mainly handles ordering inventory and arranging displays, leaving the day-to-day work to the staff. She is actually quite good in this capacity. Noel Eve has both an eye for fashion as well as knowledge gleaned from a new French magazine called Elle. The Boutique has started to draw some interesting patrons.

When on her own, Noel Eve is quite fond of jazz. She went to many clubs in Chicago and carried that love to California. On occasion she has bestowed her favors on Negro musicians, something her benefactor would not be pleased to find out about.  These associations introduced her to smoking cannabis and she has even dabbled in heroin.

[Beguile's Mistress]

Name:  Charlotte 'Charlie' Lassiter
Age:  29
Role:  Society girl turned night club owner and chanteuse (singer)
Background:  Christened Charlotte but known as Charlie she is the older of two children of Charles and Camille Lassiter of Palm Springs and Beverly Hills.  Her parents were members of Hollywood’s glittering social set and Charlotte was raised by a governess as her parents traveled and educated in private schools and Bryn Mawr.  Her life was gay and carefree through her mid-twenties until her parents were killed in a plane crash on their way to Mexico.  It came as a shock to Charlotte and her younger brother Camford that their parents were flat broke, their antiques and jewels were fakes and both their mansion in Beverly Hills and the ranch they had recently acquired in Malibu were mortgaged to the hilt.  On top of that the life insurance policies that might have given the brother and sister a cushion had been allowed to lapse. 

It took more than a year but Charlie was able to sell the Palm Springs property for enough to make the mortgage payments and rent out the Beverly Hills mansion.  Most of her time was spent turning their Malibu ranch into a night club with fine dining and entertainment in the evenings and a daytime resort with swimming, tennis and riding along with access to several neighboring golf courses.  The club had been open for about a year when Charlie received a visit from several shady characters connected to the LA crime family who told her that her brother was deeply in debt to them for gambling losses and unless she allowed them to run an illegal betting parlor out of her club her brother would be in danger of suffering some broken fingers.  This was not a good proposition for a concert pianist.  With no option but to agree to their demands Charlie's life soon turned upside down.

[Ascia]

I want to play with all those characters.  :-(

[RedEve]

I wouldn't mind if you could all brainstorm a bit about possible pre-existing ties between characters.

Also, we have lots of female characters who might cause trouble but no poor saps to cause the trouble to. So step up, guys!  ;D

[Foxy DeVille]

I wouldn't mind if you could all brainstorm a bit about possible pre-existing ties between characters.

Also, we have lots of female characters who might cause trouble but no poor saps to cause the trouble to. So step up, guys!  ;D

Yeah! What happened to all the dicks? Meaning detectives. And I still need a sugar daddy!

As for ties, Noel Eve could be a regular patron at the night club/casino. She could also be getting drugs from Theo's family. Of course, any lady is welcome to stop by her boutique. Noel Eve might actually be doing something there at the time.

[Chrystal]

Okay, well, anyone who stops by the diner for a late night snack, coffee, or just to shoot the breeze, and anyone who goes there for an early breakfast, will know Liza.

Liza probably goes to Noel's boutique just to dream about all the pretties. She can't afford to buy anything, but likes to dream. She would tend to stop by on her way home from work...

Red, you want to name the diner, or shall I? I have no idea what all-night eateries might be called in Los Angelese...

How about "Sunset Diner"? That's my best suggestion. If it's totally unsuitable, that's fine!

[RedEve]

Okay, well, anyone who stops by the diner for a late night snack, coffee, or just to shoot the breeze, and anyone who goes there for an early breakfast, will know Liza.

Liza probably goes to Noel's boutique just to dream about all the pretties. She can't afford to buy anything, but likes to dream. She would tend to stop by on her way home from work...

Red, you want to name the diner, or shall I? I have no idea what all-night eateries might be called in Los Angelese...

How about "Sunset Diner"? That's my best suggestion. If it's totally unsuitable, that's fine!

That sounds fine as a name. :)

[Ontan]

Ask and ye shall receive! … Well, eventually.

I’ve started hammering out a draft for Lloyd Carter, the obligatory alcoholic, burned-out police detective. I just need to decide on a photo and make a few finishing touches to the history - expect the CS in the next 24 hours!

[GnothiSeauton]

Name:  John Martin
Age:  31
Role:  Ex- Army Soldier, Mob Soldier
Background:  For most of my life, I was a good kid.

I didn't get into any trouble growin' up.  My Ma was always there to keep me on the right path if I ever even thought about strayin' from being a good kid.  Pops was never around.  He died when I was just a few years old, fighting the Krauts in the Argonne.  I did alright in school; a lot better than some of the guys I hung around with.  For a while, I even thought of college, of makin' somethin' out of my life, but me and my Ma lost just about everythin in the Crash, and I went to work out in my Uncle's butcher shop.

For a while I was doin' alright, until the Japs paid a visit to Pearl.  I got drafted, and fought and killed for my country.  I was pretty good at it, sad to say.  I was in North Africa when I got wounded.  Lost a leg, and got sent packin' back stateside.  Took me a while to get used to the prosthetic, but finally did.  Now I got a bit of a limp in my walk, but don't think that slows me down none.

I found work working for one of the local Bosses in town, putting my skills to use.  Nowadays, it's not hard at all to spot me hanging around one of the Boss's clubs.

I'm a simple man with simple tastes by most standards.  I enjoy goin to the Pictures once in a while.  I've got a few comics I enjoy readin from time to time.  I've got a nice collection of books goin on I my little apartment downtown. More than once I've been called a romantic kind of guy, whatever that means. Almost always am I strapped and ready for a fight.

[Chrystal]

"Yeah, I know da guy, officer, walks wid a gimp, says he lost a leg in the war...!"

*giggles

[RedEve]

If your character has been approved already, please move your CS in here:

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=219675.0

[Ontan]

Character Sheet sent! If all goes well and it gets approved, I'll copy it to the dedicated thread.

[RedEve]

In terms of the narrative, I would suggest that at the start of the story, some gruesome crime has taken place that most of the characters would be aware of.

That doesn't mean they are somehow involved themselves as a witness or even culprit. Rather, it would be something that most everyone is talking about.

The Black Dahlia murders would be another 6+ months away at the start of our game, but I would suggest a similarly gruesome murder on a working girl.

Perhaps a girl some of the characters (vaguely) know because she attended the same club a few times, or she had a few brushes with the law, ...

[Beguile's Mistress]

I'm working on an opening post from my character's perspective.  Charlie is a hands on owner and circulates among the patrons of the club on a regular basis and in that position knows the faces and possibly the names of many of the people who frequent the place.

I'll keep the details of the mob people involved in the gambling end vague until someone steps in to take that role.

Anyone can use the club as a setting or base of operations but other than a casual greeting and welcome she'll not interact unless the writer wishes it.

I'm also thinking that Charlie could be walking a fine line between a more intimate relationship with the mob boss and the illegal nature of the gambling activities.  The boss is pushing her to give in to him and she's strongly resisting.  It's sort of a game they are playing, a dance if you will, because he is sure he'll wear her down eventually and she is positive he won't.  That is all open for discussion, though.

I'm really looking forward to this.  Some of the movies from this era are among my favorites.

[Chrystal]

In terms of opening posts, if anyone wants to randomly wander into the Sunset Diner between midnight and 8 am (Liza's shift ends at 9, but it gives time for some interaction if you get there a bit earlier...

[RedEve]

In terms of opening posts, if anyone wants to randomly wander into the Sunset Diner between midnight and 8 am (Liza's shift ends at 9, but it gives time for some interaction if you get there a bit earlier...

I might have Tina drop by for a cup of coffee and a friendly chat. :)

[Beguile's Mistress]

Since Charlie would be busy at the club I could have her get into something that would have her wanting some space for a bit.  A drive to cool her down and stop for pie and coffee would be just the thing. :-)

[Chrystal]

Since Charlie would be busy at the club I could have her get into something that would have her wanting some space for a bit.  A drive to cool her down and stop for pie and coffee would be just the thing. :-)

Would the club be open all night though? Seriously it would have to close some time, probably in the small hours of the morning, say 3:00am. So Charlie would finish her work, close up and head on over to the diner for breakfast before going home to sleep until noon!

At least, that seems reasonable to me!

This is one reason why I put Liza on the night shift, so she would be at work when most people aren't! It also means she's there when bad things happen in the middle of the night!

[Beguile's Mistress]

*nods*  After closing would be a great time to take that cool down ride.  The roads would be deserted and some speed on the winding curves would always send the adrenaline soaring. ;D

It's also a great chance for someone to follow her and maybe try to run Charlie off the road to get revenge or stop her asking questions.

[Ascia]

Right now my plan is to start Theo in a small party at the club, then have her wander alone later into the diner.

And if someone wants a more specific, or intended, run in with Theo or her people, just let me know. I can change a few things around, no problem.

[Beguile's Mistress]

There is a maitre d' who will greet your party, a hostess who will seat you and attractive waiters dressed in black slacks and white tuxedo shirts with black ties.

Here is a general idea of what the place might look like.



Think shades of medium and dark blue, white and silvery gray colors for the decor and a bar along one wall.

[Chrystal]

Okay, so this is the sort of place I have in mind.





I'm sure everyone has seen places like that, at the very least on TV, if not in real life (You folks on the left hand side of the pond). They always look to me like a cross between an attempt to make it look like a "futuristic" space ship (something out of the original "Buck Rogers" cartoon strips) and a grounded railway carriage!

[Beguile's Mistress]

The first of that type actually were converted railway cars and the decor followed the railway styling and/or art deco.  It was durable, timeless and easy to keep clean.  Small town burger joints followed the same kind of style for their brick and mortar shops.

[Chrystal]

This one is in my town.

And the inside looks pretty much like every TGI Friiday's the world over. Bar in the centre with stools, tables and chairs in most of it but there are the booths too!

[Ontan]

It's already posted in the dedicated character thread, but just for completion's sake:

Lloyd Carter, Detective

Name: Lloyd Carter
Age: 29
Role: Burned-out detective

Background: See that soak sitting in the corner by himself? That’s the guy I was telling you about. That’s Lloyd Carter. He used to be the chief of police’s number one attack dog. If the law wanted someone brought down, they’d just set him on the scent and turn a blind eye to whatever happened next. Hard to believe, right?  But that’s him. Or rather, it was. At one point, Carter had it all: a dozen high-profile arrests to his name, near immunity from the chief of police, and a dame that could make every jaw drop when she entered the room. If you ask me, that’s why he fell so hard when he lost the lot. Let me tell you about it.

Following a shaky start in Scotland Yard, Carter decided to try his luck across the Atlantic, thinking that folk over here would be a little more accepting of his… assertive… detecting style. I can’t speak for everyone, but it sure as hell charmed one person: Sarah Holston. In case the name doesn’t ring any bells, Sarah was a promising actress who – get this – also happened to be the daughter of the chief of police. I know, right? When we heard that Carter of all people had shacked up with her, we all thought the limey bastard was the luckiest man alive.

The thing about luck, though, is you only ever get in on loan. Sooner or later, the devil takes it all back again.

For six long years Carter and his lady love prospered. Now granted, a lot of that success came from the chief of police giving his new son-in-law a lot of favourable treatment, but surprisingly Carter ended up earning it in his own right. He had a knack for detective work and a good nose for sniffing out weakness. The latter was his real gift, the thing that got us jumping at shadows: after all, it only takes one rat to sell out an entire gang, and when it came to breaking weak links, Carter always knew just where to apply pressure. Six god-damn years he went on the warpath, rattling cages and collecting scalps, and nobody could touch him because of his connection to the chief. But Carter had a weak link of his own: Sarah. When she died, his life tumbled down like a house of cards.

Assassinated? What, are you kidding? Nah, it was nothing like that. Hell, the whole thing was pretty stupid, actually. One evening, Mr and Mrs Carter (as she eventually became) went to the grand opening of a new social club, along with a hundred other people… which was a problem, because the owner cut corners and the structure could only support half that number. The building collapsed. Plenty died. Sarah was one of them. And Lloyd Carter? Well, he might as well have died, because what they dug out of the rubble wasn’t the same fiend that went in.

His injuries weren’t so bad, but something broke inside Carter after that. You know how some guys survived the war, but never really come back the same? Similar deal with Carter and the building collapse. He became reclusive, antisocial, apathetic. He became a burned-out booze hound, and these days he’s just going through the motions rather than actually doing his job. What’s more, he’s now a pariah to his own kind. The chief of police blames Carter for what happened to Sarah, and has been dropping the hammer on him ever since. Not sure why… maybe the chief just needed someone to blame. Either way, a lot of people breathed a little easier when they realised the old Carter was gone.

Long story short, Lloyd Carter is harmless. These days, the police only send him out to ‘investigate’ dead ends and hopeless cases they know will never get solved. Any why not? If they send Carter, it frees up a proper detective to do something more productive.

That, my friend, is why I’m telling you to let Carter drink in peace. He won’t look up as long as there’s a glass in front of him, and that's the way I like it.

[EnglishMaster]

Since Charlie would be busy at the club I could have her get into something that would have her wanting some space for a bit.  A drive to cool her down and stop for pie and coffee would be just the thing. :-)

Here's a small idea for early posts to fit with this.  George has turned in for work tonight with a limp and a black eye.  He's not himself.  When Charlie talks to him, he tells her he's been warned off taking the little bets he used to run for Silvio, because a new illegal gambling franchise is taking over.  (He could have been told 'Theo' or not, as you want).  How would that be? 

[GnothiSeauton]

If anyone wants to work on a backstory or connection, feel free to PM me.

[Chrystal]

Okay, I has a question, which is in my head after reading Otan's character sheet aloud in my best imitation of a Bronx accent...

Noir films are invariably narrated in the first person.

"I was sittin' in the bar mindin' my own business when up walks dis dame, see?" In the style of the pulp detective novels of the time.

What are people's thoughts on this? I know a lot of people find writing in First person to be uncomfortable, so I'm really just asking if people think it would add a nice feel to the game, and if people would like to give it a go?

Feel free to tell me not to be so silly...!

[RedEve]

I'm sort of on the fence about that one. My favorite noirs don't tend to have that 1st person narration. However, I'm not opposed to other players using it if they so choose.
Unless 1st person perspective is a dealbreaker for some of our players?

[Chrystal]

*shrug*

I'm not going to make an issue of it...


By the way, would you class "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" as a Noir Spoof? It's set in the same era and has the same set of characters... Just that half of them are Toons!

[RedEve]

It was certainly influenced by noir.

Movies I would consider good examples of the genre (beyond the oft listed Maltese Falcon) are Double Indemnity, The Big Sleep, Laura, Scarlet Street, Kiss Me Deadly, The Petrified Forest, Crossfire, ...

[Chrystal]

Maltese Falcon?

[RedEve]

Maltese Falcon?

It's in my post! :)

[Chrystal]

DUR! *facepalm*

I'm going blind in my old age!

[Ascia]

I'm actually allergic to first person. =)

[RedEve]

I'm actually allergic to first person. =)

You should have that looked at!  ;)

[Ascia]

I should. Then I could read more Faulkner.

[Chrystal]

*giggles* Can't help thinking that saying "I'm allergic to first person" is really asking to break out in a rash!

Now if you had said "One is alergic to first person", that would be better.

Still it's not as bad as saying "I never use first person" which is clearly an oxymoron!

Sorry, I'll stop now.... *wanders off looking puzzled....*

[Ontan]

Okay, I has a question, which is in my head after reading Otan's character sheet aloud in my best imitation of a Bronx accent...

Yes! That is the correct way to read it!

Noir films are invariably narrated in the first person.

"I was sittin' in the bar mindin' my own business when up walks dis dame, see?" In the style of the pulp detective novels of the time.

What are people's thoughts on this? I know a lot of people find writing in First person to be uncomfortable, so I'm really just asking if people think it would add a nice feel to the game, and if people would like to give it a go?

It works when you’re the sole author (e.g. conventional stories, character sheets for RP, etc.), but it can get weird in group RP situations, especially when you need to resolve certain actions for the story to move along.

The biggest pitfall is trying to depict significant negatives – for example, a character failing to notice something. What do you write if someone pickpockets your character without them noticing? Saying something along the lines of “I was so busy fumbling around for my badge, I never notice them palming my house keys” throws up all kinds of bizarre inferences (namely that the narrator eventually discovered the theft), while deliberately omitting an unseen act can be a little ambiguous. It might also be a bit underwhelming to simply not mention another player's action.

Just a thought, of course. I'm not averse to reading first person, and there are ways of working around problems like this, but it might be a headache for whoever's doing the writing.

[Ascia]

*giggles* Can't help thinking that saying "I'm allergic to first person" is really asking to break out in a rash!

Now if you had said "One is alergic to first person", that would be better.

Still it's not as bad as saying "I never use first person" which is clearly an oxymoron!

Sorry, I'll stop now.... *wanders off looking puzzled....*

Ah. Choo.

>>

[Beguile's Mistress]

Here's a small idea for early posts to fit with this.  George has turned in for work tonight with a limp and a black eye.  He's not himself.  When Charlie talks to him, he tells her he's been warned off taking the little bets he used to run for Silvio, because a new illegal gambling franchise is taking over.  (He could have been told 'Theo' or not, as you want).  How would that be? 

That's a great way to work his situation into the story.  *makes a note of it so I don't lose track*

[Chrystal]

Ontan raises a valid argument.

Generally, first person narrative works when written from the point of view of recording what happened at a later date, say as a diary entry, or when writing one's memoirs. It works well if all parties agree that it is the ideal way to write the story. But it does have short-comings, even with solo-writing: how do you depict "off scene" events that directly impact the plot? The only real way is to break into third person for those scenes, or do as writers from the late 19th century such as H.G. Wells would do and "hand over" the narative to someone else...

First person also gets a little awkward when your character ends up dying!

Like I said, it was just a suggestion, possibly not a particularly good one.

[GnothiSeauton]

Just putting in my two cents here...

I think it should be up to the writer as to which perspective to write in.  Generally, I dislike writing in first person.  I do it from time to time, like I did with my character sheet, to get into the character and his mindset while also using it as an advertisement of sorts for possible connections and such.  A peak into his mindset.

Writing posts, and for that matter, larger pieces, I have an immensely difficult time writing in first person.  It just never feels right, and I end up having to go back and change two tons of stuff.  Personally, I feel a little limited when writing in first person for some reason.  But that's just me.

[Ascia]

Ontan raises a valid argument.

Generally, first person narrative works when written from the point of view of recording what happened at a later date, say as a diary entry, or when writing one's memoirs. It works well if all parties agree that it is the ideal way to write the story. But it does have short-comings, even with solo-writing: how do you depict "off scene" events that directly impact the plot? The only real way is to break into third person for those scenes, or do as writers from the late 19th century such as H.G. Wells would do and "hand over" the narative to someone else...

First person also gets a little awkward when your character ends up dying!

Like I said, it was just a suggestion, possibly not a particularly good one.

It was a good idea! That first person narrative is very much part of Noir. I'm sure I'll even do 'thought bubbles', like in comics, which are first person.

[Ascia]

Here's a small idea for early posts to fit with this.  George has turned in for work tonight with a limp and a black eye.  He's not himself.  When Charlie talks to him, he tells her he's been warned off taking the little bets he used to run for Silvio, because a new illegal gambling franchise is taking over.  (He could have been told 'Theo' or not, as you want).  How would that be?

Could be fun, especially if it was Theo's people. Her reaction would be fun to write.

[Chrystal]

Unless I have a specific reason to do otherwise I nearly always state that players mat write in whatever tense and voice they feel most comfortable with. Which usually results in people using third person past tense.

I'm probably going to use 3-past myself, I was just wondering if it might give a more pulp feel to things if some people used first...

Yes! That is the correct way to read it!

*giggles*

Sadly my Bronx accent is taken from movies and cartoons... But it seemed like the right thing to do...

[Beguile's Mistress]

I do fairly well with first person past.  With one narrator it can work in a group game but more than one writing in first can get confusing I think.

[RedEve]

Just a general heads up: I am still waiting for one or two character sheets, but I hope to get the IC thread up either tomorrow or Saturday.

[Chrystal]

Great! *gets the coffee on, and warns the chef to get the griddles hot*

[Green Goo Theory]

Just a general heads up: I am still waiting for one or two character sheets, but I hope to get the IC thread up either tomorrow or Saturday.

I'm just completely stuck.  That is if I'm the one of the two you're waiting on.  Sorry about all that. 

[Chrystal]

What sort of character were you thinking of making? Perhaps we can help?

[RedEve]

And we're off:

IC thread

OOC thread