Cop Show style game, Recruiting for the Ubiquitous PD! Fem Detective Required.

Started by Chrystal, December 19, 2014, 05:49:48 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Chrystal

Become Your Favourite Detective...


There is a murderer out there... In the city of Ubiquitous, AS, someone is killing people. Who is it? Why are they doing it? Are the killings random or are they linked in some way? Is there a pattern? Is there a MO? Who are the suspects? Are there witnesses? Is there anyone who might want the victims dead?

You need to work together as a team to solve the crime, based on clues you find, interviews you conduct, statements you take, evidence you gather. Can you catch the killer before the body-count mounts? And at the end of the day, will you take them alive to stand trial? Will you have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction?

Can you be sure you have arrested and charged the right suspect?


Bad-Ass Female Detective Required
See last post for details


Sorry, but except for the replacement, recruitment is now closed

This is a random idea that occurred to me, and I thought it was worth typing up, running it up the flagpole so to speak... I have tried in the past to run a "Cluedo" based game with myself as the murder victim, something similar to the "Murder Mystery Weekend" type event some hotels run. They always flopped, because people lost interest before the actual murder took place.

This game is different.

This time, I'm basing it on every single detective show out there on TV.

So, player characters will be the investigation team. Detectives, consultants, forensic specialists, medical examiners, beat cops, whatever role you like, from the law enforcement community.

As GM, I will take the roles of all the witnesses, all the suspects, all the victims' relatives. I will also play the defence attorneys of anyone arrested or brought in for questioning.

Knowledge of actual police procedure is not required - and would probably be a disadvantage, as this game is going to be based exclusively on every TV cop show I have ever seen. By the same token, a knowledge of cop shows would be extremely advantageous...

Please note: There will be no opportunity for smut in this game, but there WILL be plenty of room for violence, which will most likely be quite graphic.


Game:

  • The game will probably go in "Extreme" or "Human N/C Freeform" due to the level of violence.
  • The game is open to anyone wishing to rp a law enforcement person, but probably limited to a maximum of eight players.
  • Player characters will be members of an elite law enforcement team, attempting to solve a string of crimes
  • The game will be set present day, in the city of Ubiquitous, somewhere in the USA
  • There has been a murder, and as members of UPD's Finest, it is your job to solve it. You must look for clues, question witnesses, examine forensic evidence, check fingerprints, obtain search warrants, and deal with devious defence attorneys, and hopefully at the end of the day, you will catch the murderer, with sufficient evidence to convict them.
  • Character sheets will be added to a reserved post if I get sufficient interest. Original characters only, please, no canon characters.
  • There are no special requirements other than a familiarity with cop shows...
  • Players are asked to post at least once a week
  • There will be no sexual activity in the game. The idea is to solve the murder.
  • Post tagging will be used to identify where each character is, what they are doing and whom they are with.
Game Master Info / GM(s) Participation Level (If/where applicable)

  • There will not be a co-gm as such, but whoever takes on the leadership of the investigative team will de facto acquire that role.
  • The game will be totally GM guided in respect of the crime and the evidence. However, there will be ample opportunity for players to "derail" the investigation and go off after crimson kippers.
  • Crime scenes will be created and detailedby the GM. Players are asked NOT to add details to them. Players are more than welcome to detail the police station and police vehicles however they like!
  • NPCs will be under the exclusive control of the GM, as all NPCs will have some bearing on the case.
  • The GM will not have an active "player character", but all NPCs will be under GM control, all clues, forensic evidence, etc will be under GM control.
  • There will be an OOC thread for general chat. There will also be an "Evidence" OOC thread, where clues, witness statements, lab reports, etc will be recorded. Discussion of evidence etc should really take place between characters in the IC thread.
  • Players wishing to ask questions OOC may do so via PM (if the question is something they do not wish others to know), or in this thread/OOC thread if it is one that the other players may need to know about. The GM reserves the right to answer private questions publicly and answer public questions privately if they are game related and the circumstances warrant it.
  • Decisions will be resolved using my standard rules of play (see below)
  • PvP is allowed, but will probably be counter-productive. PvGM is very likely in the event you figure out who the killer is!
Additional:

  • The Oath Of The Drake is at least worth taking a look at. Most of it is common sense, but we all know how often common sense flies out the window! Even if you already signed it, it's worth reminding yourself of the oath you took, from time to time!
  • Failure to respect another player is grounds for reporting to staff. This means you must be aware of the other players' ons and especially their offs, and respect their wishes.
  • Players are asked to post at least once a week. If you are likely to be away for more than a few days, please post something to that effect in the OOC. If you wish to leave the game, please do the other players the courtesy of saying so, so that we aren't kept waiting for you. Players who drop out will have their characters taken over by the GM.
  • New players wishing to join the game may do so at any time, either as previously unnoticed team members (early on) or as transfers into the team
  • Players may use whatever writing style and point of view/tense they feel most comfortable with.




Note Regarding The Lack Of Smut

What tends to happen in my experience in small, story-based group games, is one of two things. Either two characters go off and have fun by themselves, thus keeping everyone else waiting for them to get back, people get bored with waiting and leave, and the game dies. Or everyone pairs up and disperses, two by two, and the game fragments into a number of unrelated one-on-one smut scenes.

Either way, the actual story itself goes nowhere.

If I changed this post to say "Plenty of smut", I'm sure I would have dozens of people interested by now. But those people would kill the game, because they would join for the smut and then leave once they'd got their jollies! So I'm looking for people who want to pursue a story. People who maybe have a dozen or more smut based games where they are getting their jollies, and are looking for something a little more intellectually challenging!

If people want to do a smut based scene using the same characters and setting, you are quite welcome to go ahead and start a one-shot in a thread all by itself and romp to your hearts content, but I would expect a certain degree of "professionalism" from the characters while "on the job".

Think of this as being like an episode of CSI, or Criminal Minds. Or any other cop show. They warning at the start says "This programme deals with adult themes and emotions". It doesn't say "This program includes nudity and explicit sexuality".

And yes, maybe I could do this game in a non-adult forum. But if I did that, I'd end up with a bunch of 12 and 14 year olds being stupid. Part of why I like Elliquiy is that everyone here is (at least supposed to be) over 18, and thus hopefully mature enough not to want sex all the time!

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Chrystal

#1
RULES OF PLAY

These are my standard OOC rules of play for group games. I put them in every group game I run, usually with minor variations to suit the specific setting. I like to think there is nothing draconian or unacceptable here, and I ask all players to read them. Submitting a character sheet to me implies that you have read and are in agreement with these rules.

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH SOMETHING HERE, PLEASE TELL ME!

All rules except two are negotiable!

Detective Fiction!

This is a GM-led Story guided game. What that means is that I as GM have designed a detailed environment that I will slowly reveal to you the players. I will throw a steady stream of events at you and it is down to you to react to them however you see fit.

Please note that your actions IC will have consequences, so that, for example, if you start harassing a wealthy benefactress of the city, she is quite likely to complain to the chief of police, and you may find your character suspended IC! (This will not exclude you from playing, by the way, it will simply effect how you are able to interact with the other players). I am asking people to refrain from editing IC posts in order to avoid such consequences.

The one exception to this is if your character's actions cut across another player's offs, in which case editing your post becomes mandatory!

Regardless, this is a story-based game so I will be guiding it and offering hints, but players are more than welcome to take the story in a totally different direction should they so choose. Be warned though: I am quite evil!

RULES:


  • The GM's word is law. This does not mean I'm not open to discussion, but if it comes to an impasse, if a decision needs to be made, or a discussion is getting out of bounds, I will render a decision that I expect to be abided by. I will do this based upon context.
  • Respect other players ons and more importantly, their offs! This is NOT negotiable. Ons and offs are there for a reason. If you feel someone has broken this rule, please PM them first to talk about it. If they will not change their post, then contact me via PM and I will deal with it. Please note that persistently ignoring another players O/Os is grounds for reporting to staff!
  • Try to post at least once a week. If you know you will be unable to post for a while please let us know in advance in the OOC. it is a good idea to create an Apologies/Absences (A/A) thread so everyone you are RPing with knows where you've gone.
  • If you know you are going to be away for a considerable time (more than a week) please bring any story-arcs you are involved in to a conclusion , or extract your character from them.
  • If you find your character is sitting around doing nothing, post something to the OOC, or PM me. If you wait for someone to interact with you, you will wait a long time. Let me know and I will create an event to bring your character into the game. Please be aware that with specialist roles, your character may not be required all the time. I will do my best to keep everyone involved as much as possible
  • If you have any questions about anything in the game, ASK! The only stupid questions are "how many beans make five" and ones that aren't asked!
  • The OOC thread will be for people to chat. I have no problems with you guys discussing the latest football results if you wish, (although I'd rather you didn't because I dislike football), because it means you are getting on as a group. However please give priority to game related discussions
  • Please tag all IC posts using the code that will be supplied, editing the details as appropriate. This will enable other players and myself to track where everyone is.
  • There is no rule 9.
  • Player characters are the intellectual property of the game. Players who drop out of the game will have their characters taken over by the GM and manipulated as NPCs in order to allow the story to continue. The GM may, at her discretion, offer such characters to another player to continue playing with.
  • Please try to post a minimum of 200 words per post. If you post short once in a while, that isn't going to be a problem, but doing so consistently will draw my attention and I will ask you to expand your posts. If the player you are responding to has not given you enough material to write a decent length post from, PM them and ask them to expand their post.
  • God-Moding is a big no-no, but in a n/c game a certain amount of "moving the story on" needs to be expected. Use common sense! If you feel you have been god-moded, talk it over by PM, and if you cannot reach a satisfactory solution, bring it to me or the other GMs.
  • HAVE FUN! This too is non-negotiable. If you aren't having fun, I would like to know why, so I can change whatever it is that is stopping you having fun!

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Chrystal

#2
Character Creation

Please fill in the character sheet below and PM it to me for approval, thanks.

Character Suggestions:

These are some suggestions for characters.


The firm-but-fair leader of the teamSkyreLt Frank Gunselman
The hard-nosed bastard/bitch who insists on doing things by the bookLandofromTexasDet Sgt Roberto “Bobby” Garza
The unconventional rule-breaker who gets resultsRedEveHolly De Santis
The old (wo)man, close to retirement, wanting one last big collarNot takenNone
The bent cop, who will stop at nothing to get an arrestAngel FireMorgan Cantrell
The geeky forensic expert who is a wizz with computers and a social klutzNymphadoraCassidy Locke
The slightly dippy medical examiner who enjoys showing off grisly body partsElvenKittenDr. Emma Ross
The even geekier psychological profilerDeathnoteKen Wu
The rookie cop who is trying too hardBlinkinTom Evans
The shady character who knows the word on the streetAvailableRosa Danilo

Those are just suggestions. Feel free to come up with your own stereotype, or even something totally original.

Submitting a character sheet implies acceptance of the rules above.

Characters entered into play become the property of the game and in the event the player drops out, will be taken over by the GM and may be offered to other players.

Original characters only please. Ca(n)non characters will not be accepted (Nor will characters from any other cop show). Character images may be taken from TV cop shows and/or movies, but if the character is too similar to the character portrayed in the show/movie by that person I will ask you to change one or the other.

The Character Sheet


[b]Player ID:[/b]
[float=right][img height=300 padding=5]Paste image URL here[/img][/float]

[b]Name:[/b]

[b]Gender:[/b]

[b]Age:[/b]

[b]Hair Colour:[/b]

[b]Eye Colour:[/b]

[b]Build:[/b]

[b]Rank/Job:[/b]

[b]Role:[/b]

[b]Likes:[/b]

[b]Dislikes:[/b]

[b]Personality:[/b]

[b]History:[/b]

[b]Any Other Info:[/b]


NOTES:

Player ID: Your Login ID

Image URL: Photographs please rather than art work. Preferably people in the public eye such as film stars, sports personalities, politicians, etc. Characters in the Uniform branch need not be depicted in uniform.

Name: The name of your character (including any nickmames if they have them)

Gender: Male or  Female please.

Age: Anything between 21 and 65

Hair Colour: If not clear from the image (or put "As image")

Eye Colour: If not clear from the image (or put "As image")

Build: If not clear from the image (or put "As image")

Rank/Job: Rank within the police force or job outside the force for consultants/informers, etc. Rank can be Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain for the uniform branch, and  Detective, Detective Sergeant, Detective Lieutenant, Detective Captain for the plain clothes branch.

Role: The "stereotype" role that your character fits into within the game - from the list above or make your own.

Likes: Minimum five things that make them go "MMMM!"

Dislikes: Minimum five things that make them go "ARGH!"

Personality: What are they like, what rings their bells, what pushes their buttons. Howe do they relate to other people. Minimum of one five-line paragraph please, preferably two paragraphs.

History: Hopw did they get where they are today. Minimum of two five line paragraphs, preferably three.

Any Other Info: Anything else you can think of that might be important. ("None" is acceptable).

Disclaimer:

I reserve the right to decline any character sheet without giving a reason. However I will usually endeavour to give a reason, and offer suggestions to make the character acceptable. Possible reasons for a character being rejected are:


  • Canon characters from a TV show
  • "Mary Sue" or "Marty Stu" characters - characters with no flaws who always save the day
  • Over-stereotyped characters - The seven foot muscle-bound ape, or the 42DD-28-36 Blonde Bimbo for example
  • Characters submitted on modified character sheets or incomplete character sheets
  • Characters that are inappropriate to the stetting and story.

I look forward to seeing them!

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Chrystal

#3
Threads

Recruitment Thread - This thread.
OOC Thread - For discussion of the game, and anything else, really.
Player Character Thread - UPD Homicide Personnel files
Case File Thread - Records evidence from the case so far
IC Thread - The Streets of Ubiquitous, where the action takes place


Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

RedEve

Interesting idea.

Not sure if I have the time to take on another game at the moment, but I will certainly keep an eye on this thread.

BTW, does "no smut allowed" also mean that some hardworking detective can't unwind by having a quick roll in the hay with her Captain in one of the vacant interview rooms?  ;D
"I don't have a dirty mind, I have a sexy imagination."
My ons and offs- My F-list

Chrystal

#5
Quote from: RedEve on December 20, 2014, 08:16:43 AM
Interesting idea.

Not sure if I have the time to take on another game at the moment, but I will certainly keep an eye on this thread.

My one worry is that I'm stepping on your toes a bit, because the idea seems similar to your Noir game, but the setting is totally different and the format is totally story led where yours is sandbox. I think there is sufficient difference here to mean we can borrow each others' ideas without treading on each others' toes.

Quote
BTW, does "no smut allowed" also mean that some hardworking detective can't unwind by having a quick roll in the hay with her Captain in one of the vacant interview rooms?  ;D

The biggest problem I've had in the past with smut in story based games is that while two players are busy going at it, everyone else is hanging around waiting for them. Ether that or everyone pairs up (unrealistically - work colleagues generally don't fuck each other, or if they do it's usually kept secret) and we end up with a set of unrelated one-on-one smut scenes that just happen to be taking place in the same thread.

There is one solution I have found to this and that is to make all the player characters have a big orgy right at the start... but I don't think it's going to work in this situation...

My thought was that while there are plenty of smut-based games around, there are very few decent story based games. So of people want smut they can do smut, and, frankly, if people want to have a quick roll in the hay with another character, they are quite welcome to create a one-shot thread to do so...




If I changed the opener to say "Plenty of smut", I'm sure I would have dozens of people interested by now. But those people would kill the game, because they would join for the smut and then leave once they'd got their jollies!

So I'm looking for people who want to pursue a story. People who maybe have a dozen or more smut based games where they are getting their jollies, and are looking for something a little more intellectually challenging!

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

ElvenKitten


MissFire

"There are five possible operations for any army. If you can fight, fight; if you cannot fight, defend; if you cannot defend, flee; if you cannot flee, surrender; if you cannot surrender, die."
    - Sima Yi

Chrystal

Yay. That's one interested, one lurker, one watcher and one friend who told me privately she'd bookmark it and see what other people come up with...

So far, considering the thread has only been up a couple of days, that's not bad!

A few more people expressing definite interest would be good before I start thinking about a character sheet...

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Sparky01

If you'll have me, I would write a character for the fun of it.  I haven't really contemplated a "who" yet.  I am thinking a non-primary role, maybe like the psychological profiler.  Though I'm flexible to play what is needed.   

Chrystal

I'll take pretty much anyone who's interested...  With a few exceptions, mostly people who have given me a bad RP experience in the past.

But people I know from other games are always preferred, because I know you're good! Ehlam, you are very welcome. Please choose whichever role you think you will enjoy most.




There is one thing I have noticed frequently though in small, role-specific games: No-one wants the lead role.

It's like when I tried to set up a RP of Kelly's Heroes, and no-one wanted to be Kelly or Big Joe! I mean being modest is one thing, but back when I was a kid, people jumped at the lead roles, we all wanted to be the one centre stage in the school play. I don't know what's changed. Anyway...

I will need at least two actual detectives, or there is no point whatever in even starting!

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Sparky01

Your concept is rich and complex.  My rationale for playing support is to follow along the awesome plot you put out there and support it and follow along and I would fear screwing up, or getting too busy.

So, fear can be overcome.  I can happily take on a leadership detective role.  Getting my creative juices flowing in that direction.  I trust that you'll coach your needs and communicate to me to provide necessary guidance for my character.  I'll ratchet up my throwing my hat in.  I'll take a detective lead. 

Chrystal

Well, thank you.

I wasn't aiming that comment specifically at you, though. I have just found it to be generally the case. Everyone expects the GM to be the ship's captain, the party leader, the club owner, the team captain, the president...

When the GM says, "Okay, so I'm going to sit here behind this screen and roll dice in secret, and let you guys get on with whatever you want to do..." just like in an old fashioned D&D game, everyone seems to get confused and think "But who's going to lead us?"

But I always thought that was the whole point: The GM controls the enemies and while the party are standing around discussing which one of them is best suited for the role of party leader, the GM rolls a dice and they all get massacred by a band of wandering orcs!

Of course that isn't going to happen here... Although I am sorely tempted by the idea of NOT having an OOC thread, it would simply force OOC discussion into PMs. So there will always be the option for OOC discussion, which means that the team leader, lead detective, police lieutenant, or whatever, is going to be appointed prior to start...

Of course, I will be taking the role of Chief Of Police, as the character will be a NPC with no actual baring on the story except to apply pressure to the team.

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Sparky01

#13


Here's my present mindset for a detective.  Looks all business, isn't a current detective in a show. 
Edit of this post:  I'm all in, Chrystal.  This is my inspiration for a detective lead, and happy to partner with whomever.  Read through the requirements and such.  I'm stoked now.  I get what you're after and will be happy to take a lead role in investigation. 

I'm forming this guy's background in my mind and can do a character sheet once you believe there's enough additional interest, or do one now, depending on your wishes.  This sounds fun. 

Chrystal

#14
Cut to save Ehlam's muse!

*snerk*




Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Sparky01

That is so funny!  ROTFL


Another Entrant?

GM permitting, if I could have a second character, a minor role could be for this person.  I have a major craving to see this person in play.  Non-smut, totally.  Just have a crush lately.  Not necessary if you don't want folks to play two.

Chrystal

Quote from: ehlamjanx on December 22, 2014, 10:02:38 AM
That is so funny!  ROTFL

Well if you will insist on posting a bald man as a detective, you must expect it! I'm just glad you got the joke... ;) (showing your age, perhaps?)

Quote
Another Entrant?

GM permitting, if I could have a second character, a minor role could be for this person.  I have a major craving to see this person in play.  Non-smut, totally.  Just have a crush lately.  Not necessary if you don't want folks to play two.

Isn't that whats-her-face from Friends? Rachel?

I'd prefer to hold fire on second characters for the moment. Chances are you will get the opportunity but if I get eight or ten people interested in playing, there is only really going to be room for one character each.

See how it goes.

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

RedEve

What posting frequency are you hoping for Chrystal? If it is reasonable, I might throw my hat in the ring after all, for one of the detective slots.

Most likely a female detective with a bit of a gung-ho, rebellious attitude.

Think Starbuck from BSG, but transposed to a cop show. :P
"I don't have a dirty mind, I have a sexy imagination."
My ons and offs- My F-list

Sparky01

She's Brandi from "Storage Wars"  Blushes over the fact that I crush on her, and that I watch that crap show.
Anywhoo...no worries on a second charrie and I'm not all worked up on having a second.  Guess we'll see if there is even a need for a first, first! 

Chrystal

Quote from: RedEve on December 22, 2014, 10:24:55 AM
What posting frequency are you hoping for Chrystal? If it is reasonable, I might throw my hat in the ring after all, for one of the detective slots.

Most likely a female detective with a bit of a gung-ho, rebellious attitude.

Think Starbuck from BSG, but transposed to a cop show. :P

A bit like US Marshal Mary Shannon? I have never seen the remake of BSG. I'm still drooling over Laurette Spang as Cassiopea in the 1970s original!

My required posting frequency is as I said at the top, once every seven days minimum. If people want to post faster than this I generally ask that they don't post more than three times without everyone else getting the chance to post at least once... And if someone doesn't post for a week and doesn't l;et me know what ios happening, I will usually send them a PM before I put them on the "inactive" list.

Of course my question to you is, what do you consider "reasonable"?


Quote from: ehlamjanx on December 22, 2014, 10:25:12 AM
She's Brandi from "Storage Wars"  Blushes over the fact that I crush on her, and that I watch that crap show.
Anywhoo...no worries on a second charrie and I'm not all worked up on having a second.  Guess we'll see if there is even a need for a first, first! 

Oh...



You have to admit there is some similarity there?

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Sparky01

When you asked, I did a double take and thought, holy cow, I picked the wrong picture!!!  That pic of Brandi is more "put together" than she usually is. 


Quote from: Chrystal on December 22, 2014, 10:22:38 AM
Well if you will insist on posting a bald man as a detective, you must expect it! I'm just glad you got the joke... ;) (showing your age, perhaps?)

The image of lollipops is KILLING my muse for that guy now!  Admits to having thought of Peter Falk for a moment.  ERASE ERASE...

Sparky01

Quote from: RedEve on December 22, 2014, 10:24:55 AM
What posting frequency are you hoping for Chrystal? If it is reasonable, I might throw my hat in the ring after all, for one of the detective slots.

Most likely a female detective with a bit of a gung-ho, rebellious attitude.

Think Starbuck from BSG, but transposed to a cop show. :P

RedEve, nice to meet you, by the way.  Maybe that we are future collaborators.  Hope so...Can take input on my actor if you have opinions on the matter.

RedEve

Chrystal: reasonable would probably be around the one post a week minimum, considering my current game-load. :)

"I don't have a dirty mind, I have a sexy imagination."
My ons and offs- My F-list

Chrystal


Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

ElvenKitten

I'm tentatively interested maybe a character in the role of a lab geek or rookie detective.