Episode 3 - Case File Report - ROTN - 01
Day 1 - Shift 3 Report
Spoiler Alert: This is a follow-up report on the solo-play of Electric Dreams Case File 01 from the Blade Runner RPG Starter Set. If you plan on being a player in an upcoming game at your table, don’t read further!
Learning from the play of the scene in the first video of this solo-actual play of Case File 01 - Electric Dreams, I thought I would see if there was a way to keep as much of the scene hidden from my prying eyes until I had a chance as the player to review the information and handouts that would normally be provided on the gaming table.
As you can see in the first episode, Novak investigates the Snake Pit, the scene of a shooting. At first I didn’t pay heed to not reading to far ahead and realized that I found out a little more than I should have, nothing too vital to ruin the mystery, but enough that it could have swayed my actions as a player. I decided to sit back a moment and figure out what I would do next when I encountered another scene to investigate.
As seen in this episode, Novak and Fenna arrive to Leah’s Apartment, the missing Nexus-9 Blade Runner, and are searching for clues. Here’s how I went about investigating the scene.
First I looked at the entries called of the Scene called, Getting Here and the brief intro paragraph at the top. I covered the sections with paper that titled NPC’s and Clues. Below is what the scene description looks like in the published case file:
I then slowly read each line of the text under the Arrival entry.
As you can see, it now gives me a few actions to roleplay out. Chiefly an encounter with a NPC, the “obnoxious neighbour” and trying to get into the apartment itself. And as from the Episode, you say me complete a number of skill rolls, some more successful than others to play out this scene. Aside from the obnoxious neighbour, no other NPC’s are present at the scene.
I then took out the accompanying Scene Photo handout that is from the Case File, as see below. As Game Runner, you’d present these to the players and ask them to look at the photo, finding items of interest, if any and ask questions. If there isn’t anything that they ask or they’re stumped, player’s have the options of rolling observation skill checks to see if their characters spot anything. Of course there wasn’t a scene photo, something that I can see happening if this wasn’t a pre-made, Free League published Case File!
I decided to do the same before reading any of the clues presented.
Taking a few minutes, I jotted down on a piece of paper what seemed out of place or that I thought were clues. An unmade bed, left over food, thinking dinner for two, the photo, the open book and the jar of butterflies.
Once I felt comfortable what I assumed were actual clues, I read through each entry one by one. If something had not been discovered, and on reading there was a hidden clue, or further actions needed to find out the information, I would roll the corresponding skill as suggested in the entry. For instance, the Photo and Butterflies clues all had further Observation Rolls attached, and therefore I’d subsequently roll to see if the character would “know” the information, even though me as the player now has read and found out that information. That’s part of the process and I can’t see there being anyway with a pre-made Case File of hiding that information. I’ll think more on how that could be done.
Fortunately, between what I had designated as potential clues, and subsequent skill rolls, had found all the possible clues in this scene. Now, there was some later information that gets presented, not much but does give a way a little details for the future. Not much, but again, it’s something I’ll actively have to stop and think, does my character know this? Eventually I’ll use a roll to do so, taking away the player bias.
I flipped the page to see if there is anything else associated with this Scene, and the only thing presented was the file photo and floor plan for the apartment, a couple stats for the obnoxious neighbour and an entry for Doc Badger. For Doc Badger again, I quickly covered the further in depth information associated with that scene description. I didn’t worry too much about Doc Badger’s stats, as it doesn’t really impact I don’t thinking any future actions by my character, but we will see:
To finish out the session, Novak has the dialogue with Quell. I looked for the specific page regarding the scene with Quell from the Case File, and I have to admit this was harder to scan through and get the gist of this NPC and how they’re to be played, without finding out some possible future events. That being said, the entry that would suggest some future event, isn’t that big of an issue as first may suggest, and so far I don’t think it’s ruined the mystery.
I hope I was able to bring to light her demeanor effectively in the video in the dialogue between her and Novak.
I had used one modification of the Telling Table as found in the Strider Mode Rules. In the excerpt below from Strider Mode, I kept everything the same, and using the d12 dice as is used in The One Ring. Of course, The Eye of Sauron would represent the Origami Unicorn on the Blade Runner d12, and the Gandalf Ruin would represent the Double Eye on the Blade Runner d12, giving us a result, but with a twist.
I used this table to ask the question: Does Fenna find anything about the Butterflies? (Chance: Middling) Yes/no answer. Result 12 EE. Yes, with a twist/more information. As you can see, asking a simple yes/no question and rolling the d12 provides you with a quick random answer that can guide if more information was gathered without it feeling forced or your favouring your character. As you can tell from the video, she finds and provides more information that lends to more leads being discovered.
One more note, I’m still getting used to the Time Tracker sheet, and I’m trying to keep it as close as possible to Rules As Written. In light of that, Novak and Fenna are entering into or having just finished the 4th shift of the day. For Novak this isn’t an issue, as he has the Married to the Job Specialty, meaning he can go 4 shifts without suffering any effects of fatigue/exhaustion. Next shift will be his Downtown shift, as indicated at the end of the session with an invite to Fenna for noodles at the White Dragon. Good thing most places in LA are 24/7 and never sleep!
Here are the subsequent Time Tracker and Case Report Sheets for the session.
Thank you for following and watching along!
Cheers,
Ryan of the North