The Game Is Afoot! (Sherlock Holmes Mystery RPG)

WANTED, respectable ladies or gentlemen, interested in training for an unconventional occupation; the first of its kind, in fact.
--Apply by letter to Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street

THE DATE & TIME SHOWN ABOVE IS NOT FINAL.

• Scheduled game dates and times are flexible. Inside the sign up form, you'll find a scheduling poll where you can provide your availability details. We will try to place you with team members who are available at the same time as you.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP FOR OUR JANUARY MYSTERY

• SIGN-UP DEADLINE: January 17, 2015 (0:00 GMT)
• SESSION DATES: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/100436727430056676607
• ROLL20 INVITES: Check your roll20 inbox to receive your campaign invite link.

THE GAME IS AFOOT!

Welcome to the Victorian-era streets of London! The fog spreads, crime is afoot, and it will be your job to stop it. You are all Londoners who have chosen to apply for a position as Holmes’s apprentice. You will be presented with a mystery to solve, and then it will be up to you to trace the threads of evidence through the byways and mansions of nineteenth century London in order to solve your case. You will investigate crime scenes, examine clues, interview suspects, and put the facts together to reach a solution.

This is not a game of chance, but a challenge of your mental ability. The setting, mystery, and characters have all been thoroughly researched for Holmesian and Victorian accuracy so as to capture the feeling of that bygone era.

Get ready for adventure, because the game is afoot!

SESSION DETAILS:

• THIS MONTH'S CASE: The Solicitous Solicitor
• SESSION SCHEDULE: Scheduled games can be found on our community page
• SESSION LENGTH: 5 hours
• NUMBER OF SESSIONS: 2
• NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3-10 players per team

REQUIREMENTS

• Google account (Game will be played using Google Hangouts, audio only, no video)
• Microphone and Headphones
• Must have never investigated the session's case before
• Must have signed-up prior to this month's first session.
• Prior Sherlock Holmes knowledge is NOT required. We welcome fans and newcomers alike!

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• Online virtual tabletop adaptation of Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
• A vibrant world with beautifully authentic handouts and maps (20 scanned 19th century London Times newspapers littered with clues and side cases, a detailed map of London, a period-appropriate soundtrack, and more.)
• Detailed Victorian character generator available for those who need help crafting an interesting and period-appropriate character.
• Rules-lite homebrew system based on Risus. Extremely easy to learn. Great for newcomers who have never played an RPG before or RPG veterans looking for a roleplaying experience that favors critical problem solving over crunchy combat.
• Most materials are borrowed from Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective, the Sherlock Holmes Granada Television series (starring Jeremy Brett), and various online Sherlockian resources.
• If you are a Sherlock Holmes or mystery fan, this is the game for you!

This game is great for...

• Mystery fans
• Fans of Logic Puzzles and/or Critical Problem Solving
• Fans of RPGs with interesting stories
• Players who have a blast roleplaying their character's interactions with others.
• Players new to Roll20 or RPGs in general

This game is not so great for...

• Players who want more combat than story
• Players who want rules-heavy, crunchy combat and skill-checking
• Players who want dungeon crawling to play a major role in the game
• Players who want their character to be supernatural or possess superpowers.
• Players who prefer to deviate from the campaign's main goal at every possible opportunity

NOTE: The play style of this game is probably going to be VERY DIFFERENT than the RPGs you're used to. Please keep that in mind before signing-up. If you're looking to play a game with traditional RPG mechanics, you may want to join one of the other wonderful RPGs hosted on Roll20. That being said, if you want to try something a bit different, then by all means, sign-up. We'd love to have you!

Never played an tabletop RPG before? Not sure how they work? You can watch a basic introduction to tabletop RPGs here:

• http://youtu.be/h-R3ya74TE0?list=PLxYefyArg-d3x0y5_jUhGXBTOdcGcPDFm
• If you want a more formal walkthrough, feel free to send me a PM. I'd be happy to walk you through the basics of playing tabletop RPGs if you'd like to learn more.

New to virtual tabletops? Please keep in mind these very important rules (from Van):

• Recognize the commitment. When you join a online game you're not just playing some game on the computer, people are counting on your presence. Cutting out early, showing up late, or not showing up at all ruins the game for everyone else. Make sure to keep your schedule clear during the game's time slot.
• Be punctual and prepared. The other players in your group did not set this time aside to wait while you cook supper or sit in traffic getting your dry cleaning. Get everything you need to do done before the game, and don't wait till the last minute. If your work schedule cuts it close to game time make sure the group knows in advance or look for a game at a better time.
• Don't get distracted. When playing on the computer is easy to open other windows or tabs to watch videos, chat with friends, read forums, or even play a whole other game. Do not do this. No matter how good a multitasker you think you are it will slow down the game and the other players will notice you aren't paying attention. Keep your focus on the game and cut out the distractions.

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