Questions tagged [gumshoe]
For questions about the GUMSHOE System, a role-playing game system created by Robin Laws that is designed for running investigative scenarios.
41
questions
10
votes
4answers
713 views
What is a believable in-game explanation of GUMSHOE's spending point system?
I am studying the GUMSHOE system as it is implemented in Trail of Cthulhu and, while I can grasp the logic behind its mechanics, I have a hard time of translating the rules of allocating points to ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Which Cthulhu Confidential scenarios can be played as one-shots, without spoiling the campaigns?
With the exception of The Red Mist, all published Cthulhu Confidential scenarios use one of the three protagonists from the original campaigns. Does that mean that these scenarios work best when ...
5
votes
0answers
137 views
How to prepare Cthulhu Confidential (Gumshoe One-2-One)?
I'm looking for some practical advice on how to prepare for a session of Cthulhu Confidential. I'm a novice GM with some dozens of sessions of other games under my belt, but this will be my first one-...
2
votes
2answers
404 views
What are the official GUMSHOE changes to Trail of Cthulhu?
In the Condensed Rules and the Enchiridion of Elucidation they mention rule changes made after the First Edition from Trail of Cthulhu.
Is there a resource that list all the changes? I could find ...
6
votes
1answer
198 views
Build points for a variable-sized group
Bubblegumshoe assigns character build points according to the number of Sleuths in the game, but my RPG group varies in size from two to six players (excluding GM) from week to week. I understand the ...
8
votes
1answer
358 views
Character immersion in Trail of Cthulhu
I am part way through running Eternal Lies, a large campaign that uses the Trail of Cthulhu system. I have three players in the group, and we are generally running into an issue with the flow of the ...
8
votes
3answers
365 views
How can I keep players occupied so they stay motivated, interested & on topic when I'm reading published materials during a session?
I'll be running a new system in my next session; Trail of Cthulhu.
I expect I'll be needing a few minutes between scenes to read up on what happens next... I'm not going to memorize the published ...
6
votes
2answers
596 views
Can you publish a commercial rpg using the Gumshoe SRD?
As a Kickstarter reward, the Gumshoe ruleset (used in games such as Trail of Cthulhu and Mutant City Blues) was released as an SRD. You can get it here:
https://pelgranepress.com/index.php/tag/open-...
9
votes
1answer
132 views
When do you make consciousness rolls?
I'm finding it tricky to understand how often you make consciousness rolls in Trail of Cthulhu. I understand that you have to make them the first time you drop below 1 and become hurt, and again when ...
2
votes
2answers
102 views
Does a standard use of an investigative skill use up a pool point?
I understand how Spends work in Gumshoe, allowing Investigators to get additional 'perks'. However, does a standard use of a skill use any points from the pool associated with that skill.
4
votes
3answers
110 views
Can interpersonal interactions that use investigative abilities fail or make things worse?
The core idea behind Gumshoe as a system is that 'Core' clues are successfully found with an appropriate use of an investigative skill.
There are a whole bunch of interpersonal investigative skills ...
1
vote
2answers
324 views
Vampire Stat Values in Night's Black Agents
I'm finally getting around to reading Night's Black Agents and I love it. But in the section on building the vampires (NBA features modular, customizable vampires), I'm stuck on the base values for:
...
4
votes
1answer
200 views
Piggybacking and cooperative rolls - when to use them?
I understand the mechanical difference between piggybacking and rolling cooperatively. However, I am struggling conceptually to see where one would apply and the other wouldn't.
What are the ...
4
votes
1answer
545 views
Mutant City Blues Example Characters
I am running Mutant City Blues for the first time, and have never played or run a Gumshoe based game before. I am providing pre-generated characters for the players, and have come up with attributes ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Range of Blast powers
A number of the powers available to players in Mutant City Blues are designated as Blast powers, and can be used as ranged attacks. However, I can't find where it explains exactly what the range of ...
2
votes
2answers
325 views
Gumshoe investigative ability pool sizes
I'm trying to get my head around how the gumshoe system works, and although most of it is relatively straightforward, there was one thing I'm not absolutely certain on.
A player spends points to gain ...
3
votes
2answers
286 views
When taking a non-combat action, do you move to the end of rank order first, or only after acting?
Sorry if it seems like a stupid question but I'm genuinely confused.
On Page 62 of the core rule book it says:
Once the fight has begun, if a
combatant wishes to do something
else besides ...
7
votes
1answer
282 views
Tips for combining Gumshoe/Lorefinder with improv/Lazy GMing?
The Gumshoe/Lorefinder systems break an adventure into core scenes, with a core clue in each scene leading to the next. I am under the impression that the GM will have to plan each scene. This gives ...
6
votes
2answers
443 views
How can I adapt elements of the Gumshoe investigation system to Ars Magica?
Many of my games feature a heavy investigation influence.
Gumshoe, being designed for investigation, provides a way of finding clues and manipulating clues that provides for a far more enjoyable ...
11
votes
2answers
508 views
How do you use investigation skills in Gumshoe?
I picked up Esoterrorists for a quick off-the-cuff one shot and it was a nice change for everyone from the usual boot-door-kill-monster-grab-treasure thing we usually play.
What confused me, however, ...
4
votes
1answer
172 views
Gumshoe/Lorefinder - how do you deplete a Boost?
I don't have access to Trail of Cthulhu, so I don't have the full Gumshoe system on my hand, so I can only refer to Lorefinder. If a character, according to LoreFinder
When spending from a Boosted, ...
18
votes
3answers
798 views
Reducing Preparation time for Gumshoe GMs
As a new player in a game of Mutant City Blues, it has struck me that the GM has a very large workload when prepping the investigation scenes if there is to be any real interaction with that scene for ...
6
votes
3answers
412 views
How do you handle skill use and spends in GUMSHOE?
I ran a playtest of Pathshoe (a new Pathfinder + GUMSHOE hybrid from Pelgrane Press) for my gaming group last weekend. I have several of the other GUMSHOE games (Mutant City Blues, Esoterrorists, Fear ...
7
votes
1answer
226 views
Sources of Stability - What's the real rule?
In Fear Itself, you have to select a Source of Stability for every 3 points you invest in the Stability trait. Sources may be personality traits, activities, or people. The rules state:
You may not ...
2
votes
2answers
326 views
I'm running a demo Esoterrorists game later this week; what resources do I need to prepare?
This weekend, I'm running my first game (and a demo) of Esoterrorists.
What resources do I need in order to prepare?
Potential resources include:
A really effective demo scenario that is engaging ...
17
votes
9answers
1k views
How can I encourage zombie investigation?
This weekend, I ran a zombie scenario for GUMSHOE (Trail, as it happens, although the question isn't specific to that).
I've run this scenario twice, both as part of a campaign and as a one-shot. ...
5
votes
1answer
310 views
What Investigative advice is in Mutant City Blues but not elsewhere?
What Investigative rules and advice is in Mutant City Blues but not elsewhere in GUMSHOE games?
10
votes
3answers
227 views
How can I adapt Gumshoe for a charity game?
At IndieCon, a local convention, we're going to run games for charity.
I'd like to adapt GUMSHOE as a charity game. That is, I'd like people to be able to pay money for specific game-mechanical ...
5
votes
4answers
582 views
Making Sanity/Stability rules for gods more interesting
In Trail of Cthulhu, the rules for seeing a Great Old One or Outer God work as follows. Make a Stability roll, then take additional Stability and Sanity loss, using the table on p.86.
This is ...
2
votes
2answers
325 views
How can I use this in a one-shot for The Esoterrorists?
Ehud Netzer, the Israeli archaeologist
credited with discovering the tomb of
the biblical King Herod, has died
after falling during a dig.
What spin can make this a great adventure for The ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How can I make GUMSHOE combats more dynamic?
In GUMSHOE what can be done to make the combats more dynamic, more exciting?
9
votes
5answers
521 views
How can I use a Conspiracy X Influence system in GUMSHOE?
One of Conspiracy X's greatest innovations was influence and pulling strings to represent the important and influential “day jobs” players come from. These day jobs range from the FBI, to the DEA, to ...
3
votes
4answers
372 views
How to represent Tradecraft in GUMSHOE?
How can you represent good tradecraft in GUMSHOE-based games, such as Esoterrorists? That is, the techniques used in espionage, the topics or techniques (dead drops, for example).
3
votes
1answer
526 views
What Investigative Skills for Trail of Cthulhu at time of Sun King?
For a Trail of Cthulhu scenario set during the reign of the Sun King in France (1643 to 1715) what Investigative skills would I keep, remove and add?
2
votes
3answers
154 views
What is the best way to use extended contests in Gumshoe?
I need a good, solid mechanic for extended contests in GUMSHOE. An ideal one would work for a wide variety of situations, such as chases and cat-and-mouse games.
20
votes
10answers
2k views
How can I make a Mi-Go city seem dangerous?
Last week, in our Trail of Cthulhu campaign, the Investigators found a Mi-Go city. They needed to go in, to rescue someone trapped inside.
However, my description of the city fell rather flat. ...
8
votes
5answers
521 views
How should I handle hallucinogens in Trail of Cthulhu?
I have an adventure that involves consuming native entheogens in order to see and combat the Evil Badness From Beyond Time. The Investigators who do will be tripping balls, and I'm not sure how to ...
4
votes
2answers
171 views
How can I graft Wilderness of Mirrors onto Gumshoe?
Or specifically, how can I adapt Wilderness of Mirrors Mission Planning/Obtaining Information/complication/Trust system onto the resource management/clue finding Gumshoe system.
12
votes
4answers
302 views
Building a sense of desperation
For a GUMSHOE game I want to build up the suspense through the more subtle, but very effective, buildup of a sense of desperation. This is a medical drama and the characters will be in quarantine. I’m ...
12
votes
6answers
818 views
Preventing player passivity in GUMSHOE?
I really like the game worlds of the various GUMSHOE games I have (Fear Itself, Esoterrorists, Mutant City Blues) but haven't run it yet. My big concern is that I've seen the "ablative skill system" ...
6
votes
4answers
771 views
What is an appropriate list of Medical Investigation Skills for GUMSHOE?
I’m currently working on a one-shot for Gumsheos that will be very medically focused where the characters are quarantined in a medical facility and trying to identify a “super plague” of occult ...
