*
The basic rules will be the same as Trail of Cthulhu, with a few changes.
Investigative skills don't require a roll, you just have to say you're
using the skill in a scene where there might be a clue to revealed.
General skills, including any combat skills, are tested using a six-sided die. Typically you'll have one or two die in a skill. When testing you roll sequentially (there are bonuses if you succeed with the first die).
Yes, you're playing 'Dex'. He's a pre-gen character, though there are some back-ground details that you will fill-in (for instance, you start with a initial back-ground problem: 4 possible starting problems are suggested in the set-up).
The setting in LA in 1937.
Dexter "Dex" Raymond
Investigative Abilities
Accounting
Assess Honesty
Bargain
Cop Talk
Cryptography
Evidence Collection
Intimidation
Inspiration
Law
Locksmith
Photography
Reassurance
Research
Streetwise
General Abilities
Athletics 2
Cool 1
Conceal 1
Device 1
Driving 1
Filch 1
Fighting 2
Preparedness 1
Sense Trouble 1
Shadowing 2
Stability 2
Stealth 2
Okay, I got Dex's basics set up from the stats you gave me. I cannot, for some bizarre reason, seem to attach an avatar to his profile.
But I haven't fully flesh-out his character. I did decide that it might be fun to have him speak Spanish since he lives in LA. I also gave him a deity (I've never done that before). Maybe I'll make him Catholic so that any time he does something questionable in his PI work, he feels compelled to go to confession. Whatcha think?
Give me a day or so to finish up. I'm off sick. I have a chronic ear infection that has cropped up again. When the ear ache gets this bad, it makes it hard to concentrate.
No problem. So does Dex sometimes have an issue with drink then?
As you're 'solo', you cannot be expected to have the whole spectrum of investigative skills that you might need in an investigation, however, you know 'experts' that you can consult with when you need questions answered that would other-wise stump you.
Best Friend. Ted Gargan, LAPD Detective.
Also within the department, Sergeant
Len Pollard owes Dex some favors.
Reliable Sources:
Dr. Virginia Ashbury, Scientist (mainly 'hard' sciences).
Madama Evan, fortune teller and occultist
Dr. jeff 'Mack' Mackintosh, psychiatrist
Alred Kelham, Professeror (mainly 'soft' sciences).
Max Weyl, Production Designer.
I thought it might give him an extra dimension if he occasionally over does it on the booze, and then he feels guilty because he's Catholic.
I *may* change his avatar. I'm not crazy about the current one, but there aren't many to choose from that look like 20th century investigators.
Also, I think I need the number of build points to assign to his investigative abilities.
So for a starting problem shall we go 'hair of the dog' ( he has a tendency to over-do when he starts drinking) or 'Catholic guilt' (he was raised in a strongly catholic home, and still remembers Sister Agnes and her ruler).
For the investigative skills they're pretty much automatic, and don't require points.
Greg,
I got bad news. I tested positive for Covid. It turns out my ear ache was not the typical one I get, but instead one of the symptoms of Covid.
I'm going to have to be offline for a while. I am already having symptoms.
Sorry about this.
Sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself.
I am a month into this and still having bad symptoms, mostly serious fatigue. Assuming I'm not still sick by early April, I am slated to start taking classes that are going to consume most of my time.
At this point, I think it might be best to let this game go.
My apologies.