It's true that spy games are also a good fit for a smaller group. Operatives often have to use low-key approaches to working an assignment, which off-sets somewhat the fact that they have resources and pull because they work for a large government organisation.

Mind you, set a spy game as I do in Victorian times and travel and communication times do throw agents pretty much onto their own resources.

Spy games also have a nice balance of investigation and combat, which might appeal more to players who find cop/PI games too combat light. In my experience the combat is often unexpected and close-up and personal (knife, garrote, small pistols) which keeps PCs on their toes. And you can always finish with a big rumble at the end if that's what your players expect from a game.

And why not? Sometimes it's great to send the ninja teams into the secret volcano lair of teh bald bloke with the white pussy cat.

Quote from: Gruntfuttock;364984It's true that spy games are also a good fit for a smaller group. Operatives often have to use low-key approaches to working an assignment, which off-sets somewhat the fact that they have resources and pull because they work for a large government organisation.

Mind you, set a spy game as I do in Victorian times and travel and communication times do throw agents pretty much onto their own resources.

Spy games also have a nice balance of investigation and combat, which might appeal more to players who find cop/PI games too combat light. In my experience the combat is often unexpected and close-up and personal (knife, garrote, small pistols) which keeps PCs on their toes. And you can always finish with a big rumble at the end if that's what your players expect from a game.

And why not? Sometimes it's great to send the ninja teams into the secret volcano lair of teh bald bloke with the white pussy cat.

I agree. I've been hankering to play a cop game though, cuz of the investigation and procedure. RPing out interrogating a street punk and  maybe a fight in a biker bar and stuff. Ransacking someone's apartment looking for clues, commandeering a car... the fun stuff Probably not even real procedure, just cheesy TV stuff.