Wrong thread?

Boss.

Quote from: Gib;626547Wrong thread?

Whatever...

For what it's worth, I loved the picture. And I'd love if Reckall did an AP of that campaign too!

I did a "CSI: Port Blacksand" thing as a joke in my Blacksand campaign years ago.. the CSI team there were two goblins without the slightest interest in finding the truth.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;627027I did a "CSI: Port Blacksand" thing as a joke in my Blacksand campaign years ago.. the CSI team there were two goblins without the slightest interest in finding the truth.

I was amazed at the amount of d20 compatible books with useful material for a "serious" fantasy CSI campaign. Books about poisons, herbalism and alchemy are a given, but then you have at least a book about fibers and dyes ("Clothing Bits. Cloths and Dyes" by Dark Quest Games) both magical and mundane; the indispensable "Crime and Punishment" by Keith Baker (with a whole section devoted to investigative tecniques); books on chases for the unavoidable suspects who bolt; and books about normal people like "Everyone Else" by Michael S. Thibault & Richard Ruthman, the "Complete Aristocrat" and "Temptress" (for ideas and plots), and even the recent book by Ed Greenwood about the daily life in the Realms. Back at the HQ high-level Alchemist NPCs can determine from which creature hairs, blood, oozes and body parts come, and so on.

On the top of this, many "real life" cases can be easily adapted to a fantasy milieu by simply changing key elements to their fantasy equivalent (even if I'm now writing an original "Pilot"). One thing I stressed to my players is how they are "strictly CSI": if they have reasons to expect resistance they better call the City Guard before going in, like in the TV show. The CSI has its own Strike Team too. As Captain Grissom Buglord (*) always stresses, "Memorizing an attack spell means memorizing one less investigative spell". Having said that, there always is the risk of unexpected heavy resistance... (and supplements about Waterdeep are so gracious as to give tables about after how much time the City Guard/Watch shows up after the alarm is raised and how they are equipped, according to the District, patrol routes, the average interval of time a tavern/establishment is checked by glancing through the windows, and so on).

Anyway, while doing my research I discovered that the idea is far from new. The "Precinct" series by Keith R. A. DeCandido ("Dragon Precinct", "Unicorn Precinct" and "Goblin Precinct") is about "Law and Order in the fantasy metropolis of Cliff's End", whereas the "Derek Ridder" series by Michael Angel is about and LAPD detective wisked away in a fantasy land with a crime to solve. And of course series like the "Brother Cadfael" one are unvaluable in showing investigative tecniques in a Middle-ages milieu. Nothing is new under the Sun.

P.S. The title song obviously is "I Don't Even Know Myself" by The Who.

Come on all of you big boys, come on all of you elves,
Don't pretend that you know me 'cause I don't even know myself,
I said I don't know myself.

(*) The NPC cast is original, but my players were adamant: "Either the Supervisor is Grissom (and not simply William Petersen or someone "inspired by", but the one and only) or we won't play". I'm considering the idea that Grissom has the "Miffed" supernatural power: when Grissom is miffed all the CSI Waterdeep staff has a +1 circumstance bonus to any roll pertaining an investigation and -1 to any other roll - self-preservation included (attack, damage, saving throws...) I wonder how it will pan out

Quote from: Reckall;627056I was amazed at the amount of d20 compatible books with useful material for a "serious" fantasy CSI campaign. Books about poisons, herbalism and alchemy are a given, but then you have at least a book about fibers and dyes ("Clothing Bits. Cloths and Dyes" by Dark Quest Games) both magical and mundane; the indispensable "Crime and Punishment" by Keith Baker (with a whole section devoted to investigative tecniques); books on chases for the unavoidable suspects who bolt; and books about normal people like "Everyone Else" by Michael S. Thibault & Richard Ruthman, the "Complete Aristocrat" and "Temptress" (for ideas and plots), and even the recent book by Ed Greenwood about the daily life in the Realms. Back at the HQ high-level Alchemist NPCs can determine from which creature hairs, blood, oozes and body parts come, and so on.

On the top of this, many "real life" cases can be easily adapted to a fantasy milieu by simply changing key elements to their fantasy equivalent (even if I'm now writing an original "Pilot"). One thing I stressed to my players is how they are "strictly CSI": if they have reasons to expect resistance they better call the City Guard before going in, like in the TV show. The CSI has its own Strike Team too. As Captain Grissom Buglord (*) always stresses, "Memorizing an attack spell means memorizing one less investigative spell". Having said that, there always is the risk of unexpected heavy resistance... (and supplements about Waterdeep are so gracious as to give tables about after how much time the City Guard/Watch shows up after the alarm is raised and how they are equipped, according to the District, patrol routes, the average interval of time a tavern/establishment is checked by glancing through the windows, and so on).

Anyway, while doing my research I discovered that the idea is far from new. The "Precinct" series by Keith R. A. DeCandido ("Dragon Precinct", "Unicorn Precinct" and "Goblin Precinct") is about "Law and Order in the fantasy metropolis of Cliff's End", whereas the "Derek Ridder" series by Michael Angel is about and LAPD detective wisked away in a fantasy land with a crime to solve. And of course series like the "Brother Cadfael" one are unvaluable in showing investigative tecniques in a Middle-ages milieu. Nothing is new under the Sun.

P.S. The title song obviously is "I Don't Even Know Myself" by The Who.

Come on all of you big boys, come on all of you elves,
Don't pretend that you know me 'cause I don't even know myself,
I said I don't know myself.

(*) The NPC cast is original, but my players were adamant: "Either the Supervisor is Grissom (and not simply William Petersen or someone "inspired by", but the one and only) or we won't play". I'm considering the idea that Grissom has the "Miffed" supernatural power: when Grissom is miffed all the CSI Waterdeep staff has a +1 circumstance bonus to any roll pertaining an investigation and -1 to any other roll - self-preservation included (attack, damage, saving throws...) I wonder how it will pan out

Yes, I can totally see how this can be done seriously.


RPGPundit

Quote from: Reckall;627056And of course series like the "Brother Cadfael" one are unvaluable in showing investigative tecniques in a Middle-ages milieu. Nothing is new under the Sun.

"The Name of the Rose", duh.  

Also, I am more of an NCIS fan.  I like the characters better.

And how did a short, 100 post thread manage to be this jam packed with awesome?  Aos is my role-model, I want to be just like him when I grow up.

Quote from: StormBringer;629378"The Name of the Rose", duh.  

Well, that's a given I read it for the first time in 1982 when I was fourteen and I loved it even if, of course, as a kid I missed 75% of the book value. Truly a book for all ages.

QuoteAlso, I am more of an NCIS fan.  I like the characters better.

In a bit of synchronicity, I bought the DVDs of the First Season last week. I'll give it a whirl.

QuoteAnd how did a short, 100 post thread manage to be this jam packed with awesome?  Aos is my role-model, I want to be just like him when I grow up.

I think the title deserves a lot of credit

Quote from: Gib;626547Wrong thread?

I agree.

Can CSI: Waterdeep be split off and become its own thread, please?

Quote from: jeff37923;629524I agree.

Can CSI: Waterdeep be split off and become its own thread, please?

I don't know if it will be necessary: I think we pretty covered everything.

Hey Gib, this thread is just plain fantastic. Mad respect man, mad respect.

This thread, along with the Megadungeon one, is among the very best "how to do rpg setting stuff" I've ever seen.

DAMN dude that is some beautiful work.  I wish I had the scratch, I'd commission some maps from you!  Holy cats that's pretty.