Previous Expedition Research

[sverbridge]

I know the group that I will be running this campaign for quite well, we've been gaming together for 30+ years, and I know for a fact that before they set out for Cobb's Corners, that they will want to look at the previous team's research, disappearance, and death before heading out.  They will want to mostly see if there is anything in the research that might point to what happened, but also to see what information they came up with.  Now I know that I cannot give out the information from Devine's research that talks about the flying insects since that will tip off too much before the campaign even starts.  I would assume that Blaine is keeping that information back and has convinced Prof. Harrold to do the same.  (Basically having Blaine say to Harrold that in order to corroborate the findings, they need to keep it quiet so as to not taint this new fact finding mission, or something to that point.)  So when they do inspect the previous research all I am telling them is that it is full of myths, legends, and history of the area, all of it being oral tradition - maybe even make some copies of actual folklore of Vermont.  I might add, if a character rolls well enough, say a critical success, that the notes don't seem to be complete.  If that happens and Blaine or Harrold are asked about it, they will just say that that was all there was from the initial investigation, and that nothing was found at the campsite after the disappearance of Devine and Jeffery during their second trip to the area.  Reports of Patterson's death just looks like he took a bad misstep and fell to his untimely death, a horrible accident but no evidence of foul play.

If a geologist looks at those findings, I am also thinking about giving them a hint that Jefferies data looks too textbook if they roll a critical success.  Otherwise there is nothing out of the ordinary with the geology report.  (I have yet to figure out PC and NPC connections, but I am seriously considering having one PC being Jefferies roommate and that he knows about Jefferies being smitten with Devine, and also knows that Jefferies never told her about his feelings towards her.  Jefferies did not discuss their finding with the PC, just said it was interesting and he was looking forward to the return trip.  The PC assumes that is all due to Jefferies being in love with Devine.)

What do you think? Is this good, too much information, not enough?  It's going to be awhile before I run this, since it will be May before I get hard copies of the books, so I have time to mess around with this. 

[morganhua]

I started them meeting right before getting in the cars and trucks and didn't tell them of the previous field trip until they were on their way - and told them about the death and two disappearances.  I assume when they return to Arkham at the end of Episode 1, they'll research about the previous expedition in Episode 2.  Basically, I didn't give them enough time to do extensive research on the previous field trip.  I mean why would you for an extra credit field trip?  And if you did get scared off, then you've removed yourself from the adventure.  Sort of a lose-lose proposition.  Now, if one was a friend of the missing or dead students, then there is some reason to some research beforehand, but I would severely limit the info as any nasty rumor would kill the field trip. I would assume the recordings by Devine are under lock and key and not easily accessible.

[sverbridge]

I am assuming that the disappearance of two students and the death of another on a university approved field trip would spread like wildfire through the campus.   No matter how well the university tried to keep it quiet, unless all the players are incoming Freshmen, the students would know  about what happened - though most students probably would not know any names or any other specifics.  I do plan on having a player with connections with Jeffery, perhaps Patterson, and definitely with a few of the other NPC students going along.  What tiny bits of information I am thinking about giving out shouldn't have an effect on the game other than giving a couple of players some interesting background and a possible motivation for joining the research team.  But yeah, you're right, the Devine research should be under lock and key with no way to get at it.

I plan on doing a pregame game, where we all sit around making up characters, work up backgrounds, figure out who knows who and why, and do some loose RP on campus.  So I need to be prepared because I know my players will ask.

 

Of course I was just rereading the adventure and there is a section on what is known and covers the bulk of this....oh, well.

Edited April 12, 2016 by sverbridge
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[morganhua]

Also since Blaine is the bad guy and is trying to get warm bodies to the Mi-Go, he'll lie to the students about the previous expedition and gloss over what happened.  He'll cover up anything that would prevent him from getting students to go on the expedition.  His whole goal is to feed people to the Mi-Go and get Devine back.