Silver Beetle Blues REDO: 1920's Bootlegger / Murder Mystery RP interest thread

mauve · 04-13-2011, 03:05 PM

Once upon a time, Mauve tried to run an RP involving gangsters, bootleggers, murder, backstabbing, and undercover cops. However, Mauve failed horribly as a GM and the game died.

I've been wanting to give this game another go, if anyone's willing to give me and the Silver Beetle another chance.

THE BASICS:

The Silver Beetle Blues is a murder mystery RP set in 1920's Chicago. Players will take the roles of bootleggers and gangsters working in one of the city's most successful speakeasies, the Silver Beetle, serving crime boss Arthur MacCauley.

THE CATCH:

One of you is a traitor.

One of you is a murderer.

One of you is the scapegoat.

All of you have evidence that could save or condemn one of your fellow gangsters. What matters is how you use it.

Who will you be?

THE STORY:

The Silver Beetle Gang is a well-oiled machine. Everything works because Arthur says it works. Built over three generations of MacCauleys, the gang has become the most powerful in the city, having a hand in everything from bootlegging to the black market to the occasional act of espionage.

But all is not well in the Windy City.

Rival gangs have been closing in, forming fragile alliances among themselves to compete with the Silver Beetle. Art has no intention of giving up his power in this city, however. His predecessors built his empire, and now Art wants to kick back and enjoy it for all it's worth. And why should he worry? He has the best speakeasy, the best connections, the best gang....

But then one of his employees is found dead. Now the police are getting involved, and this time it seems no amount of bribery will keep them back. This job reeks of foul play. If the Silver Beetle Gang wants to continue to run this town, they�ll have to find the murderer before the police do, all while trying to keep their own business booming.

No one is above suspicion. No one.

THE ELEMENT OF MYSTERY:

In addition to the roles you choose for your character, i.e. gunman, bouncer, card shark, whatever, I'll be sending out private messages to all players with additional secret roles. This can end up being anything from undercover cop to murderer to witness. All evidence given to witnesses will be true, but it's up to you how you interpret and use this evidence. You can share this info with whoever you want, but remember, SOMEONE in the gang is a traitor. Also, I might take on a co-GM since I have such a glamorous track record of GM-ing things.

THE... OTHER STUFF:

So yeah. I'm working on details to re-run this thing and clean up some of the problems I ran into the last time I tried this game. Would anybody be interested in playing? One of the main fixes I'm thinking of will be that anybody who drops out of the game will give the GM the right to use their characters so we don't lose anybody with an important role.

Questions? Comments? Interest?

EDIT- Signups are now open.

Name: If you can't answer this one yourself, you're too drunk to be working for us.

Age: How long have you managed to keep yourself alive?

Gender: Hopin' you can figure this one out yourself.

Appearance: The cops need something to write on your wanted poster.

Job: Remind me what I pay you for again? (Note: For the sake of me being able to keep track of everyone, all characters regardless of job will double as bootleggers. Your main job can be whatever you want, though. Last time around we had everything from speakeasy musicians to bouncers to hired thugs to getaway drivers.)

Backstory: Where ya from, pal?

Overcast · 04-13-2011, 03:16 PM

Yes. Yes. And something else...

I'll get back to you on the last one.

Steel Shadow · 04-13-2011, 04:37 PM

I don't remember the first one (Not unusual, I don't remember yesterday all that good either) but this sounds fun! So, I'm expressing interest!

I'd be willing to co-GM with you on this one if you wanted, by the way. Never mind the pile of RPs I'm falling terribly, terribly behind on! (Yeah, ok, willing to help you out GM wise, but I don't exactly have a stellar posting record here myself, so you probably want someone else for the job.)

Bard The 5th LW · 04-13-2011, 04:53 PM

Might just let Jeremy back in

Krylo · 04-13-2011, 05:10 PM

Might give Eels a respawn.

mauve · 04-13-2011, 07:15 PM

Sure, previous characters would be fine.

If I can get a few more interested parties (four people makes for a crappy whodunnit) I'll open signups soon. New and returning characters are welcome.

@Overcast: Oh? Shoot me a PM or catch me on the trollslum pad! (The former is more likely to yeild results, as I have a crappy work schedule.)

@Steel: Thanks!

I'll pro'lly pick a co-gm after I close signups. Your name is now on THE LIST.

PyrosNine · 04-13-2011, 07:19 PM

Oh noes! This means I'll end up in prison again for questioning!

Overcast · 04-13-2011, 07:21 PM

Well you're a Chinaman, it comes with the time period. Like being Irish.

mauve · 04-15-2011, 04:23 PM

Eh, what the heck. Signups are now open; check the first post for details. We'll see how many responses we get here.

Overcast · 04-15-2011, 05:05 PM

Name: Adin Fould

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Appearance: Adin is a fairly easy man to miss, he stands an average height, not fat nor noticeably gaunt, his hair is dark brown and easy to manage, worn in whatever style suits him for that day. He keeps himself shaven and will typically be found in a brown suit with a fedora he may or may not wear depending on the ratio of those who are wearing one in the crowd at the time. Though typically his wardrobe will change as he goes through his plans. His eyes are a dark shade of brown, and his skin a light gold that lets him slip around ethnicities in the area. He keeps a rather stoic face, and is never so clean as to be pristine.

Job: Adin is a cleaner. A problem solver. If you need to get away he drives very fast, if you need to get rid of a body he knows a deli on call, if you need to move merchandise he knows a buyer. All of this will cost you, but if you have to go to Adin then you've already run out of options.

Backstory: When potential has no room to grow in honest means it will often move to dishonest ones. Such was the case of Adin, poverty stricken and Jewish in the turn of the century. His parents did the best they could to give him every opportunity in the new world, but the land was filled with those who would cheat them and deceive. In the end debt began to arrive and it was up to Adin t find some means to save them.

He found his answer under Arthur MacCauley.

He began as a driver, moving people from desperate times when needed. As a means of impressing Mr. MacCauley when the shit really hit the fan he would often go above and beyond to save the situation. Through the people he helped he made connections, friends who owed him a little favor here and there which built to a network of "answers". He was the means to access these answers when problems arose and eventually he became that failsafe for any operation where it was too much not to have him by.

His parents no longer have to worry about swindlers and deceivers, their debts are long since paid. But the city knows the debts owed to Adin Fould.

04-13-2011, 03:05 PM	#1
mauve So Dreamy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Someplace magical Posts: 6,863	Silver Beetle Blues REDO: 1920's Bootlegger / Murder Mystery RP interest thread Once upon a time, Mauve tried to run an RP involving gangsters, bootleggers, murder, backstabbing, and undercover cops. However, Mauve failed horribly as a GM and the game died. I've been wanting to give this game another go, if anyone's willing to give me and the Silver Beetle another chance. THE BASICS: The Silver Beetle Blues is a murder mystery RP set in 1920's Chicago. Players will take the roles of bootleggers and gangsters working in one of the city's most successful speakeasies, the Silver Beetle, serving crime boss Arthur MacCauley. THE CATCH: One of you is a traitor. One of you is a murderer. One of you is the scapegoat. All of you have evidence that could save or condemn one of your fellow gangsters. What matters is how you use it. Who will you be? THE STORY: The Silver Beetle Gang is a well-oiled machine. Everything works because Arthur says it works. Built over three generations of MacCauleys, the gang has become the most powerful in the city, having a hand in everything from bootlegging to the black market to the occasional act of espionage. But all is not well in the Windy City. Rival gangs have been closing in, forming fragile alliances among themselves to compete with the Silver Beetle. Art has no intention of giving up his power in this city, however. His predecessors built his empire, and now Art wants to kick back and enjoy it for all it's worth. And why should he worry? He has the best speakeasy, the best connections, the best gang.... But then one of his employees is found dead. Now the police are getting involved, and this time it seems no amount of bribery will keep them back. This job reeks of foul play. If the Silver Beetle Gang wants to continue to run this town, they�ll have to find the murderer before the police do, all while trying to keep their own business booming. No one is above suspicion. No one. THE ELEMENT OF MYSTERY: In addition to the roles you choose for your character, i.e. gunman, bouncer, card shark, whatever, I'll be sending out private messages to all players with additional secret roles. This can end up being anything from undercover cop to murderer to witness. All evidence given to witnesses will be true, but it's up to you how you interpret and use this evidence. You can share this info with whoever you want, but remember, SOMEONE in the gang is a traitor. Also, I might take on a co-GM since I have such a glamorous track record of GM-ing things. THE... OTHER STUFF: So yeah. I'm working on details to re-run this thing and clean up some of the problems I ran into the last time I tried this game. Would anybody be interested in playing? One of the main fixes I'm thinking of will be that anybody who drops out of the game will give the GM the right to use their characters so we don't lose anybody with an important role. Questions? Comments? Interest? EDIT- Signups are now open. Name: If you can't answer this one yourself, you're too drunk to be working for us. Age: How long have you managed to keep yourself alive? Gender: Hopin' you can figure this one out yourself. Appearance: The cops need something to write on your wanted poster. Job: Remind me what I pay you for again? (Note: For the sake of me being able to keep track of everyone, all characters regardless of job will double as bootleggers. Your main job can be whatever you want, though. Last time around we had everything from speakeasy musicians to bouncers to hired thugs to getaway drivers.) Backstory: Where ya from, pal? __________________ Yoo Hoo! Last edited by mauve; 04-15-2011 at 04:21 PM.

04-13-2011, 03:16 PM	#2
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	Yes. Yes. And something else... I'll get back to you on the last one. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!

04-13-2011, 04:37 PM	#3
Steel Shadow Mild Psychosis Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aroundabouts thereish. Posts: 1,246	I don't remember the first one (Not unusual, I don't remember yesterday all that good either) but this sounds fun! So, I'm expressing interest! I'd be willing to co-GM with you on this one if you wanted, by the way. Never mind the pile of RPs I'm falling terribly, terribly behind on! (Yeah, ok, willing to help you out GM wise, but I don't exactly have a stellar posting record here myself, so you probably want someone else for the job.) __________________ Yeah, I'm understating. I do that sometimes.

04-13-2011, 05:10 PM	#5
Krylo The Straightest Shota Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: It's a secret to everybody. Posts: 17,789	Might give Eels a respawn. __________________ I am very tired.

04-13-2011, 07:15 PM	#6
mauve So Dreamy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Someplace magical Posts: 6,863	Sure, previous characters would be fine. If I can get a few more interested parties (four people makes for a crappy whodunnit) I'll open signups soon. New and returning characters are welcome. @Overcast: Oh? Shoot me a PM or catch me on the trollslum pad! (The former is more likely to yeild results, as I have a crappy work schedule.) @Steel: Thanks! I'll pro'lly pick a co-gm after I close signups. Your name is now on THE LIST. __________________ Yoo Hoo!

04-13-2011, 04:53 PM	#4
Bard The 5th LW Feelin' Super! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4,191	Might just let Jeremy back in

04-13-2011, 07:19 PM	#7
PyrosNine Zettai Hero Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A figment of my own imagination Posts: 6,103	Oh noes! This means I'll end up in prison again for questioning! __________________ Pyrosnine.blogspot.com: An experimental blog of writing. Updated possibly daily. Possibly. A fair chance. Current Works for reading: War Between them, Karma Police. PyrosNine: Weirdo Magnet Extraordinaire!

04-13-2011, 07:21 PM	#8
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	Well you're a Chinaman, it comes with the time period. Like being Irish. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!

04-15-2011, 04:23 PM	#9
mauve So Dreamy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Someplace magical Posts: 6,863	Eh, what the heck. Signups are now open; check the first post for details. We'll see how many responses we get here. __________________ Yoo Hoo!

04-15-2011, 05:05 PM	#10
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	The Man is Back Name: Adin Fould Age: 28 Gender: Male Appearance: Adin is a fairly easy man to miss, he stands an average height, not fat nor noticeably gaunt, his hair is dark brown and easy to manage, worn in whatever style suits him for that day. He keeps himself shaven and will typically be found in a brown suit with a fedora he may or may not wear depending on the ratio of those who are wearing one in the crowd at the time. Though typically his wardrobe will change as he goes through his plans. His eyes are a dark shade of brown, and his skin a light gold that lets him slip around ethnicities in the area. He keeps a rather stoic face, and is never so clean as to be pristine. Job: Adin is a cleaner. A problem solver. If you need to get away he drives very fast, if you need to get rid of a body he knows a deli on call, if you need to move merchandise he knows a buyer. All of this will cost you, but if you have to go to Adin then you've already run out of options. Backstory: When potential has no room to grow in honest means it will often move to dishonest ones. Such was the case of Adin, poverty stricken and Jewish in the turn of the century. His parents did the best they could to give him every opportunity in the new world, but the land was filled with those who would cheat them and deceive. In the end debt began to arrive and it was up to Adin t find some means to save them. He found his answer under Arthur MacCauley. He began as a driver, moving people from desperate times when needed. As a means of impressing Mr. MacCauley when the shit really hit the fan he would often go above and beyond to save the situation. Through the people he helped he made connections, friends who owed him a little favor here and there which built to a network of "answers". He was the means to access these answers when problems arose and eventually he became that failsafe for any operation where it was too much not to have him by. His parents no longer have to worry about swindlers and deceivers, their debts are long since paid. But the city knows the debts owed to Adin Fould. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!