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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 8, 2016 20:52:52 GMT -5
Hello all, I would like to both say thank you for having me here and also ask for help in creating my own experience for my friends. This will be the third typing on this subject today, so it might be a bit disjointed. Apologies in advance... I am trying to create a fan made case for my friends, and I am hoping to make it an annual event, around January or February, after the holidays die down. I have 2 people who are not playing, who I can show my progress to and get feedback, and 2 current players / testers that I trust. I plan to add a few more before the game goes live, and I might run a "mini" case to just test methods. What I am hoping to gain from this thread in particular is feedback on my story elements and if they are exciting, as well as new ways to move information to the party. The first case will relate to the turn of the century organization The Order of the Golden Dawn, and it will use ciphers known by that group and locations involving their chapters and their membership. The Format that I am trying to implement is going to be via mail with original documents, where I serve as the "DM" (will have to make a sufficiently cool title), and the players are all investigators. I don't want this to last more than 3 months per case due to past lessons (I had a weekly D&D campaign for 2 years that drained my creative soul.) The Resources that I currently have accumulated specifically for this project so far are: A typewriter from the mid 1940s...currently being restored (separate labor of love) A custom wax seal and sticks of silver wax for our organization, for receiving secret messages intact Challenge coins for members of the organization. (After they pass their first case) (Already owned) nib and ink, ivory toned cotton paper and envelopes. The story progress so far is as follows: Package #1: Letter from Silver Lamp Society (myself and the players) explaining the missing persons case, and offering 2 pieces of evidence:
1a) Handwritten letter from wife, explaining missing husband, giving dates and location clues to frame the setting. Handwritten in female hand.
1b) Response from Order of the Golden Dawn representative, stating that they have one correspondence from the husband. It is left at the local chapter, in the safe for her retrieval.
There is also a note that the safe has been inherited by the SLS after the collapse of the OGD, along with cryptic instructions for an outsider to open it, should the need arise (puzzle 1)
This puzzle will be a key to the cipher, and a handbill or a collection of them. Since the code can be anything, I can use existing historical handbills and whatever answer the cipher produces from existing plaintext, can be the code.
Once the proper code is presented from an investigator, I can mail on the letter from the husband.
The letter will explain that the husband has sensitive information of another secret society, and he is currently being pursued, and cannot come home yet. He explains where he will post articles and what his ciphers are. Could you please critique the above? Also, my original intentions were to make the plot related to expansion of the illuminati and the OGD into America, since the OGD did in-fact begin opening chapters there, in the 1910's. I want to make the reason for this to be combating the illuminati's attempt at control there. The two players that I do have on board have both expressed interest in an urban horror style case and both have mentioned magic and monsters. I would like to satisfy them with these elements, but I'm not sure how to include that in the messages. Also if this turns into a murder story, how will the husband keep leaving messages? I also don't feel that a murder from 116 years ago is that climactic, so I feel like all of these discordant threads are too weak. I'd appreciate any aid in the story, techniques for creating the props and aging the paper, etc. Thank you all in advance.
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Post by centaurofattn on Feb 9, 2016 11:29:39 GMT -5
I too am making a miniature adventure for someone, but far less story oriented and just puzzling. I do have some tips on the prop creation though. For the paper, you can either put it on a cookie sheet and bake it for a little while to get aging. I also do a lot of aging of my own paper crafts with Distress brand inks. One in particular is called Vintage Photo and it makes stuff look pretty awesome. In fact, Tim Holtz has a whole like of weird "trinket" looking things that could be helpful with some editing. Last night I painted an Instagram logo on the bottom of a wooden rook from a chess set that I found somewhere (hopefully leading the finder to find the rook hashtag on my instagram account). In fact, I may catalog the things I have made thus far later in case you want to use some of the ideas. I don't know enough about the OGD to help with the story arc, but as for suggestions on horror and magic and all of that--perhaps the rival organization performed a sacrifice that was witnessed? Maybe they do it to keep away an evil force? Or to summon one
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 9, 2016 13:16:39 GMT -5
That's a great idea!
And that evil force could be part of what's currently hunting / haunting the husband (whom I should really name)
Thank you for the advice.
As far as the puzzles you are using, could you elaborate? I am trying to learn as many methods as I can to keep this stuff from getting stale.
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Post by centaurofattn on Feb 9, 2016 15:08:45 GMT -5
Full disclosure, I'm in a long distance relationship so it makes it fun when some aspects of the puzzle can't be solved until we meet again and using the mail is fun too. I ordered the Weeping Book for him a month ago or so, and I don't want to make things too obvious so I want to wait until after he finished that experience to launch my own. Here is what I have so far:
1. This Friday I shall be giving a card, a rusty metal tag on a chain with hearts on it, a picture frame with words about us spelled out in the shape of an "&" and a small stuffed ball. 2. This month I will be creating a paper tag for my blog and Instagram that I make every month. The tag for March is also important. 3. I have already mailed an envelope inside a letter to his mom saying not to give him the envelope until he asks for it. 4. I have two postcards, one is generic and from me but has four cities written down the side. The other one has four other cities and says "You'll find what you seek on the freeway where journey's cross... -Helen" The cities all cross at Troy, NY (Helen of Troy) which is nicknamed the Collar City. Freeway is the name of my dog and has a metal tag attached to him currently that I made that reads "ASK TLR" (his mom's initials). That's when he will get the envelope. 5. At some point I will send him a letter or card that simply says "Water to REMOVE rust?!" The rusty tag that he will have had for over a month now comes into play. I rusted the front of the tag, but the back is actually just water-based paint and salt so it will rinse away revealing "Feb Tag + March Tag" 6. On the two tags there are the words "OPEN YOUR" (with heart motifs for February--'open your heart') and "BALL" (haven't figured out how to make that work yet. I have a month haha) 7. He will probably be sad to open the ball, but inside the stuffing is the chess piece with the Instagram logo on the bottom. On my photos, the #rook picture leads to a picture of scissors cutting on a dashed line. The Valentine card I made also has a dashed line square on the inside. When he carefully removes the back layer, there will be half of a photostrip with half a phrase written on the back. The envelope his mom has contains the other half of the photo strip and directs that what he seeks is behind the "&." 8. Behind the picture frame he has also had for a while is an old photo with a person's face scratched out and the word "libre" under it (we like Spanish) and "Mandell's Mystery" 9. On facebook I created a group and put a whole bunch of random activities. I "liked" three of them and then the last post reads "Go through my stuff and find the coffee cup. There you should find a special place. The password is likable. Her, not me." 10. This should lead him to my blog "Steve's Stuff" and a blog post about a coffee cup. There is a picture of the bar where we got engaged at the bottom. When he clicks it a password box pops up and he needs to put in the person the "likes" referenced on the page (the three things are what Amelie says she likes at the beginning of the film of the same name). 11. Then there is morse code that says "go to the source" and the source code for the page he lands on has a code that references an affine cipher. There is a repeated sentence above the code 9 times and a different one below the code 5 times (helping with the affine). That code finally tells him to post a specific phrase on my facebook wall to get the next clue.
Phwew! So all of that should take a long time. Especially since the postcards will be mailed while I travel in March and he has to come to my place to find some of the clues. In that time I will likely start planning phase two to start when he "activates" it. Or at that point I will just give up and say "Yay you finished. No more..." haha
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 9, 2016 18:52:35 GMT -5
Whoa!
that's so great! I'm really impressed that you have a SO who will do all of that! I feel like I have to bribe most of my friends to put in any work on C&C. (Not really bribe so much as hijack lunch meetings,)
My wife has helped me a lot on C&C twice, but it's not anything she would do if I wasn't there asking her for specific help.
As for all of this, I'll have to read it a few more times and see what form of clues I can integrate into the story...possibly through staging photographs and having items in the background take the place of some of these physical objects in your own case.
Thank you for all the help so far....got a few ideas finally starting to gel.
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Post by centaurofattn on Feb 9, 2016 20:34:56 GMT -5
I have long bus rides too and from work so I have a lot of time to brainstorm haha. I basically look around my house and say "How can I get rid of this but make it useful." The photostrips are actually from a Tim Holtz product as well. It makes most of my art kind of creepy, using stranger photos, which could work well for making up characters. www.amazon.com/Photobooth-Tim-Holtz-Idea-ology-TH93207/dp/B00TGP1O28
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 9, 2016 21:59:01 GMT -5
Geez it's like Tim Holtz was made for designing these mysteries. Looking through this stuff on amazon now.
I do Bing Rewards and use it for Amazon cards, so I almost always have about 20 dollars of Amazon credit standing. This stuff is perfect for building up a mystery-cache.
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Post by centaurofattn on Feb 11, 2016 21:16:12 GMT -5
Right?! His line of craft supplies is pretty awesome. I also happen to have a ton of it so if you (or any other future readers) ever want something created and mailed from central New York to further a plot, reach out. I love making stuff (and wouldn't mind being a super creepy dead person or something haha).
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 12, 2016 9:22:02 GMT -5
Noted, thanks! I'm going to make a similar offer for photoshop in Troyo's thread.
Today I'm going to try and update the plot points and work in some more magic and monsters...I have an idea forming if I can keep track of it.
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 15, 2016 16:29:05 GMT -5
In doing research for this case, I learned that William Butler Yeats was a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn, so searching through his works I found this: www.poemhunter.com/poem/demon-and-beast/So I am thinking that the Ancient evil is going to be a demon alluded to in this poem, and the specific names and objects mentioned will relate to it's history.. Death's Head = a skull or totem that was storing the demon. Wadderly = a catholic figure who help to saint-ify St. Patrick, so I could tie in the demon's origins to those stories. Some of the other names related to Italy or Spain, which could relate to the movements of the skull in different periods, May be able to tie it to disasters in those regions (with luck) So If this is the malevolence stalking the husband, I need that to be discovered, and for the demon to be researched and these clues in the poem found. I also need to find a conclusion, since the researchers can't actively do anything about this, the story needs to come to an end....perhaps with the location of the demon in current day, and reporting that location would be the "win" condition.
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Post by mistressdlw on May 15, 2016 10:07:06 GMT -5
So fun! Im impressed with all your creativity! Wish there more programs/companies who did this type of thing! I'm still waiting on my package from MPC.
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 2, 2017 18:02:52 GMT -5
Continuing this thread a year later, I am about to go live with my first mystery For the first puzzle listed above (opening the safe), I am going to include a few items "acquired" from the Order of the Golden Dawn. Among them will be the safe, obviously, and a note on how to open the safe in case of emergency. It will be written for OGD members, and assume they know the ciphers and such. So here is what I have in mind for Puzzle one. The clue text will read: "Bernini's Lantern light your steps." Could someone try to solve this and let me know how many steps it's taken? Thank you all, and sorry for the delay. Jan-Feb is sort of my "mystery writing season," as the rest of the year fills up fast.
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 9, 2017 16:33:42 GMT -5
So moving on, somewhat using this thread to brainstorm through ideas and outline my thoughts, as well as opening them to comment and critique... Here is the current WIP text of the cover letter: Greetings Mr. and Mrs. (Player 1 and 2)
While this letter is meant for your eyes first, it is not meant for your eyes only. I shall take a moment, then, to extend this greeting to names unfamiliar to you both at this junction.
Greetings as well to (Player 3,) (Player 4,) and (Player 5.)
Though some of you may be strangers to one another, over time you will rely heavily on your skills, perspectives, and zeal for lighting the unsolved, and the unseen. Such endeavors make this mortal existence worthwhile.
With such thoughts in mind, I am proud to introduce you all to the Silver Lamp Society, and offer you an opportunity for membership.
For your consideration; enclosed is a series of letters, from one Mrs. Sarah Allgood, writing to the Order of the Golden Dawn, regarding the safety and location of her recent husband, a Mr. Gerald Henson.
SLS agents have acquired several pieces of information pertinent to this case, which have also been forwarded to your address.
Utilize the names and resources given to you, and this new neophyte class will shine new light on crimes long thought hidden. The above letter will be (probably) printed out on laser-jet in an interesting font. I struggle the most with the look of the SLS, because they are the modern secret society, and I am trying to give them a distinct feel. For the moment I picked out some 24lb cotton resume paper (I think the exact brand was Eaton, it's just what I had at home.) I haven't picked out their colors yet (other than silver). I do have a series of SLS challenge coins I've made for these members (upon completion of this case), and I have a sealing wax stamp with the SLS logo I was able to get off of Etsy (will post links later.)
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 14, 2017 16:01:11 GMT -5
The next letter in the case, The letter from Sara Allgood to the Order, from Dec 21st, 1916. This letter was hand written by my wife on tea-dyed personal stationary. It was then tagged as evidence and added to the case file for this mystery. The case file itself will be forwarded on to the case workers. The text reads thus: Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Isis-Urania Temple London, England
December 21, 1916
Dear Magister Templi Berridge,
I write to you with trepidation, fearing the answer you may give. My husband, Gerald Henson, has been missing this past month, and I fear what fate may keep him from me.
Have you heard from Gerald? I saw his initiate’s invitation the day it was delivered and followed him to the dead drop behind The Angel, so don’t deny that you’ve contacted him. He disappeared a fortnight later.
I will be most grateful for any light you can shed on this matter.
Sincerely, Sara Allgood
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Post by charlesdegrey on Feb 15, 2017 12:12:34 GMT -5
So then the third letter, is the response from the Order of the Golden Dawn. This will be hand typed on a manual typewriter. Mine is a 1952 Remington Super Riter, which is slightly inaccurate for the 1916 time period of this mystery, but my friends aren't typographers and I don't think they'll be comparing type faces that closely. The OGD response reads thusly: OGD Response Very formal, direct on what they can answer Have correspondence in Temple (Paris) waiting for you. Name of secretary Standard identity protocols SLS appended notes : if safe needs to open, here’s clue to open it, vault #, letter code, 5 digits
Dear Mrs. Allgood,
Congratulations on your recent espousal. We hope marriage suits your husband and yourself, and does not impact your studies or focus in our pursuits.
Recruitment information is of course confidential, as you are well aware. Hopefully no further inquires shall be necessary beyond this exchange.
On the matter of your husband's location, we cannot offer any information, however Isis-Urania recently received word from Ahathoor. A letter is awaiting your retrieval in the temple safe. Standard identity confirmation is of course required.
The letter's sender is listed as one Gerald Henson.
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Isis-Urania I received a fresh roll of typewriter ribbon in the mail yesterday, so once I install that and type up the letter, I can age it slightly and distress it's envelope. I'll add pictures soon.
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