Date: 2009-08-06 18:26 Subject: Esoterror Factbook Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, esoterror fact book, esoterrorists, pelgrane

Due to an oversight, we missed an important clue from the Esoterror Factbook competition. I've extended the deadline to the end of August. Here it is:

Original Briefing

This briefing was conveyed to Agents Roark and Losada by their Mr. Verity on assignment to Operation Marble Shanty, Phase One:

You are tasked with an investigation into the deaths of self-styled guerrilla artist SELMA POOLE. POOLE was murdered in a courthouse confrontation by pool cleaner ZEKE KULA, in an apparently unmotivated incident. POOLE had been arrested for a disturbance created through an unauthorized art installation project held at the FAIRBORN GALLERY MALL in FAIRBORN, CT. Although we have no concrete confirmation of supernatural or Esoterror involvement, our media team analysis has flagged the case for the following reasons:

* Psychologically destabilizing nature of POOLE’s art installation

* Potential example of heightening anxiety surrounding a news event already generating considerable anxiety and cognitive dissonance

* Use of Esoterror keywords in POOLE’s press statements

* Shocking public nature of POOLE’s death

* Puzzling lack of motivation on part of KULA, opening possibility of arcane influence

You will be provided with identification & clearance as FBI agents following up details of case on a supporting basis. Like any case assigned as MTA work product, may prove entirely innocuous. Potential for Schrödinger backlash is high; observe requisite protocols and exercise extreme caution. Deflect and dampen case’s inherent drama, laying preliminary groundwork for veil-out throughout investigative phase. Do not allow your investigation to contribute to conspiracy theories or other psychologically troubling rumors. Avoid media attention!!

Date: 2009-07-31 11:17 Subject: Esoterrorists Competition Update Security: Public Tags: competition, esoterror fact book, esoterrorists, pelgrane

We've extended the deadline for the Esoterrorists competition, as we missed out the original briefing document. We'll update the competition website next week.

Date: 2009-06-08 13:41 Subject: ProFantasy Survey and Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, profantasy

We asked our ProFantasy user base to fill in a survey, and we got well over 1000 responses.

I'm glad that a few results surprised me, for example, the number of people who run games using miniature-scale battle maps (72%), and that 25% of users draw starship deckplans.

Competition

Guess what percentage of our users have computers under a year old?  A prize for the nearest. Post your answer in the comments.

The prize? We'll be doing an open RPG cartography survey, which will include some more general questions.

The winner will be able to choose the question, and get the results.

Date: 2009-05-21 13:22 Subject: The Esoterrorists Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, esoterror fact book, esoterrorists, pelgrane

As a follow-up to our successful Mutant City Blues competition, robin_d_laws has created an Esoterrorists competition to celebrate the release of The Esoterror Fact Book. Solve the mystery, and devise a suitable mundane cover-up of esoterrorist activities to win.

Date: 2009-03-19 18:02 Subject: Mutant City Blues Competition Winner Security: Public Tags: competition, mutant city blues, pelgrane

At last, the results of the Mutant City Blues competition. It was a big success for us, and we will be doing more competitions.

Of the 36 contestants, six correctly identified the killer, Eryssa Henry. No one got everything right — but no HCIU officer’s initial take on the case turns out to be 100% on the money, either.

The contest winner is Michael Ostrokol, whose reconstruction of the killing and the mutant powers used to commit it was correct—albeit with one power use too many. Eryssa has the powers Concussion Beam, Light Control, and Invisibility; Michael guessed those powers correctly but then added Illusion and Alter Form for good measure. He wins the contest even though he then makes one leap too many by concluding that Eryssa is actually Karen Das. There’s also a bit of confusion in his answer between Betsy (who is in the sauna when the killing occurs and does have the Alter Form ability) and Eryssa. Even with these incorrect elements, Michael’s answer comes closest to our secret description of the crime.

Other contestants were closer to the truth on Eryssa’s motive for the killings without getting the modus operandi and list of powers used.

Michael wasn’t the only contestant to add Impersonate and Alter Form to the mix: Kyle Miller made the opposite leap, concluding that the Karen Das who appeared on a previous season of Stir Crazy was really Eryssa.

Honorable mention for creativity above and beyond the call of duty goes to Patricia Kassiday, who submitted her answer in the form of an in-character document admitting to the crime.

So the prizes, which will be distributed in a couple of weeks' time, when the new Pelgrane Press store is up and running.
Michael Ostrokol

Runners Up ($30 vouchers)
Patricia Kassiday
Lyndsey Anderson
akomagami
Chris Harnish
Kyle Miller

Winner of the rpg.net draw for a free MCB
James Newman

( The Solution )

Date: 2009-03-09 14:00 Subject: MCB Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, mutant city blues, pelgrane

We had a flurry of last-minute entries to the MCB competition and I've just got back from holiday, so it will take a while for me to get to a winner. I've got to say it's been more successful than I thought. I think the documents really highlight the differences between MCB and more traditional superhero games.

I'll announce the solution and the winners later in the week.

Date: 2009-02-19 13:31 Subject: Mutant City Blues Out at Rpgnow.com Security: Public Tags: competition, gumshoe, mutant city blues, pelgrane

Mutant City Blues is now out as a PDF at rpgnow.com.

As of this post, we've had eight entries into the MCB competition, so your odds are still pretty good of winning $350 worth of Pelgrane Press products.

Date: 2009-02-12 18:12 Subject: Mutant City Blues is Out Now! Security: Public Tags: art, competition, hard helix, mutant city blues, pelgrane

Mutant City Blues is available for mail order from the Pelgrane Press webstore and Indie Press Revolution. It will be in the stores on Monday or Tuesday next week. Existing mail orders have shipped.

The remaining clues for the Mutant City Blues competition have been posted, some hosted very kindly by rpg.net.

The first supplement for Mutant City Blues, Hard Helix, is complete and is now being illustrated. Pascal Quidault is supplementing Jerome's work:

Date: 2009-02-10 15:32 Subject: Mutant City Blues Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, mutant city blues, pelgrane

New Mutant City Blues competition clues have been posted.

Just guess the perpetrator, let us know why and get $150 worth of print products, plus a Trail of Cthulhu leather bound, plus all our PDFs. I don't suppose a huge number of people will enter, so your odds are pretty good.

• the statements of your colleagues at the scene
• witness statements compiled by the uniformed officers
• the illustration from the crime scene
• the Quade Diagram
• Article: Megan Miller Stole My Shoes
• Article: Student Alleges Sexual Misconduct By Stir Crazy Contestant
• Article: Stir Crazy Contestant Found Dead In Hotel Room
• Final clues 13th February.

Date: 2009-02-09 16:10 Subject: Mutant City Blues - Stir Crazy Killing Security: Public Tags: competition, mutant city blues, pelgrane

Stir Crazy Contestant Found Dead In Hotel Room

January 3, 2015

by Lauren Greco

Las Vegas Star

The lifeless body of Karen Das was found at 10:30 this morning by hotel cleaning staff at the Fiesta Holiday Casino on Dean Martin Drive. Das, 27, appeared as a contestant on this summer’s GBC television reality series, Stir Crazy. She was removed from the series in its third-to-last episode. Like other contestants on the show, Das was required to divulge a secret—in her case, that she’d undergone electro-convulsive therapy for depression. Das’ secret was revealed on the show’s fourth episode. She was removed from the show after a competitor, Carol Godsey, survived a vote-off following the revelation of her own secret.

Das was found in a bathtub and was unresponsive to medical intervention. She was pronounced dead on the scene by medical examiner Dr. Catherine Nilsen. Although foul play has not at this time been ruled out, sources close to the investigation believe that Das died of a self-administered dose of prescription medication.

The victim’s family resides in Dobb’s Ferry, New York. Immediate family members refused comment to the media. A cousin, Rodney Kapur, reported that Das’ psychological recovery had reversed itself after her appearance on the show.

Stir Crazy producer Benjamin Sheldon disavowed responsibility for Das’ suicide. "All of the contestants go into the show with their eyes open. We have fully signed releases for everyone. I’m sorry that she did this to herself. Despite her problems, she was a vibrant personality who scored well with viewers."

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced, pending release of the body by the Las Vegas medical examiner’s office.

Date: 2009-02-02 14:22 Subject: Witness Statements Security: Public Tags: competition, mutant city blues

I'm adding one of the last three Trail of Cthulhu leather bound version and all the Pelgrane PDFs to the prize for the Mutant City Blues Competition. I'd be surprised if there were a lot of entries, so it's really worth a go.

More clues.

( Witness Statements behind the cut )

Date: 2009-01-30 15:42 Subject: Massive Brain Dump Security: Public Tags: competition, gumshoe, mutant city blues, page xx, trail of cthulhu

Why am I excited?

Mutant City Blues is on sale, and the latest issue of our new webzine Page XX is out, too. It includes two new columns by Robin D Laws, some advice on CCG design, a cartoon, a Mutant City Blues competition, and new Trail of Cthulhu hand-outs.

Mutant City Blues is stand-alone GUMSHOE game of contemporary superpowers by Robin D Laws, out now from Pelgrane Press store, and Indie Press Revolution.

Solve the mutant murder mystery and win $150 worth of Pelgrane Press vouchers.

See Page XX this month is a bumper edition, and includes:

• View from the Pelgrane's Nest by Simon Rogers
• Mutant City Blues:The Crime Scene by Jérôme Huguenin
• From Call To Trail (Part 1) by Robin D Laws
• Genre, Structure and Choice by Robin D Laws
• The Trial of Cthulhu #1 by Jérôme Huguenin and Simon Rogers
• Lay Your Cards on the Table - Creating a CCG by Jonathan Lavallee
• Trail of Cthulhu Cheat Sheet by Yunus Wesley
• Pregen Characters for The Murderer of Thomas Fell Kristian G. Madsen

Date: 2009-01-29 18:53 Subject: Excitement Security: Public Tags: competition, esoterror fact book, esoterrorists, gumshoe, mutant city blues, page xx, pelgrane, trail of cthulhu

I'm so excited I can barely contain myself!

Date: 2009-01-12 15:56 Subject: Caption Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, pelgrane

After a 60.40 vote the winner has been decided! rpmiller's entry takes the main prize:


I forgot to post Lynne Hardy's Photoshopped entry, which takes the Photoshop prize.

Date: 2009-01-05 16:18 Subject: Caption Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, pelgrane

Competition Closed! Entry 1, by RP Miller is the winner of the main competition.

You may remember our caption competition. Two entries have been chosen (by Ken and Robin) for your perusal. Vote for the one which amuses you. Voting closes Friday.

First entry:




Second Entry:

Date: 2008-12-10 09:51 Subject: Jerome's Entry Security: Public Tags: competition, pelgrane

Jérome asked me to post his entry to the caption competition, here:

Date: 2008-12-09 18:34 Subject: Caption Competition Security: Public Tags: competition, conventions, pelgrane

Ken - princeofcairo - (on the right) and Robin -robin_d_laws-at the Dragonmeet convention in the notorious "no topic" seminar, photo courtesy of Darran Sims. Robin has a reputation for looking a little despondent, which is not necessarily a reflection on his inner state.

It seems worthy of a caption competition. The winner will get a Pelgrane or ProFantasy voucher, or something. Either or both parties in your entry can think or speak. A bonus prize for adding speech or think bubbles, or otherwise adding interest to the scene.

Ken and I came up with:

Ken: "It's not about the chintz, is it? It's about your mother!"

Date: 2008-10-24 18:12 Subject: Essen Prize Security: Public Tags: competition, conventions, profantasy

We'd had one entry for the "get a picture of Ralf at Essen" competition from a Mr Matt Goodman (heliograph). But, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disqualify Matt. Can any one see why?

( Find out why behind the cut. )

Date: 2008-06-20 13:36 Subject: Caption Competition 3 - The Winner Security: Public Tags: competition, gumshoe, pelgrane, trail of cthuhlu

One caption in the Trail of Cthulhu caption competition is a clear winner, with 52% of the vote. The other three share the rest of the vote evenly.

And the winning caption is:

"Too distracted by the theatrics on stage, the audience failed to see the thing rising out of what they thought was a painted lake."

The winner has been notified. 

Date: 2008-06-17 12:10 Subject: Caption Competition Stage 2 Please Vote Security: Public Tags: competition, pelgrane, trail of cthulhu

Now for the second stage of the caption competition to win the leather bound Trail of Cthulhu. Vote for the caption you think is best. Voting closes Friday 20th June when I arrive at work.

Caption 1:
The Live Action edition of Mousetrap had one or two early teething problems.

Caption 2:
Linling sighed, as she sat thinking to herself;
"Always the bridesmaid, never the executioner".

Caption 3:
Too distracted by the theatrics on stage, the audience failed to see the thing rising out of what they thought was a painted lake.

Caption 4:
Nyarlathotep's marriage guidance service gets its first clients.