GUMSHOE System
Encyclopedia
The GUMSHOE System is a role-playing game system
created by Robin Laws
, designed for running investigative scenarios. The premise is that investigative games are not about finding clues, they are about interpreting the clues that are found. The GUMSHOE System is used in various games published by Pelgrane Press
.
The GUMSHOE System is designed to solve this by making the game not about finding clues, but about interpreting them. Attention is given to designing investigative scenarios, while at the same time the focus is put on encouraging the players to take control of the investigation (and, thereby, the story being told).
The GUMSHOE System is player-centric, putting die rolling in the hands of the players whenever possible. Non-player character
abilities either modify the roll made by the player, or succeeds or fails depending on what the game master finds dramatically appropriate. Direct conflict between characters, such as combat, is an exception.
, common to most role-playing games, are not used in GUMSHOE. Rating points goes into a pool of points that can be used in spends related to that ability. Spent or lost points from ability pools are refreshed at various points of play.
A spend for an investigative ability costs 1 or 2 points. A spend gives additional clues. These clues are not necessary to solve the scenario, though they should give additional information or other benefits. Spent pool points from investigative abilities are refreshed between scenarios.
Example of investigative abilities: Architecture, Cop Talk, Forensic Accounting.
As long as the die roll is equal to or higher than the difficulty, the player character has succeeded in its action.
A spend for a general ability can be as high as that abilitiy's pool. Each point spent adds 1 to the die roll. Spent pool points from general abilities are refreshed between scenarios, though special circumstances can refresh some points during play.
Example of general abilities: Athletics, Health, Shooting.
Use of appropriate abilities can refresh some spent or lost points in Health and Stability during play. Apart from that, Stability refreshes between scenarios, while the player character is required to rest to refresh Health.
has produced a number of games that use the GUMSHOE System.
Role-playing game system
A role-playing game system is a set of game mechanics used in a role-playing game to determine the outcome of a character's in-game actions...
created by Robin Laws
Robin Laws
Robin D. Laws is a writer and game designer who lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is the author of a number of role-playing games and related products.-Works:Robin D...
, designed for running investigative scenarios. The premise is that investigative games are not about finding clues, they are about interpreting the clues that are found. The GUMSHOE System is used in various games published by Pelgrane Press
Pelgrane Press
Pelgrane Press Ltd is a British role-playing game publishing company based in London and founded in 1999. It is owned by Simon J Rogers, Sasha Bilton and its sister company ProFantasy Software. It currently produces the Dying Earth Roleplaying Game, GUMSHOE System and related products.-GUMSHOE...
.
Concept
The GUMSHOE System is designed around the idea that investigative scenarios are difficult to run with most role-playing systems. The problem is identified as important clues being missed due to failed dice-rolls, resulting in play grinding to a halt.The GUMSHOE System is designed to solve this by making the game not about finding clues, but about interpreting them. Attention is given to designing investigative scenarios, while at the same time the focus is put on encouraging the players to take control of the investigation (and, thereby, the story being told).
The GUMSHOE System is player-centric, putting die rolling in the hands of the players whenever possible. Non-player character
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
abilities either modify the roll made by the player, or succeeds or fails depending on what the game master finds dramatically appropriate. Direct conflict between characters, such as combat, is an exception.
Character creation
Player characters in the GUMSHOE System are created by using build points to buy rating points in character abilities. Points are spent on a one-for-one basis.Investigative abilities
Each player character receives a number of investigative build points depending on the number of players and the setting. In The Esoterrorists setting, two players receive 32 investigative build points each, while five or more players receive 20 build points each. Any number of investigative build points can be spent on an investigative ability, though more than 3 or 4 points is rarely useful.General abilities
Each player character receives a number of general build points depending on the setting, but regardless of number of players. In The Esoterrorists setting players receive 60 general build points each. Any number of general build points can be spent on a general ability, as long as the second highest rated ability is at least half that of the highest rated.Improving the character
After a scenario is completed, player characters receives new build points that can be used as either investigative or general build points. The amount acquired depends on the length of the scenario. There are no levels through which player characters progress.Game mechanics
All mechanics in the GUMSHOE System revolve around character abilities. AttributesAttribute (role-playing games)
An attribute is a piece of data that describes to what extent a fictional character in a role-playing game possesses a specific natural, in-born characteristic common to all characters in the game. That piece of data is usually an abstract number or, in some cases, a set of dice...
, common to most role-playing games, are not used in GUMSHOE. Rating points goes into a pool of points that can be used in spends related to that ability. Spent or lost points from ability pools are refreshed at various points of play.
Investigative abilities
The purpose of investigative abilities is to find clues that advance the story. These clues are called core clues. Investigative abilities always work; there are no dice rolls involved. If a scene contains a core clue and a player character uses an investigative ability that relates to the clue, the character will find the clue.A spend for an investigative ability costs 1 or 2 points. A spend gives additional clues. These clues are not necessary to solve the scenario, though they should give additional information or other benefits. Spent pool points from investigative abilities are refreshed between scenarios.
Example of investigative abilities: Architecture, Cop Talk, Forensic Accounting.
General abilities
General abilities are used when an unknown outcome is dramatically appropriate. For these situations, the Gumshoe System utilizes a single six-sided die, which is rolled against a difficulty (or target number). This is called a test. The standard difficulty is 4, though it can be modified to anything from 2 to 8 to represent special circumstances.As long as the die roll is equal to or higher than the difficulty, the player character has succeeded in its action.
A spend for a general ability can be as high as that abilitiy's pool. Each point spent adds 1 to the die roll. Spent pool points from general abilities are refreshed between scenarios, though special circumstances can refresh some points during play.
Example of general abilities: Athletics, Health, Shooting.
Health and stability
Though Health and Stability are general abilities, they function differently. While other abilities are exhausted once they reach 0, Health and Stability can reach negative numbers. This represents serious injury or mental illness. If either ability reaches -12, the player character has died or gone permanently insane.Use of appropriate abilities can refresh some spent or lost points in Health and Stability during play. Apart from that, Stability refreshes between scenarios, while the player character is required to rest to refresh Health.
Products
Pelgrane PressPelgrane Press
Pelgrane Press Ltd is a British role-playing game publishing company based in London and founded in 1999. It is owned by Simon J Rogers, Sasha Bilton and its sister company ProFantasy Software. It currently produces the Dying Earth Roleplaying Game, GUMSHOE System and related products.-GUMSHOE...
has produced a number of games that use the GUMSHOE System.
- The Esoterrorists (2007) - As elite investigators of the Ordo Veritatis, the characters combat occult terrorists who are intent on tearing the fabric of the world by exposing it to the creatures of the Outer Black.
- Fear Itself (2007) - Set in a similar world to that of The Esoterrorists, Fear Itself instead focuses on ordinary people who are drawn into confrontation with the creatures of the Outer Black. The game introduces psychic powers to the GUMSHOE System.
- Book of Unremitting Horror (2007) - Details creatures and artifacts of the Outer Black. Also contains scenario outlines for The Esoterrorists and two scenarios for Fear Itself. Previously released as d20 bookD20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
, it has been expanded for the GUMSHOE System. Written by Dave Allsop and Adrian Bott. - Trail of CthulhuTrail of Cthulhu (role-playing game)Trail of Cthulhu is an investigative horror role-playing game designed by Kenneth Hite that uses the GUMSHOE System developed by Robin Laws. Trail of Cthulhu is published by Pelgrane Press under license from Chaosium...
(2008) - Offers a new take on cults, creatures and gods of H. P. LovecraftH. P. LovecraftHoward Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
's literature, and addresses their uses in role-playing. Written by Ken Hite - Mutant City Blues (2009) - In a world where 1% of the population has gained mutant powers police procedure has changed forever. The characters are members of the Heightened Crime Investigation Unit that specializes in crimes involving the mutant community.