""Roll the dice to see if I'm getting drunk!"

Where are these quotes from? They are making me laugh because I remember hearing them on a video years and years ago, but i can't remember where exactly.

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg #71):

The quotes are from the Dead Alewives' sketch "Dungeons and Dragons", which we no doubt all heard at some point or another. I'll let you Youtube it!

Player Narration: some of us have done free-form and are comfortable with self-narrating scenes involving NPCs, others may feel (understandably) that's the Keeper's job. Both opinions are right, of course, and I'm happy to resolve player actions in a more conventional-style GM post.

However, at this point I kind of want to move onto the evening's visit to the BP Club and so please forgive me if my narration is somewhat brief and to the point.

Tony

Group,

Please welcome aboard 2 new players. One is Lee, someone I've gamed with for years (he's more recently played Lee Harvey Oswald in my Morrow Project game and a different character in my Twilight 2000 game) and is a good friend of mine. He will play John-Marc Falcon and is taking the character in interesting directions.

The other new player is Max, who will be playing Doctor Phillip Weston. Because I don't want to recap for the player events I wasn't even a part of and yet introducing a new PC simply to replace Dr. Weston, he'll play Dr. Weston instead with a few modifications.

We'll say that Dr. Weston is still Det. James Weston's brother, but lives in the UK (James West is his half-brother, father moved to NY when he was an infant). He traveled to NY for James' funeral after he was killed during the gong show at the Ju-Ju house, then accompanied the investigators back to London. Along the way, he read some of the books you possess. He's taking a leave of absence from Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire, where he is a practicing psychiatrist working with (and on) the criminally insane.

Tony

Hello Lee and Max. Welcome to the game. I play the characters of both Detective Sergeant Darlingotn and Molly Fuller. Looking forward to playing with you both.

Welcome new people :)

FYI Keeper - I finished the book already (in the old game, it was covered in a PM) and what I learned was updated to my character sheet. I can share the PM with you if you'd like.

Welcome to the game folks! It's nice to have more folks in the game.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg #75):

Please I'd appreciate the PM. Everyone, it's confusing enough as it is so please make sure "books read" is filled out on your character sheet for reference.

London cabs of the 20's seemed to seat either 6 (3 facing forward on rear bench + 2 in rear-facing jump seats and 1 next to driver) or 4. If someone has other more specific information, please share!

Who all is going? This is my scratch list:

1) Cynthia
2) Singh
3) Howard
4) John-Marc
5) Phil (assuming he doesn't take the bus?)
6) Dr. Weston (assuming he's back from the library?)

Either way, 2 cabs are probably better to avoid crowding.

To avoid arriving with the others, Phil might want to just take the bus down Piccadilly and then Shaftsbury to Charing Cross, although it might be a little tricky navigating the city to a place he's never been before, even if it's fairly direct. (In pictures I can't see tram tracks or electric wires for a trolley in Piccadilly Circus so I guess they didn't run there. There's always the tube, of course.)

Alternatively, Phil could just ask to be let out at Charing Cross and Shaftesbury and walk the rest of the way.

Tony

There aren't any trams or trolleys in Central London and, to my knowledge, have never been. To walk from Park Lane to the east edge of Soho would take about 25 minutes (if you knew the route) and the area would be rammed with bustling people. That 25 minute walk would be an adventure all of it's own!

Yea, that sounds best. I would not want Phil to get lost in the fog.....

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg #78):

Paul,

Doesn't look like it from photos and other media. The route goes through Piccadilly Circus and there is of course the saying "if you stand in Piccadilly Circus long enough you'll meet everyone you know." Not that it's critical, any idea how many a 20's taxi could seat?

I hope I'm getting 20's London relatively right! Love the Cockney rhyming slang, brilliant, as you might say.

Tony

I've only lived in London since 2002, not 1922, so I can't be sure... but you seem to be doing an OK job!

London Taxis (officially called Hackney Carriages) were pretty much all motorised by the 1920s, horse-drawn ones were on their way out by then. You could fit five in the main cab, three in the back facing forwards and two on fold-out seats that faced backwards. There is another seat next to the driver but London Taxi drivers view it as bad luck to allow passengers in the front of their cab (even to these modern day). You'd either have to know the taxi driver personally or give him a really big tip to ride in the front.

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg #81):

Heh, just trying to do London justice! Fog, smog, rain, snow...

There is mention of a 4-seater taxi in London in the link below (as well as a 2-seater "Jixi") but we'll go with the 3 + 2 as standard. Didn't know it was bad luck to sit in front, that's common here! I imagine if a passenger in London insists on giving directions to the driving they inevitably get lost.

http://www.lvta.co.uk/history.htm

Speaking of route, a smart cabbie would probably avoid Piccadilly Circus at all costs, unless he's getting paid for time as well as distance. In my reading I find that "Taxi" comes from the name of the automatic metering device ("taximeter") that was introduced in London cabs, which eventually became standard there and thus synonymous throughout the Empire and the world. I've haggled with non-metered taxis in Asia and while it's fun (and sometimes cheaper or free in Bangkok) I can see why meters were introduced.

Tony

Group,

Awesome post by our new players, especially Dr. Weston. Well done! Lee, hope you don't mind playing another Canadian in my games.

Some new details have been added to the Reference thread. There is a quick game summary by Cynthia re-posted and clarified a little.

I will make another post to the London thread, then everyone can post to Soho. Last, I assume Simmons accompanying Howard.

Apropos of nothing, I'm reminded that my sister lived above and worked in a pub on (or just off) Piccadilly Circus in 1990 or so. (Also, my brother worked as a game designer for Codemasters on OP FLASHPOINT 2 and I think lived in Bath.)

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:51, Fri 07 Oct 2011.

It would seem odd to take one's manservant out for a night on the town. Certainly, Bertie never took Jeeves. Rather breaks down the hallowed boundaries, what?

In reply to Howard Lampton (msg #84):

Makes sense, although Simmons is somewhat concerned for Howard's safety after the Ju-Ju House gong show. He wants to come but he will stay!

"Penhurst" instead of "Penhew" is my fault, I gave the player the wrong name. We can correct this or just say it's a harmless slip of the Doctor's.

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:52, Fri 07 Oct 2011.

Excellent post describing the taxi journey across London at night, Mr Keeper The description of Soho (drunk idiots, women of easy virtue, urine soaked alleys) is pretty spot on , even for a Saturday night in 2011. Nothing much has changed.

And well done to our newer players, great debut posts!

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg #86):

Ha, my pleasure!

One thing that happens in other games that I'm not really in favour of is blank "PM only" posts in the IC threads. If you want to PM another player or me:

1) Use the Private Message Threads.

2) If you like, include some other IC action.

3) In general, most PMs don't really need to be private, so consider just making it public.

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:26, Sat 08 Oct 2011.

Group,

1) You may start posting to the Soho Reconnaissance thread. It's okay if you want to finish up on the London thread!

2) Who's armed? Singh has a .45 revolver (probably a Webeley), JM has a .455 Webley. These would both be large sidearms. Would Darlington have his revolver? All these are registered and the weather is cold enough that they could be hidden in coat pockets. Does Phil have his Luger? It's not registered, of course.

3) The above information can be included in your post in some sense.

Tony

Lampton specified that he is carrying his .455 'bulldog' revolver.


Of course, overcoats and hats (excepting Singh's turban and, perhaps, Cynthia's coat) would be checked at the coatroom upon entering.

Ah right, I remember! Thanks.

The pocket Webley: nice little shooter. On a technical note I don't think it was chambered for the full-power .455 Webley; if it was, it would be a handful. If anything, I would say the .442 Webley, which was specifically designed for "pocket guns". Damage for this calibre and .445 Webley would be similar to a .38. (The British Army conducted tests, which is why Webleys went to .38 calibre.)

Once the coats and hats are gone, harder to hide your shootin' irons...

By the way: I applaud Cynthia for trying to nail down some objectives. This isn't likely to be the Ju-Ju House, but it's nice to have some kind of plan.

Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:25, Sat 08 Oct 2011.

JM is carrying his 455 Webley, of course, just because shotguns don't hide so easy when not sawed off.  I will look into that!

Lee,

Falcon (and Darlington) would likely have shoulder-holsters (one as a pilot and the other a policeman). Shotguns are not required to be registered in the UK at this point, it's unclear whether this applies to sawed-off "coach guns". I'm sure you'll let me know!

Group, I worded my request for information badly. I am assuming Singh is armed and Webley is not, but if nothing is posted to confirm this then they won't be armed.

Also, for those with guns in pocket (Lampton, possibly Singh) inside the club are the guns staying in the overcoat or carried in suit coat pockets? For tailored suits, a Webley would be fairly obvious to anyone looking. Or bumping into you.

Tony

Singh is not being particularly subtle about being armed. He thinks it won't hurt for bad guys to know they aren't easy pickings.

Howard has his revolver tucked in the waistband of his trousers at this point, which should make it a bit less obvious, especially once they're seated.

BTW I think you meant Dr Weston isn't armed. Phil Webley certainly has his Luger, right?

In reply to Howard Lampton (msg #94):

I assumed Dr. Weston isn't armed. It was never specified whether Webley was armed or not, and all things considered it's probably wise he's not because his Luger isn't registered.

Tony