Back to the main page

Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: Mike Bobroff <Airwasp@***.COM>
Subject: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 09:23:08 EST
Guys, something I am sharing with you after my sister had a warning from the
Department of Motor Vehicles or Police (I don't know which) in Ohio.
-=-=-=-
"If you're ever driving after dark and see an oncoming car with no
headlights turned on, DO NOT flash your lights at them! This is a new common
gang
member initiation "game" that goes like this: the new member being initiated
drives along with no headlights on and the first car to flash their headlights
at
him is now his "target". He is now required to chase that car and shoot at or
into the car in order to complete his initiation requirements."
-=-=-=-
Guys, so be wary of doing this, and be careful.

-Mike
Message no. 2
From: Oliver McDonald <oliver@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 09:32:21 -0500
On Sun, 22 Nov 1998 09:23:08 EST, Mike Bobroff wrote:

>Guys, something I am sharing with you after my sister had a warning from the
>Department of Motor Vehicles or Police (I don't know which) in Ohio.
>-=-=-=-
>"If you're ever driving after dark and see an oncoming car with no
>headlights turned on, DO NOT flash your lights at them! This is a new common
>gang
>member initiation "game" that goes like this: the new member being initiated
>drives along with no headlights on and the first car to flash their headlights
>at
>him is now his "target". He is now required to chase that car and shoot at
or
>into the car in order to complete his initiation requirements."
>-=-=-=-
>Guys, so be wary of doing this, and be careful.

Two points:

1) This is highly off topic.
2) This is an urban legend.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Oliver McDonald - oliver@*********.com
http://web2.spydernet.com

Space. The Final Frontier. Let's not close it down.

Brought to you via CyberSpace, the recursive frontier.

"that is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may
die."
-H.P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu."
Message no. 3
From: Sean McCrohan <mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 10:39:25 -0500
Quoting Mike Bobroff (Airwasp@***.COM):
<Snip headlight story>

http://www.urbanlegends.com/death/lights.out/

Strangely enough, I got this same story about three days ago from
someone else. Just this morning I got mail from him apologizing for spreading
an urban legend, and providing the above URL.

--Sean
--
Sean McCrohan (mccrohan@**.gatech.edu) | "He uses his folly as a stalking
Grad Student, Human-Computer Interaction | horse, and under the presentation
Georgia Institute of Technology | of that he shoots his wit."
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~smccrohan | _As You Like It_, Act 5 Sc 4
Message no. 4
From: Micheal Feeney <Starrngr@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 13:15:09 EST
In a message dated 98-11-22 09:24:09 EST, you write:

> -=-=-=-
> "If you're ever driving after dark and see an oncoming car with no
> headlights turned on, DO NOT flash your lights at them! This is a new
> common
> gang
> member initiation "game" that goes like this: the new member being
initiated
> drives along with no headlights on and the first car to flash their
> headlights
> at
> him is now his "target". He is now required to chase that car and shoot
at
> or
> into the car in order to complete his initiation requirements."
> -=-=-=-
> Guys, so be wary of doing this, and be careful.
>
> -Mike
>

Nope. This is an urban legend. Check out the urban legends page... Look it
up, anyway, cause I dont have the URL handy.
Message no. 5
From: alareth <alareth@*****.DWEBS.NET>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 14:04:21 -0500
>Guys, something I am sharing with you after my sister had a warning from
the
>Department of Motor Vehicles or Police (I don't know which) in Ohio.
>-=-=-=-
>"If you're ever driving after dark and see an oncoming car with no
>headlights turned on, DO NOT flash your lights at them! This is a new
common
>gang
>member initiation "game" that goes like this: the new member being
initiated
>drives along with no headlights on and the first car to flash their
headlights
>at
>him is now his "target". He is now required to chase that car and shoot at
or
>into the car in order to complete his initiation requirements."
>-=-=-=-
>Guys, so be wary of doing this, and be careful.
>
>-Mike

Sorry to break the news to you but this is an uurban myth that has been
around for quite some time. The first time I encountered it was when I was
stationed in Norfolk, VA back in '92. It was actually put out to all the
commands at the base via official message and was retracted as false after
about a week. I have heard it once or twice since then in various similar
forms in other places.

Alareth
Message no. 6
From: GRANITE <granite@**.NET>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 12:22:06 -0700
> "If you're ever driving after dark and see an oncoming car with no
> headlights turned on, DO NOT flash your lights at them!

Just like all the other answers you have gotten..I too have heard
that one before..But I can give you a couple of reasons not to flash
your lights..
1] it is a ticketable offense to have your lights on high beams
within 500 feet of another vehicle..
2] you could be responsible for an accident..legally..
--------------------------------GRANITE
"Rock Steady"
===============================================
Lord, Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change,
The Courage To Change The Things I Can,
And The Wisdom To Hide The Bodies Of Those People I Had To Kill
Because They Pissed Me Off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ShadowRunner's Serenity Prayer
===============================================
Understanding is a three edged sword. - Kosh
What is best in life?
To Crush Your Enemies,
See Them Driven Before You,
And To Hear The Lamentation Of Their Women. -Conan
I Am The LAW! -JD
Jamais Arriere
Message no. 7
From: "Ratinac, Rand (NSW)" <RRatinac@*****.REDCROSS.ORG.AU>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 12:24:46 +1000
> >"If you're ever driving after dark and see an oncoming car with no
> >headlights turned on, DO NOT flash your lights at them! This is a
> new common
> >gang
> >member initiation "game" that goes like this: the new member being
> initiated
> >drives along with no headlights on and the first car to flash their
> headlights
> >at
> >him is now his "target". He is now required to chase that car and
> shoot at or
> >into the car in order to complete his initiation requirements."
> >-=-=-=-
> >Guys, so be wary of doing this, and be careful.
>
> Two points:
>
> 1) This is highly off topic.
> 2) This is an urban legend.
> Oliver McDonald - oliver@*********.com
>
>
> Now if I was a ganger who subscribed to ShadowRN, I'd be thinking,
> "Hmmm...seems like no one believes this one anymore. Hey! Why don't I
> try it? If no one believes it, I should have people flashing lights at
> me left and right!"
>
> *Doc' practices thinkin' evil, just fer fun...*
>
> Doc'
>
> .sig Sauer
Message no. 8
From: Mike Bobroff <Airwasp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 15:01:13 EST
In a message dated 11/22/98 9:32:59 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
oliver@*********.com writes:

> >Guys, something I am sharing with you after my sister had a warning from
the
> >Department of Motor Vehicles or Police (I don't know which) in Ohio.
> >-=-=-=-
> >"If you're ever driving after dark and see an oncoming car with no
> >headlights turned on, DO NOT flash your lights at them! This is a new
> common
> >gang
> >member initiation "game" that goes like this: the new member being
> initiated
> >drives along with no headlights on and the first car to flash their
> headlights
> >at
> >him is now his "target". He is now required to chase that car and
shoot
at
> or
> >into the car in order to complete his initiation requirements."
> >-=-=-=-
> >Guys, so be wary of doing this, and be careful.
>
> Two points:
>
> 1) This is highly off topic.
> 2) This is an urban legend.
>
I am sorry to say, but it is not an urban legend anymore, the Indiana State
Police and the local cops are taking this thing very seriously. And the cops
in Ohio (where my sister lives) also takes the whole situation rather
seriously also.

-Mike

P.S. Oliver, your email addy is over-riding the list addy.
Message no. 9
From: Mike Bobroff <Airwasp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 15:02:22 EST
In a message dated 11/22/98 10:39:34 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU writes:

> Quoting Mike Bobroff (Airwasp@***.COM):
> <Snip headlight story>
>
> http://www.urbanlegends.com/death/lights.out/
>
> Strangely enough, I got this same story about three days ago from
> someone else. Just this morning I got mail from him apologizing for
> spreading
> an urban legend, and providing the above URL.
>
As I said, it is not an urban legend, and the police forces in the local
states are treating it as the threat that it is.

-Mike
Message no. 10
From: Bryan Covington <bryan.covington@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 18:19:13 -0500
> > Quoting Mike Bobroff (Airwasp@***.COM):
> > <Snip headlight story>
> >
> > http://www.urbanlegends.com/death/lights.out/
> >
> > Strangely enough, I got this same story about three days ago
> from
> > someone else. Just this morning I got mail from him apologizing for
> > spreading
> > an urban legend, and providing the above URL.
> >
> As I said, it is not an urban legend, and the police forces in the local
> states are treating it as the threat that it is.
>
Sorry fella, it IS an urban legend. It STARTED at a police
station back in '92 or so. Someone convinced a local cop in MA that it
happened and people have been taking it at face value ever since. I heard
about it in high school (around '92). There are no documented cases of it
happening. There is no evidence.
Just because the police are taking it seriously doesn't
really mean anything. They are SUPPOSED to take things seriously, its their
job.

In an attempt to bring this back near topic.

How do you folks describe important things without making it
obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without it's
lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I normally
don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention a
particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle for
no other reason than that I described it.
Anyone have any ideas on this?
Message no. 11
From: Lehlan Decker <DeckerL@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 18:27:37 -0500
<Snip bryan c's obvious plot point>
The fact that I'm answering this means I'm at work late, which
is bad...but I digress....
Honestly this one is kinda difficult sometimes. When I GM'ed
I had to be careful. I once accidentally described something
and the players got off on 2 day tangent. It was fun, but not
the direction I wanted to go. So I finally did this.
1) I'll describe a general scene for the players, but not too
much detail.
2) If anyone specifically wants to look at something, they
have to ask, otherwise I'm assuming they didn't.
3) If its something particulary important, I have them roll
perception, and sometimes I have them do this, just to
confuse them. Gotta love dice.
It's hard to find a balance, and it can lead to slightly paranoid
players, which isn't so bad in the world of SR. Also don't
be afraid to tell players..."Look your gut instinct says your
on the wrong track...trust me" :)
Later all.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehlan Decker, Unix Admin (704)331-1149
deckerl@******.com Fax 378-1939
Moore & Van Allen, PLLC Pager 1-888-608-9633
Message no. 12
From: Sean McCrohan <mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 18:31:07 -0500
Quoting Bryan Covington (bryan.covington@****.COM):
> > > Quoting Mike Bobroff (Airwasp@***.COM):
> > As I said, it is not an urban legend, and the police forces in the local
> > states are treating it as the threat that it is.

> Sorry fella, it IS an urban legend. It STARTED at a police
> station back in '92 or so. Someone convinced a local cop in MA that it
> happened and people have been taking it at face value ever since. I heard
> about it in high school (around '92). There are no documented cases of it
> happening. There is no evidence.

In Mike's defense, it IS possible for something that starts off
as an urban legend to also turn out to be true. It's sort of like paranoia -
just the fact you believe, without support, that people are out to get you
need not mean you're WRONG. It could be in this case that when the story
started, it was a fiction, but that since then someone has picked up the
practice in truth.
Now, do I think that's the case? No, not really. But it could be.

--Sean

--
Sean McCrohan (mccrohan@**.gatech.edu) | "He uses his folly as a stalking
Grad Student, Human-Computer Interaction | horse, and under the presentation
Georgia Institute of Technology | of that he shoots his wit."
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~smccrohan | _As You Like It_, Act 5 Sc 4
Message no. 13
From: Oliver McDonald <oliver@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 15:37:13 -0500
On Mon, 23 Nov 1998 18:19:13 -0500, Bryan Covington wrote:

> How do you folks describe important things without making it
>obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without it's
>lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I normally
>don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention a
>particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle for
>no other reason than that I described it.
> Anyone have any ideas on this?

Periodically describe things (such as cars on the highway) that have nothing
extraordinary, or worth attention. After a few times of the players studying the item to
the exclusion of all else, and thus being surprised by the unobtrusive threat, they will
get
the idea.
Message no. 14
From: Joshua Mumme <Grimlakin@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 19:56:50 -0600
Bryan Covington wrote:

> How do you folks describe important things without making it
> obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without it's
> lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I normally
> don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention a
> particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle for
> no other reason than that I described it.
> Anyone have any ideas on this?

Thank you Bryan for bringing this up. How does one justify that. like.. "A
normal looking man walks close to you." comeone they are in the sprawl. This
guy looks normal intentionally... he is out to neurotoxin them at close
range.. but now that you mention this normal looking guy... <imagine the
complaining player if their character is killed in the event that they didn't
notice the NORMAL looking guy.> he gets special attention I think from now on I
will mention normal looking people ALL OVER THE PLACE. And cars with their
headlights on... driving down the street with loud thumping music and the
works. This is a good question.. when does fair play fly out of the window?

Grimlakin
Message no. 15
From: Micheal Feeney <Starrngr@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 22:48:51 EST
In a message dated 98-11-23 18:20:04 EST, you write:

> How do you folks describe important things without making
> it
> obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without it's
> lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I normally
> don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention a
> particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle for
> no other reason than that I described it.
> Anyone have any ideas on this?
>

Make it a bit more random. Its a bit more work, but describe two or three
other cars on the freeway in as much detail, or Dont describe it at all unless
one of the charecters decides TO give it a close scrutiny.

--
Starrngr -- Now with WEBPAGE:
Ranger HQ
<A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/starrngr/index.htm">;
HTTP://hometown.aol.com/starrngr/index.htm</A>;

"You wear a Hawaiian shirt and bring your music on a RUN? No wonder they call
you Howling Mad..." -- Rabid the Pysad.
Message no. 16
From: Lady Jestyr <jestyr@*******.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:43:06 +1000
>> How do you folks describe important things without making it
>>obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without it's
>>lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I normally
>>don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention a
>>particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle for
>>no other reason than that I described it.
>> Anyone have any ideas on this?
>
>Periodically describe things (such as cars on the highway) that have nothing
>extraordinary, or worth attention. After a few times of the players
studying the item to
>the exclusion of all else, and thus being surprised by the unobtrusive
threat, they will get
>the idea.

Hmm... why can't I stop thinking of the Knights of the Dinner Table magic
cow? :-)

(For those who aren't familiar with KoDT, it's a gamers comic about a bunch
of hapless goits. The aforementioned cow was a bit of scene decoration
thrown in by the GM, and the powergamers leapt up on the idea, deciding
that it must be important because the GM mentioned it... you really DON'T
want to know the scenes that ensued.)

Lady Jestyr

- The Australian dream: Football, meat pies and Holden cars. -
- Holdens are American, meat pies are British, and football is stupid. -
- jestyr@*******.com.au URL: http://www.geocities.com/~jestyr -
Message no. 17
From: Jett <zmjett@*********.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 03:30:55 -0500
Lady Jestyr wrote:

>
> Hmm... why can't I stop thinking of the Knights of the Dinner Table magic
> cow? :-)
>
> (For those who aren't familiar with KoDT, it's a gamers comic about a bunch
> of hapless goits. The aforementioned cow was a bit of scene decoration
> thrown in by the GM, and the powergamers leapt up on the idea, deciding
> that it must be important because the GM mentioned it... you really DON'T
> want to know the scenes that ensued.)
>
> Lady Jestyr

Hehe! She's right, she's right. That was hysterical...almost as amusing as the
thing with the zephyr ("What? I shot it and it just keeps whistling?!" ). And I
HIGHLY recommend KODT. Anyone who doesn't read it, well, why the hell aren't you?
It's great stuff. In fact, I'm planning to submit some of my own KODTs to the
comic. I've met the guys at Kenzer Co at GenCon, and they were a really cool
bunch.

--Jett

<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>


"I'll make this clear, that I'm just here for backup. And to offer the occasional
advice or insult."
--Jett, on being an NPC

Behold the mighty sonic scream of the Jett!

http://www.scifi-fantasy.com/~zmjett/shadow.htm
Message no. 18
From: Sean McCrohan <mccrohan@*****.OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 08:07:06 -0500
Quoting Jett (zmjett@*********.COM):
<Snip KotDT cow story>

One of the campaigns around here (I think it was a fantasy game of some
sort, not Shadowrun) actually had several characters nearly killed by 'local
color'. They were trekking through the jungle, and the GM set the mood by
describing, among other things, the sound of a large animal passing nearby in
the foliage - a jungle cat of some sort that checked the party out and then
elected not to bother them.
Naturally, being PCs, the characters decided to...track the cat. Why?
I have no idea. They ended up, if I recall, lost, attacked by the cat, and
possibly lost a character or two. Nothing more embarassing than being killed
by the scenery...

--Sean

--
Sean McCrohan (mccrohan@**.gatech.edu) | "He uses his folly as a stalking
Grad Student, Human-Computer Interaction | horse, and under the presentation
Georgia Institute of Technology | of that he shoots his wit."
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~smccrohan | _As You Like It_, Act 5 Sc 4
Message no. 19
From: Mike Bobroff <Airwasp@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 17:21:21 EST
In a message dated 11/23/98 6:20:02 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
bryan.covington@****.COM writes:

> How do you folks describe important things without making it
> obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without it's
> lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I normally
> don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention a
> particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle for
> no other reason than that I described it.
> Anyone have any ideas on this?

Yeah, have the player's make a Perception test for their pcs, if they fail,
then they don't notice anything at all.

-Mike
Message no. 20
From: Brian Wong <rook@*****.INFINEX.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 15:45:29 -0800
> > How do you folks describe important things without making it
> > obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without it's
> > lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I normally
> > don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention a
> > particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle for
> > no other reason than that I described it.
> > Anyone have any ideas on this?
>
> Yeah, have the player's make a Perception test for their pcs, if they fail,
> then they don't notice anything at all.

A lot of players who fail perception tests immediately start looking
around... Admittidly this is poor playing; but it happens.

Make that perception check in secret as a GM roll.

--
Rook ¿Õ ¿ë ±â WebRPG Town Hall Magistrate
townhall.webrpg.com <0){{{{><
__ Super WebRing http://orion.supersoldiers.com/heroes/webring.html
/.)\ http://www.infinex.com/~rook/SH/SHlinks.html Super Hero Links
\(@/ http://www.infinex.com/~rook/SH/ Super Hero RPG Site
Message no. 21
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 11:24:53 +0100
According to Brian Wong, at 15:45 on 24 Nov 98, the word on the street was...

> A lot of players who fail perception tests immediately start looking
> around... Admittidly this is poor playing; but it happens.

Not only that; at least half the time when I ask for a Perception test
that serves no real purpose, someone always seems to roll a couple of 10s
or higher, at which point it sound very lame to say something like "You
see nothing important"...

> Make that perception check in secret as a GM roll.

For random checks, just throw a couple of dice a few times, preferably at
a time when they might notice something (when entering a room, for exampl)
and then continue the game without saying anything about the "test's"
results.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Stay in.
-> NERPS Project Leader * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

GC3.1: GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ U P L E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+
PE Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 22
From: Lehlan Decker <DeckerL@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 13:36:09 -0500
<SNIP>
>Not only that; at least half the time when I ask for a Perception
>test that serves no real purpose, someone always seems to roll
>a couple of 10s
>or higher, at which point it sound very lame to say something
>like "You see nothing important"...

I can't argue with this. But at the same time, that is when
it can be kinda fun. Perhaps the runner notices that the waitress
is weary red lip stick instead of pink today. Or that the beer is
alittle flat. Or that the waitress has bruises she's trying to hide
under makeup...etc etc. All these are little things, that may
have no important at all to the adventure, but a very perceptive
roll might notice and might be good roleplaying areas. Particulary
if the runners frequent the same spots and develop NPC's
enough. "Hey George, your beer's alittle flat today, what's up?
Ah my last shipment was "delayed again".....Hey...you wouldn't
know anyone would could help me with this little problem would
you?"
Now alot of this takes alot of improv on the GM's part. But hey...
no one said it was easy. :)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehlan Decker, Unix Admin (704)331-1149
deckerl@******.com Fax 378-1939
Moore & Van Allen, PLLC Pager 1-888-608-9633
Message no. 23
From: Bryan Covington <bryan.covington@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 14:26:49 -0500
> > How do you folks describe important things without making it
> > obvious that its a possible plot point. If there is say a car without
> it's
> > lights on full of gangers ready to whoop up on the party. Since I
> normally
> > don't describe every car that they pass on the highway, if I do mention
> a
> > particular car they immediately begin massive scrutiny of that vehicle
> for
> > no other reason than that I described it.
> > Anyone have any ideas on this?
>
> Yeah, have the player's make a Perception test for their pcs, if they
> fail,
> then they don't notice anything at all.
>
>
Honestly this is usually what I do. I don't usually throw
things like this at the party (for precisely this reason). I'd just like to
capture the drama of the moment in a movie when the main character notices a
ring on the waiter's finger that is identical to the one he found on the
body of his murdered neighbor and latter tracked to an oddly abandoned
warehouse that he was followed to and attacked at and now his wife is
missing and if he could just find a clue everything would make sense.
That moment of realization is one of the best feelings I get
watching movies and I'd love to be able to get it into the game but one
blown roll and they won't notice the clue and then I have to bend over
backwards to get the players to find a follow the clue.

The other problem with getting this to work is that the
players never seem to REMEMBER the damn ring in the first place. So they
don't think anything of it.
Message no. 24
From: Dvixen <dvixen@********.COM>
Subject: Re: Something serious for anyone in the USA ...
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 12:53:05 -0800
>Periodically describe things (such as cars on the highway) that have nothing
>extraordinary, or worth attention. After a few times of the players
studying the item to
>the exclusion of all else, and thus being surprised by the unobtrusive
threat, they will get
>the idea.

Dvixen falls off her chair laughing.

They will??


--
Dvixen - dvixen@********.com
Herkimer's Lair - http://coastnet.com/~dvixen
"What's your sign?" - "Trespassers will be shot."
Comments/Questions accepted, flames dropped into tha abyss.

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Something serious for anyone in the USA ..., you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!