DungeonCraft #44: How to Run Mysteries for RPGs

Professor DungeonMaster's tips on how to run mystery adventures for D&D, Pathfinder, and Call of Cthulhu.

"Fury of the Dragon's Breath" by Peter Crowley

[NormalModers]

There's a bit here that should be considered- a DM/GM should consider this: If everything is streamlined and there are no empty rooms, it's going to break suspension of disbelief for your heavy roleplayers.

It's FINE to have irrelevant rooms in an abandoned mansion. Mysteries don't need to be so efficient you lose exploration and cut lulls in pacing. Those lulls help characters get their thoughts in order and allow for them to examine the history, lore, or hidden knick knacks that they wouldn't see if you just cut them out.

[JadeyCatgirl]

For the Chekhov's gun rule maybe you don't have the owl statue part of your description, and rather just say that there are fancy decorations in the room. You emphasize what is important, but you should still have other stuff in there. You are going for the feel of a real place where someone actually lived, there is going to be non pertinent information that the players can uncover.

[leedunning]

I'm taking a tour of some of your older stuff, Professor, and this one really struck me as useful. I'm adding it to my saved collection so I can review it as needed.

[robertbengel]

I can't tell you how many times this video has come in clutch for session prep: thank you!

[RPG_Bliss]

Good advice. Running a mystery on my next campaign

[lindybeige]

How do you compensate the PC who has put all his skill points into investigation skills that do no good whatsoever? The other PCs who have put all theirs in to driving, fighting, and other such skills get to use their skills to their advantage.

[thor]

I've always felt that Chekhov's Gun was more about setting things up for payoff later. I'll certainly get that you don't want to include too many extraneous details if you're running a mystery, but excluding those details also makes it more difficult to include a hallmark of mysteries - the red herring, the clues that lead the detective astray.

Let's go with the example room you provided. While I get not including the owl statue if it's just a statue, maybe the key hidden inside/underneath it doesn't have any connection to the victim; maybe it belongs to the son, and it unlocks the small house at the edge of town where goes to take drugs or something. So the owl statue isn't pointless, but it doesn't necessarily help lead to solving the mystery (except maybe for establishing that the son couldn't have killed his father - he was at the house the night of the murder, and there's no way he could have gotten from one location to the other).

[rufuslynks]

Went to a private library on one occasion. Prior to my visit the Librarian sent a bunch of probing questions in email. Being a little guarded, I just sent the list of resources I was seeking. When I arrived, I was greeted by the Head Librarian and introduced to my Research Librarian for the day. I wasn't allowed to touch anything, walk through the stacks unescorted, or search on their computer without "my" Librarian present. At first it was a bit daunting, and then it was amazing. I knocked out research for several projects rather than just the one I was there to complete.

Since then I've learned during consulting projects that this is not uncommon for such private libraries. While at the National Aquarium the Librarians explained that most of their "customers" just sent requests for resources and the mailroom delivered them. So anytime someone physically came in was a treat. They had the best views of the Inner Harbor from their library, so personally I can't imagine why no one wanted to visit.

[biffstrong]

Detect Evil on the plaster. Yes. and a quick alchemical assessment.
I like your old Xena style disclaimer.

[Razsteroid]

Running Statue of the Sorcerer as a slow burn and it's been a lot of fun. Thanks for the recommendation!

[threehundredwords]

Fantastic common sense observations here, my favorite video so far, I think. I have a mystery/haunted house adventure I wrote and ran twice pretty successfully but the advice given here helps me understand how to run it even better with the next group, particularly eliminating empty/unnecessary rooms.

[meraduddcethin]

Great video and a bunch of good advice. For myself, I am less likely to just strike spells from the game but have them give ineffectual answers ("it came from behind" etc.)


As someone who has run Saltmarsh several times, I have had most parties clue in almost immediately to 'plaster on the floor -> lack of plaster on the ceiling -> weak/dangerous floor' and one who took a few minutes. After the rotting floor at the top of the stairs, everyone realized the general state of decay in the house and dangerous footing.

[NemoOhd]

Preparing to play a modern Spy Game. Clearly the Prof is the first place to check for the best tips. Kudos.

[Wesley_Youre_a_Rabbit]

I find myself once again pouring through all of your older videos for insights that I will apply to the Eldritch Hack scenarios I’ve come up with lol

[jameswillis]

Always love your advise and perspectives! You are always a pleasure to listen to Professor!

[melanclock]

a suggestion seth skorkowsky gave for call of cthulu regarding giving players critical clues was that if they fail their roll instead of not giving them the info have some sort of negative consequence like drawing the attention of the police

[zephyrstrife]

I can agree with your idea of "They just find the clue, don't have it hinge on a die roll" But one of the concepts that I heard about in a completely unrelated game [a review of Warhammer 40, 000 Wrath and Glory] is that you can use a die roll, but if the character fails the die roll, they still do the thing but perhaps it takes longer than they expected, they got lost and it takes longer for them to arrive, perhaps they're exhausted from a climb or bad weather. The story still progresses even if the characters didn't initially succeed.

[bobobskerpan]

Thank you for the tips and ideas! It's my turn to DM for our next campaign. I am planning to incorporate mystery and/or horror encounters to our standard adventure.

Anyway just a suggestion for us dummies: people will find the resources you mentioned more easily if you include the names in your video description. I've been preaching to my friends your channel. Keep them coming!

[MemphiStig]

Wow! Almost 5 years, and you've gone from 1K subs to nearly 120K. Good going!

[rockwallaby]

Professor DungeonMaster, You might be my favorite D&D series. Great work!