Author

Richard Woolcock

System
Tricube Tales <

The quaint town of Maidenstead is usually a quiet and peaceful place, but in recent weeks it’s been Background
plagued by a series of bizarre mysteries. Victims and witnesses have been left baffled and bemused, Figu Design
and even the local police officers appear to have no idea what is really going on. Story Symbols
From vanishing criminals and impossible thefts to psychic predictions and ghostly sightings—many Delapouite, Lorc, Skoll
Game-icons.net <
believe these perplexing cases are proof of the supernatural. Yet there is always a scientific explanation
to be found by those who dig deep enough to discover the truth and unmask the perpetrators. Illustrations
Publisher’s Choice Quality
You are a group of amateur sleuths with a reputation for solving impossible mysteries. In desperation, Stock Art © Rick Hershey /
the police have turned to you, seeking your help in getting to the bottom of their latest case. Fat Goblin Games <

Character Creation Resolving Challenges Taking on the Case

Each player creates a character as follows:
1. Choose a trait: Alert (used to search crime scenes,
find evidence, read body language, etc), brainy (covers
deductive reasoning, knowledge, research, and general
intellect), or charming (used for persuasion, bluffing,
networking, and gathering information from people).
2. Select a concept: Amateur detective, journalist,
mystery writer, paranormal investigator, creative
consultant, stage magician, or priest.
3. Pick a perk: Lateral thinker, logical deduction,
attention to detail, keen observer, local celebrity,
extensive education, or exceptional memory.
4. Choose a quirk: Arrogant, busybody, youthful,
clumsy, patronizing, eccentric hobby (describe it),
or addiction (specify substance or activity).
5. Grab 3 karma tokens and 3 resolve tokens.
6. Make up a name and introduce yourself to the
band (e.g., “I’m Father Duncan, an alert priest who
is a keen observer with an addiction to coffee”).
If a player attempts something risky, they roll 1-3 Roll on the following tables to generate the latest
six-sided dice and must equal or beat a difficulty adventure (see the next page for examples):
of 4-6 on at least one die. Succeed on multiple dice The sleuths investigate...
for an exceptional success (narrate an additional A A locked-room crime D A freak accident
benefit). Rolling “1” on all dice is a critical failure B A vanishing person E An impossible escape
(introduce a complication to the scene). C An unexplained theft F A bizarre sighting
The GM can pick a trait and difficulty for each Which leads them to...
challenge. Most are difficulty 5, but a particularly A A run-down hotel D A creepy film studio
easy or hard task might be difficulty 4 or 6. B A spooky old house E A forlorn churchyard
Players usually roll 2 dice, but roll 3 dice if the C An eerie museum F A dilapidated hospital
challenge matches their trait. There’s no trait for But they must also deal with...
physical tasks—always roll 2 dice for those. But if A A medium or psychic D Legal challenges
the challenge falls completely outside the scope of B Rival investigators E Family matters
their concept, the player also loses 1 die. C Unwanted publicity F A shocking revelation
Karma and Resolve Running the Game
Each player has 3 karma and 3 resolve. Spend 1 The GM should describe the opening scene, react
karma after rolling to reduce the difficulty by 1, if to the players’ decisions, and assign the traits and
you can justify how your perk helps you. Recover difficulties for challenges. Offer players karma in

Who, Why, or How? 1 karma if you increase the difficulty by 1 before

This scenario might focus on who has committed
a crime, why they did it, or how they managed to
pull it off. Decide as a group what angle the story
should take, and consider the sleuths’ objectives
and motivations for solving the mystery.
If you’re struggling to come up with adventure
ideas, try borrowing from novels and TV shows!
rolling, narrating how your quirk hinders you.
If you use a quirk and succeed at the challenge,
you may recover 1 resolve instead of 1 karma.
For dangerous actions (such as combat), failure
costs 1 resolve (or 2 on a critical failure). If a PC
runs out of resolve, they are eliminated from the
scene—but death is primarily a narrative conceit,
and the PC usually returns later at full resolve.
return for complications based on their quirks!
The players should make all the rolls, narrate
the outcome of their actions, and drive the story
forward whenever possible. They can also spend
1 karma to influence the story or discover a clue
through their perk, at the GM’s discretion.
Physical challenges should be rare; the focus of
the story should be on interacting with witnesses,
discovering clues, and solving the mystery.
 Mysteries Locations Complications
Described here are examples of mysteries for the Described here are examples of locations for the Described here are example complications for the
adventure generator (first table): adventure generator (second table): adventure generator (third table):

1. No Way Out 1. Labyrinth Hotel 1. Con Artist

Someone is found dead in a secure room that was There are rumors that the original owner of this A notorious medium claims that she has received
locked from the inside. All the evidence suggests hotel built secret passages into the walls to spy on a message from the “other side” and says it relates
murder, but how did the killer leave the room? guests—and occasionally even abduct them! to the case. Her antics attract considerable media

2. Gone in the Night 2. Haunted House

attention, even though she’s a known fraud.

A tourist stayed overnight in a reputedly haunted This old house was boarded up decades ago. But 2. Teenage Troublemakers
room. The next morning they’d vanished without recently, several locals have claimed to have seen A group of meddling kids drives into town, along
a trace, leaving behind all their belongings. flickering lights and silhouettes in the windows. with their pet dog. The youngsters plan to solve

3. Magical Crimes 3. Rites in the Museum

the mystery and unmask the villain themselves.

A priceless grimoire is stolen from an exhibition, This museum was once the site of a black magic 3. Snooping Stalkers
despite extreme security measures. It is rumored ritual, and there have been rumors of paranormal The case draws the attention of the local tabloids,
to be the spellbook of an infamous occultist, who activity ever since. Staff and even security guards and a pack of nosy journalists starts following the
swore she would one day return from the grave. refuse to remain in the building overnight. characters around town.

4. Grave Tidings 4. Cursed Film Set 4. Troublesome Lawsuit

A series of tragic “accidents” are being blamed on A small video production company is shooting a Someone tries to block the case, using the law to
a poltergeist. But this vengeful spirit seems to be horror movie, but strange events keep occurring stop the investigation. Have the characters made
driven by a far more earthly motive. on the set—and those props look very realistic. an enemy, or are they just getting too close?

5. Vanishing Act 5. Churchard Shadows 5. Getting Personal

A masked fugitive fled from police into a building Locals have seen a shadowy figure wandering the A relative of one of the characters turns out to be
and vanished. All possible exits were covered, but churchyard at night. They suspect it’s a ghost, but connected to the case in some way, knowingly or
the man never left—nor was he found inside. it’s probably just a prankster or a dog walker. unknowingly. This case is getting personal!

6. Two Places at Once 6. Maidenstead Sanatorium 6. Designated Decoy

Reliable witnesses claim they saw a man commit This psychiatric hospital was closed down several The true culprit turns out to be someone far less
a crime, but the accused has the perfect alibi—he years ago. Visitors claimed they heard moans and obvious than the initial suspect. Perhaps the real
was being interviewed by police at the time! banging sounds, and one saw a ghostly figure. villain has even left a false trail?

Adding a Twist to the Story

For further inspiration, roll two dice on the table below and use the symbol as an improvisational prompt (you don’t need to interpret it literally). For example,
A B might indicate research or investigation, a book, a library, or knowledge, while rolling C A could symbolize police, imprisonment, surrender, a captive, or
a literal pair of handcuffs, and F B might represent a driver, a vehicle, a journey, navigation, direction, steering, or control.
AA AB AC AD AE AF BA BB BC BD BE BF CA CB CC CD CE CF DA DB DC DD DE DF EA EB EC ED EE EF FA FB FC FD FE FF