I was wondering if there were any rules-lite systems (like PBTA amounts of mechanical) that would work for a Sherlock Holmes-style mystery set in Victorian London (but with no supernatural elements)?
Rules-Lite Sherlock Holmes-esque Game Recommendation
I heard good things about Baker Street which seems to be fairly rules lite and in a bundle of holding right now: https://bundleofholding.com/presents/BakerStreet
Thanks so much, I’ll definitely check it out <3
Very much not a traditional mystery solving Holmes game, but Codex lies has a hack of Hot Guys Making Out for Holmes and Watson that’s pretty fun: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/238692/Codex--Lies-Jan-2018 Definitely rules light.
I’m not entirely sure if it’s what my group’s looking for but I’ll look into it, thankee
If you’re interested in what tbh for me is a link between TTRPG and Boardgames, Sherlock Holmes, Consultant Detective is amazing , though it’s not possible to play it more than once. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2511/sherlock-holmes-consulting-detective-thames-murder
Is it anything in particular that you want the system to do?
I’m a fan of Trail of Cthulhu’s thought of “give the clues, do not roll for them”, even though the implementation and handling of it could be better - especially how it’s explained. I’ve written an article about how to create a mystery and, most importantly, how to play it, but that’s without using any mechanics. Basically, it’s just the game master throwing clues into the players’ laps and then they have to sort out all the pieces. Obfuscating through cluttering.
If the mistery is written in advance, you’re mostly looking for colour? In which case I can’t help much. Maybe a Perdus sous la pluie introduction could be a nice touch, playing people disappearing one by one. Depending on what you want to keep from Holmesian mysteries (structure, setting or superpowers).
Or are you looking for mistery / revelation mechanics? In which case there’s parts to be taken from Gumshoe, Lovecraftesque, Woodperry Murders and Technoir.