System Pitch: Brindlewood Bay is a PbtA-style game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. Being retired but with plenty of time and wits left, they've used what they learned from their favorite books to solve all sorts of cases. And you're invited to come solve the next one! There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead, players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right! Players are often encouraged to contribute to the narrative, not just when coming up with a solution, but also when exploring new locations and meeting new characters! 

Session Pitch: This time we are playing a Sweeps Week mystery, which takes the Mavens on a trip to a different town with more futuristic/scifi/alternate-universe elements. In addition to the alternate setting, the case to solve isn't a murder, but the question is still whodunnit ;-)

The Mavens are visiting Dr. Marry’s Majestic Animals Petting Zoo, or MAPZ, on its grand opening. MAPZ is located off a twisting, rarely used highway connecting Brindlewood Bay to its neighbor city, Mucky Point. The zoo sits on a former dairy farm previously owned and operated by generations of a Danish family until its sudden closing 30 years ago. Rumors swirled in the past year as large equipment deliveries were spotted on the road to the farm. Many were surprised and delighted by the opening of what is described as “the world’s most innovative petting zoo.” Dr. Marry is an expert in animal genetics and has been doing unconventional research to create hybrids and evolved animals. Some notable zoo residents include bioluminescent rabbits, pygmy goats that smell like french fries, and highly intelligent geese. Some locals are concerned about the unusual nature of the zoo, while others look forward to new tourism. The Mavens have come to see it for themselves. This game will be great if you like cozy murder mysteries, PbtA games, collaborative storytelling, improv, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying Players should build characters ahead. Character creation is a really quick multiple choice process. The game runner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections. You may bring an existing character with 0-1 advancements. New players are welcome. Players need to have played some RPGs. The game runner is very familiar with this system. 

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚬

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬

This game will be hosted in room #4 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord server. The game runner will use Miro whiteboards for mapping. https://miro.com/ Spectators are welcome. 

Content warnings: includes genetically modified animals (who we will not harm) and an artificial intelligence character (as an in-game character, not in the way of OOC AI-generated content, to be clear) 

Tags: mystery, modern 

Nona de Koning’s Game Runner Profile

https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-game-runners/nona-de-koning

BRINDLEWOOD BAY is a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead, players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right! The specific mystery will be one not played at TTRPG Pickup Con before and is selected based on submitted lines & veils :)

The Mavens themselves are all elderly women whose partners have passed away and whose children have long flown the nest. Now, they’re enjoying their golden years in the picturesque town of Brindlewood Bay, keeping their homes the way they like, pursuing their hobbies, and finding comfort and companionship in each other. Their mystery book club has been meeting on the top floor of The Candlelight Booksellers every Saturday evening for the last ten years. The Mavens are particularly fond of The Gold Crown Mysteries series by Robin Masterson, featuring the globe-trotting super-sleuth, Amanda Delacourt (which only exists in-universe and not in our world).

The Mavens' special interest in these books has resulted in them becoming amateur detectives themselves, and by the time the game starts, they have helped local police solve several high profile crimes. Sometimes people approach them to get their help on a case, but usually, the Mavens just stumble onto it—much to the chagrin of the authorities, who almost always resent their meddling.

There are some supernatural elements in play in the background, but those will need to be uncovered through repeated plays and aren't a part of this oneshot. There is also a meta-level to the setting, where the Mavens are actually characters in a TV show that the players are watching. If there is enough interest in it, the gamerunner is willing to offer this system at future cons in a West-Marches approach where both of these elements will feature more prominently.

This game will be great if you like cozy murder mysteries, PbtA games, collaborative storytelling, improv, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying Players should build characters ahead.

Characters who played 0-2 sessions (this system has no levels). Character creation is a really quick multiple choice process. The gamerunner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections

New players are welcome., Players need to have played some RPGs.

The game runner is very familiar with this system.

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

This game will be hosted in room #1 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord Server. Spectators are welcome in the Discord room.

CW: Murder will be featured (but without gory details) and all mysteries may contain hints of cults and the supernatural. The mystery will be selected based on everyone's submitted lines & veils. Examples of potentially triggering content could include terminal illness, mental illness including mentions of attempted suicide or other self harm, bullying, substance abuse (alcohol/drugs), abandonment, kidnapping of humans or pets, imprisonment and infidelity. Not all of these are part of the same mystery, so I will work around your boundaries to provide a great game for everyone.

CW:

The handouts (rules reference & character sheet) will be messaged to players on Discord ahead of time

Nona de Koning’s Game Runner Profile: https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-game-runners/Nona-de-Koning

<b><u>BRINDLEWOOD BAY </u></b> is a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. <b>There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right!</b> 

This evening, just as their book club meeting is ending, the Mavens are approached by Brindlewood County’s chief law enforcement officer, Sheriff Wyman Dalrymple. He tells them that, several nights ago, a wealthy financier, Albert Krause, was dragged out of the bay, dead. Mr. Krause and his family were on a yachting vacation and their boat is presently anchored a quarter mile from shore. Those on the boat assert Mr. Krause was drunk and simply fell overboard, but Sheriff Dalrymple suspects foul play. He hasn’t been able to turn anything up and begrudgingly asks them for help. Time for the Mavens to bring out their amateur inner detectives once again!

There are some supernatural elements in play in the background, but those will need to be uncovered through repeated plays and aren't a part of this oneshot. There is also a meta level to the setting, where the Mavens are actually characters in a TV show that the players are watching. <b>If there is enough interest in it, the gamerunner is willing to offer this system at future cons in a West-Marches approach where both of these elements will feature more prominently.</b>"

This game will be great if you like cozy murder mysteries, PbtA games, collaborative storytelling, improv, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying

Players should build characters who played 0-2 sessions (this system has no levels) Character creation is a really quick multiple-choice process. The game runner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections.

New players are welcome. Players need to have played some RPGs.

The game runner is very familiar with this system.

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

This game will be played in room #1 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord Server. Spectators are welcome in the Discord room.

CW: Murder will be featured (but without gory details). All mysteries may contain hints of cults and the supernatural.

Nona de Koning’s Game Runner Profile

https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-game-runners/nona-de-koning

BRINDLEWOOD BAY is a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead, players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right! The specific mystery will be one not played at TTRPG Pickup Con before and is selected based on submitted lines & veils :)

The Mavens themselves are all elderly women whose partners have passed away and whose children have long flown the nest. Now, they’re enjoying their golden years in the picturesque town of Brindlewood Bay, keeping their homes the way they like, pursuing their hobbies, and finding comfort and companionship in each other. Their mystery book club has been meeting on the top floor of The Candlelight Booksellers every Saturday evening for the last ten years. The Mavens are particularly fond of The Gold Crown Mysteries series by Robin Masterson, featuring the globe-trotting super-sleuth, Amanda Delacourt (which only exists in-universe and not in our world).

The Mavens' special interest in these books has resulted in them becoming amateur detectives themselves, and by the time the game starts, they have helped local police solve several high profile crimes. Sometimes people approach them to get their help on a case, but usually, the Mavens just stumble onto it—much to the chagrin of the authorities, who almost always resent their meddling.

There are some supernatural elements in play in the background, but those will need to be uncovered through repeated plays and aren't a part of this oneshot. There is also a meta-level to the setting, where the Mavens are actually characters in a TV show that the players are watching. If there is enough interest in it, the gamerunner is willing to offer this system at future cons in a West-Marches approach where both of these elements will feature more prominently.

This game will be great if you like cozy murder mysteries, PbtA games, collaborative storytelling, improv, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying Players should build characters ahead.

Characters who played 0-2 sessions (this system has no levels). Character creation is a really quick multiple choice process. The gamerunner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections

New players are welcome., Players need to have played some RPGs.

The game runner is very familiar with this system.

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

This game will be hosted in room #4 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord Server. Spectators are welcome in the Discord room.

CW: Murder will be featured (but without gory details) and all mysteries may contain hints of cults and the supernatural. The mystery will be selected based on everyone's submitted lines & veils. Examples of potentially triggering content could include terminal illness, mental illness including mentions of attempted suicide or other self harm, bullying, substance abuse (alcohol/drugs), abandonment, kidnapping of humans or pets, imprisonment and infidelity. Not all of these are part of the same mystery, so I will work around your boundaries to provide a great game for everyone.

CW:

The handouts (rules reference & character sheet) will be messaged to players on Discord ahead of time

Nona de Koning’s Game Runner Profile: https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-game-runners/Nona-de-Koning

BRINDLEWOOD BAY is a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right! The specific mystery will be one not played at TTRPG Pickup Con before and is selected based on submitted lines & veils :)

The Mavens themselves are all elderly women whose partners have passed away and whose children have long flown the nest. Now, they’re enjoying their golden years in the picturesque town of Brindlewood Bay, keeping their homes the way they like, pursuing their hobbies, and finding comfort and companionship in each other. Their mystery book club has been meeting on the top floor of The Candlelight Booksellers every Saturday evening for the last ten years. The Mavens are particularly fond of The Gold Crown Mysteries series by Robin Masterson, featuring the globe-trotting super-sleuth, Amanda Delacourt (which only exists in-universe and not in our world).

The Mavens' special interest in these books has resulted in them becoming amateur detectives themselves, and by the time the game starts, they have helped local police solve several high profile crimes. Sometimes people approach them to get their help on a case, but usually the Mavens just stumble onto it—much to the chagrin of the authorities, who almost always resent their meddling.

There are some supernatural elements in play in the background, but those will need to be uncovered through repeated plays and aren't a part of this oneshot. There is also a meta level to the setting, where the Mavens are actually characters in a TV show that the players are watching. If there is enough interest in it, the gamerunner is willing to offer this system at future cons in a West-Marches approach where both of these elements will feature more prominently.

This game will be great if you like cozy murder mysteries, PbtA games, collaborative storytelling, improv, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying Players should build characters ahead.

Characters who played 0-2 sessions (this system has no levels). Character creation is a really quick multiple choice process. The gamerunner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections

New players are welcome., Players need to have played some RPGs.

The game runner is very familiar with this system.

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

This game will be hosted in room #4 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord Server. Spectators are welcome in the Discord room.

CW: Murder will be featured (but without gory details) and all mysteries may contain hints of cults and the supernatural. The mystery will be selected based on everyone's submitted lines & veils. Examples of potentially triggering content could include terminal illness, mental illness including mentions of attempted suicide or other self harm, bullying, substance abuse (alcohol/drugs), abandonment, kidnapping of humans or pets, imprisonment and infidelity. Not all of these are part of the same mystery, so I will work around your boundaries to provide a great game for everyone.

BRINDLEWOOD BAY is a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right! The specific mystery will be one not played at TTRPG Pickup Con before and is selected based on submitted lines & veils :)

The Mavens themselves are all elderly women whose partners have passed away and whose children have long flown the nest. Now, they’re enjoying their golden years in the picturesque town of Brindlewood Bay, keeping their homes the way they like, pursuing their hobbies, and finding comfort and companionship in each other. Their mystery book club has been meeting on the top floor of The Candlelight Booksellers every Saturday evening for the last ten years. The Mavens are particularly fond of The Gold Crown Mysteries series by Robin Masterson, featuring the globe-trotting super-sleuth, Amanda Delacourt (which only exists in-universe and not in our world).

The Mavens' special interest in these books has resulted in them becoming amateur detectives themselves, and by the time the game starts, they have helped local police solve several high profile crimes. Sometimes people approach them to get their help on a case, but usually the Mavens just stumble onto it—much to the chagrin of the authorities, who almost always resent their meddling.

There are some supernatural elements in play in the background, but those will need to be uncovered through repeated plays and aren't a part of this oneshot. There is also a meta level to the setting, where the Mavens are actually characters in a TV show that the players are watching. If there is enough interest in it, the gamerunner is willing to offer this system at future cons in a West-Marches approach where both of these elements will feature more prominently.

This game will be great if you like cozy murder mysteries, PbtA games, collaborative storytelling, improv, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying Players should build characters ahead.

Characters who played 0-2 sessions (this system has no levels). Character creation is a really quick multiple choice process. The gamerunner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections

New players are welcome., Players need to have played some RPGs.

The game runner is very familiar with this system.

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

This game will be hosted in room #4 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord Server. Spectators are welcome in the Discord room.

CW: Murder will be featured (but without gory details) and all mysteries may contain hints of cults and the supernatural. The mystery will be selected based on everyone's submitted lines & veils. Examples of potentially triggering content could include terminal illness, mental illness including mentions of attempted suicide or other self harm, bullying, substance abuse (alcohol/drugs), abandonment, kidnapping of humans or pets, imprisonment and infidelity. Not all of these are part of the same mystery, so I will work around your boundaries to provide a great game for everyone.

Nona de Koning’s Game Runner Profile

https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-game-runners/Nona-de-Koning

Schedule Listing: https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-schedule/have-yourself-a-merry-little-murder

Warhorn Listing: https://warhorn.net/events/ttrpg-pickup-con/schedule/sessions/3278dff2-7a21-4e67-8d44-027131c77483

The handouts (rules reference & character sheet) will be messaged to players on Discord ahead of time "<b><u>Session pitch:</u></b>

Christmas is approaching, and that means it’s time for the Great Holiday Gala. This year’s Gala is special because the venue, the BelCanto Concert Hall, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Holly Stamp Card Company sponsors the Gala, making their mark with their banners and a display of limited edition keepsakes and ornaments. The Gala fills the week with choir and orchestra concerts, community dinners, board member functions, and, finally, the Gala Ball and charity auction. Celia Domingo wants to pamper her favorite great-aunt, one of the Mavens (players), with plenty of tickets and backstage passes to the Gala.

Unfortunately, Miles Greaves, the beloved founder and owner of the BelCanto, passed away before the celebration began. Thus, this year, his family has gathered for both the Gala and

his funeral. To make matters worse, at the wake, Greaves’s great-nephew, Nathan, made a drunken spectacle of himself and claimed Miles had been murdered. The next day, when the BelCanto opened to prepare for the first of the Gala concerts, Nathan is found dead on the main stage; the cause of death was an apparent blow to the back of the head.

The possibility of a double murder during the biggest holiday event of the year is too juicy for the Mavens to ignore, and those all-access passes will be just the thing to help get to the bottom of what’s going on.

<b><u>About the game system:</u></b>

BRINDLEWOOD BAY is a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. <b>There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead, players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right!</b>

The Mavens themselves are all elderly women whose partners have passed away and whose children have long flown the nest. Now, they’re enjoying their golden years in the picturesque town of Brindlewood Bay, keeping their homes the way they like, pursuing their hobbies, and finding comfort and companionship in each other. Their mystery book club has been meeting on the top floor of The Candlelight Booksellers every Saturday evening for the last ten years. The Mavens are particularly fond of The Gold Crown Mysteries series by Robin Masterson, featuring the globe-trotting super-sleuth, Amanda Delacourt (which only exists in-universe and not in our world).

The Mavens' special interest in these books has resulted in them becoming amateur detectives themselves, and by the time the game starts, they have helped local police solve several high-profile crimes. Sometimes people approach them to get their help on a case, but usually, the Mavens just stumble onto it—much to the chagrin of the authorities, who almost always resent their meddling.

There are some supernatural elements in play in the background, but those will need to be uncovered through repeated plays and aren't a part of this one shot. There is also a meta-level to the setting, where the Mavens are actually characters in a TV show that the players are watching. <b>If there is enough interest in it, the game runner is willing to offer this system at future cons in a West-Marches approach where both of these elements will feature more prominently.</b>"

This game will be great if you like holiday specials, cozy murder mysteries, collaborative storytelling, improv, PbtA games, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying

Players should build characters ahead.

Character creation is a really quick multiple-choice process. The game runner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections.

New players are welcome. Players need to have played some RPGs.

The game runner has run this game a few times now.

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚬⚬⚬

This game will be hosted in room #3 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord Server. Spectators are welcome in the Discord room.

Murder will be featured (but without gory details), and other content will be adjusted based on players' lines & veils. May contain hints to cults and the supernatural and subjects such as infidelity, illness, and other "family scandals"

Nona de Koning’s Game Runner Profile

https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-game-runners/Nona-de-Koning

Schedule Listing: https://www.indecisionist.com/ttrpg-pickup-con-schedule/jingle-bell-shock

Warhorn Listing: https://warhorn.net/events/ttrpg-pickup-con/schedule/sessions/7a8653b1-5178-4692-9951-3ccbc57dc298

The handouts (rules reference & character sheet) will be messaged to players on Discord ahead of time "<b><u>Session pitch:</u></b>

It’s the holiday season, and the Murder Mavens are out caroling as part of the Brindlewood Bay Lunch Club’s annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Carol-a-thon fundraiser. The carolers arrive at the grand home of Amelia Hawthorne, only to learn that Amelia was just found murdered! The rest of the carolers quickly leave to get help from the police, but our Mavens can't help but stay and conduct their own investigation.

<b><u>About the game system:</u></b>

BRINDLEWOOD BAY is a roleplaying game about a group of elderly women—members of the local Murder Mavens mystery book club—who find themselves solving actual murder mysteries in their quaint New England town. <b>There is no canon solution to the mysteries, instead, players must collect and piece together many different clues and come up with a convincing theory, then play to find out if they are right!</b>

The Mavens themselves are all elderly women whose partners have passed away and whose children have long flown the nest. Now, they’re enjoying their golden years in the picturesque town of Brindlewood Bay, keeping their homes the way they like, pursuing their hobbies, and finding comfort and companionship in each other. Their mystery book club has been meeting on the top floor of The Candlelight Booksellers every Saturday evening for the last ten years. The Mavens are particularly fond of The Gold Crown Mysteries series by Robin Masterson, featuring the globe-trotting super-sleuth, Amanda Delacourt (which only exists in-universe and not in our world).

The Mavens' special interest in these books has resulted in them becoming amateur detectives themselves, and by the time the game starts, they have helped local police solve several high-profile crimes. Sometimes people approach them to get their help on a case, but usually, the Mavens just stumble onto it—much to the chagrin of the authorities, who almost always resent their meddling.

There are some supernatural elements in play in the background, but those will need to be uncovered through repeated plays and aren't a part of this one shot. There is also a meta-level to the setting, where the Mavens are actually characters in a TV show that the players are watching. <b>If there is enough interest in it, the game runner is willing to offer this system at future cons in a West-Marches approach where both of these elements will feature more prominently.</b>"

This game will be great if you like holiday specials, cozy murder mysteries, collaborative storytelling, improv, PbtA games, Murder She Wrote, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars, One Of Us Is Lying

Players should build characters ahead.

Character creation is a really quick multiple-choice process. The game runner will contact players in advance to share handouts (rules reference & character sheets) and make your selections.

New players are welcome. Players need to have played some RPGs.

The game runner has run this game a few times now.

Tone: Silly⚪⚪⚪⚬⚬ Serious

Combat: ⚪⚬⚬⚬⚬

Role Play: ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪

Exploration: ⚪⚪⚬⚬

This game will be hosted in room #3 of the TTRPG Pickup Con Discord Server. Spectators are welcome in the Discord room.

CW: Murder will be featured (but without gory details), other content will be adjusted based on players' lines & veils. Will likely contain various religious beliefs and family feuds, and may contain hints of alcoholism, mental illness, off-screen sexual activity, cults, and the supernatural.