Play@YSDC

Come aboard the Orient Express for this extravaganza of labyrinthine plots mixing player driven plots, Mythos affairs and - in this case - even conspiracies fed by the oncoming Second World War. This game, set in late August 1939, which will take you from Paris to Istanbul. You can play anything from Mythos wracked sorcerers to defunct nobility to retired generals to dilletantes to spies to killers to devoted family men to bored housewives to hardened investigators to terrorists to Deep One hybrids while simultaneously brushing elbows with all kinds of other strange individuals. Most people are playing it relatively mundane so if you're worried about ending up in the Monster Mash, don't be.


Well first of all you pick a concept that fits with the times. Once we have your concept you can then develop your character sheet (use http://www.invisiblecastle.com to roll the best of three, stats can be swapped around), draw up a history, figure out your inventory (both in your compartment and the baggage car - folk might break in to take a look), as well as three goals your character wants to achieve during the journey. If you don't want to play out the whole thing but would like to dip your toes you could pick an early getting off point in France or Germany.


Find a criminal, unearth secrets for the gossip pages of your society column, get other people to help you come up with the ending of your novel, read your occult texts in public, spy on the other guests, seduce someone, win a bet, make new friends, party hard, set up an arms deal, smuggle someone over the border, escape Paris on a forged passport, make business contacts, steal yourself some new jewellery, sell a nonexistent bridge or fake artefacts, find a husband for yourself (or your daughter), locate a relic, smuggle relics, convince people of the perils of Nazis or socialism or the Zionist conspiracy, recruit for your new cult, poison or kidnap someone.

If you want to take a look at what the game will be like then feel free to mosey on down to the Last Express category in the Other Eras & Settings major category and read through the various threads. Later on you'll be restricted to the threads you've already been in but for now you can read through it to get an idea of what the game will be like.


Every Friday I update the game by fifteen minutes, using a bit of Hollywood-style condensed time to keep things cracking. Since allegiances are being formed and broken at all times, it doesn't really matter how long the game has been going in terms of getting onboard. There's always something going on aboard the train.


Daily to every other day, ideally. If you need to take a break, let me know. We can always move your character out of the scene, if necessary, even if they are mid-conversation with people by having them need to go to the loo or send them to their compartment if you'll be away for a month.


Absolutely. The list of passengers sits here while the staff lists is over here. Yes, I know that some of the uniforms aren't historically accurate for the Orient Express but I went with what I could find. You can find the compartment and timetableover here if you're curious about what stops will be being passed. Your characters have the choice of Single Cabins or Double Cabins (fits two in bunk beds). The cabins come in First Class or Second Class. The cabins all share a washroom between them so feel free to collect between you all a group of four to come aboard and claim two compartments that share a washroom.

Hope to see you aboard!

Sorry, I don't have time to commit right now but love your recruiting post! On the strength of the illustrations I did a bit of research and downloaded the iPad version of the original game

I, like Abdul, am inspired by your recruitment post. So much so that I'm tempted to join in, if I may?

Abdul Alhazred wrote:Sorry, I don't have time to commit right now but love your recruiting post! On the strength of the illustrations I did a bit of research and downloaded the iPad version of the original game

How many times did you get killed so far?



An Priest, you should come aboard, it is quite awesome!

Only had the chance to play it once, for five minutes. Arrested for murder almost immediately. Thanks goodness death really isn't a permanent condition or I'd never get my money's worth

This is a really cool idea. I would love to try playing in it, if it is still open. Just to be open, I'm new to PBP games, but I am an avid COC player, who has been on both sides of the divider.

Should I post my concept here or should I wait until you message me?

This game is always open for new players due to its style and method.

Message me your concepts as character secrets and concepts are meant to be learned in game as this is a game of intrigue.

Depending on your desires, you and Priest could collaborate to create a duo (in which case message each other as well) or you can come in individually.

The train will be arriving at Epernay, France, tomorrow and remaining there for an out of character week so it might be an idea to come onboard there.

Hello all,

Should be a fun trip on the Orient Express & personally not new to tabletop rpgs though new to CoC/BRP. Cheers & good luck to us all as we will probably need it.

You have two choices when hopping onboard this campaign.

One is to create your own character from scratch.

The other is to take one from the existing passenger list who each already have their own secrets and desires. viewtopic.php?f=261&t=4246

Okay, five seats are currently available.

The first evening is done and dusted! There's been all kinds of mischief and intrigue and the plots are rapidly thickening. Never fear, however! You can certainly step into this den of potential disaster as a new character boarding the train at one of the stations and be exposed to these plots for the first time as character and player. Since the plots are very non-linear, there's no fear of needing information from the previous day to survive the next. Oh no, coming in as a naieve (or malevolent) figure works just as well. Though, of course, if you would like to take on an abandoned PC (some of which have only had a few thread pages worth of airtime) or an NPC, why, that can be arranged as well!

The train has pulled up to Calsrume for new investigators to climb onboard (or you can pick up an existing one with very little back reading required). It's a creepy psychological horror game where the investigators are on a race against time ... and sometimes each other ... to survive the train and learn about the potential disaster which looms before them. New players always welcome.

"It's damn creepy!"-Anonymous Investigator

After a year of play we've passed through France! We're now up to the German chapter which is a great time for folks to come onboard! Don't worry about missing out on anything - there is plenty of danger and mystery afoot for you to get involved in.

Is there room for a small 'bit part' that's not integral to the story? I'm keeping a game but I would also like to play in one from next week onwards if possible?

Cheers, Hal

Absolutely! Just need to know what you mean 'bit part'? Someone who doesn't need much posting frequency? Someone who isn't too strenuous to play? Someone you could play for just a few weeks? Someone that doesn't requite any pre-reading? There's NPCs that matches any and all of those points.

Laraqua wrote:Absolutely! Just need to know what you mean 'bit part'? Someone who doesn't need much posting frequency? Someone who isn't too strenuous to play? Someone you could play for just a few weeks? Someone that doesn't requite any pre-reading? There's NPCs that matches any and all of those points.

That sounds perfect, I'm just getting back into PbP and don't want to over-commit and then burn out. I'd like someone who is all of the above and who could then later develop into a more integral part of the story if necessary. If you have something pre-genned then I am happy to pick up and run with that. Alternatively if you have a favorite PC that the player has dropped out, then I would be happy to keep the seat warm until / if they ever return?

Just drop me a line on what you have in mind.

Cheers, Hal

We're just cruising through Germany as it is ... with SS officers, archaeologists, film stars, and lordly heirs all hob nobbing with journalists and doctors so if anyone would like to climb aboard before the byakhees hit, let me know!

Nothing like Xaviering your way into death and insanity I always say!

And so enters a wanderlusting German!