Research: A Primer

[Coco]

Many people have requested some information on how to use research points effectively, so here are some guidelines that will be updated from time to time.

Disclaimer: Plot reserves the right to give out any amount of information to a research question as they deem appropriate, regardless of the amount of points spent on a question, and/or to give unexpected information. That said, we try our darndest to be fair and give you something equivalent. You guys DID spend CP to have Research.

1. As Jacob said [url=http://occamsrazorlarp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=372#p4306]here[/url], Research Points represent time, effort, and access to resources to get information. You can't hoard time for later use, but you can combine different resources together. Hence, Research Pools. In game mechanics, this means you can spend each point of Research gained by a skill on a separate question, or you can Pool together same-type Research (Paranormal Research Skills with other Paranormal Research Skills, etc). In the same way you can Pool points for a question at one event, you can also spend points on the same question (or a follow up question) over time. Many topics will take multiple events to unravel, even if they seem uncomplicated.

2. If you plan to pool your research points with another player on the same question, please indicate a Project Name somewhere with your actual question. Please be sure it's the correct Project Name, else we will be confused, and Nobody wants that.

We reiterate: This is for adding points to the [b]same question[/b]. If players indicate the same Project Name, but are asking different questions related to it, the points are not pooled because each individual question must be answered. Consider copy/pasting the same question as your friend, or simply stating which Project Name to which you would like to add your points--as long as one friend does state the question.

[quote]ex. PC #1: Project Life Sucks -- Based on the idea that Kirby gains special skills depending on who he eats, I would like to use my 2 pts of intrinsic research to find out how that power functions.
PC #2: Project Life Sucks -- Based on the idea that Kirby gains special skills depending on who he eats, I would like to use my 2 pts of intrinsic research to find out which guy he needs to eat to have ice powers.
[i]Because the questions are different, these players will be answered individually. Each question will receive an answer worth two points. Likely, these individual answers will be less in depth than the one answer they would receive if they had asked the same exact question.[/i][/quote]

3. For best results, use more points on fewer projects. Occam's Razor is unusual in that it's more or less entirely built of secrets and PCs have access to a great many more research points than a usual game that gives them research skills--ergo, 1 research point is not as effective as 1 question in an average game. However, one research point is far from useless, especially with the right question. Essentially any research point can be spent on any question, but the Genre of point determines the effectiveness and the degree of answer. Video taping ghosts never works terribly well, and neither does asking a ghost to surf the internet, but you [i]can[/i] try both.

Some people list out what each of the Skills/Advantages do for them in terms of Research rather than pooling them together. The misconception might be, "Well, since my Contact wouldn't know anything about this topic, I can't use that point in the Pool for this question, so I'll use it for another question." That would be treating the skill as a "downtime skill" rather than a mode of adding to your Research Pool. However, you [i]can[/i] Pool it together with something else, mechanically, to possibly higher effectiveness, and the answer will be "flavored" with the skills that were used.

4. Phrasing is everything! This helps us understand what exactly you're trying to find out and what you may already think you know, which is a win for players as well. We don't always know what you know already (or what you think you know), so without telling us, you run the risk of merely confirming a theory--which is fine, if that's what you want. A good example: "Based on (here is where I'm coming from), I'd like to look into (this is the actual question.)." And throw a Project Name in there, if applicable.

5. Research can't be spent to unlock new in game skills or to create new in game items, sorry! For items: Some of you may remember the Tinker skills from Lost Eidolons--those don't exist in OR. Items can be created through the appropriate charts in the crafting books. Staff is always available for questions on this.

6. To clarify above, Research CAN be spent in an effort to find out if it's possible and how to acquire currently unavailable skills and items. This would be phrased in such a way as a character using the resources at their disposal (Research points) to reasonably find someone/something who knows what they want to know.

7. Specifically Psychic Research skills: As noted in the skill descriptions, they add to your Research Pools--they're not meant to be used as "downtime skills."

[quote]ex. "Scanner" adds to a Research Pool and will "flavor" the research question's answer with the psychic being open to surface level thoughts around them. It cannot be used to read a specific person's mind since that would be akin to using a non-Research skill between events, which isn't allowed in Accelerant.[/quote]

8. Again, non-Research skills can't be used between events, and so they can't be combined with your Research.

[Coco]

Updates and rewording above. Have a re-read.

[Henry Gondorf]

Having read this above post I have two things to say.

1: Thank You! Grey Areas begone! Off with you beyond the realms of reason and or Nyquil fueled explorations into dreamscapes.

2: About the proper use of description in Info Skill postings: BALLS! Knew I should have gone for broke during those times at home.

[PoeticJustice]

Thank you so much on clarifying 5 & 6! That distinction is important and I'm really happy to have it stated.

Also all of this is really helpful, thank you!

[Eden Jones]

Question on point # 2 -- I know we are required to ask the exact same question if we want to pool our points. Is it only the specific question that needs to be the same, or the whole researchy kit'n'caboodle? You mentioned phrasing being important and skills/backgrounds adding flavor -- would that flavor, er, poison the pool?

As in, could we do the following:

[i]Player 1: Project Wavy Tresses[/i] -- Using my Secret Sartorial Society connections, I'd like to use my 2 Intrinsic Points to help try and figure out how Bob gets his hair to look so good
[i]Player 2: Project Wavy Tresses[/i] -- Given that I have Rank 3 in the International Hairdresser's Cabal, I'd like to use my 1 Intrinsic Point to help try and figure out how Bob gets his hair to look so good
[i]Player 3: Project Wavy Tresses[/i] -- I have super spiffy hacker skills and am hopeful that Bob purchased any hair care supplies with a credit card. I'd like to use my 3 Technological points to help try and figure out how Bob gets his hair to look so good

First of all, would those research points all stack in this example? Second, is there anything to be gained/any point in mentioning relevant connections or skills or whatnot in our questions? Or should all 3 players just send in "I'd like to use [X] points of [Y] to to help try and figure out how Bob gets his hair to look so good" and leave it at that?

[Merana33]

...I'm suddenly self conscious about my hair...

Why do you think I wear a hat all the time? Because it contains the cowlick of dooooooom!