Non-adversarial Pulp Alley games?

[NickNascati]

All,
     No, not a solo game necessarily, but one meant to kick off the story.  E.G. -  "Billie Fleming walked the streets of Durban looking for a man.  Not just any man, but one Nathaniel Rye, adventurer and jack of all trades.  She questioned people in the street and was finally tipped off to Keegan's Bar as the most likely place to find him."   No perils, no adversaries, right?  Maybe rolling against finesse or cunning to get the location. When she gets to Keegan's, "Billie Fleming strode purposefully into Keegan's Bar. all eyes watched as she walked straight to the long, mahogany bar."  She questions the bartender, again rolling against finesse or cunning, and finds out what table Rye is sitting at.  Again, no perils, no adversary, right? 
    So could I set up 5 plot point being 4 representing people including the bartender that she needs to question, and finally Rye as the major plot point?  Does that make sense?

                                                                                                                                                                            Nick

[FramFramson]

Absolutely. That sounds like the Trail of Clues basic scenario.

[d phipps]

Yup, it looks like a good scenario idea, Nick! 

These can make for some fun Pulp Alley games. A lot of times we’ll play this kind of thing solo or with a GM. We call them social scenarios or mini-games.

If you wanted to add in a sense of danger, you could still add in a couple perils. Maybe one of the people has had a bit too much to drink and may not feel like cooperating. Or maybe one of the people has a jealous boyfriend that doesn’t take kindly to you approaching his dame. Resolving these potentially dangerous situations as a random peril works quite nicely.



HAVE FUN

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Yes, I like this sort of approach. I'm planning a future murder mystery at Snapcase Hall, a game of detection rather than a blood-bath as happened last time!

[marianas_gamer]

Nick,
Someone posted a great Pulp Alley game recently on LAF (future wars?) where the goal was for a politician to make his away across a crowded  party to deliver an insult to an ambassador.  The other team attempted to stall or intercept.  Attacks consisted of bad manners, poor hygiene, and insults.  It was extremely fun to read and I am sure to play.  It reminded me a lot of a scene from a Miles Vorkosigan book.
LB

[Prof. Dinglebat. Phd.]

And she finds him out the back...