RP:Research

From DevilshireWiki

Research is a crucial and critical tool for players looking up information on vampires, demons and all things that go bump in the night. It is also used to learn more about magic and even for regular old questions about history and/or obscure knowledge in another common field like science or technology.

Regular Research

When you are trying to research something, send a +request stating what you are looking for, your research technique, and if you are spending Drama Points to aid your work. Most of the time we don't make rolls for researching something that isn't a spell request. We'll take a look at your sheet to see where you've got skill points or contacts and figure out a way to get you something. Even if you aren't able to find the key piece of the plot puzzle or maybe you're just entirely lacking in any sort of research skills, we will at least work in a way to drop the name of someone who is so that you can get in on the action.

The more detailed your research request is the easier it is for us to do this. Please do not submit requests that say:

I am looking into magic spells that turn people blue.

Try to include some details like:

Having talked to Adam the PC/been around during the weirdness at the Amber Rose, I am going to look into what can cause people to suddenly turn blue. Since I assume this was a magical spell, I will be consulting my Occult Library to look for a spell and seeing if there are any demons that are known to do things like this. I will also look in the Public Library to see if something like this has ever happened before and if so, when and where. If I can't find anything, I've got Contacts 1: Supernatural and I'd like to see if that could get me some information.

That gives staff a lot more to work with as to how to get you the information you're looking for. A research request might be replied to with just an @mail on what you find or a scene may be run for you. A note here that a lot of times bits of information are given out to different people and while one piece might not look like much, all put together it will make sense/solve the problem. Information is given out to share not to horde, so RP with people!

Spell Research

When researching magic spells or rituals, the roll is the same as above, but with a negative modifier equal to the spell's power level. For example, Bob the Wizard wants to add Bolt of Apollo (PL3) to his grimoire. He submits a +spell request, and staff will ask him to roll:

Intelligence + Occultism + - 3 for the PL of the spell.

If two people are researching together to learn a spell they must put in separate requests with both requests noting they are working together. This helps staff keep better track of things. Please note that when doing combined research, each person must still succeed on the roll in order to learn the spell. If Witches A and B are both researching Apollo's Bolt and only Witch A succeeds on the research roll, only she learns the spell. Please use +spell to submit your spell research request. Also, please make sure to include the name of the spell, the power level of the spell, and a link to at least one log that shows you either studying or in which you clearly set aside time to study the spell in question.

All research times starts at a base time of one week. For each success level on a spell research roll beyond the initial one, the time is reduced by one day, to a minimum of 24 hours. At that point XP will be taken (see Spells for cost) and the spell will be added to your grimoire and the job closed.

Should the research roll fail, no XP will be taken and you may resubmit the request at a later date.