Psychic Detective Agency

You sense things no one else can. And you use your gift to help the authorities catch dangerous criminals. Today you’re teaming up with other consultants with mysterious talents, despite your many differences. What twisted plot demands the collaboration of such odd detectives?

Psychic Detective Agency is a story game for 2-3 players, built on the What Happens Next framework. Take on the role of psychic detectives, and shape the story together. You’ll never see the end coming.

Gameplay: You create the story together by answering prompts and then playing out scenes. Anyone (even non-player observers) may prompt a player at any time. Players are not restricted to narrating or roleplaying only when prompted. 

Setup: Decide who will play the Precog, the Telepath, and the Clairvoyant. You can either play the game starting with a blank slate, and come up with everything together: time and place, mysteries, plot, conclusion. Or you can use a scenario, such as the one provided at the end of this document.

Prompts: The game provides six lists of prompts. Each player takes a People list and a Plot list (see below). If you're using a scenario, each scene will provide more prompts for everyone to share.

•	Some prompts are character-building: “Barb, why did you stop dating Doug after your third date?” Ask these when the answers might immediately inform roleplaying or add significance to the current scene.
•	Some prompts are open-ended: “Tam, what do you think you see pass by in your peripheral vision?” or open: “[Anyone] What happens next?”
•	And some are pointed: “Which of you feels a cold breath on your neck?” or leading: “What most traumatic moment from your past does the dark figure remind you of?” “You find yourself alone. How did that happen?”

You’re Psychic: In Psychic Detective Agency, specific players get all the prompts of a certain type. The person playing the Precog narrates what will happen in the future, while the Telepath narrates what’s really happening right now, and the Clairvoyant narrates what’s already happened that led up to this point. In addition, each of those players roleplays their character, speaking in their character’s voice, and explaining what their character does in the story.

When you answer a prompt, consider whether your character keeps that information to herself, whether she shares it verbatim with the others, or if it’s something none of you are aware of yet. By default, answer prompts in character, announcing what you found to everyone in your character’s vicinity, but feel free to clarify when that information is a secret your character is sitting on, or when it’s true but not something your character senses. As a character, you’re paid to share what you sense, but as a player, it’s your duty in the game to help determine what is going to happen, is happening right now, or has already happened.

Personality: The fantasy in fantastical stories is just a hook to draw an audience in; Stories are only ever carried by the humanity of their characters. Fortunately, each psychic is a remarkable character regardless of their considerable ability. During play, focus your prompts and roleplaying on advancing the plot (by foreshadowing evil, experiencing trouble, and uncovering evidence) and on exploring the characters.

Truth: Answers to prompts are true within their context but ultimately fallible. The future your Precog foresees might only be the future as it would happen if no one acts on that knowledge, or it might be prone to misinterpretation. The thoughts and secrets your Telepath detects might not be coming from the person you think they are; or they may be constructed by someone aware of your abilities and trying to mislead her. The past your Clairvoyant digs up may have an unseen context that transforms its meaning, or it might be intermingled with years of other events. It may also be that your psychics’ unconscious biases color their vision, or even that they’re intentionally lying for… reasons.

Even so, prompts are answered with the intention of advancing the narrative, so don’t contradict an answer without strong justification. If the Precog foretells that the Clairvoyant will utter the phrase “Charmins is magical” in the next 5 minutes, only a character aware of that prediction could possibly change that outcome. Perhaps it turns out the Precog was only partly right, because it’s another character who utters the phrase or because he misheard her saying “the chairman’s monocle.” But there needs to be an explanation for the error, ideally one significant to the story. If not, the player playing the Precog takes roleplaying control away from the offending player momentarily to make the prediction come true. “Sandy finds a bloody matchbook under the bed. She opens it and reads ‘Charmins is magical.’ Is that some kind of code phrase?”

Prompts principles
•	Always advance the plot
•	Do not contradict what has been established
•	Ask about the things you'd like to know
•	Think of your character, but consider the story
•	Don't be afraid of adding in danger and difficulty
•	Make up your own prompts if you feel like it

PROMPTS LISTS

The people. Character centric prompts – ask these when you feel like it, but especially at the start

List one
•	What drives you to investigate crime?
•	How does your power work? What are its limitations? Side Effects?
•	What horrible thing did you do last summer?
•	Why are you famous and I am not?
•	Tell us about your partner and family.
•	What scams have you pulled using your power?
•	Tell us about that night we spent together.
•	How did your powers first manifest?
•	Who do you love the most?
•	Tell us about your most happiest experience. 
•	Tell us about the time I double crossed you.

List two
•	Who do you hate the most?
•	What disease almost killed you?
•	What boring job did you do before this?
•	What made you live the life of a beat cop?
•	Tell us about your most painful experience. 
•	What makes your interaction with the other psychics so intense?
•	Tell us about your most saddest experience.
•	Tell us about your mother's death.
•	Who is still alive because of your power?
•	What did your mother of father say the day they found out about your power?
•	I've heard through the grapevine that you don't like me. Why is that? 

List three
•	Who did you first tell about your power?
•	What made you chose to work in a hospital?
•	Who died because of your power?
•	What is your darkest secret?
•	Tell us about your most stressful experience in service. 
•	What would your life be like without your power?
•	Tell us about your most frightening experience.
•	Why did you stop using your power to make money?
•	Tell us about the last bone you broke.
•	How have you used your power to exact revenge?
•	What happened that made you and me serious rivals?

The plot. Story centric prompts – ask these whenever needed. 

List one (Telepath or Precog player)

Plot prompts – ask anyone
•	What here stands out about you as particularly odd?
•	What clue is there to find here?
•	Tell us about your theory for this case.
•	What happens next?

Past prompts – ask the Clairvoyant
•	How did this person die?
•	Which way did the killer run?
•	Who was hiding a passionate affair?
•	What secret has the Telepath kept hidden all these years?

List two (Clairvoyant or Precog player)

Plot prompts – ask anyone
•	What do you know about this place?
•	Who is the next witness we should meet?
•	Why should we look past the obvious here?
•	What happens next?

Present prompts – ask the Telepath
•	What is this person lying about?
•	Who is silently cursing you?
•	Why is this person feeling the opposite of the way he’s acting?
•	What did the Precog see that she isn’t sharing?

List three (Clairvoyant or Telepath player)

Plot prompts – ask anyone
•	Your phone rings. Who is it and what are they calling about?
•	What here is not what it looks like?
•	Where should we investigate next?
•	What happens next?

Future prompts list – ask the Precog
•	Who’s about to get hurt?
•	When will the next crime occur?
•	You are about to be separated from the group. Where will you end up?
•	Why is the Clairvoyant about to slap you?

SAMPLE SCENARIO 

Miami Dead

This scenario is for 3 or 4 players. Only a little bit of work should be necessary to adapt it for only two players. Each scene presents a situation and a list of prompts. Read the former together and leave the latter visible to everyone. Use the time provided for each scene to pace the story you are telling together. 

The scenes provided here are not the only ones you should play: move the story wherever it needs to go, but try and steer it towards the established scenes. If you can't, 

Christmas 1989. The Apocalypse is near. The dead are coming back, and Miami Police Department is at a loss. They have asked the Agency for their best psychics and you are being brought in with all haste. 

Prologue
Brickell Bay Drive, December 24th, 5:36 pm

A car drives along the beach front towards the county morgue. Two of us are on board. 

Character prompts – ask anyone
•	You landed on an international flight. Where were you and why? 
•	You are a local. What is your relationship to Commissioner Alvarez?
•	Tell us why you fear that this case is a sign announcing the End of All.
•	What are your plans for Christmas Eve?
•	Why are you so behind your Christmas shopping?

Story prompts – ask anyone
•	Who is late and why?
•	Who is driving?
•	Why is our conversation somewhat awkward?
•	We are going to the morgue. Why is it going difficult for you to see Dr Reynolds again?
•	To the character who isn't in the car: meanwhile... tell us something weird you see or hear about.

Act I
Miami-Dade Morgue, December 24th, 7:02 pm

Dr Reynolds welcomes us with visible relief. The morgue is empty, and we can hear noise coming from the body drawers. 

Story prompts – ask anyone
•	What does Dr Reynolds look like?
•	What can Dr Reynolds tell us about what is happening?
•	What is the source of the macabre noise we hear?
•	Who is drawn to one of the body drawers, and why?
•	How do you find out that the victims were all shopping at the Aventura Mall?

Act II
Aventura Mall, Palm Island, December 24th, 8:54 pm

The luxury mall are full of late shoppers. Fake snow, Christmas Carols, and frantic consumerism. This is where we are meeting Prudence Johnson. 

Story prompts – ask anyone
•	Who is Prudence Johnson and how is she linked to the case?
•	How is our theory proved wrong, at least in part?
•	What starts the panic?
•	Who should you save right now?
•	A TV screen shows some dire news about the Takashi Towers – what are they?

Act III
Takashi Tower, December 24th, 11:17 pm

The brand new crystal tower overlooking Bayfront Park is lit like a Christmas tree. Mr Takashi agreed to see us during his Christmas party. 

Story prompts – ask anyone
•	Who do you know at this fancy Christmas party?
•	What detail tips you off about what is about to happen?
•	Why can't the police help?
•	Who is the guy with the animal mask barging in with a shotgun?

Epilogue
December 25th,  6:09 am

The next day. 

Story prompts – ask anyone
•	Tell us about this Christmas morning.
•	What happened to the people we met during this case?
•	In what way have you changed? 
•	What did you learn about yourself, about us, about the world?

100 First names
Alec Andra Angle Anjelica Arlinda Arnoldo Bea Bennett Betsy Brian Britni Carlyn Carma Cassandra Charleen Chet Dania Darell Devorah Dovie Eda Edison Elaina Elisha Emely Emiko Emile Emma Erin Fallon Faye Felicidad Forrest Francisca Francisco Georgianne Graig Griselda Guadalupe Harriett Heike Ignacio Ima Isreal Jason Jesse Jesusa Jolynn Jules Jung Karey Kirstin Kittie Krystle Laurine Leighann Leila Leon Lesa Lewis Lindsay Linwood Lita Louis Lue Marilynn Melaine Millicent Myrtice Nanette Neda Nell Nicholas Nikole Ozell Raelene Ramon Robbyn Robena Ronnie Roosevelt Scarlet Scotty Shavonne Shellie Sherril Sunny Taryn Taunya Teisha Terence Tianna Trent Valrie Venessa Verdell Vesta Vickie Wen Yon

100 last names
Adams Aguilar Allen Alvarez Anderson Bailey Baker Bell Brown Butler Campbell Carter Castillo Castro Cheng Cho Clark Coleman Cook Cruz Delgado Diaz Edwards Evans Fernandez Flores Foster Garcia Garza Gray Guzman Hall Harris Hayes Henderson Hernandez Herrera Hill Howard Jackson James Jenkins Jimenez Johnson Kang Kelly Khan King Lee Lewis Lopez Lu Martinez Miller Mitchell Moore Morales Moreno Morgan Morris Ng Ngo Parker Patterson Perez Perry Phan Phillips Price Ramirez Ramos Reed Reyes Richardson Rivera Roberts Rodriguez Romero Ruiz Russell Salazar Sanders Shah Soto Stewart Tang Taylor Thomas Thompson Torres Turner Vasquez Vo Walker Washington White Williams Wood Young Zhang