Download Trapped in the Museum Right Now

I developed Trapped in the Museum way back in 1999 between freelance game-writing assignments. I'd just immersed myself in Risus: The Anything RPG by S. John Ross (available at his web site, The Blue Room), and wanted to channel my enthusiasm for the quick-and-easy, versatile system. Risus seemed best-suited for game genres with humorous elements -- I wanted to see if it could work just as well for a bit more serious genre.

I'd long thought of developing a solitaire horror adventure set in a museum, something suitable for Call of Cthulhu, Space 1889, or even Castle Falkenstein. Risus gave me the perfect opportunity. The early sections of Trapped in the Museum serve as a tutorial for the system, showing how to create a genre-specific character and use him in the game. The concept of a character's abilities defined as clichés allowed the game stats to convey a better sense of personality. The adventure setting capitalized on my love for ancient Egyptian art.

Trapped in the Museum had a short, amateur print run for sale at various local conventions at which I appeared. It was little more than a 28-page, self-covered, saddle-stitched, digest-sized booklet. Few folks seemed interested, though I sold a couple of copies and gave away quite a few more. S. John Ross himself paid the scenario quite a complement: "The inimitable Peter Schweighofer has written a new Risus solo adventure, and it rocks. It’s really really good ... (and it also makes excellent use of an ‘apparently negative’ cliché)!"

The PDF version presented here is formatted for printing on 8.5 by 11 inch paper (unlike the 5.5 by 8.5-inch saddle-stitched version I self-published). Use it to test drive the Risus system, or extrapolate a spooky group adventure from the entries. Near the back you'll find stats for the major antagonists in five game systems: Risus, Call of Cthulhu, Space 1889, Castle Falkenstein, and -- exclusive to the PDF version -- Victoriana, a steampunk game coming this summer from Heresy Games.

For those interested in art history, inspiration for the simple black-and-white illustrations came from a variety of sources. The museum facade was inspired by technical drawings of the Fifth Avenue facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Tomb paintings of Nefertari, the Chief Royal Wife of Ramses the Great, influenced the look of the princess Nefer-ka. Likewise the jackal-headed ghouls come from paintings found in the Tombs of the Nobles in Thebes, Egypt. The Spartan warrior silhouette was based on the profile of an ancient Greek statue of Poseidon (or Zeus), with a plumed helm and spear added for good measure.

I love the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It inspired the adventure's setting as well as the Spartan warrior. Although animated statues are standard fare from Ray Harryhausen special effects fantasy films, the Met for many years had an imposing terracotta statue of an Etruscan warrior with leering face, raised spear, and imposing helmet standing among its Roman-era statuary. Alas, it was discovered to be a forgery and no longer guards the museum galleries. Hopefully he'll live on a little longer as the Spartan warrior in Trapped in the Museum.

Shameless Plug: Solos for Sale

If you’re a game company looking to include a solitaire scenario in one of your products (or as a promotional item), let me know. Assuming I’m familiar with the game system (or am provided with materials to familiarize myself with it and the universe), I’m willing to create a customized solo adventure for reasonable rates.
 

   "This is called a Griffin because it is a winged quadruped. This kind of wild animal is born in Hyperborean parts, or in mountains. All its bodily members are like a lion's, but its wings and mask are like an eagle's. It is vehemently hostile to horses. But it will also tear to pieces any human beings which it happens to come across."