Elementary, My Dear Watson

[The Monster]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

One of the problems with makking the player figure stuff out, especially in relation to the Holmes stories, is that Doyle cheats! The reader is never given several clues that Holmes cites during his explanations; for example, a candle guttering on a specific side is an important clue in one case (Scarlet or Speckled Band, maybe??), but the candle, is never described in that detail until Holmes points it out. It's fine reading, but it's the author's version of letting the player roll dice and having the GM rattle off what is deduced.

 

Also, re the writeup: Holmes could alter his height by a lot - several inches, at least - and maintain that for long periods. Perhaps a few more points in Disguise or some talent or other? Wasn't he also supposed to be one of the smartest men in England? For my taste, I'd drop the PER bonus to +2 and put the points into INT; after all, true max normal goes up to 25 with merely the lesser Age disad.

[OddHat]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

NCM is not a hard max in the CU or Pulp Hero; It just doubles the cost of characteristics that exceed it. If any protagonist in fiction can justify an INT above 20, Holmes can.

[Vestnik]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

I hate to be anal about languages, but in Scarlet his Latin is good enough to read academic literature, and he has at least passing knowledge of French and German. (His German is used in solving the case in fact.)

[lensman]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Sherlock Holmes

Val Char Cost Roll Notes

13 STR 3 12- Lift 151.6kg; 2 1/2d6 [3]

14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5

13 CON 6 12-

12 BODY 4 11-

23 INT 13 14- PER Roll 14-/16-

18 EGO 16 13- ECV: 6

15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6

12 COM 1 11-

 

3 PD 0 Total: 3 PD (0 rPD)

3 ED 0 Total: 3 ED (0 rED)

3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12

6 REC 0

30 END 2

30 STUN 4

Running: 6"/12"

Leaping: 2"/4"

Swimming: 2"/4"

 

Cost Powers END

4 +2 PER with Sight Group

 

Perks

1 Fringe Benefit: Published author

 

5 Contact: Baker street Irregulars (Contact has useful Skills or resources, Good relationship with Contact) 12-

2 Contact: Scotland Yard Dectectives (Contact has access to major institutions) 8-

Notes: Inspector Lestrade, Tobias Gregson, Stanley Hopkins, Alec MacDonald, and Athelney (or Peter) Jones

 

9 Base: 221 B Baker Street

3 Bases: various Safe Houses

5 Money: Well Off

 

2 Reputation: brilliant consulting detective (A small to medium sized group) 14-, +2/+2d6

 

Talents

6 Skill Master (+3 with Disguise)

Notes: Has developed methods for increasing and decreasing height byl inches for prolonged periods of time.

 

Skills

0 Language: English (basic conversation)

1 Language: Latin (basic conversation)

4 KS: Latin: vocabulary 13-

1 Language: Greek (Classical) (basic conversation)

2 KS: Greek, classical: vocabulary 11-

2 Language: French (fluent conversation)

1 Language: German (basic conversation)

 

3 Scholar

2 PS: Violinist 11-

3 KS: Instrument: Violin 12-

2 PS: Chemist 11-

6 SS: Chermistry 15-

3 KS: Poisons 12-

3 KS: Opiates and other psychoactive drugs 12-

5 KS: Tabacco 14-

3 KS: Classic literature: Bible, Shakespeare 12-

3 KS: Politics: European notables, 19th century 12-

 

3 Analyze: Interaction Skills 14-

3 Acting 12-

3 Disguise 14-

6 +2 with any three related Skills Analyze / Acting / Disguise

 

5 PS: Consulting Detective 16-

5 KS: Trained Observer 16-

9 Deduction 17-

3 Forensic Medicine 14-

3 Criminology 14-

6 KS: History: Crime, 19th century 15-

3 KS: Law: British, 19th century 12-

4 SS: Geology: Soils 13-

 

5 Shadowing 15-

3 Stealth 12-

3 Streetwise 12-

3 +1 with any three related Skills: Shadow / Streetwse / Stealth

7 AK: City: London, 19th century 16-

 

3 Sleight Of Hand 12-

 

0 WF: Clubs

1 WF: Blades

1 WF: Handguns

15 +3 CSL: HTH Combat

Boxing: oen hand

Maneuver OCV DCV Notes

4 Martial Block +2 +2 Block, Abort

5 Offensive Strike -2 +1 6 1/2d6 Strike

4 Counterstrike +2 +2 4 1/2d6 Strike, Must Follow Block

4 Shove +0 +0 28 STR to Shove

1 Weapon Element: Blades

Singlestick / Fencing: weapon

Maneuver OCV DCV Notes

4 Weapon Bind +1 +0 Bind, 23 STR

4 Martial Disarm -1 +1 Disarm; 23 STR to Disarm roll

4 Killing Strike -2 +0 HKA 2 DC

 

 

-11 Scholar Offset

 

Total Characteristic Cost: 72

Total Powers & Skill Cost: 194

Total Cost: 266

 

75+ Disadvantages

20 Psychological Limitation: Fascination with the macabre (Very Common, Strong)

20 Normal Characteristic Maxima

5 Age: 40+

10 Psychological Limitation: Hunts Professor James Moriarty (Uncommon, Strong)

5 Psychological Limitation: Believes Irene Adler is a woman of character (Uncommon, Moderate)

10 Dependent NPC: Dr. James H. Watson 11- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)

10 Rivalry: Professional (brother: Mycroft Holmes; Rival is More Powerful; Seek to Outdo; Rival Aware of Rivalry)

5 Physical Limitation: 7% Solution Addiction (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing)

106 Experience Points

(24 points unspent)

 

Total Disadvantage Points: 85

 

Holmes is a fan favorite, if you didn't have nits to pick I'd worry.

 

Oh, uploaded this to the Vault, I think

[Basil]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

OK, a few comments; some of substance, some nit-picking.

 

Sherlock Holmes

Val Char Cost Roll Notes

13 STR 3 12- Lift 151.6kg; 2 1/2d6 [3]

14 DEX 12 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 5

13 CON 6 12-

12 BODY 4 11-

23 INT 13 14- PER Roll 14-/16-

18 EGO 16 13- ECV: 6

15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6

12 COM 1 11-

His COM is not above 10, and perhaps only 8. He's skinny, sallow, with a beak of a nose and sunken cheeks. And that's when he's in good health; sick or overworked, he looks skeletal.

 

3 PD 0 Total: 3 PD (0 rPD)

3 ED 0 Total: 3 ED (0 rED)

3 SPD 6 Phases: 4, 8, 12

6 REC 0

30 END 2

30 STUN 4

I think more END would be appropriate; he's worked like a devil on a number of occasions.

 

Running: 6"/12"

Leaping: 2"/4"

Swimming: 2"/4"

 

Cost Powers END

4 +2 PER with Sight Group

 

Perks

1 Fringe Benefit: Published author

 

5 Contact: Baker street Irregulars (Contact has useful Skills or resources, Good relationship with Contact) 12-

2 Contact: Scotland Yard Dectectives (Contact has access to major institutions) 8-

Notes: Inspector Lestrade, Tobias Gregson, Stanley Hopkins, Alec MacDonald, and Athelney (or Peter) Jones

 

9 Base: 221 B Baker Street

3 Bases: various Safe Houses

5 Money: Well Off

 

OK, just what period of Holmes's career are you emulating? Remember, Watson got involved because Holmes couldn't afford a place on his own.

 

2 Reputation: brilliant consulting detective (A small to medium sized group) 14-, +2/+2d6

 

Talents

6 Skill Master (+3 with Disguise)

Notes: Has developed methods for increasing and decreasing height byl inches for prolonged periods of time.

 

Skills

0 Language: English (basic conversation)

1 Language: Latin (basic conversation)

4 KS: Latin: vocabulary 13-

1 Language: Greek (Classical) (basic conversation)

2 KS: Greek, classical: vocabulary 11-

 

I'm not sure a KS of a language's vocabulary is a legit skill.

 

2 Language: French (fluent conversation)

1 Language: German (basic conversation)

 

3 Scholar

2 PS: Violinist 11-

3 KS: Instrument: Violin 12-

2 PS: Chemist 11-

6 SS: Chermistry 15-

3 KS: Poisons 12-

3 KS: Opiates and other psychoactive drugs 12-

5 KS: Tabacco 14-

3 KS: Classic literature: Bible, Shakespeare 12-

3 KS: Politics: European notables, 19th century 12-

A) Scholar only works on KS's, not PS's nor SS's

You should show the cost including the point off for a Skill Enhancer. Otherwise it gets way too confusing (see later note)

 

3 Analyze: Interaction Skills 14-

3 Acting 12-

3 Disguise 14-

6 +2 with any three related Skills Analyze / Acting / Disguise

 

5 PS: Consulting Detective 16-

5 KS: Trained Observer 16-

It would be best if you noted these two are INT based. Otherwise anyone reading the writeup will get confuse as to where you got these costs from.

 

9 Deduction 17-

3 Forensic Medicine 14-

3 Criminology 14-

6 KS: History: Crime, 19th century 15-

3 KS: Law: British, 19th century 12-

4 SS: Geology: Soils 13-

 

5 Shadowing 15-

3 Stealth 12-

3 Streetwise 12-

3 +1 with any three related Skills: Shadow / Streetwse / Stealth

7 AK: City: London, 19th century 16-

 

3 Sleight Of Hand 12-

 

0 WF: Clubs

1 WF: Blades

1 WF: Handguns

I disagree; throughout the Canon, Holmes shows extreme reluctance to use a handgun, and IIRC has never so much as threatened anyone at less than near-contact range. I don't believe he has this WF.

 

15 +3 CSL: HTH Combat

Boxing: oen hand

Maneuver OCV DCV Notes

4 Martial Block +2 +2 Block, Abort

5 Offensive Strike -2 +1 6 1/2d6 Strike

4 Counterstrike +2 +2 4 1/2d6 Strike, Must Follow Block

4 Shove +0 +0 28 STR to Shove

1 Weapon Element: Blades

Singlestick / Fencing: weapon

Maneuver OCV DCV Notes

4 Weapon Bind +1 +0 Bind, 23 STR

4 Martial Disarm -1 +1 Disarm; 23 STR to Disarm roll

4 Killing Strike -2 +0 HKA 2 DC

 

 

-11 Scholar Offset

I've never seen this term; I can only assume you mean the points saved from KS's by having the Skill Enhancer, "Scholar." There were 9 skills listed immedately after "3 Scholar" of which only 6 were KS's; there were 3 other KS's listed elsewhere. I have no idea where you're getting a cost of negative eleven.

 

Total Characteristic Cost: 72

Total Powers & Skill Cost: 194

Total Cost: 266

 

75+ Disadvantages

20 Psychological Limitation: Fascination with the macabre (Very Common, Strong)

20 Normal Characteristic Maxima

5 Age: 40+

Certainly not true at the time of A Study in Scarlet; neither chronologically nor physiologically.

 

10 Psychological Limitation: Hunts Professor James Moriarty (Uncommon, Strong)

5 Psychological Limitation: Believes Irene Adler is a woman of character (Uncommon, Moderate)

 

Again, the question comes up, "At what point in his life are you modeling Holmes?" We do not hear of Professor Moriarty until "The Final Problem," the very story in which he "kills" Holmes, and that is about half-way through the Canon. Note that at that time, Holmes says he has been aware for years of someone directing much of the crime in London, it was only three months previously that he became aware of who. By the end of "The Final Problem" (we learn later) Moriarty is dead, and Holmes is (obviously) no longer hunting him. I think you need a more "generic" hunting; a Psych Lim like "Devoted to rooting out crime" or the like.

 

As for Irene Adler, we meet her in "A Scandal in Bohemia." While Holmes admires her, it is for her intelligence and quick wit, not as "a woman of character." BTW, remember that in the first paragraph of "A Scandal in Bohemia," she is referred to as "the late Irene Adler." Just a point to keep in mind.

 

10 Dependent NPC: Dr. James H. Watson 11- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)

10 Rivalry: Professional (brother: Mycroft Holmes; Rival is More Powerful; Seek to Outdo; Rival Aware of Rivalry)

5 Physical Limitation: 7% Solution Addiction (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing)

 

I would certainly give him a DF: "Obviously unfamiliar with many aspects of culture/common knowledge". In A Study in Scarlet Watson lists his knowledge of literature, philosophy, and astronomy as "Nil", his knowledge of politics as "Feeble" his knowledge of botany as "Variable" (knows all about poisons, nothing about gardening), etc. There are other ways in which Holmes is shown as being out-of-touch with his society. Perhaps the DF could be phrased more generally as "Acts really oddly"; he "just doesn't get it" in interpersonal relations, a lot of the time.

 

Though note, this fades as the stories go on. IOW, Holmes starts to gain better relationship skills.

 

106 Experience Points

(24 points unspent)

 

Total Disadvantage Points: 85

 

Holmes is a fan favorite, if you didn't have nits to pick I'd worry.

 

Oh, uploaded this to the Vault, I think

 

Hope this has helped.

[matrix3]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Bat Logic is also fun.

 

The player is allowed to ask any single plot related question, once per game session, with a short, specific answer.

 

He then makes his deduction roll.

 

If he has a deduction of 18- or better, and he makes it by 10, the GM gives the player the short, specific answer to the question. But, for the Character to be able to use that answer, the Player must explain, in character, how the clues available led him to that conclusion.

 

Player: "OK, where is Birdface hiding? I'm using Bat Logic."

 

(Rolls his deduction skill: 12 on a 23-)

 

GM: "He's hiding in the abandoned lighthouse near Northpoint bay. Now, how did your character figure it out?"

 

Player (to the other players): "Birdface is obsessed with birds, and has been since his tragic plastic surgery accident! Birds like high places, places that let them see as much of the surrounding area as possible! See is a homonym of Sea, and birds fly North in the summer! It's July now! Northpoint bay has a tall old abandoned lighthouse, where you can see the city from the sea! That's where Birdface must be hiding!"

 

Other Player: "I need more beer."

 

 

I'd rep you if I could! I have to introduce Bat Logic into my games.

[lensman]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

OK, a few comments; some of substance, some nit-picking.

 

 

His COM is not above 10, and perhaps only 8. He's skinny, sallow, with a beak of a nose and sunken cheeks. And that's when he's in good health; sick or overworked, he looks skeletal.

 

 

I think more END would be appropriate; he's worked like a devil on a number of occasions.

 

 

 

OK, just what period of Holmes's career are you emulating? Remember, Watson got involved because Holmes couldn't afford a place on his own.

 

 

 

I'm not sure a KS of a language's vocabulary is a legit skill.

 

 

A) Scholar only works on KS's, not PS's nor SS's

You should show the cost including the point off for a Skill Enhancer. Otherwise it gets way too confusing (see later note)

 

 

It would be best if you noted these two are INT based. Otherwise anyone reading the writeup will get confuse as to where you got these costs from.

 

 

I disagree; throughout the Canon, Holmes shows extreme reluctance to use a handgun, and IIRC has never so much as threatened anyone at less than near-contact range. I don't believe he has this WF.

 

 

I've never seen this term; I can only assume you mean the points saved from KS's by having the Skill Enhancer, "Scholar." There were 9 skills listed immedately after "3 Scholar" of which only 6 were KS's; there were 3 other KS's listed elsewhere. I have no idea where you're getting a cost of negative eleven.

 

 

Certainly not true at the time of A Study in Scarlet; neither chronologically nor physiologically.

 

 

 

Again, the question comes up, "At what point in his life are you modeling Holmes?" We do not hear of Professor Moriarty until "The Final Problem," the very story in which he "kills" Holmes, and that is about half-way through the Canon. Note that at that time, Holmes says he has been aware for years of someone directing much of the crime in London, it was only three months previously that he became aware of who. By the end of "The Final Problem" (we learn later) Moriarty is dead, and Holmes is (obviously) no longer hunting him. I think you need a more "generic" hunting; a Psych Lim like "Devoted to rooting out crime" or the like.

 

As for Irene Adler, we meet her in "A Scandal in Bohemia." While Holmes admires her, it is for her intelligence and quick wit, not as "a woman of character." BTW, remember that in the first paragraph of "A Scandal in Bohemia," she is referred to as "the late Irene Adler." Just a point to keep in mind.

 

 

 

I would certainly give him a DF: "Obviously unfamiliar with many aspects of culture/common knowledge". In A Study in Scarlet Watson lists his knowledge of literature, philosophy, and astronomy as "Nil", his knowledge of politics as "Feeble" his knowledge of botany as "Variable" (knows all about poisons, nothing about gardening), etc. There are other ways in which Holmes is shown as being out-of-touch with his society. Perhaps the DF could be phrased more generally as "Acts really oddly"; he "just doesn't get it" in interpersonal relations, a lot of the time.

 

Though note, this fades as the stories go on. IOW, Holmes starts to gain better relationship skills.

 

 

 

Hope this has helped.

 

Basil:

On the cannon, I was simply waiting for someone like yourself to come along and

brush away the last few bits from the model.

 

Ok I concede that I used my memory of the books, blended in the Basil Rathbone B&W

shows, the movie 7% Solution and a healthy dose of Wikipedia's digest.

 

I created this version of Holmes to be the very last of him we see from his return, whether

that be straight from cannon or the movie.

 

But this write up was meant to be a place holder and modifierd so anyone could just

drop parts for earlier periods.

 

The KS: Vocabulary is a holdover from 4th ed., which had an associated KS with the

Lang. based on points spent. I wanted to convey knowledge of these lang. beyond the

spoken word and reflect serious study.

 

I did not modify the cost of any skill other than KS. If you count the KS, you will find a total

of 11 on the sheet. -1 for each equals -11. I choose this format because I like to cluster my KS

around skills they compliment. HD does not allow this, so I work around that.

 

After lowering the COM I thought about it and have a counter arguement.

The COM reflects the characters COM at his best. With his Addiction and Psych lims, I see

the GM saying his effective COM lowers resulting in the manner you suggest.

 

I have now put in notes that these skills are INT based. Good Point.

 

I removed the WF for Handgun. Also good point.

 

On age, as above, I built for the later years.

 

On the "Hunts", yes I meant to convey that while not knowing exactly who, it turns out Holmes was

going after Moriarty, but a broader Psych is needed. Widened it to Criminal enterprises.

 

Removed the disad concerning Irene.

 

I will refer you to the Wikipedia article and to its many good points on why Holmes did have some cultural knowledge.

 

 

And yes it did help, thanks.

[Drhoz]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

what about the cocaine addiction?

[lensman]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

That is expressed in the 7 % Solution, which I took from the film of the same name

[Drhoz]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

That is expressed in the 7 % Solution' date=' which I took from the film of the same name[/quote']

 

ah of course

[Trebuchet]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

OK' date=' just what period of Holmes's career are you emulating? Remember, Watson got involved because Holmes couldn't afford a place on his own.[/quote']I don't recall that. As I remember it Dr. Watson had his own house (complete with wife and kids) away from 221B Baker Street. 221 Baker St. was a boarding house; a common place for a single gentleman to live in Victorian times. Holmes wasn't really wealthy (probably because he didn't much care about money), but he was certainly from the British upper class.

[OddHat]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

It's also important to be clear on which Holmes material you're using to build the character.

 

Doyle's Holmes is not the Holmes of the movies and TV shows (with the arguable exception of the BBC series with Brett). The Holmes of Moore's LoEG is not the Holmes of Ellis' Planetary is not the Holmes of Stephen King's "The Doctor's Case" , etc.

 

I like a composite Holmes myself, with Doyle's work at the core, but in any case you should be clear when thinking through the character which sources you used. For instance, the Seven Percent Solution wasn't written by Doyle; if you're going to include that, what other non-Doyle sources are part of your Holmes?

[Basil]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Basil:

On the cannon, I was simply waiting for someone like yourself to come along and brush away the last few bits from the model.

Excuse me, but this is something that irritates me no end: the word is "canon." A cannon goes BOOM, canon is the collection of those works considered authentic, and as proper sources.

 

Ok I concede that I used my memory of the books, blended in the Basil Rathbone B&W

shows, the movie 7% Solution and a healthy dose of Wikipedia's digest.

Ah, OK. More than the canon, then. Well, the Rathbone/Bruce movies aren't bad; extremely padded, but that can't be helped when turning a short story into a 1 - 1.5 hour movie.

The book, The Seven Percent Solution isn't bad, but suffers from the mistake of trying to bring real-world persons into the fictional world Doyle created. I've never seen the movie.

 

I created this version of Holmes to be the very last of him we see from his return, whether

that be straight from cannon or the movie.

Um, huh?

 

Do you mean this is meant to represent Holmes as of about the time of the last (in fictional world chronology) story? That would be "His Last Bow," set at the very start of World War I (August 2, 1914, in fact)

 

But this write up was meant to be a place holder and modifierd so anyone could just drop parts for earlier periods.

 

The KS: Vocabulary is a holdover from 4th ed., which had an associated KS with the Lang. based on points spent. I wanted to convey knowledge of these lang. beyond the spoken word and reflect serious study.

I don't remember that.

 

Do you have a page number I can look up?

 

I did not modify the cost of any skill other than KS. If you count the KS' date=' you will find a total of 11 on the sheet. -1 for each equals -11. I choose this format because I like to cluster my KS around skills they compliment. HD does not allow this, so I work around that.[/quote']

I'm sorry, you're right. I forgot to count the ones for the vocabulary. My apologies.

 

After lowering the COM I thought about it and have a counter arguement. The COM reflects the characters COM at his best. With his Addiction and Psych lims, I see the GM saying his effective COM lowers resulting in the manner you suggest.

 

I have now put in notes that these skills are INT based. Good Point.

 

I removed the WF for Handgun. Also good point.

 

On age, as above, I built for the later years.

 

On the "Hunts", yes I meant to convey that while not knowing exactly who, it turns out Holmes was going after Moriarty, but a broader Psych is needed. Widened it to Criminal enterprises.

 

Removed the disad concerning Irene.

 

I will refer you to the Wikipedia article and to its many good points on why Holmes did have some cultural knowledge.

Well, as I said, I was going by the Holmes of A Study in Scarlet (as per the OP). He clearly lost that DF as time went by.

 

And yes it did help' date=' thanks.[/quote']

You're welcome.

[The Monster]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

I think he should keep the WF for guns. He had bullet-holed VR into his wall IIRC.

I concur that, as far as I can recall, he never fired guns during a story, but I believe he did carry them on occasion, and not using them is far different from knowing how to use them. He certainly knew a fair amount about firearms.

[Vestnik]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

I don't recall that. As I remember it Dr. Watson had his own house (complete with wife and kids) away from 221B Baker Street. 221 Baker St. was a boarding house; a common place for a single gentleman to live in Victorian times. Holmes wasn't really wealthy (probably because he didn't much care about money)' date=' but he was certainly from the British upper class.[/quote']

 

No kids. Watson's marital status fluctuates. When he first meets Holmes it's because Watson is broke and needs a roommate:

 

BEING A REPRINT FROM THE REMINISCENCES OF JOHN H. WATSON, M.D., LATE OF THE ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the Army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as assistant surgeon. The regiment was stationed in India at the time, and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes, and was already deep in the enemy’s country. I followed, however, with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself, and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety, where I found my regiment, and at once entered upon my new duties.

The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires, with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand. There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly, who threw me across a pack-horse, and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines.

Worn with pain, and weak from the prolonged hardships which I had undergone, I was removed, with a great train of wounded sufferers, to the base hospital at Peshawar. Here I rallied, and had already improved so far as to be able to walk about the wards, and even to bask a little upon the veranda, when I was struck down by enteric fever, that curse of our Indian possessions. For months my life was despaired of, and when at last I came to myself and became convalescent, I was so weak and emaciated that a medical board determined that not a day should be lost in sending me back to England. I was despatched, accordingly, in the troopship Orontes, and landed a month later on Portsmouth jetty, with my health irretrievably ruined, but with permission from a paternal government to spend the next nine months in attempting to improve it.

I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was therefore as free as air—or as free as an income of eleven shillings and sixpence a day will permit a man to be. Under such circumstances I naturally gravitated to London, that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained. There I stayed for some time at a private hotel in the Strand, leading a comfortless, meaningless existence, and spending such money as I had, considerably more freely than I ought. So alarming did the state of my finances become, that I soon realized that I must either leave the metropolis and rusticate somewhere in the country, or that I must make a complete alteration in my style of living. Choosing the latter alternative, I began by making up my mind to leave the hotel, and take up my quarters in some less pretentious and less expensive domicile.

 

 

http://www.bibliomania.com/0/0/182/2388/frameset.html

 

(If anybody writes up Watson, don't forget that he is a cumpulsive gambler.)

[AlHazred]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

William S. Baring-Gould wrote an excellent biography on Holmes and Watson, based on his OCD^H^H^H extremely close reading of the canonical works and his knowledge of Sherlockian writings on the subject (Baring-Gould was one of the pre-eminent Sherlockians of all time).

 

In the book, he postulates that Holmes was born to an Upper Class family, but was mostly left to make his own way in the world; he advertised for a room-mate because the rooms at 221B Baker Street were "too dear for his purse."

 

I can see that I'll just have to crack open my books and reread the canon in order to field a "book-perfect" Sherlock Holmes. We can then compare and contrast with other interpretations of the character.

[mraley]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Too many times' date=' we have seen the Nigel Bruce interpretation of Watson portrayed. I for one would love to see a confident, intelligent, competent assistant to the great Consulting Detective....[/quote']

 

Try the film "Without a Clue" with Michael Caine as Holmes and Ben Kingsley as Watson. "Holmes" is really an actor who's cover for Watson's brilliance.

 

For a less humorous turn on it, try the Jeremy Brett BBC films (where Watson is only dim in comparison to Holmes) or the Richard Roxburgh/Ian Hart "Hound of the Baskervilles". The Brett episodes are very close to the originals; Brett kept an annotated copy of the canon on the set all the time.

 

Mary Ann

[mraley]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

However' date=' in [i']Scarlet[/i], his first appearance, he has never heard of the Copernican Theory of the Solar System. He's only interested in knowledge that help's him fight Britain's master criminals and throws everything else out of his "brain attic."

 

It is widely accepted that at that point he was "having Watson on".

 

He unbends the poker in The Speckled Band.

 

Mary Ann

[mraley]

Since I haven't figured out the nifty multiple quotes thing....

 

As to the WF: Handguns - He and Watson both shoot at the Andeman Islander in "Sign of Four" and at the hound in "Hound of the Baskervilles". As The Monster said, he decorated the wall with VR (mentioned in "The Musgrave Ritual"). It appears he knows how to use a pistol, he'd just rather not. (He does pistol whip a couple of guys, however.)

 

As to Irene Adler, define "a woman of character" There are a number of undertones in "Scandal" showing that Holmes respected Irene quite a bit, and not only as the winner in their match. The last line of "Scandal" is "He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman." IMHO, the disad should remain, or perhaps be modified slightly. Holmes does get in one good snark at the "King" after he remarks that Irene would have made a good queen if she were "on [his] level”.

 

“From what I have seen of the lady, she seems, indeed, to be on a very different level to your Majesty,” said Holmes coldly.

 

He also turns down an emerald ring in payment in favor of her photograph.

 

And as to Watson referring to her as "the late Irene Adler", in the Victorian period, that didn't necessarily mean she was dead, simply that she was no longer a point of interest.

 

(Can you tell I like Irene?)

 

As to the DNPC for Watson, I see him more as an ally or contact than a DNPC. He's very capable and (as discussed above) intelligent. He has useful combat skills as well as noncombat skills ("Quickly Watson, get your service revolver!"). SH refers to himself and Watson as "this agency" ("Sussex Vampire") and depends on Watson to protect their client and to investigate in "Hound of the Baskervilles". I just don't see him as a DNPC.

 

Holmes is, however, very protective of Watson. In "The Three Garridebs", he tells the forger "If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive."

 

He needs a KS: Music. He wrote a monograph on the Polyphonic Motets of Lassus ("Bruce Partington Plans). He often attends the opera and concerts (in "Study in Scarlet", he wants to wrap up the investigation so he can go hear Norman Neruda play the violin).

 

He needs Cryptography - "I am fairly familiar with all forms of secret writing, and am myself the author of a trifling monograph upon the subject, in which I analyse one hundred and sixty separate ciphers." ("the Dancing Men").

 

He needs SS: Physiology - he recognised the relationship between the three sisters by the shape of their ears ("Cardboard Box") and later identified one of the victims by the shape of her ear (which was all he had).

 

He also needs Tracking (“Study in Scarlet”, "Silver Blaze", "The Priory School", "Hound of the Baskervilles", "Boscombe Valley Mystery"), SS: Ballistics ("Reigate Squire" and "The Empty House"), SS: Psychology ("Scandal in Bohemia", where he lures Irene Adler into betraying where she had hidden a photograph based on the "precis" that an unmarried woman will seek her most valuable possession in case of fire, whereas a married woman will grab her baby instead.) and probably a dozen other things I've forgotten.

 

Mary Ann

[Thia Halmades]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Wow. Well, I know more about Sherlock Holmes than I ever did before. Thanks!

[lensman]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Since I haven't figured out the nifty multiple quotes thing....

 

As to the WF: Handguns - He and Watson both shoot at the Andeman Islander in "Sign of Four" and at the hound in "Hound of the Baskervilles". As The Monster said, he decorated the wall with VR (mentioned in "The Musgrave Ritual"). It appears he knows how to use a pistol, he'd just rather not. (He does pistol whip a couple of guys, however.)

 

As to Irene Adler, define "a woman of character" There are a number of undertones in "Scandal" showing that Holmes respected Irene quite a bit, and not only as the winner in their match. The last line of "Scandal" is "He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman." IMHO, the disad should remain, or perhaps be modified slightly. Holmes does get in one good snark at the "King" after he remarks that Irene would have made a good queen if she were "on [his] level”.

 

“From what I have seen of the lady, she seems, indeed, to be on a very different level to your Majesty,” said Holmes coldly.

 

He also turns down an emerald ring in payment in favor of her photograph.

 

And as to Watson referring to her as "the late Irene Adler", in the Victorian period, that didn't necessarily mean she was dead, simply that she was no longer a point of interest.

 

(Can you tell I like Irene?)

 

As to the DNPC for Watson, I see him more as an ally or contact than a DNPC. He's very capable and (as discussed above) intelligent. He has useful combat skills as well as noncombat skills ("Quickly Watson, get your service revolver!"). He refers to himself and Watson as "this agency" ("Sussex Vampire"). He depends on him to protect their client and to investigate in "Hound of the Baskervilles". I just don't see him as a DNPC.

 

Holmes is, however, very protective of Watson. In "The Three Garridebs", he tells the forger "If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive."

 

He needs a KS: Music. He wrote a monograph on the Polyphonic Motets of Lassus ("Bruce Partington Plans). He often attends the opera and concerts (in "Study in Scarlet", he wants to wrap up the investigation so he can go hear Norman Neruda play the violin).

 

He needs Cryptography - "I am fairly familiar with all forms of secret writing, and am myself the author of a trifling monograph upon the subject, in which I analyse one hundred and sixty separate ciphers." ("the Dancing Men").

 

He needs SS: Physiology - he recognised the relationship between the three sisters by the shape of their ears ("Cardboard Box") and later identified one of the victims by the shape of her ear (which was all he had).

 

He also needs Tracking (“Study in Scarlet”, "Silver Blaze", "The Priory School", "Hound of the Baskervilles", "Boscombe Valley Mystery"), SS: Ballistics ("Reigate Squire" and "The Empty House"), SS: Psychology ("Scandal in Bohemia", where he lures Irene Adler into betraying where she had hidden a photograph based on the "precis" that an unmarried woman will seek her most valuable possession in case of fire, whereas a married woman will grab her baby instead.) and probably a dozen other things I've forgotten.

 

Mary Ann

 

I second that, Wow. Ok that is exactly what I wanted / needed.

 

Thank you for bringing your encyclopedic knowledge to bear.

 

So I added everything you suggested, although I substitued Anthropology for Physiology.

 

I had thought to use DNPC for Watson much like I would use it for Storm and Kitty Pride, that now does not seem right.

Contact seems to distant, Follower seems too callous.

 

By "Woman of Character " I was trying to convey a certain Victorian flair for a grudging respect in Holmes eyes.

[st barbara]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

As much as I like Nigel Bruce's portrayal of Watson it isn't very like the Watson that I remember from the Conan Doyle stories. Remember that Watson had at least one adventure of his own ("The Adventure Of The Engineer's Thumb") or at least in which he sems to have played the major part, and in which he displays some resourcefullness in getting himself out of trouble.

[mraley]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Thank you for bringing your encyclopedic knowledge to bear.

 

The Internet is a wonderful thing for checking cites. "I vaguely remember that..."

 

I have these occasional obsessions , and lately it's been Holmes. In the past few months, I've reread canon twice, read about three dozen pastiches, watched the entirety of the Brett BBC stuff (twice) and the Ronald Howard TV series as well as three different "interpretations" of 'Hound of the Baskervilles' (including the Matt Frewer version, which is endurable merely because Frewer's only in it about twenty minutes), and several other films (including one Reginald Owen and three Arthur Wontner offerings from the '30's and two Christopher Lee films from the early 90's). Last night was the Hammer Films "Hound" from '59 (Now there's a good Watson!).

 

Last time it was King Arthur/the Grail. Who knows what next month will bring?

 

Rob puts up with me because I buy him Godzilla movies and 30's serials.

 

Mary Ann

[The Monster]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

The Internet is a wonderful thing for checking cites. "I vaguely remember that..."

 

I have these occasional obsessions , and lately it's been Holmes. In the past few months, I've reread canon twice, read about three dozen pastiches, watched the entirety of the Brett BBC stuff (twice) and the Ronald Howard TV series as well as three different "interpretations" of 'Hound of the Baskervilles' (including the Matt Frewer version, which is endurable merely because Frewer's only in it about twenty minutes), and several other films (including one Reginald Owen and three Arthur Wontner offerings from the '30's and two Christopher Lee films from the early 90's). Last night was the Hammer Films "Hound" from '59 (Now there's a good Watson!).

 

Last time it was King Arthur/the Grail. Who knows what next month will bring?

 

Rob puts up with me because I buy him Godzilla movies and 30's serials.

 

Mary Ann

 

And it's more legal than drugs!

 

Have you seen "They Might Be Giants?" Delusional(?) "Holmes" (George C Scott IIRC) teams up with his newly appointed therapist (of course, named Doctor Watson).

[Ian Mackinder]

Re: Elementary, My Dear Watson

 

Something I would like to add is that I think Holmes's skill with the Violin should be somewhat higher. I do recall from the stories that he was most accomplished with that instrument - when in the right mood.