Learning & Larceny

GAME INTRODUCTION:

Learning & Larceny is a TTRPG One-Shot that takes place on the Georgia Tech - Atlanta Campus. In Learning & Larceny, players step into the roles of Georgia Tech Police Department officers who are tasked with investigating a string of suspicious activities across campus. The culprit isn’t stealing anything in the early scenes, instead, they’re leaving behind clues while casing locations or testing security. GTPD must piece together these breadcrumbs to solve the final heist. Set in the heart of Atlanta, the game highlights real security concerns on campus as players gather clues, examine crime scenes, and piece together evidence – all while navigating challenges they may face along the way. With the unique role of the GM controlling the story and clues the players are given, the players must put their minds and skills together. Through collaborative problem-solving and dice-driven situations, the game raises awareness about campus safety, the importance of reporting crimes, and the vital role GTPD plays in protecting the community. How long will it take you and your team to crack the case?

ISSUE INTRODUCTION:

Our game is focused on crime and theft on the Georgia Tech campus, so we decided to use real-life data as the basis for our game and its mechanics. We referenced the actual Georgia Tech campus crime statistics to determine the crime that the game would revolve around (Crime Statistics | Georgia Tech Police Department). This source provided us with the statistic that theft is the most commonly committed crime on campus (Crime Statistics | Georgia Tech Police Department). We also referenced a study that revealed how campus police at several institutions respond to crime accordingly (Allen, 2021). This provided us with the information that most campus police focus their attention on property crimes and theft, as they are the most common (Allen, 2021). We also took a look at the Georgia Tech campus crime map, which showed that thefts are not just the most common but can also be committed anywhere on campus, from the Recreation Center to Classroom Buildings and even student's Dorms (Crime Logs and Map | Georgia Tech Police Department). Discovering all of this data led us to want to create a game that brings awareness to the issue but in a fun way. Creating a game to address the issue allows people to have fun but also learn about the vulnerabilities of living on a college campus at the same time. We found it important to address this issue due to the abundance of theft on campus but the lack of knowledge that many students have on what to do if they or someone they know becomes a victim.

HOW TO STAY SAFE:

Ways to stay safe on campus include: 

• Do not allow strangers to tailgate you into locked buildings
• Always lock your door, ALWAYS
• Never leave valuables unattended 
• Never prop open doors that are meant to be locked
• Advise GTPD of possible security issues

Note: Never attempt to solve a crime or theft by yourself; always report a theft to the proper authorities, such as the GTPD, and let them handle the investigation. Always follow the suggested steps above to help prevent theft from occurring in the first place. With theft being the most common threat to college students, it is always important to understand how to deal with it.

Note: While this game is fictional, campus theft is a real issue. Always report crimes to GTPD at 404-894-2500 or via the LiveSafe app.

BEFORE YOU PLAY:

Consider what you know about crime and theft on campus and discuss it with the group. What do you think is the most common crime on campus? Are you aware of what to do if you notice a crime or theft occur? Have you or someone you know ever been a victim of theft? If so, how did you deal with it?

GAME MUSIC:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/6c8GWCO9GNUhf5ZyhBqyWY?utm_source=generator&theme=0

RATIONALES:

Our Individual 300-Word Rationales

REFERENCES:

Allen, W. David. "Crime, Universities, and Campus Police." Applied Economics, vol. 53, no. 37,  2021, pp. 4276–4291

Georgia Tech Police Department. "Crime Logs and Map." Georgia Institute of Technology, https://police.gatech.edu/crime-logs-and-map. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Georgia Tech Police Department. "Crime Statistics." Georgia Institute of Technology,  https://police.gatech.edu/crime-statistics. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Wikipedia contributors. “Buzz (Mascot).” Wikipedia, 28 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_%28mascot%29. 

“Georgia Tech Police (@GaTechPD) / X.” X (Formerly Twitter), 31 Mar. 2001, x.com/gatechpd. 

Cover image generated by Google Gemini Generative AI, https://gemini.google.com/app