Cthulhu Megathread: It's pronounced "Khlul'-hloo" (Lose 1D10/1D100 Sanity)

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > Cthulhu Megathread: It's pronounced "Khlul'-hloo" (Lose 1D10/1D100 Sanity)

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clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

BlackIronHeart posted:

One thing that's gotten me interested in CoC is actually RPPR. Goon clockworkjoe runs the joint and they've got a whole shitload of CoC actual play podcasts here if you want to listen some games before giving them a shot. Bryson Springs is particularly hilarious and creepy and you can get the scenario for free over at https://www.hebanongames.com.

Thanks for the shout out! I would be remiss in my podcasting duties if I did not mention [url=
http://theunspeakableoath.com/]The Unspeakable Oath[/url] and Unspeakable! the podcast

Both are excellent sources for Cthulhu mythos gaming material :cthulhu:

# ¿ Sep 3, 2012 05:07

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# ¿ May 15, 2024 17:21

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

If you have an account on Steam, you need to rate Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=91712806&searchtext=

# ¿ Sep 3, 2012 18:13

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Guildencrantz posted:

I'm interested in using one of these systems to run a non-Cthulhu horror game that shares some themes with the mythos. The premise is that the PC's are an X-files-esque task force in 1970's Poland, tasked with combating and concealing the supernatural, while navigating the bumbling communist bureaucracy and dealing with the issue of working for a thoroughly reprehensible institution that's mostly a tool of oppression. Cue horrific world-shattering discoveries and so on.

Trails of Cthulhu seems extremely promising, but can someone tell me how well it adapts to other settings before I buy it? The group is entirely bilingual and we play with English-language books all the time, so that's not an issue.

The Laundry has rules for dealing with Bureaucracy that might be helpful.

Delta Green Countdown has a chapter on a Russian anti-mythos security agency called GRU SV8 http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/99299/Delta-Green%3A-Countdown

That would be easy to adapt I would think.

# ¿ Sep 5, 2012 06:00

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

discoukulele posted:

Just want to show some love for Cthulhu Dark. It's really nice because it lets you focus more on storycrafting and the social aspect, and you never have to stop to look something up in the book. I've been using it a lot lately for the games I DM, and one of my buddies has been using it for Sci-Fi/Horror games. It's pretty adaptable.

In my experience, Cthulhu Dark becomes like a game of Paranoia but that may just be my group.

# ¿ Oct 3, 2012 04:57

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

BlackIronHeart posted:

Generally speaking, any RPPR Cthulhu game that has Caleb as the GM and Aaron playing is pretty much gold as Aaron makes incredibly insane decisions. Caleb alluded in the 'Before the Ice' podcast, which is the prelude to Lover in the Ice, that Aaron's PC decided to navigate the Amazon jungle alone while blind. Can't wait to hear that one.

Caleb just ran a one shot for Halloween featuring this guy: http://hebanongames.com/traveller/ and Aaron was a player in it. We also got trick or treaters during the game.

It will be in the Base Raiders AP preview episodes.

# ¿ Nov 2, 2012 05:24

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Blatant self promotion here but I have a piece in the new issue of The Unspeakable Oath - Message in a Bottle: http://www.rpgnow.com/product/111576/The-Unspeakable-Oath-22

I also playtested the Die High scenario, although I have no idea what's it like now - haven't had time to read it yet.

# ¿ Feb 21, 2013 02:47

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

moths posted:

I finally put down the money for DG:Countdown today. In hardcover print-on-demand (with the PDF) it costs about half of what scalpers are getting for the softcover on eBay. It's just... why do people hate their money?

Has anyone heard anything about the Delta Green standalone RPG? According to this really long interview Pagan Publishing is working on it and is in the dark (and apprehensive) about 7e so they're making their own game that's somehow compatible with previous stuff and does.. something.. else differently?

Pagan's news page hasn't been updated since August 2012. The original announcement goes back to 2011 - and it looks super-promising. It sounds like a tweaked BRP (using the OGL parts), with Kenneth Hite and Greg Stolze attached, but word on this has completely dried up. Does anybody know what's happening here?

They're working on it. Did you listen to the DG panel at Gencon last year? http://theunspeakableoath.com/home/?p=1076

# ¿ Mar 17, 2013 06:03

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Peas and Rice posted:

If you read between the lines, it's stand-alone because they don't want to be reliant on Chaosium releasing the next version of CoC (which they'll do in their own sweet time) and would prefer instead to just get it out there.

There's also the restrictions Chaosium puts on licenses and the fact that standalone RPGs sell better than settings for existing games.

# ¿ Mar 17, 2013 18:49

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

My Precious Eggs posted:

Hi gents, here's a 3-hour-long CoC/Arkham soundtrack that my friend and I put together:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87P7S85sHGI

Enjoy! I'll be GMing my first CoC session next week, super excited!

I would love a list of artists used for this soundtrack.

# ¿ May 12, 2013 23:48

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

LuiCypher posted:

Does anyone have recommendations for pre-made adventures for Call of Cthulhu? If so, could you also give some tips/advice for running the campaign or just being a Keeper in general?

http://fairfieldproject.wikidot.com/scenarios has some downloadable scenarios - I recommend Night Floors and Music from a Darkened Room

I did a few episodes of RPPR about running horror games http://slangdesign.com/rppr/2008/10/podcast-episode/rppr-episode-23-halloween-tricks-and-treats/

http://slangdesign.com/rppr/2011/10/podcast-episode/rppr-episode-65-fear-in-the-long-haul/

http://slangdesign.com/rppr/2008/10/podcast-episode/rppr-episode-22-get-your-fear-on/

# ¿ May 20, 2013 08:09

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

moths posted:

Ruth from the Double Shadow podcast actually typed up Lovecraft's complete works in a free eBook - which is infinitely better than paying for public domain works.

Goddamn, this 7e business. It sounds like they came up with some cool alternate mechanisms and optional rules that would have made for an awesome book of core tweaks and hacks like God Machine Chronicles update, Danse Macabre, or Mirrors for WoD, or that upcoming one for FATE. They've been backpedaling away from the changes, now many are "alternate" or "suggested" mechanics - and it's like, well why even sell that an edition? I guess there was some player push-back over change, because 4e.

Where are you reading about the changes to the rules and backpedaling?

# ¿ Jun 3, 2013 16:53

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Weird Uncle Dave posted:

I emailed Chaosium, asking whether the Kickstarter books would cover any periods other than the 1920s -- they won't. Previous editions didn't cover 1890s or present-day in great depth, but at least they were mentioned in passing. 7E won't even get that much, if their email is to be believed.

Also, I don't think I've ever before seen a Kickstarter where domestic shipping wasn't included in the rewards prices. (Add-ons requiring separate shipping, sure, but this is for the base rewards.) Is Chaosium actively trying to confuse backers? "Oh, you donated $500 but not an extra $5 for US shipping? No product for you!"

No modern rules? Not going to get it then.

# ¿ Jun 4, 2013 18:01

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

There's a movie based on The Case of Charles Dexter Ward called The Resurrected. You could track it down on DVD and watch it to get some ideas.

# ¿ Aug 1, 2013 22:35

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Put on a production of the King in Yellow in your front yard or have a statue of the King in Yellow in your front yard. At Halloween, wear a costume like the statue and do things like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCDPVjcV6ls

# ¿ Oct 21, 2013 22:43

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

This article may enlighten you http://lovecraftzine.com/2013/01/09/the-cthulhu-mythos-in-japan/

# ¿ Dec 9, 2013 20:08

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Fozzy The Bear posted:

I didn't see in the OP, but is there a wiki about cthulhu, where for example I could search about all of the dark ones to find the correct one to add to my adventure?

http://www.yog-sothoth.com/wiki/index.php/Cthulhu_Mythos

# ¿ Mar 30, 2014 19:08

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

If you run Masks, I recommend: http://www.yog-sothoth.com/files/file/532-masks-of-nyarlathotep-companion-v09/

# ¿ May 25, 2014 08:16

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

That person sounds like a terrible rear end in a top hat and you should stop playing with him or at least stop playing horror games with him.

# ¿ Jul 4, 2014 04:19

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Halloween Jack posted:

Have any of you guys used the other GUMSHOE games, namely Night's Black Agents or Esoterrorists, to do a Call of Cthulhu game? Like maybe for Delta Green reasons? It's been on my mind lately.

I ran a 13 session game of Night's Black Agents set in Tokyo. http://actualplay.roleplayingpublicradio.com/tribes-of-tokyo-a-nights-black-agents-campaign/

It's a pretty loving great game.

# ¿ Jul 12, 2014 18:11

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Ettin posted:

So I really, really liked Keeper's Companion Vol. 1; the sections on Books, Cults and Mysterious Places made it really easy to adapt Cthulhu Mythos elements for my scifi games without having to comb through a bunch of books looking for the information I wanted. How useful would vol. 2 be to me?

Scott Glancy does not recommend Volume 2, for what that's worth.

Speaking of which: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/460966263/horrors-of-war-a-convenant-with-death

No PDF option because Crowe is a luddite.

# ¿ Aug 1, 2014 19:50

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Niemat posted:

Okay, so this leads me to my next question: what are the differences between 5.5 and 6? The bookstore also has a really cheap 5.5 core book, and I was thinking I'd pick it up if for no other reason then to have a hard copy of the rules. We've never played CoC before, if that makes a difference in anyone's recommendation (I won't know any better! ).

I'll definitely pick those supplements up then! Thanks!

Rules are about the same but 6e has a lot more advice, background material on tomes, spells, etc. I have a copy of 5.2 and 6e and I use them interchangeably.

# ¿ Aug 1, 2014 21:52

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

NilkNarf posted:

As a Kolchak fan, I'm really interested in running the first scenario from Unseen Masters. Any advice on toning down the S&M element? I'm considering eliminating it entirely, but I'm not sure how much that will hurt the plot.

From what I remember, isn't it a red herring?

Also, are there any writeups for playing as a ghoul in the Laundry RPG? I know the Laundry employs ghouls.

# ¿ Aug 28, 2014 04:50

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Ettin posted:

p.95 of the Laundry Agent's Handbook has the rules for it.

Thanks!

# ¿ Aug 28, 2014 17:57

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Huge sale at Chaosium right now: http://www.chaosium.com/

I picked up the Achtung Cthulhu line and some other books.

# ¿ Jun 11, 2015 03:07

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

minidracula posted:

Found out about this from the deals and steals thread. Although I bought some PDFs from Chaosium at the end of last year, I'd like to support the closet-clearing and rehab of the company finances, and get some sweet stuff on sale. Any recommendations on things to get in hardcopy? Right now, poking around some, I'm mostly interested in some novelty dice, and, well... you know: I have enough dice (novelty or otherwise; doesn't mean I won't buy some though!).

Look at the licensed books. Tales of the Crescent City looks pretty neat.

# ¿ Jun 15, 2015 07:54

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Uroboros posted:

Two questions:

Is Mansions of Madness better than Arkham Horror? I have the later, and many of my friends just aren't into it, however we all seemed to enjoy "Betrayal at House on the Hill" which seems to be what Mansions of Madness is like based on the description.

Also, is there a consensus on here which Cthulhu pencil and paper RPG is the best? I've had success with Dark Heresy with my friends, but have considered writing up a Cthulhu story.

My impression of Mansions of Madness was that the investigators were almost always screwed because of how few actions they get every turn, especially when you have 3 or more players. The more players you have, the more resources the keeper/forces of evil player has to throw against you. Arkham Horror is entirely co-op, not competitive, and even if you don't win, everyone usually gets to do a lot and have fun. Arkham is more complex, especially if you add in a bunch of expansion sets.

# ¿ Jul 29, 2015 02:15

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

The point spend system of Gumshoe turns some players off because they get anxiety over when they should spend points on their rolls. This anxiety is entirely by design and part of the game. Nevertheless, if your players are the kind of guys who hoard every limited use item (potions, scrolls, etc) in D&D and video game RPGs, gumshoe is probably not for them.

# ¿ Jul 29, 2015 04:49

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Nude Bog Lurker posted:

This kind of seems like one of those Kickstarters where you should wait about 25 days before pledging, since some of the stretch goal options seem like they'd be much, much better than the basic pledges.

If you back at the $80 Rising Threats tier, you can help create more books and get all of them in PDF. We could in theory do another KS in a year or two for new books, but we'd be starting from scratch with making contributors' schedules and interests line up. The only way to guarantee we see stretch goals like the Carcosa book, Impossible Landscapes, is to bring in enough backers to make it happen.

# ¿ Oct 1, 2015 22:08

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Want to know more about the Delta Green Operational History book? I interviewed the writer on Unspeakable! today http://theunspeakableoath.com/home/2015/10/unspeakable-episode-23-gil-trevizo-and-delta-green-operational-history/

# ¿ Oct 3, 2015 00:58

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

InShaneee posted:

Right now, it's $50 for the core book (or $70 for the expanded corebook), plus $50 for the Fall of Delta Green GUMSHOE book, and beyond that it's all PDFs. I don't think either of those prices are all that out of step with retail prices for full-color hardcovers, but I'm really hoping that now that the expanded core is covered, they think about binding together some of these PDFs for print.

Print on Demand options for the PDF projects are being considered. Arc Dream wants to do it, but they have to look at the costs of creating it too. There are also a number of free to all backers rewards being offered. The first few rewards have already been posted.

# ¿ Oct 5, 2015 05:53

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

KomradeX posted:

Here's my thing with the Case Officers handbook why wasn't that the goal of the kickstarter? Cause reading about it and thinking in retrospect it makes the Agent's Casebook look like a core book with out a GM's section. And shouldn't one of the benefits of kickstarter be, hey thanks for believing in is abs or work here's a bit of the price of it retail for you guys like is the deal with so many other kickstarters? But 5 bucks for every interesting scenario is adding up. Like I really wish they would do a printed book level with all of the unlocked pdfs.

The Agent's Handbook provides a way for gaming groups to all have the same rules without anyone being spoiled by them and allow GMs to create their own mythos. One key new aspect of the new Delta Green is that you are fully encouraged to create your mythos. If you don't like Cthulhu, mix it up. Get rid of the old threats and introduce your own. Maybe spirits from the astral plane possess people who use certain experimental drugs and are slowly building up a conspiracy to take over or end the human race. Maybe the only threats are human made, rogue transhuman or posthuman technologies created by anonymous contractors. Maybe you want to run a SCP Foundation game - Delta Green can just be a division of that organization.

In other news, a quickstart guide has been released with a demo adventure and pregenerated characters. Check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arcdream/delta-green-the-role-playing-game/posts/1376137

I've also recorded an actual play podcast of the new Delta Green rules on RPPR Actual Play: http://actualplay.roleplayingpublicradio.com/2015/10/genre/horror/delta-green-inheritance/

# ¿ Oct 8, 2015 02:23

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Hiro Protagonist posted:

Clockworkjoe, I admittedly haven't listened to the RPPR you guys did with the new rules, but I admit, after looking at the quick start, I'm skeptical of the whole idea of not rolling most of the time. It makes me feel like players get free information for no cost, which could quickly descend from role-playing game into point and click adventure game in my mind. Can you help me understand it a bit better?

You only roll when there is chaos or risk, i.e. when there's no reason they should fail. If you're a skilled researcher with plenty of time at a library, why should you not be able to find the information you're looking for? So, it helps PCs get all the background info and legwork, but scenarios usually have some element of chaos in them.

Search a crime scene? Why bother rolling?

Search a crime scene that's been cordoned off by the police and the PCs are trespassing? Definitely roll.

Translate a passage in a book? Fine.

Translate a passage during a gunfight? You better roll.

# ¿ Oct 8, 2015 18:50

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Thanks! We're doing a DG mini-campaign run by Caleb this month and I will try to run a SCP Foundation themed game on or near Halloween.

# ¿ Oct 10, 2015 07:45

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

gradenko_2000 posted:

I backed DG at the basic Agent's Handbook PDF tier, but if I wanted to upgrade to also get Case Officer's PDF and Fall of Delta Green PDF, is that something I do through the KS, or does that/can that come later?

You can do it now. Just increase your pledge by the amount of add-on rewards you want and then at the end of the campaign, you will be given a survey to list how you want your extra money spent.

# ¿ Oct 16, 2015 07:05

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Sionak posted:

On the Delta Green RPG: the books unlocked in the kickstarter (Impossible Landscapes, Control Group, and so on) will be available for purchase afterwards, right? I'm definitely in for the Case Officer's Guide and probably one of the additional hardbacks, but pledging for all of them now would be a bit too much.

Yes, but keep in mind that the hardbacks will be limited print runs, not print on demand. When they're out, reprints may take a while. PDFs will be for sale forever of course.

# ¿ Oct 20, 2015 04:15

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

If they don't listen to RPPR Actual Play, rip off Caleb's God's Teeth adventures.

Alternately, throw a DG operation with minimal, if any, actual mythos threats. I recently a session where the PCs didn't even get to the mythos part because they alerted the dirty cops in a small remote town, which eventually led to a Rambo style manhunt in the forest and a desperate search for the black site where the cops tortured people. The home office only promised to extract the PCs if they found the black site, so they had a valid justification for sending in federal SWAT teams.

# ¿ Oct 27, 2015 03:22

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Commissar Kip posted:

Isn't that A Victim of the Art? You can get it: http://www.delta-green.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/A-Victim-of-the-Art.pdf

Also, I pledged for the Delta Green kickstarter because you have a special place in my heart, Ross. <3

Victim of the Art has a Bykahee although it would be easy to swap in a drat dirty ape.

Also, looks like the PISCES book will happen ~$5k is 42 hours is pretty easy to achieve.

BTW if you need scenario ideas, look at the shotgun scenario archive http://fairfieldproject.wikidot.com/shotgun-scenarios

Let's Learn Aklo is a mindfuck for example.

# ¿ Oct 27, 2015 21:21

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

The thing is, an ageless cannibal mercenary is not the stuff of mental stability. Sooner or later, he's going to lose his military cool and starting doing dumb things, like building a new cult, teaching others his secrets or visiting Point 103. What's that? It's only a Karotechia outpost in Antarctica that happened to unearth the ruins of a certain civilization down there. Delta Green wiped out it out in the 1950s after the Karotechia and some Argentinians tried to loot it. Who's to say that there can't be one last visit?

# ¿ Oct 29, 2015 03:14

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

Otisburg posted:

It probably is more satisfying for the scenario hook to be "He's trying to reanimate Hitler at a secret base in Antarctica!" or something rather than "Yeah, he's just kind of laying low and doing his thing, not really bothering anybody... except for the eating people part and the occasional assassination-for-hire."

He's certainly the one who is going to last the longest. Also, maybe instead of going to Point 103, he starts hanging out with the other notable group of corpse eaters - the ghouls. Maybe he becomes an ally to the heretics in NYC, providing fresh meat in exchange for lore or perhaps access to the Dreamlands. Why? To resurrect Hitler of course or build a new Karotechia through dream meetings with neo nazis. Imagine a terrorist group that used the Dreamlands to communicate and organize - NSA can't monitor that, can they?

# ¿ Oct 29, 2015 03:34

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# ¿ May 15, 2024 17:21

clockworkjoe: May 31, 2000; Rolled a 1 on the random encounter table, didn't you?

LuiCypher posted:

Did anyone else here sign up for the DG playtest, and if so did they get the materials? I signed up, but I haven't seen them (they were supposed to come out yesterday) and I want to review it for a few days before I run it with a group this weekend.

The latest beta of the rules is publicly available (linked on the front page of the DG Kickstarter) here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OogZHpifybUFvdSi9lCpttF50hkiRPGw3J-Efiax-YQ/edit?usp=sharing

Quick start guide here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uen96o0fj9ytswm/Delta%20Green%20RPG%20Quickstart%20Kit.zip?dl=0

# ¿ Nov 10, 2015 23:23

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > Cthulhu Megathread: It's pronounced "Khlul'-hloo" (Lose 1D10/1D100 Sanity)

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