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CoC can be an amazing game, especially one shots. I've had one bad experience with it, though.
While setting the mood is great, the players need to know that it's not a game of exploration and discovering stuff at every corner will more likely be disastrous than profitable. Be mindful of players who are coming from other games which encourage discovery (Numenera comes to mind). On the other hand, if you succeed to frighten the players enough to put them on a back foot, be sure to keep them interested and invested somehow.
The bad experience I had was the first time I played it, which was the first time for all the other players as well. All our characters were professors and researchers. At some point in the adventure, we had absolutely no desire to keep pursuing the story as we thought our characters would much rather ignore it all and go back to teaching or to the library. In the end, we were sort of forcing ourselves to keep going. Even if the DM was thinking of a way to keep us in the loop had the party decided to give it all up and go back to their homes, we were already unmotivated.
A 1-shot adventure works well because it's more action packed and the players don't really care that much for their characters, which is somewhat a necessity in CoC.
Hope this helps =)
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Very helpful.
I was leery of CoC for many years because growing up and playing RPGs you would hear about it. Of course the majority of what you heard was "You go crazy or you die. Or you go crazy then you die." Coming from a D&D background, it was hard enough to get a game from level 1 to 5, why would I want to play a game that sends you off the deep end.
I also didn't know anything about the Lovecraftian mythos until college, maybe graduate school. But now being older and more mature (former is true, later is debatable), I can handle running such a game. And I have players that have said repeatedly that they would like to play CoC.
I believe I'm over-thinking the magic & sanity aspects, which is really mid to end game type material. And I have a new girl that loves Lovecraft but has only been in 1 RPG session before. The other players may have some years of experience, but are not of the "hard-core" gamign crowd. For the most part, the game looks pretty simplistic: Do something, roll a check. Pass fail or push.
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I don't know about CoC, but search "lovecraft in the bath" if you want the most ridiculously cute commentary on Lovecraft stories, lovecraft plushies nonwithstanding.
There's a ton of Lovecraft themed boardgames out there: Arkham Horror, for one, Eldritch Signs, or (my favorite) Shadows of Brimstone (more influenced than themed).
I'm some what lost at what to do... Kinda feel bad because I have no range weapons...
... Hmmmm... Move action to grab a dagger?
Alas due to work and the lack of data on my phone I will post a little bit after 5 central. Would have had a post this morning but ran out of time
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To my knowledge, it has been two weeks since the player of Iulia has been on the boards. In this game, I'm going to have Iulia fade into the back until she returns.
I hope the player returns. We are in a RotRL game together and I think we are nearing the final encounter. We've been playing for 2.5 years and there has never been such a prolonged, unannounced absence.
Here we will continue on with 4. We all love Sweet-tooth, but I think ya'll can manage for the time being.
That being said, there is one more locked room on this floor that can be investigated ...
It would be nice to have a roll from Iulia here. After all she was our Arcanist.
your telling me since alex only has knowledge religion
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Iulia has faded into the background at this point. You all need to play as if she is not there until the player returns.
You have gathered some interesting information you can make deductions from. Then from that you can decide to release the creature or leave it where it is at and further explore the property.
Sorry about the delay. Had to move on sunday. Once I get off work today I should be able to reply
Lvl up
+9 HP
+1 BAB
+1 to Ref and Will
+4 Skill points
Feat: Cleaving Finish
Steadfast Pike
Sorry this took so long, I have a cold.
alex lvled
+6 HP
+1 BAB
+1 to Ref
+2 skill points
Feat: Precise shot
channel energy now 2d6
+2 2nd lvl spells and +1 2nd lvl domain spell
moved sunday, but didn't have an often enough access to wifi and doing this on the phone is a challenge. sorry about the delay
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Well, still no word from Iulia. Shall we cast a net for an arcane caster (wizard/sorcerer/witch/non-performance bard), something else or continue as is?
Also group, when posting, try to give movement to the scene so that I and others know where to go. I don't want to feel like I'm dragging you around like a 5 year old in the supermarket... it leaves skid marks =v)
We really need a new arcane caster...
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I hear yah about being busy. This is my first year being full time online retail and I. Was. Not. Ready. One more week of going full blast, then I hope things will slow up since I can't promise arrivals by X-Mas the week before the 25th.
I will scour some old Recruitment treads first, then make a post if I need too.
I'm just letting you all know, a very very good friend of mine passed away this morning. So the next couple days I may be slow to reply, and that is why. Or it may pick up because I want to get my mind off of it... Either way, I wanted you to know and when they settle on a date for his funeral, I will be heading down to Texas for it so I will let you when that is.
I accidentally popped into the discussion thread and wanted to offer my condolences. I will be praying for you and your family.
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Pulling the Flour/Invis discussion over here.
From my brief research on the subject, you would have to hit the invisible target (correct square, avoid miss chance, hit touch AC). You then get an outline of the figure. So you know what square its in, but that doesn't remove miss chance. I'm saying (unless somebody else has something different) it would take a full round action to wipe off the flour.
Thank you everyone. It really means a lot.
Hello all, Vretiel checking in. Thanks for the invite, looking forward!
On a more serious note, I offer my condolences to you, Kale. It's of little use, but perhaps Vretiel might help the others in taking your mind off things.
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Let me welcome Vretiel & Iskra. I'm glad you both could join us. Hopefully the rest of the crew chimes in, otherwise this would have been all for naught. ;)
Like most people, this time of the season is a bit busy. I know I'll be very occupied until Thursday-ish. Then Star Wars Saturday... (cue Imperial March).
On a completely related/unrelated note, if you have a private office find a loop of the Imperial March and play it. Leave. Then when you come back into the office with the March going, you feel like a badass. Well I did anyways.
no problem! I'm also very busy with a work deadline for friday and an MA presentation for week, which means I'll probably be procrastinating here a lot.
also, @Nebten, I realised that I had put up a slightly out-of-date version of Vretiel's spell list on my profile (had initially selected haunting mists because I somehow missed glitterdust). I have updated it now, but if you prefer me to roll back and deal with the consequences of my own absent-mindedness I'm completely fine too.
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Vretiel, that is fine. Everybody, feel free to move spells around before reaching "the dungeon."
A couple of house keeping notes for the new comers. I am trying to keep Belhaim's marketplace realistic for a Small Town. That information can be found in the Campaign Info tab. So there aren't "magic markets" in the area but each vendor may have a few key items. The party has discovered some already. Also, disposition will be noted too (friendly, indifferent, unfriendly, etc).
Now that Iulia is gone, somebody will need to take up the mantle of updating the treasure list or providing a new system.
Any other questions, please let me know.
Nebten, what's your position on using Detect Magic to pick up on the presence of an Invisibility spell?
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Sure thing, Calli.
Who wants to go through the death-trapped door first?
[in unison] Calli does! =v)
Like most people I'm sure, I'll be out of town this weekend. I should be back on the 27th.
I may also be out New Year's weekend too, not sure on a return. But I should still be able to keep up with posts that weekend.
Thanks for the heads up. I won't be out of town (having consciously chosen that my social interactions between now and the next year will be very restricted – ugh, people), but hope you all have a nice time!