Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
|
OK, so I was browsing the internet, when I land on RPG.net. I am reading a short thread, and I look up at the ad header and see.....CthulhuTech.
My brain does a little "WTF?" and I make a mental note to return to that.
So....I did return to that.....here.
I've browsed through the site. I've watched the video (awesome art BTW). And I SO WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME. I suspect that my Hellgate: London habit is just amplifying this a few notches, though. I'm looking at this, and I get a Hellgate to DOOM feeling from it. And making that an RPG, not a video game, just excites me to all get-out!
But, at the same time, I have no idea if it is good or if it sucks. I have lots of these "cool" games on my shelves that I have never played, or played for awhile shelved due to lack of true playability or interest (Contiuum, In Nominae, and yes, my beloved Cyberpunk 2020).
So, what's the scoop on CthulhuTech?? Cool? Or should I just start in on another kooky idea to meld Call of Cthulhu with Cyberpunk 2020? Hmmm. Maybe use CoC d20 with CyberpunkOGL....
|
It's worth the $40. It's been a few years in the making, since Mike was waiting for his commitment to the Navy to conclude. But now he's a private citizen and there are even a couple supplements due out later this summer-- Vade Mecum is the one I'm anxious for!
If it turns out you don't like the game system, the fluff is still superior and easily used in a Cthulhu Now or Delta Green game.
I should also point out that there's an official Chaosium-licensed True20 Cthulhu setting, Shadows of Cthulhu, coming out from Reality Deviants Publishing. Many good things in store for it. :)
|
Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
|
I should also point out that there's an official Chaosium-licensed True20 Cthulhu setting, Shadows of Cthulhu, coming out from Reality Deviants Publishing. Many good things in store for it. :)
Niiiiiiiiice plug there Lilz. :D
I have come to the realization that there are way too many games I need to buy now....between Pathfinder, Sinister Adventures stuff (that Dark Horizons looks pretty "Star Frontier-ish" to me), CthulhuTech, BoXM, and several Werecabbage-related products, I am going to be forced to prioritize my gaming needs for the first time in years!
A Cthulhu Tech pic has been my background for quite sometime now.
I like their art work.
Niiiiiiiiice plug there Lilz. :D
Why thank you! :D
...Sinister Adventures stuff (that Dark Horizons looks pretty "Star Frontier-ish" to me)...
Please please please? :D
It looks like great fun, and it's probably going to be the game I run next (sorry, 4E). It's got gobs of mecha anime (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Guyver, Genesis Climber Mospeada) combined with the Mythos into one world-shattering megapocalyptic setting. The rules are bit kludgy (die-roll poker combinations, wtf?) but the setting is gold.
The only problem is that the publishing company has lost money on every colour mainbook they've sold, so now they're only printing them in black-and-white. And even those are hard to come by. Luckily you can still get the PDF online. And, yes, the art is gorgeous.
|
So, what's the scoop on CthulhuTech?? Cool? Or should I just start in on another kooky idea to meld Call of Cthulhu with Cyberpunk 2020? Hmmm. Maybe use CoC d20 with CyberpunkOGL....
I talked with some of the reps from Mongoose during ConquestVegas earlier this year. CthulhuTech is basically a combo between CoC and Battletech. It is 100+ years in the future and you use BattleMechs to squish CoC monsters.
CthulhuTech is basically a combo between CoC and Battletech. It is 100+ years in the future and you use BattleMechs to squish CoC monsters.
Give'em phasers & photon torpedoes, for all I care. Them Cthulhu beasties are still going to be the ones doing the squishing :)
Can anybody give me some insight into the basic mechanics of this game?
|
|
I talked with some of the reps from Mongoose during ConquestVegas earlier this year. CthulhuTech is basically a combo between CoC and Battletech. It is 100+ years in the future and you use BattleMechs to squish CoC monsters.
Yeah the setting is really cool and the artwork is great. I picked up the book a few months ago. I don't think it would it in well with Delta Green since the setting is radically different from Delta Green. But a more sci-fi centered game or a cyberpunk one would work well with the setting. It kinda reminded me of the CthulhuPunk book for GURPS.
Mike
It's not just Call of Cthulhu + Battletech, but also Shadowrun/Cyberpunk2020, anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Guyver, Akira and military action like the Aliens movies.
You can play at 3 tiers of power:
1. Human (investigators, soldiers, intelligence agents)
2. Empowered (Tagers, Zoners, Parapsychics)
3. Mecha (Mecha and Engels)
Tagers are like bio-armour symbionts like The Guyver anime, complete with Dhohanoid (Zoanoid) foes and the Chrysalis Corporation (Cronos).
Zoners and Parapsychics are like the renegade psionicists from Akira.
Engels are giant, alien-organic mecha like the EVA from Evangelion.
The mechanics are moderately complicated:
1. Attributes are 1-10
2. Skills are 1-5
3. Your attribute is the base # to which you add a skill roll. 1d10 per point in a skill, take the highest, except poker combinations (2,3,4 or 8,8,) can also be added together to get some very high rolls.
4. Compare with a difficulty ranging from 4 to 50+ (or your opponent's roll).
Overall it looks like a tonne of fun and a breath of fresh air in a genre that's become a bit predictable.
|
Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
|
It's not just Call of Cthulhu + Battletech, but also Shadowrun/Cyberpunk2020, anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Guyver, Akira and military action like the Aliens movies.
OK, by invoking Cyberpunk 2020, The Guyver, and Akira, all in the same sentence....I must get this.
;-)
Actually, I am very intrigued by the whole dice rolling thing. Poker-like? Wow. I can't wait to see that.
Thanks.
I can't link directly to the webpage from work now, but it's Catalyst Game Labs as they're the new publisher.
Duh, silly me, it's available right in Paizo's store. The CGL site does have it somewhere, but it's very difficult to navigate.
I've seen it in all my local game stores too. Make sure to get the Catalyst version, the older one printing from Mongoose had binding/warping problems.
You can get the pdf version at drivethrurpg.com
Duh, silly me, it's available right in Paizo's store. The CGL site does have it somewhere, but it's very difficult to navigate.
I've seen it in all my local game stores too. Make sure to get the Catalyst version, the older one printing from Mongoose had binding/warping problems.
I played in a one-off Cthulhu Tech session back in... April? I had a load of fun. Haven't picked it up since, though. When Catalyst releases the new books, I'll probably grab one.
Glad to hear it. The new Catalyst editions were released on October 14th.
I would highly recommend getting Vade Mecum, the companion book, as well since it adds some rather critical info to the setting (para-psychics, decent Dagonite power armour and mecha, better monsters, combat cascades). It's a bit pricey but pretty vital for the setting to feel complete.
Next time I'm at my FLGS, I'll probably place an order for the whole line. The game is solid and I'll do anything to support Catalyst.
Just so you know there are some adventures by Skywalker and character sheets by void state/martian bob here:
|
I've been looking into this as an alternative to my usual d20 sessions and something to run after my epic-level campaign. I'm actually excited about it, as CthulhuTech evokes some of my favorite anime within the confines of the setting. The Guyver? It's there (They called Tagers). Neon Genesis Evangelion/RahXephon? Yep, they're in there (Engels). Robotech/Macross? We've got it (Zentradi = Nazzadi). Akira? Oh, yeahhh baby, it's in there (Para-psychics rock)!!! And this is coming from someone who suffered under enough bad Call of Cthulhu games to the point where I swore off ever having anything to do with it again. Just when I thought I was out, CthulhuTech pulls me back in again.
I'm still trying to get a feel for Framework (the rule system) but overall it looks no more difficult to run than White Wolf's Storyteller system, another plus in its favor. The whole poker-style dice element is different (I've never been one to play card games, so I'm having to get used to it), but in a fun way.
For all those interested in it, I highly recommend you check it out.