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It seems Cthulhu has gone missing. I still find traces of him on the
shelves of my FLGS. The traces are more like dust sprinkles
spread on card games and odd dice games; none of which have new
mechanics. To me, it appears sprinkles of Big C. have been added for
cosmetic purposes and with only marketing in mind(s).
I used to walk down the street and be confident he was over my shoulder.
And all I need do is turn, and tilt my head skyward, to view his ginormous
body -- his head almost in orbit -- and peer into his smiling eyes.
After putting in a forty-hour work week by Tuesday noon, I knew waiting
for me at home were huge, dark tomes of ancient text holding sekrits of
the multi-verse. Their forbidden knowledge a rejuvenation tool for my mind,
while the rest of the work week filed by. But these to have faded away
into dust.
I miss Cthulhu and think it's time to prepare the chant again, and look to the
stars until they are right.
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Give him a call. He accepts the charges. The Collect Call of Cthulhu.
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I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Great Cthulhu. Papa says, "If you see it on Alt.Horror.Cthulhu, it's so," Please tell me the truth, is there a Great Cthulhu who will rise from the watery depth of the Pacific to clear the Earth of all living things?
- Virgina Marsh
Virgina, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the fever of enlightenment given to them by a so-called "enlightened" age. They do not believe in anything unless it carries the weight of scientific authority. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. Reality is that which can be cataloged and measured, to be spooned out in rational doses to the common people. All minds, Virgina, whether they be adult's or children's, are little. In this vast chaos we laughingly call the universe, man is a mere insect, a bug, whose intellect has as much chance of grasping the whole truth, as an ant has of understanding non-Euclidian geometry.
Yes, Virgina, there is a Great Cthulhu. He exists as certainly as the cold unfeelingness of the cosmos exits, and you know that this meaninglessness abounds and gives to your life its highest absurdity. Alas! how comfortable would be the world if there were no Cthulhu! It would be as comforting as if a Santa Claus truly did care and reward children for doing good. There would be childlike faith then, a world of sweet believable poetry and romance to make existence idyllic and appealing. The external light with which childhood fills the world would never end.
Not believe in the Great Cthulhu! You might as well not believe in Hastur or the Necronomicon. You might get your papa's science books and Skeptical Inquirers to see if Cthulhu is mentioned in any historical contexts or if R'lyeh truly does rest under the Pacific Ocean, but even if you did not find either mentioned in your 'holy' books, what would that prove? Nobody sees or knows of Cthulhu, but that is no sign that there is no Great Cthulhu. The most real things in the world are those that we can not know through the senses. Can the headache of your friend be felt by you? No, but his pain affects your life regardless. Do you feel the angst of living a life you never wanted through any of your five senses? No, yet the despair remains. Yet if such realities are known but are never seen, then why should other's ignorance of the unseen lead us to share in their blindness. By what right have they earned your obedience? Nobody can conceive of the inconceivable, including your leaders of thought.
You tear apart the rattle of a baby to see what lies inside to make such noise, but the tiny balls there can not explain or illustrate the fear of a hostile world, that makes that baby clutch and shake that rattle so. Only reaching for insanity can push aside the curtain of our hopes and view with stark madness the emptiness that lies beyond. Is that reality? Is that the truth? To give an answer is to replace the curtain with but one more. And it is this, that makes the Great Cthulhu as true and as real as any veil we place on the chaos beyond. If one must create a meaning, why not the Great Cthulhu. At least the choice is free.
Thank Azathoth! The Great Cthulhu lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virgina, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to await the time when the stars are right again. For with those which eternal lie, with strange eons even death may die.
(From Editorial Page, Arkham Advertiser, 1928)
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Bah. People always talk of Cthulhu, but never mention any of his other friends. But I ask you - what is Cthulhu without Dagon? Nothing! It's easy to ignore all those scuttling, croaking, deep ones, but they and their master are bustin' their moist asses doin' all the hard work, and gettin' non o' the credit.
Bah. People always talk of Cthulhu, but never mention any of his other friends. But I ask you - what is Cthulhu without Dagon? Nothing! It's easy to ignore all those scuttling, croaking, deep ones, but they and their master are bustin' their moist asses doin' all the hard work, and gettin' non o' the credit.
Here is your chance to make them shine. Go!
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On a more direct note, there are many Cthulhu RPGs out there, you know. More than ever. I agree there are a plethora of dice and card games (maybe too many for comfort). But new RPGs with various mechanics pop up all the time.
Trail of Cthulhu for Gumshoe.
Shadows of Cthulhu for True20.
Realms of Cthulhu for Savage Worlds.
CthulhuTech.
Various third parties are making settings and adventures for all of these, including for the original CoC.
Plus various board games like Arkham Horror.
Granted, a few of these have been around for a few years now. But do you need a new mechanic? You have many to choose from, and Great Cthulhu inhabits them all. (As well as your dreams.)
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Bah. People always talk of Cthulhu, but never mention any of his other friends. But I ask you - what is Cthulhu without Dagon? Nothing! It's easy to ignore all those scuttling, croaking, deep ones, but they and their master are bustin' their moist asses doin' all the hard work, and gettin' non o' the credit.Here is your chance to make them shine. Go!
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Well, I mean, Cthulhu is basically just a sleeping priest, right? sure, when he gets around to actually hauling himself to the surface to take a peek at what's currently going on he does so with style, sending all those nightmares across the world. But man, even when he does, it feels like he's just looking for any excuse to go back to sleep again. I'm sorry, but "a boat run over me" is an ill befitting reason for such a godlike being to give up. You never believe that the dog ate the student's homework, so really why should you believe that a boat could be a serious hindrance to the herald of the elder gods?
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. You tell me - can anyone but Cthulhu get away with only working "when the stars are right"? Even astronomers work most nights, and they are all about the stars. But no, Cthulhu's too good for just any normal night. It has to be the darkest, deepest night whenever he comes up, when the stars are aligned in such an evil formation that even death is no barrier for a while. I mean, if I tried to get something like that past my boss, he'll send me packing in a heartbeat.
Believe it or not, it doesn't end there. See, I believe that society today is so shallow and superficial that something as meaningless as how someone looks is enough to make people like them more. So yeah, Cthulhu is horrific enough to set a mortal's soul to an excruciating journey of endless pain. Yeah, each of those tentacles could render a mind with that blasphemous sounds it makes as it wraiths against his slimy, semi-real skin. Not anybody can pull off the half dragon, half man, half octopus look as well as he does. But really, I'm getting the feeling that if Great Cthulhu would have just looked normal, people wouldn't be quite so hyped about him.
In today's shifting reality, a change in the balance of force has happened. It's time that the 99% straighten (or, in this case, kinda-sorta shamble into something that resembles a human standing) their back and declare "no more". It's time for the deep ones to swarm from Devil's Reef and make a stand, to demand their birth right - to have a fair place alongside the other unspeakable horrors of the remote corners of space and time. It's way past time that Dagon on his... er... people get a chance to stand at the center of attention.
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In addition, there's:
The Void (by the same people who make CthulhuTech...it's more hard sci-fi and less anime)
Eldritch Skies (another sci-fi Lovecraftian RPG)
Chthonian Stars for Traveller (which is The Void if you don't want to learn a new system).
And the original Call of Cthulhu has a TON of supplements and settings and adventures...enough to play for years without every playing the same way twice.
There's actually very few RPGs in the fantasy, scifi, or horror genres that doesn't have a bit of the Mythos seeping in.
2013 has actually been a pretty good year for Cthulhu.. Many actually consider this to be something of a renaissance for Cthulhu.
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Don't worry. All you are missing is a good nights sleep. You best take a day or two off. Visit a nice, comfortable hotel close to the beach, listen to the lullaby of the waves and dream of our lord in all his terrible might.
2013 has actually been a pretty good year for Cthulhu.. Many actually consider this to be something of a renaissance for Cthulhu.
Well, let's keep the ceremonies older than mankind going.
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Ofcause...
Hastur>Cthulhu
Oh, and Delta Green is available as Print on demand now, and 7th ed is just around the corner,there is a[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/448333182/horror-on-the-orient-express-a-chaosium-publicatio] new editions of Horror on the Oriental express[/url] coming this summer, The unspeakable oath is back, if slow,. Lastly, the fan community continues to be awesome.
Those rites will be sung for a while yet, and the stars are almost right.
Oh, and there is a new call of cthulhu Computer game in development.
I don't know whether it's really on the radar, but I urge anybody to look up Trail of Cthulhu - it is one of the most beautiful source books I've ever seen, and that's not even mentioning the rules themselves...
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A UK company called Modiphus held a successful Kickstarter last year, to print a WW2 setting, 'Achtung Cthulhu' for Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu, and Savage Worlds.
The Players' and Keepers' rulebooks were sent out in December, and there's some scenarios still in the pipeline, along with a range of figures.
A search for 'Achtung Cthulhu' on Kickstarter should provide you with links to the company site.
A UK company called Modiphus held a successful Kickstarter last year, to print a WW2 setting, 'Achtung Cthulhu' for Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu, and Savage Worlds.
The Players' and Keepers' rulebooks were sent out in December, and there's some scenarios still in the pipeline, along with a range of figures.
A search for 'Achtung Cthulhu' on Kickstarter should provide you with links to the company site.
Yes. Yes, they did. They actually already have a number of scenarios out.
I don't know whether it's really on the radar, but I urge anybody to look up Trail of Cthulhu - it is one of the most beautiful source books I've ever seen, and that's not even mentioning the rules themselves...
It's pretty well know among cthulhu players in my experience. It made a BIG stir in the Lovecraftian gaming crowd when it was first released.
Who exactly IS Cthulhu? I remember a Cthulhu anime...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyaruko:_Crawling_With_Love
But that was a goofy comedy. The way people talk I suspect the old books it was based on are not comedies.
While it isn't really a serious Cthulhu game, I recommend also checking out The Laundry RPG. It uses the Basic Role Playing system, and is essentially Mythos and other paranormal crap meets British Military Intelligence's "Capitol Laundry Services", a group who deal with all the weird stuff. Based on The Laundry Files novels by Charles Stross, and has an interesting sense of humour mixed with the borrow. Spells are cast using computers and smart phones, as the original incantations and rituals have been translated into algorithms that can be run with a minimum of fuss (though are no less dangerous to your sanity).
The many-angled ones live at the bottom of the Mandelbrot set.
Dark Matter was pretty good, back in the day. Heavy Cthulhu influence.
Huh, now that I didn't know. Interesting.
The slaad are old, 1981.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)[edit]
The blue slaad, death slaad (the lesser masters), the green slaad, the grey slaad (the executioners), and the red slaad appear in the first edition Fiend Folio (1981), along with Ssendam, Lord of the Insane, and Ygorl, Lord of Entropy.[4] Ed Greenwood, in his review of the Fiend Folio for Dragon magazine, considered the slaad "worthy additions to any campaign".[5]
The slaadi and their role in the planes are detailed in this edition's Manual of the Planes (1987).[6]
Another slaad lord, Wartle, appeared in the adventure anthology, Tales of the Outer Planes (1988).
Katapeshi cult of Hastur in the new issue of Wayfinder.
Mmm....
Wonder what I could do with a Hastur Mythos inspired scenario in Pathfinder. I think the focus on combat in the game would probably make it very hard, but something worth exploring maybe.
Wow, Chaosium is working on Call of Cthulhu 7th edition !
[ quick-start rules = Click Here ]
I wonder if this is a market-competition response to "Trails of Cthulhu," which is better, at the moment.
I just received the proofs of the 7th ed the other day. Looks beautiful (as far as books go), but the rulebook plus players guide are what - 600 pages?
I need to sit down tonight and read the pdf and see what changes they made to the game overall.
I just received the proofs of the 7th ed the other day. Looks beautiful (as far as books go), but the rulebook plus players guide are what - 600 pages?
I need to sit down tonight and read the pdf and see what changes they made to the game overall.
Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers!
I just received the proofs of the 7th ed the other day. Looks beautiful (as far as books go), but the rulebook plus players guide are what - 600 pages?
I need to sit down tonight and read the pdf and see what changes they made to the game overall.
Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers! Spoilers!
Beautiful books - maybe too much on the graphics overlay and layout (vs. say the B&W text of 5th or 6th ed books). Color and massive - the largest set of core CoC material out there to date (combining both books).
I should have brought it on my thumb drive - I will post some details when I get back to the Crypt.
Don't talk about the Milkman Conspiracy in public!
Ok, back from the Crypt...and as promised (if not delayed)
Core Rulebook Proof clocks in at 438 pages
Investigator Handbook Proof clocks in at 271 pages
Core Rulebook (full color inside)
ToC
- Introduction
- HP Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos
- Creating Investigators
- Skills
- Game System
Skill Rolls
Bonus/Penalty Dice
Investigator Development Phase
- Combat
- Chases
- Sanity
- Magic
- Playing the game
- Tomes of Eldritch Lore
- Grimoire (Spells)
- Artifacts and Alien Devices
- Monsters, Beasts and Alien Gods
- Scenarios
Amidst the Ancient Trees
Crimson Letters
- References
- Index
Investigator Handbook (full color inside)
- Introduction
- The Dunwitch Horror (full story, should be read by prospective players) (20 pages)
- Creating Investigators
- Occupations (much expanded from Keepers Core book)
- Skills (repeat of core rules entries)
- Investigator Organizations
- Life as and Investigator
- The Roaring 20's
- Advice for players
- Reference
If you have specific questions ask away - mechanically it feels the same, looks good overall and would recommend for any group considering CoC.
The fact that their is some repetition between books is good, this may be the 1st instance where Call of Cthulhu has a fully functional and separate Players Handbook - so this is a good thing.
Ok, back from the Crypt...
If you have specific questions ask away
If I use a 6th edition character sheet for a 7th edition character, will I have to add anything to the layout/design of the sheet?
Well - looking at my 5.6 char sheet (I have my 6th ed at home)
Changes:
Magic Points on 7th ed only goes up to 24 on the sheet
There are some small changes to hp (dead and unconscious markers)
There is a huge tracker for a new luck resource (goes from 99 to "out of luck")
Skills have their default values listed, few new skills (per 5.6, some of these feel familiar to me so I think they showed up in 6th or in one of the expansion books/keeper guides)
Appraise (05%)
Art changed to Art/Craft
Astronomy, bargain and Biology not default skills (not on char sheet) (now sub listed under Science - old skills there, just not on default list in specific heading)
Charm (15%)
Conceal is dropped
Fight(Brawl) (25%) replaces the old melee values (grapple, fist, head, kick)
Firearms (Hand Gun) (20%)
Firearms (Rifle/Shotgun) (25%)
Geology and Hide are dropped
Intimidate (15%)
Lang (Other) (01%)
Martial Arts (01%) (need to read up on the logic of this one)
Natural History changed to Natural World
Pharmacy and Photography dropped (Pharm is under Science, photography is under Art/Craft as a subheading (with its own paragraph))
Science (01%) - this replaces the Biology/Geology et al
Sneak is dropped
Slight of Hand (10%) (replaces conceal - from the read)
Stealth (20%) (replaces sneak and hide - assuming, haven't read all the rules yet)
Survival (10%)
There is also an option to "Push" skills - a player justified 2nd check on a failed roll with dire consequence if a pushed check is failed.
Ok, back from the Crypt...
If you have specific questions ask awayIf I use a 6th edition character sheet for a 7th edition character, will I have to add anything to the layout/design of the sheet?
Since both sheets have slots for missing skills it would be very easy to write in anything - though you would need to cross out a few older skills (hide, Astronomy, etc) due to the skill re-org.
Overall the Luck tracker is the biggest change.