RPG Review 18 - M.MOAM.INFO (2025)

either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age." H.P. Lovecraft, opening lines to "The Call of Cthulhu".

RPG REVIEW Issue #18, December 2012

The Cthulhu Mythos and Gaming Three Cthulhu Mythos System Reviews … Cthulhu in Variant Settings … Call of Cthulhu House Rules and Situational Modifiers … EPOCH: Horror Gaming … Dirty Secrets … T&T Monster Compilation … V/H/S Review … Industry News

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TableofContents AdministriviaandEditorial ValedictionsLynnWillis HotGossip:IndustryNews ThreeCthulhuMythosSystemReviews VariantCthulhuSettings CallofCthulhuDifficultyModifiers CallofCthulhuHouseRules CthulhuMetropolis Epoch:HorrorGaming GammaGobblers ATasteforDirtySecrets Tunnels&TrollsBestiary:A­E ConsoleGamesReview:Dwarfs MovieReview:V/H/S NextIssue

manycontributors byTheChaosium byWuMingshi byLevLafayette byLevLafayette byAllanGoodall byMattPuccio byChrisTamm byDaleElvy byChrisTamm byAlasdairSinclair byKarlDavidBrown byMattLindus byAndrewMoshos bymanypeople

p2­3 p4 p5 p6­17 p18­30 p31­35 p36­38 p39­44 p45­46 p47­48 p49­52 p53­59 p60 p61­63 p64

ADMINISTRIVIA RPGReviewisaquarterlyonlinemagazinewhichisavailableinprintversioneveryeightissues.Noreally,it'scomingoutRealSoonNow.All materialremainscopyrighttotheauthorsexceptforthereprintingasnotedinthefirstsentence.Varioustrademarksandimageshavebeenusedin thismagazineofreviewandcriticism.ThisincludesCallofCthulhu(ArkhamHouse,licensedtoTheChaosium,WizardsoftheCoastet.al), EPOCHbyImaginaryEmpire,Tunnels&TrollsbyFlyingBuffalo,etc.Anyuseofimages,materialetc,isnottobeconstruedasachallengetoany intellectualpropertyandisunder"fairuse".Anyuseofimages,materialetc,isnottobeconstruedasachallengetoanyintellectualpropertyandis usedunder"fairuse".TextisinNimbusRoman,headingsinNimbusSans,frontpageinUtopia.Anyerrorsoromissionsareunintentional. Thecoveristhemainillustrationforthestory"BeyondtheWallofSleep".InternalillustrationfromthepulpmagazineWeirdTales(March1938, vol.31,no.3,page331).

EDITORIAL TheinfluenceofHowardPhillipsLovecraftandtheCthulhumythoshedevelopedaresecondonlytotheworksof J.R.R.Tolkien'sMiddleEarthintermsoftheirinfluenceontheroleplayinggamehobby.Beingsecond,ofcourse,in literaryexpressiondoesnotmean'worse',butrather'different'.Afterall,theCthulhumythosisnotelves,dwarves, hobbitsandmagicalringsofpower.It'saboutmadnessandterror,aliensmonsterswhoareeithermalevolentor completelyinconsideratetohumans,andauniversethatismeaningless. "Themostmercifulthingintheworld,Ithink,istheinabilityofthehumanmindtocorrelateallitscontents.Welive onaplacidislandofignoranceinthemidstofblackseasofinfinity,anditwasnotmeantthatweshouldvoyagefar. Thesciences,eachstraininginitsowndirection,havehithertoharmeduslittle;butsomedaythepiecingtogetherof dissociatedknowledgewillopenupsuchterrifyingvistasofreality,andofourfrightfulpositiontherein,thatweshall eithergomadfromtherevelationorfleefromthedeadlylightintothepeaceandsafetyofanewdarkage." ­­H.P.Lovecraft,openinglinesto"TheCallofCthulhu" WhilstitisclearthatitisnotMiddle­Earth,interestinglythereareacoupleofsimilaritiesbetweentheauthor's respectivenarratives.Thestoriesincludeagreatevilthatthreatenshuman(etal.,)existencewhichcanonlybe preventedbytheactionsofanoblefewwhobreakfromtheirnormallivesandrisetotheoccassion.Itisthislevelof

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heroismfromnormalpeoplethatprovidesgamesrelatedtothemythostheirappeal.Itisnotsomethingthatappealsto everyoneofcourse;many,andindeed,probablythemajority,ofgameplayersprefertheincrementalimprovement "fromzerotohero",characterswhobuildtheirwayupfrombeingchallengedbyalargeratorkobold,tobeingof superheroicabilitywhereevendragonsanddemonsarebutamodicumofachallenge.IntheCthulhumythos,abandof DeepOnesisasthreateningfromthebeginningasitisintheend,atleastphysically.Itissmartsthatwillalwayscount inthisgenre. ThechoiceoftheCthulhumythosasthecorethemeofRPGReviewissue18wasnotonemadewithoutsome consideration.Afterall,thereareothergamegenresandgameworldsthatcouldhavebeenchoseninpreferenceandwe have,afterallpublishedafairnumberofarticlesrelatedtothissetting.Butgiventherangeofgamesthathavebeen producedinthissettingandthecontinuinginterestinthislong­runningsetting,itseemedappropriate.Itisalsowith somesadnessthatthisissuehasalsoco­incidedwiththerecentdemiseofco­designerofCallofCthulhu,LynnWillis. Thefirstarticleofthis'zinethereforeofferssomecommentaryonthecontributionofthisfinedesignerandauthorover thedecades. TheCthulhumythoshasprovidedagreatnumberofgamesystemsovertheyears;threeofthemostsignificantare reviewedherebyyoureditor(CallofCthulhu,CallofCthulhuD20,TrailofCthulhu)whichrepresentquitedifferent approachestothesetting.Inaddition,areviewoffourofthemoreunusualsettings(DarkAges,Dreamlands,Delta Green,Cybercthulhu)showsthescopeofsettingsthatcanbecarriedoutwiththesamethematicconsiderations.For rules­craftingAllanGoodallprovidessomeskilldifficultylevelsforCallofCthulhu,oneofthemoresurprising omissionsfromthatgamesystem,whereasMattPuccioprovidesarangeofhouserulesincorporatinginhisgames.In moreCthulhu­relatedmaterial,ChrisTammmprovidesanelaborationonaninterestingalternatesetting,beingtheuse oftheCthulhumythoswithMetropolis. Ofcourse,everyissueofRPGReviewisnotentirelydevotedtoitsmainfeaturetopic.Thisisnoexception.Ona relatedissueDaleElvyprovidesdesigner'snotesforEPOCH:HorrorGaming,andfellowNewZealanderAlasdair Sinclair,putstheissueofinvestigativegamingrulesupfrontinadeeptheoryarticle.Onamorecomicline,Chris Tammreturnsforanotherroundwith'GammaGobblers',afeaturecreaturethatprovidesalight­heartedbutpossibly frightening(intherightcontext)mutantturkey,whilstKarlBrownprovidesacollectionofappropriatecreaturesstats forTunnels&Trolls.AlsocontributingtotheissueareourregularfeaturesofindustrynewsbyWuMingshi,console gamereviewsbyMattLindus,andahorrormoviereviewbyAndrewMoshos(hereallydoesn'tlikeeverythingyou know).Finally,greatgratitudemustalsobeexpressedtoDanielHealdforhisartisticcontributionswhicharescattered throughoutthisentireissue;thisistrulythesortofartworkthatemphasizesthealienandhidden. ThereisanissuewhicheverydiscussionofH.P.Lovecraftshouldraise(andsometimesisunfortunatelyoverlooked), andthatwashisracism.Ofcourseitwasnotatalluncommonatthetimetobelievethattherewassuchathingasrace, asvarioussubspeciesofhomosapiensapiens,indeedthebestscientificmindsatthetimeconsidereditfairlyobvious. ButH.P.Lovecraftwentmuchfurtherthanthat,expressingsignificantdisdaintowardsthosewhomheconsideredtobe of"lesser"races.Theyareofsufficientlypoortastethatthereislittledesiretoreprintexampleshere. Onamatterofpurepsychoanalyticspeculationhowever,itisnotimpossibletosuggesthoweverthatLovecraft'sracism wasprojectedintothemonstersoftheCthulhumythos.JustasLovecrafthimselfexpresseddisdainoreven malevolencetowardsparticularhumans,itisperhapsunsurprisingtodiscoverthat,inavastlyenlargedmanner,thathe imaginedanalienspeciesthatthoughtofallhumansinthesamemanner. "Hewhofightswithmonstersshouldlooktoitthathehimselfdoesnotbecomeamonster.Andwhenyougazelonginto anabysstheabyssalsogazesintoyou." Pleasantreadingvictims, Lev[emailprotected]

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VALEDICTIONS,LYNNWILLIS byTheChaosium AsRPGReviewwasundergoingeditingitsfinalarticles,areportwasreceivedofthepassingofLynnWilliswho,for manyyears,havebeenthemaineditoranddeveloperofCallofCthulhu.ThefollowingobituarywaspostedbyThe Chaosium,andisreprintedhereinrespectofagreatcontributortothehobby. WearesadtoannouncethepassingofLynnWillis,apillarofChaosium,CallofCthulhu,andoftheroleplaying community.Lynnhadbeencombatingagingandillnessforseveralyears,andpassedwhileinahospitalfortreatment. HeissurvivedbyhispartnerMarcia,andacommunityoffriendsandadmirers. Lynnbeganingamingasaboardgamedesigner,andenteredChaosiumwithLordsoftheMiddleSea.Hewasthethird employeeofChaosium,firstasaneditorandthenasthemastermindbehindtheentireCallofCthulhuline,aswellas otherprojects,forthedecadesthathewaswithus.Helovedhisworkandbroughtallhisabilitiestothejob.Hewas incrediblysmart,astonishinglywidelyread,detailoriented,andcapable.Heislargelyresponsibleforthehighquality, playability,andpopularityoftheleadinghorrorRPGinourfield. CREDITS:ChaosiumDudesince1978;co­creatorofCallofCthulhu.OthercreditsincludeBOARDGAMES:Dragon Pass,LordsoftheMiddleSea,Stomp,Reich,RaidersandTraders,PanzerPranks,ArkhamHorror.ROLEPLAYING GAMES:BasicRoleplaying,M.U.GraduateKit,Keeper'sKit1,2,Engage&Destroy,Vivel'Empreur,Thieves' World,Thieves'WorldCompanion,WorldsofWonder,Ringworld,RingworldCompanion,KingArthurCompanion1, 2,3,RuneQuest1,2,3,etc.,AppleLane1,2,etc.,SnakepipeHollow1,2,etc.,CultsofPrax1,2,etc.,CultsofTerror, Borderlands,Pavis,TheBigRubble,Questworld,StormbringerCompanion,DemonMagic,Cities,Carse,Tulanofthe Isles,Elric,Melnibone,FateofFools,BronzeGrimoire,AtlasoftheYoungKingdoms,SeasofFate,TheUnknown East,CthulhuLive,CallofCthulhu1,2,3,4,5,5.5,6,ShadowsofYog­Sothoth,TheAsylum,CthulhuCompanion, FragmentsofFear,MasksofNyarlathotep,AloneagainsttheWendigo,AloneagainsttheDark,CthulhubyGaslight, Dreamlands,SpawnofAzathoth,TerrorAustralis,GreatOldOnes,CthulhuNow,ArkhamUnveiled,AtYourDoor, FatalExperiments,BloodBrothers,BloodBrothersII,HorrorontheOrientExpress,CairoGuidebook,DarkDesigns, FearfulPassagesLondonGuidebook,KingofChicago,MiskatonicUniversity,TaintofMadness,CompactArkham Unveiled,BookeofMonstres1and2,NoMan'sLand,Horror'sHeart,CompleteMasksofNyarlathotep,Resectionof Time,Secrets,DreamingStone,BeforetheFall,LastRites,BeyondtheMountainsofMadness,M.U.Antarctic ExpeditionPack,UnseenMasters,Keeper'sCompanion1.FICTION:CastleofEyes,HasturCycle,SingersofStrange Songs,CompletePegana,Nightmare'sDisciple,Percival,BearofBritain,BookofDzyan,S.Petersen'sFieldGuideto CthulhuMonsters,S.Petersen'sFieldGuidetoCreaturesoftheDreamlands. Hewillbemissed.Wetrustthatheisatpeace.WegiveMarciaourthanksandblessingsforherdevotedloveand supportforLynn,andwishherjoy,happiness,andsuccessinherfutureendeavorsandmemoriesofthepast. CharlieKrank,PresidentChaosiumInc. GregStafford,FounderChaosiumInc. http://www.chaosium.com/article.php?story_id=530

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HOTGOSSIP:INDUSTRYNEWS HoseiboMr.Lev,

byWuMingshi

Mykaki,youverylateagain!Younotlobo,Iarrowyoutoreleaseontime,nexttime!Chop­chopkalipok!Formonths twoIhavebeensittingonthisarticle,youthinkitiseggIwanttohatch?PerhapsyouthinkMinsghilittlechicken,lah? FinishRPGReviewontime,excusesnomore![Ed:I'vebeentold] Thisquarteringquietonnews.Perhapswinterincountrythathaswinter.First,bignews,MinshihearthatFantasy FlightGameshavelicensefornewStarWarsroleplayinggameandplanreleaseoffirstbigbook,StarWars:Edgeof EmpireCoreRulebook,alongwithspecialkitforGamemasters,andthenfourteenspecialdice.Newgamesystemvery muchlikeWarhammerFantasyRPG,sweesweebozaozwee! Incomic­bookland,HeroGamesgoingtoreleaseneweditionofChampions,whichincludesbitsandpiecesofHero6 th editionrulebooksandsupplements.Itlikevegetablesinnoodle dish,selectfrommanybowls. BecauseitCthulhuedition,MingshidecidesheneedCthulhu carpetinherapartment.Notnews,butnewsforher.Kirill RozhkovmakeDarkWaterforDanishcarpetinspiredby Cthulhu,verychoi! KennethHitewritenewGumshoesystemgame,combinespies withhorror,calledNight'sBlackAgents.Goodcombination (Mingshistillthinknoodle,mustbelunchtime). Mingshi'snewreadingbookcollectionofshortstoriescalled WeAreDust,fromRPGcalledOurBestLastHopefrom MagpieGames.Youknow,endofworld,canhumanssurvive, sibehtokkonglah! Also,bigwavetoProtodimensionMagazine,newhorror­ conspiracy­weirdnessPDFmagazine,youcomeatrighttime forCthulhuMythosandGamingeditionofRPGReview.Don't takeoursales,lah! Enoughfrommethisquartering!Gohead!

Mingshi!xx[emailprotected]

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THREECTHULHUMYTHOSSYSTEMREVIEWS byLevLafayette CallofCthulhu(5thedition) IntroductionandProduct Withthenotoriouscalendarchange,thestarsarerightfor anotherreviewofCallofCthulhu.Thisclassicofhorror roleplayinggameshasgonethrougharoundadozen editions,albeitspreadoutthroughversionsonetosix, alongwithseveralothernewsystems(TrailofCthulhu, D20CallofCthulhuetc).Theeditionbeingreviewedhere howeveris5thedition,bywhichImean5,5.1,or5.2for thesakeofargument.AnyonewouldthinkthatChaosium isplayingwithourhead,buttheywouldn'tdothatwould they?Inanycase,we'rereferringtoagamethathaswonat leastthreeOriginsawards,soweknowwherewe'reat. Thefiftheditionconsistsof240pages,two­column justifiedwithaseriffontandseveralstylesofboxedand highlightedsection. Pagenumbersandchaptertitlesareclear,thereisanideal amountofwhitespacetoseparatethetextwithoutlosing density.Thewritingstyleismostlyverygood,although therearesomesectionswhereitbecomesannoyingly chatty.Thereisahandysectiontabfor"Rules"onthe margin,butoddlynotforanythingelse.Thecoverart"The EyeofCthulhu"byLeeGibons,illustratestheGreatOldOnegazinguponsomehaplessinvestigators;itisfair­goodin termsofcreativityandtechnique.Theinternalartisacombinationofblackandwhitesketchesfrompreviouseditions andsomeexcellentnewerlinedrawingswithaslightlycubistandpopinfluence.Manyofthelatterareusedforchapter titlepagesandfillers.TheportraitsintheLovecraftpersonalitiessectionhoweverleavesalittletotobedesired.The artworkismostlyappropriatetocontext,especially(thankfully)inthe"CreaturesoftheCthulhuMythos"section. Thereisatableofcontentsandindex,butbotharesomewhatshort,howeverthereisanexcellentselectionoftables andexamplecharactersintheappendix.Asasoftbackbook,thebookisverywellgluedandseemstobeabletotakea fairbitofusage. Thereisanintroductorychapterentitled"Orientation",whichestablishesthesourcematerialforthegame(themythos generatedbyhorrorwriterH.P.Lovecraft),recommendedcharacters(investigative),annon­systematicencouragement toroleplay("Aplayerhasadutytoroleplayaninvestigator"),adistinctionbetweenInvestigators(theCthulhuwordfor "playercharacters")andtheKeeper(theCthulhuwordfor"gamemaster"),andrecognitionofthethreepotential settingsofthegame(1890s,1920s,and1990s).Averysensiblesetofgeneralhintsisrecommendedforplayer characters("useyourhead","avoidgunfights"),concludingwithuseoffigures,sourcematerial,andanextremely handytwo­pagegraphicsummaryofcharactergeneration.

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CharacterGenerationandGameSystem AsanumberofotherBRP­derivedgamesCoChassevenmaincharacteristicsusedtogenerateanInvestigator; STRength,DEXterity,CONstitution,POWer,APPearanceallrolledon3d6andINTelligenceandSIZerolledon 2d6+6.Thereisanimplicationthatthesearerolledinorder,butititisnotexactlyclear.Inadditionthesethereisan EDUcationcharacteristic,rolledon3d6+3.Thesecharacteristicsgeneratedcharacteristicrolls,percentile,roll­under checks,expressedinmultiples,andtypicallyof5x.Ofsufficientimportancetomaketheirpresenceonthecharacter sheetareIdearolls(INT*5),Luck(POW*5),andKnowledge(EDU*5).Hitpointsarederivedfromtheaverageof CONandSIZ,MagicPointsaredirectlyderivedfromPOW,andDamageBonusfromcross­referencingatablefrom SIZ+STR.CharacteristicsalsoreceiveaguernseyfortheResistanceTable,whichcross­referenceequivalentvaluesto deriveapercentagechangeofsuccess.Essentiallytheformulais(CHAR*5)­(CHAR*5)=percentagechanceof success.SoaSTR14characterhasa60%chanceofliftingaSIZ12rocketc. ThereisalsoaveryinterestingcharacteristiccalledaSANity,whichstartsatPOW*5,butcanneverbemorethan99 minusthecharacter'sCthulhuMythosskillroll.InthissinglebrilliantdesigndecisionthecentralthemeofCallof Cthulhu­thatcertainknowledgeisdangeroustoone'smentalhealth­wasincorporatedintothegamesystem. CharacterssimplycannothaveknowledgeoftheCthulhumythoswithouttragicallyever­increasingtheirriskof madness.Andwhatgloriousmadnessitis!Frombeingsurprisedbyamutilatedcorpsetoencounteringagibbering OuterGodvariouslevelsofSANareblownawayfromthecharacter'smind;somecausingshorttermshock(afailed SANcheckresultinginmorethan5pointslost),toindeterminate(morethan20%ofSANlostinashortperiod),to permanent(characterreducedto0SAN).IfaKeeperdoesn'thaveDSM­Vreadilyavailable,thereisahandysetof typicallyinsanitiesandassociatedbehaviourinashortchapterdedicatedtothesubject.Itshouldbementionedthatit's possibletoimproveSAN,throughpsychotherapy,mythosmonstersandplots,andeventhroughskillimprovement. Characterstartingwealthisdeterminedwithaflatprobabilitydistribution,aparticularlyunrealisticdesign.Also,the wealthchartsfor1920sand1890sareconfusedduetoaneditorialomission.Appropriateoccupationsareselected whichprovideasetofseveralskillsthatbackgroundexperiencecanbeaddedintobasedonEDU*20skillpoints. Charactersalsoreceivepersonalinterestasbackgroundexperienceaswell,atavalueofINT*10.Inadditiontothese skillpoints,manyskillsalsohaveabasechance(e.g.,Climb40%).Skillsarealmostinvariablyutterlyindependent fromcharacteristics(withtheexceptionofDodgeandOwnLanguage).Acharactercanbe,forexample,acomplete dullardwiththecharismaticempathyofaslugandsuffernopenaltytoFastTalk. CallofCthulhuusesapercentileroll­underskillsystem.Remarkablyhowever­andprobablyduetoadesignand editorialoversightspanningseveraleditions­therearenorulesforskillrollmodificationsinstandarduse.Rules­as­ writ(andparaphrasingcommentsbyothersIhavediscussedthiswith),performingtonsillectomyinawell­equipped hospitalisthesamedifficultyasperformingbrainsurgeryinaremotelogcabin.Thisissobad,IlostapointofSANas Isearcheddesperatelysearchedthroughtheeldritchtomes(i.e.,therulebooksofmultipleeditions)prayingthatIcould possiblybewrong;Iwasn't.Suchadecisionhasveryrealeffects.Ratherthanbeingamoredifficultimplementation, MedicineisaseparateskilltoFirstAid,PsychoanalysisisseparatetoPsychologyand­especiallyoddgiventhatthe monstersarereal­OccultismisseparatetoCthulhuMythos.Despiteclaimstobeaninvestigativegame,combatskills aregivenparticularvariation:ratherthan"Brawling"thereareseparateskillsforPunch,Kick,HeadButt,Grapple,and evenMartialArts,ratherthan"Firearms"thereareseparateskillsforHandgun,Rifle,MachineGun,andShotgun. Indeed,combatisoneareawherespecialattentionispaid.ActionsareinorderofDEXwithphasesforfirearms,

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movement,melee,andthenmultishotfirearms.Asuccessfulmodified"tohit"rollcanbechallengedbyparry(lotsof breakages)ordodge,butifitgetsthroughtheattackerrollsdamage,subtractingthedefender'sarmour(rarein1890s and1920ssettings).Effectivelyacharactercandotwoofthethreeperroundofattack,dodge,orparry.Notethatthere areincombataloneskillrollmodifiers(e.g.,inrangedweapons,partialcover,andenvironment).Thisistheonlyplace inthecoreruleswhere"degreeofsuccess"hasinfluenceaswell(thereisanoptionalruleaswell);bulletsandpointy meleeattacksdodoubledamageonarollof20%orlessofthemodifiedchance.Damagethatreducesacharacterto twooronehitpointscausesunconsciousness,andat0orlessthecharacterwilldiethefollowinground(whichmeans themaximumpossiblelossis­2,ashealingwillfix1d3).Appropriately,characterscandropprettyfast,especially whengunsarepulledout.Howeverthethresholdforunconsciousnessseemstooslim. MonstersandMagic TheKeeper'sSectionisasurprisinglywordyandsometimesrepetitivechapterwhichalsocontainssomesome excellentsubstance.ItisherethatbothdescriptionsandmechanicsforthetomesoftheCthulhumythosareprovided, anoverviewofthemythositself(especiallythedistinctionbetweentheotherworldlyOuterGods,themalevolentand localGreatOldOnes,andtheServitorandIndependentraces).Theactualadviceonrunningthegameisalsoplacedin thissection,especiallygoodfortermsofpacing,narrativestructure,roleplaying,andInvestigatormortality.Thereisa selectionforoptionalruleswhichinclude"special"skillsuccesses,probablythemostusefulsuggestion.Finallythereis ashortsetofnotesonthecivilauthoritiesthatPCsaremostlikelytoencounter­thepoliceandmentalhealth authorities. Ahugesectionofthebookisentitled"ReferenceSection",whichcanbesummarisedas'MonstersandMagic'.Thereis approximatelyeightyofsocrittersofthemythosdescribedandprovidedstatblocks.Eachareprovidedashort paragraphfromtheliterature,afewtoseveralparagraphsofthecreatureincontext,followingbycharacteristics, weapons,skills(ifappropriate),andtheSanitylossessaidbeingscause.EventhegreatOuterGodsareprovidedstats, andasawe­inspiringastheymayseemtobesingleinvestigator,inamorecontemporarycontextateamofstrong­ willedindividualspackingseriousheatcouldmakeevendestroyAzathoth,albeitforseveralhours.Inmostsituations however,agoodhalfofthemythoscreaturesarenotthesortthatanygroupofInvestigatorsshouldengageina straight­outconflict.AsapersonalpreferenceIhavealwayshadasoftspotfortheGreatRaceofYith,andthemore alienofthemythoscreaturessuchas(Daoloth,YogSothoth,andtheColoursOutOfSpace)incontrasttothe"giant carnivorewithbigteeth"varietyofhorrors,evenifthelatterareprobablymorefrightening. InadditiontotheMythoscreaturesthereisalsoachapteronnormalandoccultanimals;soonewillfindBatsand BunyipstoWolvesandWraiths.It'saslightlyweirdcombination,butsomewhatnecessaryinagamewhichhasan over­ridingmythoswhichisthenseparatefromworldmythologies.Ashortselectionofaroundadozenpersonalities fromH.P.Lovecraft'stalesisprovided,includingquiteanumberintherealmofpermanentinsanity.Eachcharacteris providedaquotefromarelevantstory,aparagraphontheirappearanceoractivities,andastat­block. Thevariouscreaturesandpeoplearefollowedbyachapterofspells,"TheGreaterGrimoire".MostmagicinCallof Cthulhuinvolvescontactingthevariouscreaturesofthemythos,summoningsuchcreatures,andbindingthem.Itis usuallyagoodideatobeawareoftheneedtohaveabindingspellbeforecastingthesummoningspell.Thereisalsoa smallsetofspellsforcreatinggates,enchantingitemsandthelike,alongwithsomesamplemagicartifacts.Thereis alsoacollectionofsomeeighty"LesserGrimoire"spellsofamoreutilitarianvariety.Magictypicallycostsmagic points,Sanity,andsometimesevenPOWtocast;somespellscanberesisted,magicpointsofthecasterversusmagic pointsofthevictim.Spellrangesaredeliberatelyvague,withagreatdealofKeeperinterpretation­effectshoweverare clearlystated.

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ScenariosandSetting Thefinalsectionisentitled"Resources"whichbeginsbyprovidingthreeexcellentscenarios,albeitallnominallysetin the1920speriod."TheEdgeofDarkness"inparticularmakesagreatintroductiontoasmallgroup.Thisisfollowedby aliterarybiographyofH.P.Lovecraft,andthenanexceptionallinguisticessayinanacademicstylewhicharguesthe theworld­wideexposureofthemythosinvariouslanguages,comingtotheconvincingconclusion"Tracesofancient CthulhuworshipexistintherecordsofallmajorOldWorldcivilizations".Ifthreetimeperiodsarenotsufficient,a shortchapterontheDreamlandsisalsoprovided,aweirdalternaterealityaccessibleonlywhenoneisasleep.An handyessayofsomelengthonforensicpathologyfollowsforthethreetimeperiods,thenatimelineofeventscovering theperiodfrom1890to1992,alongwithanothertimelineofdisasters,"naturalandman­made",andthen"events occult,criminal,andfuturist".Themaintextconcludeswithaveryhandysetofequipmentandservicetablesforacross thethreetimeperiodswithanemphasisonthesortofthingsthatInvestigatorsarelikelytopurchaseandthedistances theyarelikelytotravel. Conclusion InthepastnumerousreviewershavedeclaredthatCallofCthulhuisthegreatestroleplayinggameofalltime.Thisis true,butonlyinaparticularlynarrowbandofgreatness.ItisarguablythecoolestRPGofalltime,andcertainlyisvery highonthefunquotient(playingtheoddsofalmostcertainmadnessandalmostcertaindeathisfun!).Thepage­count tocontentisexcellent,andtherangeofcontentisextremelygoodaswell.Thebookitselfhasexcellentlayout,is readable,solid,andsomedecentartworkaswell.Perhapsmostimportantly,CallofCthulhuestablishedathematic orientationtowardsroleplayinggames;itwasnotagameofkillingfantasticmonstersandtakingtheirstuff­itwasa gameofkillingfantasticmonstersthatweresoawe­inspiringtheycouldeasilydestroydozensofpeople,andtaking theirstuffbecauseitcontainedtheonlypossiblewayofstoppingthehorrorsfromdestroyingalllifeonearth. WhereCallofCthulhudoesslipisinthegamesystem;it'snotthecoresystemhasamajorproblem,afteritit'stheBRP engine,wellknownforbeingflexible,easytopickup,andhavingagooddegreeofrealism.Themainissueisthe implementation,whereentirelythewrongissuesareimplemeted(e.g.,combatoverinvestigation),wherethereisalack ofbelievability(e.g.,skillimplementation),andevenwiththestatisticsforthemajorcreaturesofthemythoswhichare presentedmoreofawhimsythanseriousconsideration.Itisfortunateinmostcontextstherules"fadeinthe background"inactualplay,butoften­alltoooften­thereisajarringreminderoftheirlessthanoptimalworkmanship. ItisthisissuethatcausesCallofCthulhuasomewhatlowersubstancevaluethanitcouldachieve.Willtheseissuesbe resolvedinanupcomingseventhedition?Onecanhope;butitdoesseemratherlonginthetoothtogetthesematters right.Despitethesecriticisms,CallofCthulhuremainsatrulyexcellentgame,stronglyencapsulatingafascinating settingandthemeinanaccessiblemanner. Style:1+0.7(layout)+0.7(art)+1.0(coolness)+0.7(readability)+0.7(product)=4.8 Substance:1+0.8(content)+0.7(text)+0.9(fun)+0.3(workmanship)+0.6(system)=4.3

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CallofCthulhud20 AbouttheGameandTheProduct Inapreviousreviewthatweremorecontemporarytotherelease,theD20linewasdescribedas"unstoppableasa Shoggothinheat",whichofcourseisaverydisturbingmentalimage,andevenmoresowhenconsideringtelepathic abilities.ThereleaseofCallofCthulhuD20generatedagreatdealofdebateatthetime,especiallyoverthe applicabilityofalevel­basedsystemtothisspecifichorrorgenre,andwhetheritwasanecessarycontributiontoan existingCthulhumythosingaming.Boththoseissueswillbeaddressedinthisreview. CallofCthulhu(D20)comesasa319phardbackbook.Thecoverart,byAnnKoiandJasonSoles,suggestsaold leathertomethathasdistortedintoademonicface,isquiteevocative.Thebookitselfiswellbound,withglosspaper andfullcolourthroughout.Thecontentisinadenseslantedtwo­columnjustifiedseriffontthroughoutwithapage marginthatclearlyprovidespagenumberandchapterheading.Thereisatwo­pagetableofcontentsandatwo­page index,whichispossiblealittleshort.Therearetwelvechapterstothegame,alongwithtwoadventures,and appendicies,andasingle­pagecharactersheet.Theartwork,amixtureofblackandwhiteandcolour,istypicallyvery goodintermsoftechnique(Ithaquaonpage306isanunfortunateexception),showscreativity,andismostly contextuallyappropriate. CharacterGeneration,Skills,Feats,Sanity Thefirstfourchapters,takingupamodestfiftyonepages,areessentiallyaboutcharactergeneration.ThisisaD20so mostgamerswillbeinfamiliarterritoryhere.Thewell­knowncharacterabilities(Strength,Dexterity,Constitution, Intelligence,Wisdom,Charisma)arebasedon4d6,droplowest,andassignaccordingtoplayer'schoice.Abilitieshave positiveandnegativemodifierstotheubiquitousd20checkswithaconsistentscale(10­11nodifference,everyplusor minustwopointsisaplusorminusonemodifier).Ifageeverbecomesanissue,there'snotablebreakpointsat50,65, and80.Foreveryfourlevelsacharactergains+1totheanabilityscore. Yes,levels­andexperiencepoints,andhitpoints,andbaseattackbonuses,ohmy.Theyareslightlydifferenthowever. Inasensethere'stwobroadclasses(orclassesofclasses,goodness,it'slikeanobject­orientatedprogrammerhasbeen letintotheroom);offensiveordefensive.Anoffensivecharacterstartsoffwithonegoodprogressionofsavingthrows (fromWill,Reflex,andFortitude)andagoodprogressioninbaseattackbonus.Thedefensivecharacterreceivestwo goodprogressionsinsavingthrows.Bothclasseshavethesameexperiencepointrequirementsforlevelprogression, thesamenumberofskillranks,feats,andabilityincreases.Regardlessofwhatclassistaken,charactersarealso differentiatedbytheirselectionofprofessionwhichdeterminestheircoreskills.Characterclassdoesnotdetermine profession;acharactercanbeanoffensiveclergymanandadefensivesoldier,iftheplayersodesires.Professionsalso modifysavingsandincome,basedon1d6rollmultipliedbythe20thcenturyerathattheindividualgameissetin.An optional,more"pulpera",rulegivesoffensiveclassesafreeweaponproficiencyandalevelbasedbonustoACfor defensivecharacters. Charactersstartwithfourtimestheirusuallevelofskillsranksatfirstlevel.Ranksarecappedbylevelandwhetherthe skillinprofessioniscoreornon­coretothecharacterprofession.Non­coreskillsalsocostdoubtle,sothecharacter reallyisheavilybiasedtowardstheircoreprofessionalskills,whichcannotbechanged(thereisnomulticlassoptionas

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such).Skillmodifiersarethesumoftheskillandanrelevantabilitymodifier,withskilltestsbasedonad20rollover DifficultyClass(5foreasy,upto30forheroic).Certainskillschecksarebasedonopposedrolls(e.g.,MoveSilently vsListen)withtheDifficultyClassequaltoopposedroll.Thereisjustunderfiftycoreskills,alongwithavarietyof specialisationsforKnow,SpeakOtherLanguage,Craft,andPerformance.Thetimetakenforaskillvaries,withthe gamenotingsixactiontimesrangingfromautomaticreactionstogreaterthanfullroundactions;andactionrepresents sixsecondsoftime.Charactersmaytake10(i.e.,automaticallyhavearesultof10plusmodifiersinsteadofrolling d20)ifnotsubjecttodistraction,oreventake20,althoughthiswilltake20timesaslongasthestandardtest. Charactersmaysometimesco­operateinskilluse,anduseskillssynergisticallyforfurtherbonuses(e.g.,Animal EmpathytoHandleAnimal). Eachskillisprovidedafewparagraphsofdescriptionalongwithnotesforcircumstances,DifficultyClasses,special options,andsynergy.OfparticularnoteistheCthulhuMythosskill,whichcanonlybegainedbystudyingtomesof saidinformation.EachrankinCthulhuMythosskillreducesthecharacter'sSanitybyanequivalentnumber.Thereis alsoaPsychicFocusskillwhichhallowsfortheperformanceofpsychicfeats,ifallowedinthecampaign.Thereisalso aPsychoanalysisskillwhichallowsforthecuringoftheeffectsofshock;incontrastpsychologyistreatedasanKnow specialisation.Asawhole,theskilldescriptionsareheavilyderivedfromearlyversionsofD20Dungeons&Dragons andwiththeissues,positive(e.g.,consistentsystem)andnegative(e.g.,thepowerofDiplomacy),thatthisgamehas. Thereareapproximatelyfiftygeneralfeats,mostofwhicharecombatoractionorientated.Theyareprimarilyusedto groupedskillbonuses(e.g.,Acrobaticgives+2toJumpandTumble),forcombatactions(e.g.,Blind­Fight,Dodge, QuickDrawetc).AgaintheseareheavilyD&D­derived,whichisperhapsnotentirelyappropriatetotheCthulhu mythos,orimplyingastylisticchangetothesetting.ThereisalsotenPsychicFeats,hithertonotreallyapartofCallof Cthulhu(exceptforthosewhohavecastasufficientnumberofSanity­blastingspells),againimplyingamore cinematicchange. TheSanitysystemisprettymuchtakendirectlyfromtheBRPCallofCthulhu,butwithascalingissue.Aswiththe originalgame,charactersmustmakeaSanitycheckwhenencounteringagruesomeorsupernaturaleventandrollunder theSanityforaminoreffect(ornoneatall),withamajoreffectifthecharacterfails.StartingSanityisbasedonfive timethecharacter'sWisdomscore,andmaximumSanityis99minusthecharacter'sCthulhuMythosrank.Notethat thisistherank­nottheranktimesfive.CharacterscannowacquiresignificantlevelsofMythosknowledgewithout thethreatofinsanity;theknowledgeof"thingsthanManwasnotmeanttoknow"isnotsomuchatall.Sanitychecks aremadeonad100,rollundermechanic,thesameasBRP.NotethatthisisabreakfromtheusualD20mechanic,of rolld20,rollhigh.IfacharacterlosesmoreSanitypointsthanhalftheirWisdominasingleroll,theysufferan temporaryinsanity(lastingroundstohours),iftheysuffermorethan20%oftheircurrentscoretheybecome IndefinitelyInsane,lasting1d6monthswithanactiveinfliction.Iftheyreach­10Sanity,theybecomePermanently Insane.Sanityimprovementsoccurthroughtherapy,medications,andlevelimprovements.Thereisanexcellent descriptionandgameeffectsofvariousdisorders,alongwithhistoricalinformationontreatments. Combat,Equipment,andMagic CallofCthulhuD20usesahitpointsmethodforcharacterwounds,basedon1d6perlevel,with6forthefirstlevel. ThecombatsystemisalsoheavilyderivedfromD&D3e.Withvariousperceptionskillchecksdeterminingactivity duringasurpriseround,initiativeisbasedonD20plusmodifiersdeterminingorder.Anattackrollis1d20plus modifiersversustheArmorClassoftheopponent,whichincorporatestheirphysicalarmour,Dexteritybonus,and otherdefensivebonuses,withafairlycleardistinctionbetween"touchonly"attacksand"flat­footed"situationswhere Dexterityisn'tcounted.Ineachroundacharactermaymaketwomoveactions,amoveandattackcombination,ora

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full­roundaction. Asuccessfulhitresultsindamage,basedontheweapon.BywayofexampleaSpideofLengdoes2d6+6damage(plus poison),anAK­47does2d6(withautofire),andacombatknife1d4(plusStrengthbonus).Acharacterisdisabledat0 hitpoints,anddeadat­10.Ifacharactertakesmorethan10hitpointsinasingleround,a"massivedamagethreshold" theymustmakeaFortitudesavingcheckwithaDCof15,ordieimmediately."Creatures"(everythingfromaaninsect fromShaggaiupwards?)haveathresholdoffiftyhitpoints,andfailurecausesunconsciousnessratherthandeath. Overall,thisislessthanoptimalmethod.Indeed,callitakludge.Whilstthemassivedamagethresholddoesreducethe heroicfantasytropewhereacharacterreceivesenormousdamage(whetherabstractedordirect)andshurgsitoff,itstill existstoapoint;experiencedcharacters­eventhosewithsedentaryprofessions­willhavemorehitpointsthanlow­ levelprofessionalsoldiers,alongwithbetteroverallcombatabilities(BABetc).Assumingthattheyhavetakenthe samebroadclass,a10thleveltechnicianis,ceterisparibus,farmoredangerousthanafifthlevelsoldier­andthat certainlyshouldnotbethecase.Ingeneral,lowerlevelcharactersaremuchweakerincombatsituationsthanstandard BRP­basedCoCcharactersandhigherlevelD20CoCcharactersarestronger. Asawholehowever,thecombatsystemisquitesophisticatedanddetailed.Thereisvariousmodifiersandspecific rulesforsize,flanking,co­ordinatedattacks,creaturesize,concealment,criticalhits,subdualdamage,attackingand breakingobjects,strikingweapons,disarmingandgrappling,trips,andsoforth.Ofparticularimportanceofcourseis firecombat,especiallywhenconsidersthattheequipmentchapter,sometwentypages,isalmostentirelydedicatedto firearms,meleeweapons,andarmour(there'sasmallpricelistforlodging,entertainment,communications,clothing etc). Firearms,dependingontheweapon,cancomewithautofire,multifire,orstandard.Asstandardweaponiscapableof oneextrashotperround,amultifireweaponwithanextraattackbutabetterchancetohit,andanautofireattackwith twoextraattacksperround(albeitwitheachattackusingthreebullets).Allthreeoptionscomewithsomefairly punishingpenalties.Bywayofexample,acharacterwithaBaseAttackBonusof+5will,ofcourse,averagearound15 persingleshot.Withanautofireweapontheycanfireoffninebulletsandhavethreeattackrollsat­1each,averaging9 pershot.Ratherunusuallyforacombatchapter,variousenvironmentaldamagesareincludedaswellinthissection; suchasdiseases,poisons,starvation,extremeheatandcold,drowningandfalling,etc. Themagicsystembeginswith"strangeevents"ontomesandartifacts,butwithanoverallsimilarsystemtothatinBRP CoC.Essentiallythereisalistofmythostomeswhichtakealongtotimetoproperlystudy,butwhichgrantbonusesto theCthulhuMythosskill,containanumberofspells,andreduceSanity.Thenumberofspellsisnotablyhigherthan BRPCoC,andthenumberofbooksandartifactsdescribedisnotablyfewer.Thespellsystemisaninteresting amalgamationoftheBRPapproachandthatoftheD20line.Theformat(savingthrow,duration,components)etcare derivedfromtheD20line,asaresomeoftherequirements(e.g.,concentration,casterlevel).Buttheeffectsandcosts areverymuchinthestyleofBRPCoC,withbothSanitylossandtemporaryAbilityscoreloses,especiallyforInt,as thecharacterallowsforalienknowledgewithrealeffectstotaketheirmind.ArguablythiscouldalsoimproveInt.In actualplay,theabilitylosssignificantlyreducesthenumberofspellsthatcanbecastinsuccession­spellcastingis,and should,bequiterare.Someonehundredandtwentyspellsaredescribed,mostofwhicharelessorientatedtowardsthe ritualisticsummoningsandbindingsandmoreorientatedtowardsimmediateeffects. Creatures,Setting,GM,Stories,andMore

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Thefirstthingthatisnotableforthevariouscreaturesisthattheyaregiventhesamesortofbroadclassifications presentinD&D'sMonsterManual;thatis,creaturesareclassifiedasAberration,Animal,Beast,Dragon(e.g.,Hunting Horror,whoknew?),Giant,Humanoid,etc.withvariouspresentabilitiesaccordingtothistaxonomy.Strongdefinition isgiventothevariousabilitiesandattributesofcreatures,asisexpectedwiththatgamesystem,including modificationsduetoSize,challengerating,advancementand,ofcourse,Sanitylosses.Aroundfourtycreaturesare describedwithtemplatesforcreatingdifferentbeastiesofvarioussorts,witheachreceivingaroundaboutapageeach withanemphasisonthecombativeabilities,butwithintroductoryquotesfromtherelevelantliterature. SomesixtypagestakeupinformationontheCthulhumythos,GMadvice,andsettings.Themythosinformationistrue tothecentralthemesofLovecraftandpresentedinanevocativefashion.Thechecklistapproachforcults,tomes,gods andmonsters(thereisnodifference),secrets,etc.,arehandyfortheexperiencedgamemasterandalmostessentialfor thenovice.SimilarutilitycontinuesintheGMchapterwhichgivesemphasistogradualrevelation,pacing,and atmospherics,althoughthisisalittlemorewordy,andtothetheStorieschapterwhichprovidesavarietyofbasic adventureseeds,andsomesuggestionsofnarrativeflow. TheSettingschapterdistinguishesalongamatrixofhere/nowandthen/farindidcatingthechallengesofhavingsettings outsideaGM'sframeofreference.Briefsettinginformationisgivenonthedecade'sfollowingthe1890s,withinitially anoverviewfollowedbysomeappropriatemythos­relatedfeedsbasedonliteraryreconstruction.Someofthisis handy,butasawholethesectionseemstobealittletooscattered. Twoadventuresareprovdiedwiththebook,"TheEndofParadise"and"LittleSlicesofDeath".Bothareintroductory inpresentation,givingasolidexperienceininvestigativegaming.Thefirstscenario,unfortunately,requiressignificant failureonthepartofthePCstoactuallygeneratethebesthorror.Thesecondscenariocertainlyhaveastrongerfeelofa creepinghorrorandincludesmuchofthedelightfuldissociationexperiencesthatcanreallybringaLovecraftstoryinto asimilarrealmtothatofPhillipK.Dick. ThefinalchaptersdiscussthepossibilityofusingtheCthulhumythosinD&Dgames,aconceptwhichreturnsusback tothedaysofthefirstprintingsofDieties&Demigods.Weeven,again,receivestatsfortheGreatOldOnes,although theyaresubstantiallyimprovedasonewouldexpectforD&D3e,andonejusthastocacklemadlytodiscoverthatthey haveaTreasurevaluetoonow(evenourdearAzathothcomeswithax5ratingforthatstatistic).Abriefsetof conversionnotesandrecommendedreadingconcludestherules. Conclusion AsameanstointroducenewD&D/D20playerstotheCthulhumythosandthecentralthemesofthatliterature,CofC D20mustbecountedasasuccess.Inthisveryattractivebook,isagamethatworks,andworksquitewell,withagood expositionofthesettingandthemes,andarulessystemwhichallowsforvariationsofdifficultyanddegreesof success.The'coolness'ratinghoweverisslightlyreducedfromtheoriginalbecauseitissuchahighlyderiviativework, althoughittoofartotodescribeitasredundant.Inadditionthereisacoupleofnotablebugsplusanintrinsicissue whichisdifficulttoextractfromtheentiresystem. Thefirst,andsubjecttoarelativelyeasyfix,istheissuewithmaximumSanityandCthulhumythos.Rules­as­writ,this

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reducesthecorethemeof"knowledgebeingdangerous";fortunatelythefixisrelativelyeasy­simplymultiplythe MythosmodifierbyfivewhencalculatingmaximumSanity. Themostproblematicissuehoweveristheassociationwithlevelswithcombatitiveability.ItisunavoidableinaD20 gamethat"level"hasacorrelationwithBasicAttackBonus,HitPoints,SavingThrowsetc,whichsimplydoesn'twork wellwiththerealistandthematicconsiderationsofCallofCthulhu.Hitpointtoofallintothiscategory,evenwhen consideredintheirmostabstractmeasure.Iflevelswereanabstractmeaureofthecharacter'sabilityinaparticular profession(orprofessions,itmustbeemphasised),thenmuchofthiscouldberesolved. Asanunusualsituation,thesubstanceratingsforCallofCthulhuD20arehigherthantheBRPversion,althoughthe latterispreferredforplay.ThereasonforcomesfromthefactthatalthoughtheBRPversionhasmoreandsignificant flawsinthegamesystemandtheworkmanshipofthatgamesystem,theproblemsthatithasaresignificantlyeasierto fixthanthosethatarepartofCofCD20.Nevertheless,thisremainsanexcellentgameandonewhichisawelcome additiontothecollectionofanyfanofthisgenre. Style:1+0.7(layout)+0.8(art)+0.7(coolness)+0.7(readability)+0.9(product)=5.0 Substance:1+0.7(content)+0.6(text)+0.7(fun)+0.5(workmanship)+0.8(system)=4.4

TrailofCthulhu TheProduct TrailofCthulhuexplicitlyexiststocombinethe"greatestRPG ofalltime"(CallofCthulhu)withRobinD.Laws'sGumshoe system,designedforinvestigategame.Thesolidly­bound 248pphardbackispresentedwithaconsistentmurky­green artworkbyJérômeHugueninthroughoutthetext,reminiscent ofold,washed­out,photographs.Myfeelingsontheartwork, bothintermsoftechniqueandcreativity,ismixed;thereis someexcellentpieceswhichworkparticularlywellinthat style;theimageoftheGreatRaceofYithonp136is particularlytasty.Others­includingthecover!­arebarely passable.Thelayout,alsobyHuguenin,isthree­column ragged­rightwithaseriffont,andsans­serifheadings,with deco­styledborders.Itisextremelypleasingtotheeyeand showssomeknowledgeinthesetechniques,exceptinacouple ofinstanceswheretheprimaryheadingsarelessobviousthan elementsofthetext(e.g.,spelldescriptions). Thereisanverygoodtableofcontents,indexandafine collectionofappendices.Themainchaptersare"The Investigator","Clues,TestsandContests","TheCthulhu Mythos","TheThirties"(thesetting,contrastwithCallofCthulhu's1920sdefault),"PuttingItAllTogether",

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"CampaignFrames",and"TheKingsburyHorror".Inactualplay,Ifoundmomentswheretheorganisationofthetext couldhavebeenimproved,especiallywithsomejumpingbetweendescriptionsofinvestigatorabilitiesandtheiractual useinplay.Thegameisdesignedtoberunaspuristorpulpmodes,notingthatH.P.Lovecraftwrotewithboth orientations.TheruleshavespeciallymarkedsectionsdependingonwhichmethodtheKeeperwishestouse(thegame usestheoldCallofCthulhuterms'Keeper'and'Investigator'todescribetheGMandPCs).Finally,thetextincludesa lotofappropriatequotesfromthefamousauthorinanillustrativemanner. InvestigatorsandSystem Thefirsttwochaptersprovidethecoreofthegamesystem.Descriptionsofsomeeighteensettingandgenre­ appropriateoccupationsareprovided,alongwithoccupationalabilities,creditratingbandandanyspecialabilities. OccupationalabilitiesarethosethattheInvestigatorcanpurchaseathalf­costinthispoint­buildsystem.Adefaultof65 pointsisprovidedtopurchasefromthe65abilities,withcharactersstartwithSanityof4,StabilityandHealthat1and thelowerendoftheirCreditRatingbad.Notethereisnogeneric'statistics'assuchwhichaddto'skills';thetwo componentsarecollapsedintoonebroadcategory­abilities­whichisalsobroadenoughtoincludefairlyparticular valuessuchasSanityandStability.Alloccupationshaveaspecialabilitywhichoftenareframedinanarrative orientation(e.g.,anAntiquitarian"onceperadventure"mayhaveasuitableorinformativeitem"backattheshop". Finally,InvestigatorsalsocomewithDrives,"acoredesirethatimpelshimtoseekstrange,fartruthsatthecostof everythingthatheoncehelddear".Somefourteenaredescribed,suchasAntiquitarianism,Curiosity,Revenge Scholarshipetc.Asadirectinfluenceonplay,refusingaDrivecostsStability. Investigatorabilitiesaredescribedinroughlyaquarterofapageeachwithabriefdefinitionandsomeexamples.More detailisenteredforsomeofthecoreabilitiesofthegame,suchasCreditRating(whichcomeswithaannualincome andlifestylesignifierschart),CthulhuMythos,SanityandStability.TheCthulhuMythosabilityallowsInvestigatorsto "piecetogetherthesecretrulesoftherealworld",costingSanityandStabilityintheprocess.Sanityistheabilityto sustainfundamentalhumanconcerns;foreverythreefullpointsofSanityacharacteralsoassociatesaPillarofSanity, onehumanconcern(ideology,religion,socialinstitution)thatgivesthecharactermeaning.LikewiseforStability,the resistancetomentaltrauma,acharactermustchooseaSourceofStabilityforeverythreepoints,beingapersonwho theyemotionallyrelyupon.AnInvestigatorcanhavealowSanity,buthighStability(inwardlymadbutapparently unfazable)orvice­versa(highlydedicatedandconnected,butofnervousdisposition). Thecore,investigative,systemruleisthatifInvestigatorsturnuptoascenetheywilldiscoverthecoreclues.The emphasisofthestoryisnotsomuchfindingtheclues(althoughfindingadditionalcluescanbeanissue,ifyoudon't havetherightability),butratherinterpretationthecluesthattheyfind.Thisistoensurethatstorylinesarenotwrecked by(say)afailed"LibraryUse"rollorequivalent.Fortests,simplyrollad6,addanumberofpointsfromthe Investigator'spoolintheirability(therating)andtrytodefeatthetargetnumber.Whilstthisaddsanotherelementof resourcemanagementinthegame,andthetensionthatarisesfromthat,Iamnotsureitaddedmuchinagenre­specific sense.Thepoolscanbeoccasionallyrefreshed,althoughatdifferentrates;investigativeabilitypoolsarerefreshedonly attheendofeachcase,whereasthreegeneralabilitypools(exceptHealth,SanityandStability)canberefreshedwhen theInvestigatorsareindependentofadangerarea.Healthcanberefreshedat2pointsperdayof'restfulactivity', whereasSanityandStabilitymayberefreshedbetweenadventures. Contestsaredefinedascompetitivetests.Thiscanbeusedforchases,combatetc.Inturn,eachcharacterinvolved attemptsatest,andcontinuestodoiftheysucceed;thosethatfailhavelostthecontest.Incombatcontests,thetestis basedona'hitthreshold'(3or4ifAthletics8+,otherconditionalmodifiers)anddamageisbasedonasingledie, modifiedbyweapontype,andissubtractedfromtheHealthpool(amour,althoughrare,ispossible).Physicalinjuryis

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markedaseitherhurt(Health0to­5,SeriouslyWounded­6to­11,orDead­12ormore),withgraduatedeffectsand healingdifficulty.Thischartissomewhatreplicatedwhenpsychicdamageisdescribed,andtheappropriatetestsare calledfor,againwithvariablethresholdsanddamagevalues(e.g.,freshcorpseis1stabilitypointloss,killingone's spouseis8).Itispossible,underdesperatecircumstances,forthecharactertospendthemselvesnegativee.g.,theyjust havetocastthatStability­blastingspell.Negativestabilityisratedfrom0to­5(shaken),­6to­11(blasted)and­12 (incurablyinsane).UnlikeStability,whenSanityreaches0,thecharacterispermanentlyinsane.Sanityislostthrough Mythosshockswhichdropthecharacter'sStabilitybelow0,orusingtheMythosability.Ifsomehowaninvestigation comestoaconclusionandthereisabsolutelynoproofofanyMythosactivitySanitycanberecoveredby1point.Short descriptionsofseveralcommoninsanitiesareprovided. Mythos,SettingandStory ThechapterontheCthulhuMythosbeginswith"GodsandTitans",thebigentities,suchasAzathoth,Cthulhu,Hastur, Yog­Sothothandsoforth.EachoftheseentitiescomeswithextradamagevaluesforStabilityandSanitypoollosses. EachbeingisintroducedwithadescriptionfromLovecraftthenseveraldotpointparagraphsdescribingtheentityand theircoreinterests.Noabilityratingsareprovidedforthesebeings,whichImustconfessImissedsomewhat,butrather moreeffortisplacedintogivingtantalisingindirectsuggestionsonhowtheycouldbeincludedintoaninvestigation. ThiscontrastssomewhatwiththeAlienRacesdescribedlater,whereeachspeciesisgivenathoroughphysicaland sometimespsychicdescription,alongwitharangeofappropriate(i.e.,usuallycombat­based)coreabilitiesare provided,alongwithhitthreshold,armor,weapons,andstabilityloss.AninterestingcomponentisInvestigatorability­ deriveddescriptionsofcluesthatarelinkedwiththealiens.Finally,BeastsandMonstersarealsodescribedwith statisticalcomponentsbutfarlessadventure­drivenaspects. Quiteconfusingly,thesectionon'TomesandMagic'isthrownin­betweenthe'GodsandTitans'and'AlienRaces' sections.Tomesaredefinedaseithercluesorresources.Cluetomescanskim0read,whereasaresourcetomemustbe poredoverinanindeterminateperiodoftime.Tomescan,ofcourse,bebothandprovidevariousbenefitsand problems.TheEltdownShards,forexample,provide1dedicatedOccultpoolpointbyskimming,but+1Cthulhu Mythosbyporingoverit,or+2iftheInvestigatorhasalreadyencounteredtheGreatRaceofYithorElderThings. TomescanalsoincludeSpellswhichcantakebutafewdaystolearnwithtrainingandappropriateabilities.Spells comewithadescriptionofcasting,effectsandcomponents,alongwithStabilityTestdifficultyvalues,Stabilitycosts, andcastingtime,whichcanvaryfromseveralsecondstomultiplehoursforsummoningrituals.Aroundtwenty­four spellsandtwelveritualsaredescribed. Severalsamplecultsaredescribedwithdistribution,plothooksandresponsesprovided,alongwithnotesforKeeper's creatingtheirowncult,precedingthechapteronthe1930swhichisaccuratelydefinedas'adesperatedecade',where poverty,racismandwarwerethenorm.Headlinenewsitemsareprovided,alongwithasignificantsectionontherise oftotalitarianism.'Nightmarecountries'(Abyssinia,BelgianCongo,Egypt,Germany,SovietUnion,Thibit)are providedsomemundaneandCthulhurelatedinformation,althoughImustprotesttheexclusionoftheAustralian continent,NewGuineaandtheMalayarchipelagofromdiscussion!Thechapterconcludeswithanobligatory equipmentlistwhichincludesapageandahalf(althoughwithlargerfontandspacing)ofvehiclestats,apagefor weapons,andtwopagesofsundries. StorytellingandScenario Twochapters("PuttingItAllTogether","CampaignFrames")areInvestigatorandKeeperadvicepages.Theyarequite

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goodforthemodelof"storylike"tempowhichtheauthor,andgame­systemdesigner,bothaspiretowards.Keepingthe storymoving,keepingtheresponsesinteresting,providinghooks,breadcrumbs,revealingtheawfultruth,taking historicalsourcesandaddingaCthulhuflavour,engagingincliffhangerscenes,andkeepingthesenseofmenaceisall describedinthefirstchapter.Thesecondismoreorientatedtowardsdealingwiththelargercampaignstoryand enframingthoseinconsistentmanner,especiallywithregardstosetting,style,appropriateinvestigatorsandvariant rules.Threeexamplecampaignsareprovidedinsomedetailwiththesecampaignframes. Thesamplescenario,theKingsburyHorror,isderivedfromareal­world,unsolved,serialkillereventsonClevelandin the1930s.Actualplayfoundthatthetempocouldbemaintainedquitewell,andtheissueofresourcemanagementdid addtensiontothestorydevelopment.ButinordertodosotheKeepermustbeconstantlyawareoftheplotspeed,and introducethenumerousfloatingcluestoensurethenarrativemovesforwardscene­by­sceneandkeepstheplayerson theirtoes.ThereareacoupleofredherringsinthestorylinewhichIwouldpreferwereintegrated,albeitinan unexpectedway,giventhatthescenesotherwisehangalittleoddlytothetale.Nevertheless,itdidprovideand interestingandchallengingscenariospreadoverseveralsessionswithsomegreatroleplayingencounters,plentyof opportunitiesforinvestigationandachallengingclimax. Overall TrailofCthulhuisasolidproductwhichachievesitsstatedaims.Intermsofstyle,thelayoutwasverygood,the artworkfair­good,itisfairlywellwritten,solidlyproduced,andyes,it'sCthulhuandthereforeitdoesprettywellon the'cool'stakes.Intermsofsubstance,thisbookprovidesprettymuchwhatisneededforagoodgame­investigators, entities,.Theefficiencyofthiswritingisonlyfairaswell.Thegamesystemlargelycomestogetherquitenicely,even ifthe1d6coremechanicfortestsdoesseemalittleinvariableandevenmoresowhendealingwithparticularlylarge andpowerfulentities­itdoesn'tscaleverywell.Thetensionoverresourcemanagementcanwork,alongwiththe sourcesofstabilityandpillarsofsanity,aslongastheKeeperpaysattentiontoitandintegratesitwiththegeneralplot. TrailofCthulhuisagoodgameand partoftherunoflicensesonCthulhu, includingShadowsofCthulhy (True20),RealmsofCthulhu(Savage Worlds),D20CallofCthulhu.Asa gameserieshowever,itsbiggest challengewillbethedevelopmentof epicstorylinesthataresimilarquality asMasksofNyarlathotep,Horroron theOrientExpress,ShadowsofYog­ Sothothetc. Style:1+.8(layout)+.6(art)+.8 (coolness)+.7(readability)+.9 (product)=4.6 Substance:1+.6(content)+.6(text) +.7(fun)+.7(workmanship)+.7 (system)=4.3

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VARIANTCTHULHUMYTHOSSETTINGSS byLevLafayette CthulhuDarkAges ProductandAbout CallofCthulhuDarkAgesisa173pagesoftbackthat hasthatcompany'susualgoodstandardsinbinding. FrancoisLaunetattractivecoverofaNormaninvestigator withtorchlighthassomeparticularniceshadesofred, black,andgoldandgivesthesenseofunearthingand illuminationthatshouldbepartofanydungeoncrawl. Thetextistwo­column,serif,ragged­rightwithagutter suggestingafadedmanuscript,althoughthisisnotused forpageandchapterinformationwhichisfoundonthe bottomofthepage.Spaceisalsowastedoneachpage havingdifferentheaderartaccordingtochapter.The originalinternalartworkvariesinquality,withmanyof thepiecesintheBestiarychapterparticularlygood,and withagoodcollectionofappropriatepublicdomain historicalpiences,andisusuallyincontext.Thereisa singlepageforthetableofcontentsandindexforthesix chapters.Particulartext(e.g.,tables,spotrules)areboxed andhighlighted.StéphaneGesbert'swritingisformal,but light,withagreatdealofevocativequotesfromin supplement. Therearetwoitemsofnoteforanypotentialpurchaser.Thefirstisthatthesettingis950­1050A.D.,whichwhilstisan excellenttimeforMillenarianism,maynotbewhatsomereadersexpectfromthetheterm'darkages'.Theissueis mootinacademia,andcertainlyhistoricallytheoriginaluseofthe"saeculumobscurum"doesfallwithinthattime.But justincaseonethoughtthattheyweregettingabookforroleplayingjustafterthefalloftheRomanEmpire,this explanationisprovided.Thesecondismoresignificant;thisisnotasupplementforCallofCthulhu,butratheran entireindependentgameinitself,althoughusingthesamecoresystem,modifiedforthesetting. CharacterGenerationandSkills Thetextlaunchesintothethematicconsiderationsofthesettingrightaway,alongwithsomemeta­game recommendations(i.e.,scaretheplayers).Thereisalsoashortcollectionofsourcematerial,whichreallyisquite limitedinrangeandquality.Followingthisisthegamesystem,takingupabut44pages.CharacteristicsareAPP (Appearance),CON(Constitution),DEX(Dexterity),EDU(Education),INT(Intelligence),POW(Power),SIZ(Size), andSTR(Strength).Thisisapoint­buysystem,with100pointsallocated,averaging12.5.Derivedcharacteristics includeSAN(Sanity)fromPOW*5,DamageBonus(fromSTR+SIZ),HitPoints((CON+SIZ)/2)),andwith

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characteristicrollsbasedonthecorevaluetimesfive. AsmallselectionofAnglo­Saxon,OldFrench,andOldHighGermannamesisprovidedassuggestions,withcharacter startinglanguagesinfluencedbyregionaldialect.Charactersbeginatage15,withanoptionofincremensof+10years providing20occupationpointsand­1toacharacteristic.Charactershave20*EDUtodistributepointsaccordingto theirprofession,and10*INTaccordingtopersonalinterest.Professionsalsoprovidestartingmonies,andayearly income.Twentyappropriateandnormalprofessionsaredescribed. Aroundfiftycoreskillsaredescribedinaroundaparagraphalongwiththeirbasechance.Thesecanbetranslatedto morecontemporaryCoCskilltitles,withsomeminormodifications(e.g.,ageneric"Science"takestheplaceofthe specialistdisciplines).WiththeexceptionofDodge,LibraryUse,andOwnLanguage,characteristicsdonotmodify skills.Someskillsrequirespecialisations(e.g.,Craft,OtherLanguages),andotherswhicharespecialisedshouldbe amalgamated(e.g.,HeadButt,Grapple,Kick,Punch,individualweapons).ThereisnoPsychoanalysisskill,which certainlyshouldbeincludedifunderadifferentname,andPsychologyisincludedasInsight.Deceptionalsousesthe Insightskillwithcompetitionthrougtheresistancetable,whichissomewhatinappropriate. AsperothereditionsofCallofCthulhu,skilltestsareastraightd100rollwithoutmodifiers(howeverthescenario belowdoesincludemultipliers),andasuccessfultestunderstressresultsinanimmediateskillcheck(rollundercurrent value,gain1d10percentiles).Notablyskillchecksareonlytakenwhenthesituationisdangerous,althoughsomeskills (e.g.,Pilot,Boat,Climb,Swordetc)areconsidred"inherentlydramaticordangerous".Whenacharacterreceives90% ormoreinaskilltheygain2d6SAN.Forcharacteristicvscharacteristicchecksaresistancetableisprovidedwhich canbeexpressedbytheforumula:(activeCHAR*5­resistingCHAR*5)+50%. TheEnvironmentandCombat Environmentalfactors,astheyshouldbe,areanimportantpartofCthulhuDarkAges.Allcharactershavethesame movementrate(40mperround,running),althoughtherearerulesforchases.Wildernesssurvivalandtheeffectsof hunger,exposureandaphixiationareprovided,alongwithfireandlight.Theissuestraversinghumanandnatural obstaclesreceivessimilarprominience.Physicaldamagethroughcombatsituationsare,ofcourse,notforgotten.Whilst theeffectsofpoisonarecarriedoutasresistancerollattacksfortheireffect,orcharacteristictestsfordisease,most damageoccursoccursasareductioninhitpoints.Spotrulesareprovidedforacid,drowning,falling,fire,andhealing (1d3pointsperweek,1d3pointsforfirstaid,c1d3perweekforhospitalisation).Individualwoundshaveclassification levels(10%ofhitpoints,50%ofhitpoint,100%ofhitpointsetc)whichindicate,forexample,ashockthreshold (50%)whichcancauseunconsciousness. Combatroundsareanelasticmeasureoftimefromseveraltoadozenseconds.Armourreducesdamage(e.g.,quilted leather1,chaimail7,kiteshieldwithironstraps,30).Thereisrulesforimpalingdamage,dodgesandparries,surprise, knock­outattacks(damageasanattackontheresistancetable),weaponlengthandclosing.Thelatterrules,less commoninBRPgames,statesthatlongerweaponsalwaysstrikefirst,regardlessofDEX(theusualdetermninantof initiative),andthatasuccessfuldodgeisrequiredtocloseforastrike(andasuccessfuldodgeforthelonger­armed opponenttore­establishoptimaldistance).Missileweaponshavethreeranges,base,double,andpoint­blank;atdouble theskillishalvedatpoint­blank(theattacker'sDEXinyards)itisdoubled.Thrownweaponsapplyhalfofanydamage bonus.Thereisalsoacollectionofweaponstatisticsforwarengines;theyarenotveryaccurate(atall),butasone couldimagineveryhandyagainstlarge,statictargets­likebuildings.

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AsperotherversionsofCallofCthulhu,Sanityisdistinguishedbetweentemporary,indefinite,andpermanent. Temporaryinsanitylastsfrom1d10+4roundsto1d10*10hours,andisexpressedastheresultsofshock­thelossof5 ormoreSANpoints.IncreasingskillinCthulhuMythoscorrelateswithareductionofmaximumSAN.Indefinite insanityresultsfromthelossof20%ofSANpointswithinonegamehour;itcausestheusualeffectsthatone recognisesinthederanged(amnesia,hallucinations,paraphilias,paranoia,obsessive­compulsivebehaviour,etc).This typicallyremovesacharacterfromplayfor1D6gamemonths.Permanentinsanityoccurswherethecharacter'sSAN reacheszeroorless,whichputsthecharacteroutofplayfromanywherefromayeartotherestoftheirlife. Setting TheconclusionoftheSystemchapterhasashortcollectionofcommonequipmentpurchases,uptoboatsandhouses. Thispreviousapreludetothesettingchapterentitled"Utilities".Thisbeginswithaverygoodintroductioncommon knowledgeandexperienceoftheworld,withanemphasisonthemonasticandfarminglives(whichisprettymuch everybody).Intermsoflanguages,thegamereallyonlyconcentratesonRomanticandGermaniclanguages;thisis verymuchawesternEuropeansetting,andasaresultaCatholicone,tothepointofemphasisingCatholicheresiesof thetime(e.g.,Manicheans)andtheremainsofpaganism.Ontheotherhand,wegetagoodsenseofthevarious religiousandseculardutiesandresponsibilities,homelife,clothing,anddiet.Warlordsandprincesreceivetheir necessaryrecognition,fortheirmilitarystrengthandtheirenforcementofsecularorder,alongwithadescriptionof theirexperience,inincreasingrelativeopulanceandonemovesupthesocialladdertocastlemanagement. Whilsttheoverwhelmingpercentageofthepopulationengagedinagrarianactivitytosupportcitypopulations,citiesdo receivetheirownsectionprimarilyascentresoftrade,andthereforeofmilitaryconcentration,aswellasbeingcentres ofreligiouscommunities.Thereisemphasisontheuseofrivercoursesasthemaincommunicationsroute,andthe locationofmosttowns­notjustfortheirreadysupplyofwater(asnecessaryasthatis),butforthespeedandrelative safetyoftransport.ThereissomementionoftheroleofJewsinwesternEuropeancitiesaswellasside­barreferences totheparticularorganisationofRussiancities.Asectionontechnologydiscussesmedicine,horsetechnologies, milling,oreandsalts,textilesandglassware. Thisservesasanintroductiontotheworldatlarge;worldmeaninginthiscontexttheArabicandEurope.Theseare extremelybrief;theKingdomofBurgundyandtheKingdomofItaly,forexample,areeachdescribedinasingle sentence.Thelargestandmostimportantcities(Baghdad,Cordoba,Constantinople,Kiev,Prague,Rome,Veniceetc) receiveaparagraph.Someareasaredescribedinaggregate(e.g.,,"SlavonicStates").Asawhole,thesectionprovides one,perhapstwo,itemsofinteresttoeachcityorregion.Thisisprobablyinsufficient,andcertainlymakesagreatdeal ofassumptionsoftheGM'sknowledgeoftheregion(e.g.,language,religion,ethnicgroups,technologylevel,etc). Thereisamap,butitiscertainlysuggestedthatoneseekasecondopinion(atleast)tothelocationandnumberofthe sovereignstatesmentioned.Incontrasthoweverthethreepagedarkagesglossary,thefourpagesofnatural,political, andocculthistory,andthepageof"who'swho"doesgiveacertainlevelofdensity.Theglossaryisparticularlyuseful, althoughonedoesn'tgetasenseofthehistoricalmovementsfromreadingthehistorytimeline­someextraadjectives couldhaveassistedagreatdeal. MythosandGrimoire TheMythosandGrimoirecanbeconsideredtogther,eveniftheyarepresentedinseparatechapters.Thefirstpartis,

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afterall,isamerethreepages.ThisbriefexplanationoftheCthulhuMythoswhichthestandardandfamiliarthemes, alongwiththecontent(OuterGods,GreatOldOnes,ServitorRaces,IndependentRacesetc).Anopportunitywaslost heretostronglytieencounterswiththemythosrationalisedintothetraditional­religiousworldviewofthesetting.Itis abouttheCthulhuMythos,butitisnotabouttheCthulhuMythosintheDarkAges. Magicusers,ofvarioustypes,liveonthefringesoftheCthulhuDarkAgessociety.CastingspellstypicallycostsSAN, andifthatisn'tenoughsomecolourfulexamplesareprovidedformakingspell­castinglessencouraging.Spellsare learnedfromaspiritormythosentity,fromanotherperson,orfromabookwhichare,asexpected,quiterare.Eachare providedashortandadequatedescription;fromaspiritit'susuallyautomatically(ingrainedinthebrain!),froma persontakesatleastaweek,andfromabooktakes2D6weeks.Spell­castingcanleadtoPOWimprovements,which alsoincreasesmaximumSAN. Spellsaredescribedaccordingtoaccordingtoname,withcategorisations,range(touch,sight,indefinite),duration (instant,oneround,oneday,permanentarestandard),magicpointorPOWcost,SANcost,resistancetable modifications(manyspellscanberesisted,magicpointsvsmagicpoints),andwithadescriptionincluding components.Ritulmagicoccurswhenthemagicpointcostsexceedsthatthecasterhasavailable,andasaresult typicallytakinghoursderivedfromallthosewhoknowthespellwithsupporterscontributingthebesttheycanthrough protection(theycan't­surprisingly­contributeinanymeaningfulwaydirectlytothecasting). Aboutfiftycorespellsaredescribed.Theseareacombinationofsomeage­oldfavouritesfromCallofCthulhu,plus somenewintroductionswhichcomewithadistinctlydarkagesfeel.Forexample,"BecomeSpectral"operatesby shiftingthecaster'sbodytoLimbo,characteristicsandskillclassescanbeBlessed,Devil'scanbecastout,Demonic perceptioncanbegranted,andsoforth.OnespellwhichwillbeinevitablypopularisExaltionwhichcanprovidea bonusof1d6toSANfor12MP(veryimpressive!)orremoveanindefiniteinsanityforacostof1POW.Itisalittle overpoweredtoputitmildly.IncontrasttheHealspellonlymaximisesacharacter'shealingrate­evenamodest improvementwouldhavebeenpreferable. EvenmoredeeplyingrainedintheJudeo­Christianmythos(andmore)isLimbo,theequivalentoftheSpiritPlanefor RuneQuestafficiandos.BeyondthatistheUltimateAbyss;"[t]heUltimateAbyssishellinthestrictestsenseofthe word:Yog­Sothoth’sholeorhiddenplace.Thesedescriptionsprovidethepreludetothedescriptionofspiritcombat, whichinvolvesthetypicalcontestofmagicpoints,butwithsomeneatfeatures,suchasthelossofSANandthe descriptionofthepsychologicaleffectsofthelossofmagicpoints.Thechapterconcludeswithadescriptionofthe variousbooksofthemythos.UnlikeotherversionsofCoC,thispresentationisveryclearinexactlyhowmanyweeks eachtometakestoreadandexactlywhatspellsareincluded;asothersitincludesthebonustotheCthulhumythos skills,SANcosts,andthelanguageofthebook. TheBestiarychaptertakesupjustovertwentypagesandcoversaroundfortyorsobeingsfromanimals,tomonsters,to creaturesofgodlike­powers,spanningbothmedievalfantasyandtraditionalCthulhumythosbeings,withthelatter oftenre­interpretedintotherepresentationoftheformer(e.g.,thedarkyoungasgoblins,gugsasuncleangiants). Likelytocausesomeconfusionisthe"OldOnes",aspiritual(i.e.,INTandPOWonly)greaterservitorraceofYog­ Sothoth.Satanreceivesabriefdescription,butnostatistics­butthepowerfulLilithdoes.Cthulhu,sleepinginthe SouthPacific,isn'tmentionedatall­exceptindirectlythroughhisservitor'stheStarSpawnofCthulhu.Thereisa simpleencountertable­certainlyneedinggreaterdevelopment­differentiatedintowilderness,gate,andlimboareas. SampleScenario:TheTomb

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Takinguparoundathirdofthebook(butcertainlynotathirdofthisreview)isthesamplescenario,TheTomb.The settingisaforestedregionofeasternmarchofGermany,northofVienna,whichisimmediatelynotableforbeingan areathatisnotaswellservedbythecharactergenerationsystemaswesternEurope.TheopeningsettlementofLaais inhabitedbylocalSlavsandcolonistGermans,inallianceagainsttheeasternMagyars.Thescenariobeginswiththe investigatorsjoiningtoseniorBrothers(importantNPCs)andsomewarrior­monks(redshirts)inamissionaryquestto convertorotherwisepacifytheheathernMagyars. Thereisanexcellenthistoricalsummaryoftheregioninthetwo­pageKeeperPlayAids,althoughtheforestnarrative informationshouldhavebeenincludedinthemaintext.Thescenariostartswithquiteakicker,althoughPCsarelikely onceagaintosufferbythedifferentfocusofthescenarioandthecharactergenerationassumptions.Asisnotunusual foraCallofCthulhuplottherewillbethediscoveryofbodies,hideouslymutilated,andasubsequentinvestigation. Theinvestigation,alsounsurprisingly,involveslocalswhoaredistantandsuspicious­exceptfortheinnkeeper's daughter(oh,tobeslainbythesetropes),theacquisitionofrumours,andevenastudyofwrittenrecords. Thenarrativecontinueswithsuspicionsandbodiespilingup,leadingtoaneventualencounterwithvariousmythos beings,consistingofafairlyimprobablealliance,andaseriouscaseofmisjudgment.Anopportunityarisestohavea changeofpacefromaninvestigativescenariotosomethingnotunlikealiens,whichisasmuchofaspoilerthatone shouldgive;itisquiteagoodchancemid­scenario. Overallhoweverthescenariowasfartoowordyandtookuptoomuchspaceinthebook.It'sgoodforacoupleof sessionsifyoustretchitout;whichisreallyinsufficientandalotlessfromthematerialfromotherCoCbooks.It wouldhavebeenbettertowriteanumberofdenserscenariosorevenprovidebetterelaborationofthebackground. Overall CallofCthulhuDarkAgeswassuchagoodopportunitythereadegreeofinevitablythatitwasgoingtobea worthwhileproduct.Physicallyitisjustfine,andwhilstthewritingstyleisgoodinreadibilitylevels,itlosessomewhat indensity.Thereareanumberoftimeswhentheproductcombinesboththefeelofthemythoswiththefeelofthedark agesworldviewverywell.Butequallythereisalargenumberofmissedopportunitiesandmaterialthatsimplycould dowithabettersignaltonoiseratio.Overallthebookisgood,butwithalittlemoreeditorialandauthorcareitcould havebeenalotbetter. Style:1+0.3(layout)+0.5(art)+0.7(coolness)+0.7(readability)+0.8(product)=3.7 Substance:1+0.6(content)+0.5(text)+0.7(fun)+0.4(workmanship)+0.6(system)=3.9

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H.P.Lovecraft'sDreamlands IntroductionandProduct H.P.Lovecraft'sDreamlandsisasupplementforCallofCthulhucoveringasharedlocationwithsurrealandoften horrifyingqualitiesaccessiblefromsleep.Fromapersonalcollectiontherearethreeeditionstochoosethisreview from,the1986boxedset,the1988book,andthe1992book,althoughdamnedifthethirdcanbeunearthedatthe momentforcomparativepurposes.Inanycasethereiscertainlyextremelylittledifferencebetweenthefirsttwo editions(eventheerrorsarethesame),andtheretherehavebeenthreeothereditionssince.Simplyasacaseof personalpreference,thisreviewcoversthefirsteditionboxedset. Thecoverisan"ApproachtoSarrub"byTomSullivan,acolourfulandexoticpieceofaVictorianeragentleman explorerridingazebratowardsatown.Afurrylookinglizardcreaturelooksonwithisalmostasmile.Insideisthree saddle­stapledbooklets,"TheDreamlands",40pageswithadisturbingGugandvictim,"DreamJourneys",72pages (heavy,handlewithcare)withaNashandKaman­Thah,thetwopriestswhoguardtheDreamlands,and"Handouts", 32pageswithcharactersheets.ThereisalsoanimpressivelylargemapoftheDreamlands.Theblackandwhiteshaded internalartbyKevinRamosisreallyquiteexcellent,contextuallyright,creative,andwell­executed,asarethemaps anddiagramsbyCarolynSchultz.Thetextwithinistwo­column,justified,withclear"sidebar"regions.Thetextis well­written,clear,quitedense,andwithonlyanoccassionaltypographicerror("threeloavesofbred"ispersonal favourite). TheDreamlands ThefirstbookbeginswithanintroductionbySandyPetersen, emphasisingtheatmosphericsoftheDreamlands,alongwitha selectionofrecommendedreadingmaterialfromLovecraft,whichis elaboratedseveralpagespageslatterwithapleasingcolourscheme. ThisisfollowedbyfourknownmethodsofenteringtheDreamlands; spellorartifact,findingapointofintersection,throughsome particulardreaming,andpotentiallybydying.Dreamingis,ofcourse, oneofthepreferredmethods,butthisknownentrancedoescomewith atestbyNashtandKaman­That,whoensurethatthosewhoenter havethesufficientcombinationofSANandMythosskill. CharactersmayremainintheDreamlandsforaperiodoftimeequal totheirPOWinhours.CharacterswhosucceedanIdearollwhen leavingretaintheskillsandknowledgesacquired.WhilstSANgains canoccurintheDreamlands,SANlossesof20%ormoreinasingle encountercauseNightmareeffects,andthosethatlosealltheirSAN aretransformed.CharacterswhodieintheDreamlandsareawakened fromthispsychologicaldeath­experience,losingsingnificantSAN andcanneverentertheDreamlandsagain.

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AstheDreamlandsaregraduallycreatedoveraprocessofsomefivehundredyears,contemporarytechnologiessimple cannotbecreatedortransported.Fromthenewskill,Dreaming,acharactercanaltertherealitythattheyarein.The skillisreallywelldone,abeautifulintegrationofthegamesystemwherethevalueoftheskillequateswiththedegree thattherealitycanbealtered.Asecondskill,DreamLore,isasitiswrittenonthebox;itisthecharacter'srecognition ofcreatures,people,andlandsoftheDreamlands.Inadditiontotheseskills,descriptionsofanartifactsandaspellare providedthatallowforpotentialdreamjourneys. AdozenpagesprovidesabriefsummaryofmajorlocationswithintheDreamlandsandtheUnderworld,including cities,geographicallandscapesandthelike,includingliteraryreferences.Thisisfollowedbyalmostfiftynewspells; theDreamlandsareconsideredamoremagicalplacethanthewakingworld,andthespellsthereareparticulartothat reality.SomepersonalfavouritesincludeAnathema,acounter­magicspell,Mandrake,tocreateasimulacrum,andthe VortexofFarJourneying,aratherevildjinni­stylemethodoftransportation. Thebookconcludeswithaselectionofstatisticsfornotablepersonsandcreaturesofthemythos,aroundfiftyinall. TheCloudbeasts,SpidersofLeng,andMoonBeasts,arewell­knownchallenges.Catsreceivespecialprominenceon thegroundsthattheyareexpertsindreaming.Thecat­sizedZoog,essentiallyratswithtentacles,areintelligentand opportunisticspell­castingomnivores.ItishardtojustifypotentialSANlosstoacreaturethat'ssocute. DreamJourneys TheheftybookofDreamJourneysisacollectionofseveralscenariosfortheDreamlands.Thefirst,"ToSleep, PerchancetoDream",isaverygentleintroductiontothesetting,exoticbutnotthreatening.Incontrast"Captivesof TwoWorlds"isverythreateningindeed,butgivestheopportunitytoillustratetoplayershowtheircharacterscanmake useoftheDreamlandstosolveMythos­relatedcultistproblemsinthewakingworld. "Pickman'sStudent"isanotablylongerscenariowherethewallsbetweenthedreamworldandthewakingworldarenot quiteathickastheyshouldbe,andtheinterestoftheformerinthelattercanbejustasstrongasthereverse.This border,somewhatunsurprisingly(atleasttoanyonewithatasteforsurrealism),findsitsexpressionthroughworksof art.Althoughthereisn'tmuchguessinginvolvedwhenoneoftheworksisentitled"R'lyehAtDawn".Arather charmingsorceresshasacollectionoflovelyspellsthatdestroybodiescreativelyand,ifledtoherdevices,willallow thescenariototranformintoyourfavouritezombiefilm,butinthewrongway.Thisisfollowedbyashorterscenarioin asimilartheme,"SeasonoftheWitch",whichbringstogethersomefavouritemythos­relatedwakingworldlocations withtheDreamlands. Thefifthscenario,"LemonSails"isentirelybasedintheDreamlands,withtheopportunitytojourneytoseveralgreat locationsinthatenvironmentsanddealwithanumberofexoticNPCsontheway.Thefinalscenario,"TheLandof LostDreams",byMarkMorrison,isexplicitlystatedtobeforexperiencedCallofCthulhu/DreamlandsKeepersand Investigators,apositionfirstexpressedbySandyPetersenintheintroductiontothebook.Thisisaparticularlydensely writtentext,anditisrecommendedthattheKeepermakecopiousnotesbeforerunning. Overall Thisisanexcellentproduct,enjoyabletoplayandwell­presented.TheDreamlandsareamoreexoticsettingfromthe

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Cthulhumythosandatleastintheliterarysense,werepreviouslyconsideredsomewhatseparate,moreorientated towardssurrealfantasythanhorror.TheywaythattheDreamlandssupplementhaskeptthisfeelbutalsointroducedthe horrorelementsistobecongratulated,andtheintegrationwiththecoreCoreofCthulhurulesetispainless.The scenariosprovidedarealsoofanexcellentqualityandshouldprovidemanyhoursofentertainment.Theonlycauseof concernistherelativeflimsinessoftheJourneysbook,aproblemlargelyresolvedbythesecondedition. Style:1+0.7(layout)+0.8(art)+0.8(coolness)+0.8(readability)+0.8(product)=4.9 Substance:1+0.6(content)+0.8(text)+0.8(fun)+0.5(workmanship)+0.7(system)=4.4

DeltaGreen ProductandAbout Spoilersmayfollow. DeltaGreenisaproductofsomesignificantpopularity, anelaborationofthesettingoriginallypublishedas "CthulhuNow!"withtheconspiracytheorygaming thatgainedsignificantpopularityinthe1990s.The well­boundandgluedsoftbackbookisalmost300 pages,ofwhichoverhalfisappendices.Thecoverart byBlairReynoldsdepictssomethingveryclosetothe finalsceneofHorrorontheOrientExpress,except withmorecontemporaryvictims.Theinternalartis equallysettothethemeandincontext,andasathe wholeartworkdefinitelyindicatestechnicalabilityand imaginativecapacity;thechoiceofanewhostonp175 wasparticularlydelightful.Thetextisintwo­column justifiedseriffont,withchapterandpagenumbers clearlymarked.Thetextitselfisalittleontheverbose side;there'salotofcontent,andwhilstveryinteresting, itdoesn'tcomeacrosswithaparticularlycreativeflair. Thesixchapterscover"TheBigPicture"(anoverview),"DeltaGreen"(thegoodguys,adefundedanddisbanded paranormalparamilitaryunitthatstillexiststhroughpersonalnetworks),"Majestic­12"(agovernment­sponsoredUFO investigationgroup),"Karotechia"(Nazioccultists),"Saucerwatch"(aprivateUFOinvestigationgroup),and"The Fate"(apowerfulmythos­worshippingcrimesyndicate).Theappendiciesincludeabibliography,glossary,andsecurity classifications,mysteriousmanuscripts,threefull­lengthadventures,investigatorcreationrules,federalagencies,new skills,andmodernfirearms.Thereisasinglepagetableofcontentsandathree­pageindex.Thegamearguesacore themein"TheBigPicture";thatCallofCthulhustorieshavegreaterfamiliarityifsetincontemporarytimesand locations,andthatcharactersneedadefiningassociationplusauthorityinordertocarryouttheirinvestigationswith theplotmakingsense.

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TheOrganisations Alittleunderhalfthebookisdedicatedtotheaforementionedorganisations.Eachoftheseconsistsofaroundtwenty pagespagesofhistoryforthetwomajorgroups(DeltaGreenandMajestic­12),downtoaminimumofameresixfor theKarotechia.DeltaGreenandMajestic­12alsoreceiveatimeline,suchistheirrelativeimportanceandcomplexity. EachgroupalsocomeswithanumberofsampleNPCs,ofvaryingability,rank,andbackground.Somearefairly pedestrian,asmuchasanycharacterinvolvedinsuchanenvironmentcanbe,othersarequitecolourful­Lt.Col.Emil Furststandsoutasoneparticularexample,acharacterwhoseprofessionislistedas"warrior­shaman",dressedina combinationofarmyfatigues,andcentralAfricantrinkets,standing6'9",weighing"250lbsofmuscle,bone,andscar tissue". Thereisanicetouchinthethematicconsiderationsofthevariousorganisationsasrevealedbytheirhistoryand practise.Withanexplorationofconspiritorialthemes,itisanicetouchtomakethegroupthatthePCsaremostlikely tobelongtoaconspiracyinthemselves.Thereisanadditionalimpetustotheconspiracy,giventhatthesemi­legitimate (atleastamongRepublicanadministrations,what?)Majestic­12considersDeltaGreenathreatofsomeseriousness, althoughtheirassociationandindeed,indirectcontrol,byaliensalsocreatesaconspiracyaroundthem.TheKarotechia aredeliberatelyevilincarnatewitha"BoysFromBrazil"or"ForgottenFatherland"feeltothem;theyarecomplete thugs,theyhaveaveryhighopinionofthemselvesandtheyarearerelativelyineffective.Theymakeagood introductorytargetforPCgroups. Withamorecivilianorientation,Saucerwatch,areobviouscandidatesasalliestotheDeltaGreenoperativesand indeed,evenaplausiblesourceforalternativePCs.Theyarealsosetupasfallguysforasuggestednarrative development,thecloserthePCsaretotheorganisationthemorepainfultheirdestruction.Asanalternativecivilian organisationwhichwouldnominallybesetupagainstthePCs,TheFatewereanextremelyinterestinganddisturbing group;they"extorttheextorionists,andthesyndicatespayupwithoutasecondthought",andtheydosothrough magicalabilities,whichtheyhavenotacquiredthroughfriendlymeans. Overalltheorganisationsprovidethefoundationoftheinterleavedconspiracieswithadeepintegrationwithcreatures fromtheCthulhumythos,yetonthesurface,theyseemmoreremotethaninothercampaignpacks.Insomewaythe competingorganisationsarereminiscentofthevariousWhiteWolfandArsMagicaproducts,withsignificantdetail thatcombinesbothreal­worldhistory,real­worldconspiracies,andgame­worldadditions. SupportingMaterialandAdventures Thefirstappendixconsistsofafairlygoodbibliographythatincludesvariousspyagencies,conspiracies,ufology,and thevariousstrangeplacesthatDeltaGreenimplies.Itisnot,ofcourse,acomprehensivereviewofsuchthings;the Illuminati,forexample,don'treallyfeatureinDeltaGreen.Thebibliographyisnicelysupplementedbyasubcultural glossaryofterms,locations,operations,organisations,procedures,etc.,commonfromU.S.intelligenceagencies,along withgame­specificinclusionsclearlymarked.Alsoaddingtothematerialisanaccuratelistofsecurityclassifications, andacollectionof"MysteriousManuscripts",againbothfictionalandreal­worldconspiritorial(e.g.,Jessup's"The CasefortheUFO"). Thethreeadventuresincludedwiththesupplementareofincreasinglycomplexity.Thefirst,"PuppetShowsand ShadowPlays",isdeliberatelydesignedasanintroductoryscenariowhichintroducesthePCstotheconspiracies,

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supernaturalinvolvement,andDeltaGreen­thestatrtingassumptionisthatthePCsarenotmembersofDG.Inthe secondscenario,"Convergence",nowasfullyfledgedmembersofDG,thePCsencounterthefirsttantalisinghintsof theinfluenceofthosethatcomefrombeyondthestarsandtheirplansforthehumanspecies,alongwiththecompetitor organisations.Thisisalsoafarmoredeadlyscenarioandcarelessplayersmayfindtheircharactersontheverywrong endofaninfectionofsorts.Thethirdscenario,"TheNewAge",isadouble­lengthfeaturethatincludesevenmoreof ourfriendsfromthestars,anewagecult,andanOuterGod.It'sanicewaytoprovideasenseofthescaleoftheissue. Followingtheadventures,ratherunusually,theappendiciesreturntothesupportingmaterial,specificallyhowtocreate aDeltaGreeninvestigator(templates,cellstructure),followedbyadescriptivelistingoffederalagencies,occupation templates,andsamplecharacters.Thelayoutoftheselatterpagesisparticularlyannoying,withanadditionalmargin placedaroundanalreadygenerousmargin.TherealsoacollectionofnewskillsforCallofCthulhu,includingsome generaltaskslikelyinmilitary­focussedoperations(e.g.,Parachuting),aswellasthosequitegeneral(e.g., Mathematics).Notablythegamedoesacknowledgethepossibilityofnegativemodifiers(e.g.,usingneurosurgeryfrom thesurgeryskill).Anappendixonmodernfirearmsworksonathree­secondcombatround,damagebasedoncalibre, andanfairlyextensivesummaryofweaponsfromaroundtheworld. Overall OverallDeltaGreenisanexcellentcontemporaryconspiracygamethatiswellintegratedwiththeCthulhumythos.A senseoffamiliarityispresentwiththesetting,thecharactershavetheauthoritytoengageintheinvestigations,asense ofimpendingdoomisalsopresent.Allthesenarrativecontributionsaddsignificantlytotheenjoymentoftheproduct. ItisnotunlikepopularTVshowsofthetime,suchastheX­files,ithasatouchoftheweirdnessofgameslike UnknownArmies,andit'sallwrappedupwithmythosstories.Overall,intermsofcontent,story'coolness',and'fun', it'shardtogowrongwithDeltaGreen. Style:1+0.6(layout)+0.6(art)+1.0(coolness)+0.5(readability)+0.7(product)=4.4 Substance:1+0.8(content)+0.4(text)+0.8(fun)+0.7(workmanship)+0.6(system)=4.3

GURPSCthulhuPunk IntroductionandProduct AsastandardGURPSsupplement,CthulhuPunkcomesasa128pagesoftboundbookwithgoodbinding.Theexcellent coverartbyChristopherShyhasalowlightcyborgsoldierwithalargeHoundofTindalosbehindthem,prettymuch capturingtheport­manteautitleofcyberpunkplustheCthulhumythos.TheinternalartbyDanSmithisquitevariable; therearesomeexcellentpiecesinaccordtohishigh­contrast,sharpline­drawnstylewiththedetailandevenhumour thatheisknownfor.Otherworkscomeacrossashalf­finishedpieces.Theyoften,butbynomeansalways,havea degreeofcontextualappropriateness.Thetextismostlysingle­colimn,serif,andjustified,withaheftysidebarregion. Chaptermarkingsarewell­marked,moresothanpagenumbers.Thereisagoodtwo­pagetableofcontentsandathree­ pageindex.Thewritingstyleissemi­formalandsomewhatunfocussed,anissuewhichbecomesmoreapparentasone continuesthroughthetext.ThefirsttwochapterscovertheCthulhumythosandasampleCyberpunkworld.Thisis

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followedbycharactergenerationnotesinthesetting,runningaCthulhupunkcampaign,achaptereachonInvestigators, Cultists,Bestiary,andfinallyAdventureSeedsandConversions. TheMythosandTheWorld Theopeningchapterproper,followingtheobligatory'what isGURPS','whoistheauthor',etc,explainstheCthulhu mythos.Thisagoodsummary,coveringallthemajorbases; whoaretheGreatOldOnesandthetaxonomicorderof theseandothermythosbeings,theexistentialpositionof humanityvis­a­vissuchbeings,theliteraryhistoryofthe mythoscreation,etc.Thereisacollectionof"Blashemous Tomes"wherethefirstpieceofsystemintegrationisfound; twoFrightchecks,oneforskimmingthebook,andanother forreadingitindetail,andamaximumincreasetothe MythosLoreskill;notimeperiodisspecified.Fright checks,itmustalsobesaid,areaverypoorrepresentation oftheeffectsofMythosloreacquisition.Thechapteralso containsdescriptionsofaselectionofthemajorgeographic andastronomicalfeaturesoftheCthulhumythos,including atheDreamlands,beforeprovidingathreepagetimelineof prehistoricalandhistoricalevents,withtheadditionofthe influenceofmythos­relatedactivities.Thereisnotablyno attempt(suchasfoundinDeltaGreen,forexample)to discusswhytheearthlygeographicalfeatureswouldnotor havenotbeendiscoveredgiventhemappingand visualisationtechnologiesofthecyberpunkera. Thesecondchaptergivesadescriptionofacyberpunkworld.Thisisnotthethematicconsiderationsorotherkey elementsoftheliterarygenre,butratheraparticularexample,withtwomajorcontributions;adevastatingdiseasethat wipesout52.5%oftheworld'spopulation(vaguelyplausiblegivenHPAIAH5N1),aworldwidestockmarketcrash thatleadstode­globalisationofthefinancialsystem(considerablylesslikely),thedisappearanceofeveryonefrom continentalAustralia,andtheformationofsomeveryunprobablegeopoliticalalliances.TheTechnologyLevelison thecuspofTL7and8,althoughcontemporaryGURPSexpertssuggestwe'reinthemidstofTL8.Thereisalsoan overviewofcrimesyndicates(moresothatcorporations!),andpopularculture("loud,vulgar,andexcessive"),anda littlebitonspacetravelandunderseaexploration.Overall,thismaterialisisprettymuchliftedstraightfromGURPS Cyberworld,afairlypoorchoice,andthusrepeatstheproblemsinthatbook.Whatisparticularlysurprisingishow littleintegrationwiththeCthulhumythosisevenattempted. Characters TheCharacterschapterbeginswiththerecognitionthatpointtotalsdon'treallymatterinaCthuluPunkgame,andthen goesontoexplainhowtheywillmatter.Aroundtwentycharacterconceptsaredescribed,whichismainlyaskillset andadvantagessuggestion.AdistinctionisdrawnbetweenFrightChecksandMythosFrightChecks;essentiallythe latterisathalfvalue.Mythosacquiredquirksanddisadvantagescannotsimplybeboughtoff,buthaveatime requirementof1weekperpoint.TherearenewadvantagesincludingMythosAwareness,asortofspecialisedDanger

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Sense,andUnfazeable,whichmadeitintosubsequenteditionsofthecorerules.Anewdisadvantage"TheInnsmouth Look",referstothatfamousfishyapperanceofthoseinfectedbytheDeepOnes,andthereisanelaborationofanew skill"MythosLore",whicheachimprovementrequiringasemi­MythosFrightCheckwiththenewvalueasanegative tothecheck.Thiswillmeansomestrangeshockeffectsatinitiallevels,thennewPhobiaorDelusionandincreasing severityandincidencefromthenon. (e.g.,acharacterwithWill12readsa+4Mythosbook,fairlymildontheschemeofthings.AlthoughitisaMythos Checkitisnothalvedforthisbook­learningactivity.TheirFrightCheckisat­9,becausethatwouldbethelevelthey'll attainfollowingthecheck.Rollinga10,theyfailby7.Rollingan11fortheirFrightCheckeffects,atotalof18is rolled.Theyfaintandtakeapointofdamageastheyfinishthefinalpage.) InadditionthereisaPsiSkillcalledDreamTravel,whichdoesasitsays,althoughwithoutthedream­changingability. AnumberofMythos­relatedspellsareprovidedoftheSummon,Bind,Contact,Call,andDismissvariety.Thereisa fewexamplesofofweirdcrossoversciencepieces,whicharerelativelyunexcitingingameterms,butthematically appropriate­indeedtheyrepresentthesortofcrossoverthatthebookshouldhavebeenabout. Setting Thechapteron"TheCthulhuPunkCampaign"isalmostentirelydescriptive.UsingStephenKing,threekindsoffear aredescribed;revulsion,horror,thenterror.ItisrecommendedthatallthreeareusedinaCthulhuPunkcampaign;it wouldhavebeenbetterstilltodescribehow,ingamingterms,thesecouldbeincorporated.CthulhuPunkcampaignsare differntiatedaseitherbeinginvestigativeandscholarly,comparedtocampaignsthatareactivistand(although unstated)withamoremilitaryfocus.Thetwoorientationsarenotmutuallyexclusive,andasanalternativeasection alsodescribes"splatterpunk",anactivistorientationfocussedonrevulsion.Itisastyleundeservingoftheattention providedconsideringthegenre.Oneofthemoreinterestingdiscussionsinvolvestheincorporationofonlinegamingfor CthulhuPunk,toadegreeinnovativeatthetime.Thechapterconcludeswithausefuldiscussionofseveralthematic orientationsforaCthulhuPunkcampaign,named"AdventureArchetypes". Thesecondsetting­basedchapterreferstoInvestigators.ThisisessentiallyacompilationofsampleNPCsand organisations.TheNPCsareremarkablydetailed,andsurprisinglyuninteresting.Organisationsincludesthose associatedwiththeacademicjournalParapsychologicalReview(whichisactuallythenameofanAustralianjournal), theHomoSapiensLeague,MiskatonicUniversity,variousgovernments,corporations,criminalgroups,andreligions. Associationwiththeoccultinallcasestendstobeperipheralevenforthosewhohaveastronginterestandhistorywith theoccult. TheCultistschapterissortofthesameastheInvestigatorchapter,exceptforthebadguys.Thereislessemphasison organisationsandmoreoncharacterarchetypes;TrueBelievers,MadScientists,Nihilists,Revolutionaries(?!),and RogueInvestigators.Thereissomementionoforganisations,i.e.,cults,distinguishedbetweentheinhuman(Deep Ones,Ghouls,etc),andNativecults(e.g.,Tcho­Tcho).AgainthereissomeNPCsdescribedinnotabledetail. Thefourthsetting­basedchapterisaMythosBestiary.Althoughamereseventeenpages,itpacksalotofinformation in,providingdescriptionsandstatisticsfortheGreatOldOnes,LesserCreatures,andNPCraces(thestandard taxonomyoftheMythosisnotappliedhere).Unfortunatelyheretootheopportunitytoseriouslydiscussthecrossover potentialoftheCthulhuMythosandCyberpunkissurprisinglylargelyabsent,withtheexceptionofadiscussiononthe

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readyavailabilityofhigh­poweredweaponryamongcyberpunkcharacters­andsomeratherhorriblekludgesto overcometheissue. Followingthisaretwoshortchapters,oneprovidingadventureseedsandtheotherconversionnotes.Theseedsare quiteliterallythat,andaresufficientlyinterestingthattheyshouldgetthecreativejuicesflowingforanenthusiastic GM.TheConversionchapterforCallofCthulhuandGURPSisshortandfairlysensible;themethodofconverting skillsispossiblythemostcontroversial,butthemethoddescribed(correlatefromskilllevels,ratherthanadirect translationofrawskillvalues)isthebestwayofgettingaroundthedifferencesbetweenthetwosystems. Overall Whilstprovidingafairintroductiontoacyberpunksettingandanfair­goodtranslationoftheCthulhumythosintoa GURPScontext,thereisanotablelackofmaterialthatcombinesthegenresofcyberpunkandtheCthulhumythos together.Thisisquitesurprisinganddisappointing.IfthesuggestedcyberpunkworldisnottotheGMspleasing,the valueofthistextisevenless. Despitethesecriticisms,thisremainsagoodproduct.Ofcourse,designingagoodsupplementfromtheCthulhu mythosandcyberpunkisratherlikeshootingfishinabarrel,insofaritisdifficulttoimaginehowonecanfailwith evenamodicumofcare.Itisjustthatthereareanumberofmissedopportunitiesheretoproducesomethingthatreally wasCthulhupunk. Style:1+0.7(layout)+0.4(art)+ 0.8(coolness)+0.6(readability)+ 0.7(product)=4.2 Substance:1+0.4(content)+0.6 (text)+0.7(fun)+0.3 (workmanship)+0.7(system)=3.7

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CALLOFCTHULHUDIFFICULTYMODIFIERS byAlanGoodall ThisruleisinspiredbyRuneQuest,3rdEdition,©1984byChaosium,Inc.,andpublishedbyAvalonHill. GeneralRule Acharacter'sskilllevelrepresentsthechanceofthecharactersucceedinginaskillunder"normal"stresslevels.The Keepercanalterthispercentagebyaddingorsubtractingpercentilesfromacharacter'sskill.Forinstance,ifacharacter isclimbinganincline,thecharacter'sClimbskillmaybemodifiedby­20%iftheinclineisparticularlysteeporthe footingiscrumbly.AMechanicalRepair(orLocksmith,ifusingtheoptionalPaganPublishingrules)skillmaybe modifiedby­25%ifthelockisparticularlydifficultorifthelocksmithdoesn'thavehistools. Likewise,skillscanbemodifiedbyaddingskillpercentages.Ifacharacterhaspitonstohelpclimbing,a+20% modifiermaybeappropriate.Ifalockischeapandfairlyeasytopick,aKeepermayassigna+30%chancetoopenit. Aplayermayalsodecidethataskillcanbemodifiedbydoublingtheskillpercentage,orbyreducingitbyhalforbya quarter.Thisishowweaponskillsarealteredduetorange.Askillcheckisallowedforallskillsthatsucceed,even thosewithpositivemodifiers. SpecificSkillModifiers Thefollowingmodifiersaresuggestedforusewithspecific skills. HideSkill TheHideskillismodifiedasfollows: Scrubiswaisthighgrassorsuchgrassmixedwithbrush. Ifhidinginscrubthemodifiersare: +5%forlightscrub +10%formediumscrub +15%forheavyscrub Bushiswaisthightoheadhighbrush.Ifhidinginbushes themodifiersare: +10%forlightbushes +20%formediumbushes +30%forheavybushes Forestiswoodsmadeupofbrushand/ortreesthatare headheightortaller.Ifhidinginaforest,themodifiersare: +10%forlightforest

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+20%formediumforest +50%forheavyforest. SneakSkill TheSneakskillismodifiedasfollows: Scrubiswaisthighgrassorsuchgrassmixedwithbrush.Ifsneakinginscrubthemodifiersare: ­5%forlightscrub ­10%formediumscrub ­15%forheavyscrub Bushiswaisthightoheadhighbrush.Ifsneakinginbushesthemodifiersare: ­10%forlightbushes ­20%formediumbushes ­30%forheavybushes Forestiswoodsmadeupofbrushand/ortreesthatareheadheightortaller.Ifsneakinginaforest,themodifiersare: ­10%forlightforest ­20%formediumforest ­50%forheavyforest SpotHiddenSkill TheSpotHiddenskillismodifiedasfollows: Camouflagemodifiesthespothiddenrollby­20%aslongasthecharacterisn'tmovingorismovingslowly.Aghillie suitmodifiesthespothiddenrollby­40%aslongasthecharacterisn'tmovingorismovingslowlyandthesuitisworn inanareawithbushesorothersuitableterrain. Darknessmodifiesthespothiddenrollasfollows: ­15%fordeepshadows(e.g.nighttimewithafullmoonand/ornearbystreetlights) ­30%fornormalnighttimedarkness(e.g.nighttimewithapartialmoonshowingand/orlightfromdistantstreet lights) ­50%forneartotaldarkness(e.g.nighttimewithnomoonandnoterrestriallightsource) Scrubiswaisthighgrassorsuchgrassmixedwithbrush.Ifspottingsomethinginscrubthemodifiersare: ­5%forlightscrub ­10%formediumscrub ­15%forheavyscrub

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Bushiswaisthightoheadhighbrush.Ifspottingsomethinginbushesthemodifiersare: ­10%forlightbushes ­20%formediumbushes ­30%forheavybushes Forestiswoodsmadeupofbrushand/ortreesthatareheadheightortaller.Ifspottingsomethinginaforest,the modifiersare: ­10%forlightforest ­20%formediumforest ­50%forheavyforest TrackSkill TheTrackskillismodifiedasfollows: Scrubiswaisthighgrassorsuchgrassmixedwithbrush.If trackingsomethinginscrubthemodifiersare: ­5%forlightscrub ­10%formediumscrub ­15%forheavyscrub Bushiswaisthightoheadhighbrush.Iftrackingsomethingin bushesthemodifiersare: ­10%forlightbushes ­20%formediumbushes ­30%forheavybushes Forestiswoodsmadeupofbrushand/ortreesthatareheadheightor taller.Iftrackingsomethinginaforest,themodifiersare: ­10%forlightforest ­20%formediumforest ­50%forheavyforest WeaponSkills Thefollowingareadditionalmodifiersforshooting,inadditiontothoseintheCallofCthulhurulebook. Someofthesemodifierscamefrom,orwereinspiredby,TheWeaponsCompendium,©1993byJohnH.Crowe,III, andpublishedbyPaganPublishing. Aiming OnlyapplythePrecisionAim,TelescopicSightsruleintheCallofCthulhurulebooktorifleswithtelescopicsights.

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Anycharacterfiringanyweaponmayspendadditionaltimeaiming.IfacharacterfireshisfirstshotinthesecondDEX cycleofacombatround,hegetstoadd10%tohischancetohit.Anyadditionalshotsinthesamecombatrounddonot getthismodifier.Thismodifieronlyappliestothefirsttargetifacharacterisfiringaburstofbulletsatmultiple targets. Bracing Ifacharacterbraceshimselfagainstsomeobject(wall,sofa,log,etc.)orusesabipod,increasehischancetohitby 10%. Firing Through Glass Iffiringthroughregularglass,subtract20%offthechancetohit.Iffiringthroughacarwindshield,subtract30%off thechancetohit,andtreattheglassas2pointsofarmour. Moving Shooter Acharactercanmoveandfireatthesametime.Characterscanstillfireduringthevariousphasesofthecombatround, buttheyareconsideredtobemovingthroughoutthecombatroundandtheMovingShootermodifierappliestoall gunshotstakenbythecharacterthatturn. Whilethecharacterisclassedasmovingthroughoutthecombatround,thecharacterdoesn'tphysicallybegintomove untilthesecondphaseofthecombatround.Thismeansthatallaimedshotsatthecharacterapplytowherethe characterwasstandingatthebeginningofthecombatround.Forinstance,acharacterdeclaresthatheisducking behindawall.Allaimedshotsatthatcharacteroccurasifhehadnotyetduckedbehindthewall.Ifthecharacterlater declaresthatheisjumpingupfrombehindthewall,hecannotfireafirst,aimedshotbecausehewouldstillbe consideredbehindthewallforthefirstpartofthecombatround. Characterscanmoveupto1/4theirmovementinagameturnwithoutadverselyaffectingtheirchancetohit(this representstheshufflingwalkwhileaimingaweaponpracticedbySpecialForcesteams). Acharactercanpopupfrombehindconcealingcoverandthenfire.Allshotsthatroundhavea­20%modifierapplied tothem.Ifthecharactermovesmorethanaquarterbutupto1/2theirmovementrate,thecharacter'schancetohitis 50%ofnormal. Ifthecharactermovesmorethanhalftheirrate,anyfireisconsideredtobeBlindFire(seetheCallofCthulhu rulebook. Applyallpositiveandnegativemodifierstoacharacter'sskillbeforeapplyinganypercentagemodifiers.Thisincludes percentagemodifiersforEasyorHardtasks,asoutlinedinKeeper'sCompanion1. Moving Target IfusingtheKeeper'sCompanion1,allowamovingtargettorolltheirDodgeskill.Ifsuccessful,treattheshotagainst thetargetas"difficult".IftheDodgerollisfailed,don'tmodifythethefirearmroll(or,optionally,subtract10%from theweaponskill).

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Precision Shooting Ifplayersinsistonprecisionshootingatspecificpartsofatarget'sbody,suchasaimingforthehead,ortryingtofireat anarm,IsuggestusingBiohazardGames'KillerCrosshairsproduct. Ifyoucan't,ordon'twantto,useKillerCrosshairs,thenusethisruleinstead.Allowthecharactertofireataspecific aimpoint.Halfthechancetohitafterallpositivemodifiershavebeenapplied,butbeforeanynegativemodifiershave beenapplied. Shotguns ShotgunsarefiredusingtheRifleskill.Ashotgunfiringshota5%bonustohit.Asawn­offshotgunfiringshothasa 10%bonustohit.Theshotgunbonusisnotappliedwhentheweaponfiressolidslugs. DesignNotes Theruleforaddingorsubtractingpercentagesistakenfrom3rdEditionRuneQuest,whichusesthesamesystemas CallofCthulhu(theChaosiumBasicRolePlaysystem).WhileneverformallymentionedintheCallofCthulhurules, theyarethereinspirit.InCallofCthulhu5.5Editionthechaseruleshavesituationalmodifiersthataddorsubtract percentagesfromacharacter'sdriveskill.ModifiersarealsofoundinsomeCallofCthulhuscenarioandcampaign packs. TheKeeperisgivenalotoflatitudeindecidingthepenaltyorbonustoaspecificskill.Thisishowit'sdonein RuneQuestaswellasotherroleplayinggamesthatallowskillmodifiersduetodifficulty.Ingeneral,onlyexceptional circumstancesshouldhaveaskillmodifier.

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CALLOFCTHULHUHOUSERULES byMattPuccio 1)CharacterGeneration­Apoint­buysystemwherestatsstartat10asabase.Youhave36creationpointstospend toraisestats.Seethe“cost”columnbelowassomestatscostmorethanotherstoraise.Ifyouwanttoloweracertain statbelowthebase,youcandosoandgetarefundofthecreationpointstouseonotherstats. STAT COSTMAXMIN BASE STRENGTH 1 18 3 10 CONSTITUTION 1 18 3 10 SIZE 1 18 8 10 DEXTERITY 3 18 3 10 APPEARANCE 1 18 3 10 INTELLIGENCE 3 18 3 10 POWER 3 18 3 10 EDUCATION 3 21 3 10 SkillPoints:EDUx25pointsforOccupationSkills(determinedbytheoccupationyouchoose);INTx15pointsfor PersonalInterestSkills 2)Occupations­GenerallyIallowplayerstocomeupwithwhateveroccupationtheywishthatmakessense,andlet themputpointsintoOccupationskillsthatmakesense. 3)Initiative­Rolld6andaddtoyourDEX;readiedfirearmsrolld10instead 4)CombatDeclarations­Don'trequireplayerstodeclaretheiractionsatthebeginningoftheround;theycanchoose whattodowhentheirturncomesup 5)DODGE­AcharactercanDodgeifhe’salreadyusedhisactionthisround,buthesacrificeshisnextaction 6)CombatActions­Duringcombat,allowplayerstotakeanaction(likeattacking,dodging,usingaskill,reloading, etc.)ANDmove(thestandard8”)inthesameround.Theycanconvertthestandardactionintoamoveinorderto “run.” 7)Skills­Asingleskill"Awareness"inplaceofthetwoskills"SpotHidden"and"Listen.”Default25%. 8)Skills­Asingleskill"Stealth"inplaceofthetwoskills"Hide"and"Sneak."Default10%. 9)Skills­Asingleskill"PersonalAttack"inplaceofallthevariouspunch/kick/headbuttskills.Defaultis25%.The basedamagethisskilldoesincreasesasyourskill%increases: Skill% DamageDie 1­25% (d2)+damagebonus 26%­50% (d3)+damagebonus 51%­75% (d4)+damagebonus 76%­95% (d6)+damagebonus 10)Skills­AmodifiedMartialArtsskill.OnceyourMAskill%exceedsyourPersonalAttack,itincreasesthePA damage(tothenexthighestDietypeinthePAskill,withthehighestDiebeingaD8).Youonlyhavetomakeoneroll whenattackingifyouhavethisskill.Default0%.

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11)Stats­Anew"Preparedness"attributethatistheaverageofLUCKandKNOW.Idon'tliketospendalotoftime havingmyplayerslisteverythingtheyhaveontheircharactersheets,ordealwithalotofroleplayingofbuying mundaneitems,soinsteadofthemlistingeverydictionary,flashlight,magnifyingglass,50'rope,etc.,atthestartofan adventureIask"isthereanythingspecialyou'rebringingwithyou?"Iflaterontheysay"Iwouldhavethoughttobring my'microscope'(orwhatever)withme"IhavethemrollPreparednesstoseeiftheythoughtofit.Sometimestheyask forsomethingridiculousandIjustflatoutdeclineit. 12)SkillsModifiers­I’vegiveBonus/Penalty10sDiemodifersincertaincases.Forexample,ifyou’reknockeddown andyoutrytododge,ImaygiveyouaPenaltyDie(rollanextra10sdie,youmusttaketheworst/highestofthedice yourolled).Ifyouhaveanunawareopponent,ImaygiveyouaBonusDie(rollanextra10sdieandtakethe best/lowestofthediceyourolled).IfyouroleplayyourPersuadeargumentparticularlywellImaygiveyouaBonus Die,etc. SkillDifficulty­I’veadoptedtheconceptofaSuccess/HalfSuccess/FifthSuccessforskillrolls.Imay,forexample, askforaHalfAwarenessrolltoseeifyounoticethatstealthycultistthatisfollowingyou. 13)Skills­IReduceFirstAidskilltod2healing;Medicinestillprovidesd3,butyouneedanoccupationaljustification totakeMedicineandtherightequipmenttouseit. 14)Skills­OnlyallowFirstAidskilltobeusedonacharacteronceforacombat,insteadofonceforeverywound (whichIbelieveishow6edescribesit,whichseemscontrarytothepurported"lethalness"ofthesystem) 15)Combat­Allweaponscandocriticaldamageonacriticalattackroll,notjustpiercingweapons.Rollanadditional damagediejustaswithImpales. 16)SkillProgression­Whenrollingtoraiseyourskillsattheendofachapter/adventure,thehigheryourskillis, insteadofrollstraightd10toincreasetheskill,it'saprogression: CurrentSkill RaiseDie 1%­59%+d10 60%­75% +d6 76%­90% +d4 91%­99% +1 17)Burden­SinceI'vebeenrunninganInvictusgame,I'veintroducedsomeburdenrules,becausetheplayersallwant toweararmor,andsoI'vecomeupwithalistofpenaltiesthatapplythemorearmoryouhaveon.Helmetsreduce Awarenessby20%. ● LightBurden­ReduceMoveby1.Noothereffects. ● MediumBurden­ReduceMoveby2.ReduceDEXbasedskillsby10%(e.g.,2pointsofDEX).Thisincludes initiative. ● HeavyBurden­ReduceMoveby3.ReduceDEXbasedskillsby20%(e.g.,4pointsofDEX).Thisincludes initiative. ● GreatBurden­ReduceMoveby4.ReduceDEXbasedskillsby35%(e.g.,7pointsofDEX).Thisincludes initiative. ● CrushingBurden­ReduceMoveby5.ReduceDEXbasedskillsby50%(e.g.,10pointsofDEX). TypicalRoman­eraleatherarmorusuallygivesaLightburdenlevel;heavierarmorlikeLoricaSegmentatagivesa Mediumburden.Thiscanbeincreasedifthecharacterwanttowearahelmet,useashield,carryalotofequipment, etc.Crushingburdenwouldbeaheavilyarmoredmancarryinganotherheavilyarmoredbody,etc. 18)Connections­IusetheconceptofConnectionsfromTrailofCthulhuandnowinthe7edraftrules.Iallowplayers tocallupontheirConnectionstorestored4SANperconnection,onceper"chapter"ofthestory.Notethatasaresultof this,IrarelygiveoutSANrewardsattheendofascenario.

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19)TemporaryInsanity­Insteadofrollingonthetemporaryinsanitytable,IhaveadeckofcardsthatI'vemadeup withmuchmoreelaboratedescriptionsoftheshortandlongtermsanityeffects.Thefirsttimeaplayergoes temporarilyinsanetheydrawacard,fromwhichtheysuffertheimmediateshorttermeffectonthatcard.Thelongterm effectonthatcard“setstheircourseofinsanity”­thatis,itdescribesthepsychologicalproblemthatwillplaguethem inthelongterm.Thenexttimetheygoinsane,theyagaindrawacardandsuffertheimmediateeffect,butalsodeepen theirlongterm“courseofinsanity”fromthefirstcard.Thismainlygivesthemaguideoranideaofhowtheircharacter isafflicted.Whenthishappens,oneoftheirConnectionsalsogetscorrupted­theycannolongeruseittorestoreSAN. WhenIwanttorunamorepulpygame: 20)Combat­Playersdieat(startingHP/2)belowzero;theygounconsciousat0unlesstheycanmakeaCONx5check eachround;theygetonePenaltyDieforeachHPbelow0foranyrollstheymakewhilebelowzeroHP.Incombat, theyalsoloseoneaction(e.g.,theycaneitherMoveortakeanAction,butnotboth)andthereisableedingoutrule. 21a)SkillRolls­Igivemyplayersa"reroll"tokentheycanuseonceperstory.Iftheydon'tuseit,itgoesaway.They canuseittorerollanyonerolltheywant,atanytimeduringascenario.IrecentlyreplacedthiswiththeSANspend, below. 21b)SkillRolls­SpendingSANtomodifyrolls­thiscamefroma7ethreadonYSDCabouttheuseofLUCKspends tomodifyrolls.SomeonehadtheideatospendSANinstead,andasktheplayertojustifyhow/whytheywerestressing themselvestodothis.Inpractice,myplayersrarelydoitastheyrealizehowimportantSANis,unlesstheyreallywant tomakearollandtheyareonly1or2pointsoff.ThisfollowsalltheSANlossrules(e.g.,youcanmakeyourself insanetryingreallyhardtomakethatobscureReadSanskritroll­althoughI'veyettohaveaplayerdothis).I'mnot entirelysoldonthisoneyet,butIamcurrentlyusingit.

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CTHULHUMETROPOLIS byChrisTamm Itistheyear2026andthecityofmetropolisdominatedtheworldeconomyandhouses52millionpersons.Fortherich –adesignerdecoparadiseofurbanengineering.Wheretherichlivelivesofpleasuretheworkersdwellinsqualid subterraneanfactories.AtitscenterisnewBabylon–thecontrolcenterwheretheheadofthemetropolisbank monitorseverything­fromglobalmoneymarketstothethunderousworkfloorsofthegreatmachinebeneaththecity. Somethingsarelessvisible–likethearmyofservantswhoservetherich,orthedilapidatedcathedralhauntedbythe spectreofoldreligion.Similarlyinarundownsectionofthecityistheancienthouseofthescientistmagician Rotwang–themasterbrainbehindMetropolis,hismechanicalhandandotherforbiddensecrets.Thentherearethe cavernsbeneaththecitysaidtobeover2000yearsold,whererebelworkersmeetinsecretandwhoknowswhatelse dwells. ThisisasetofnotesforsettingthehorrorsofHPLovecraftinafantasyworldofthefutureimaginedbythesilent cinemafilmMetropolisandthenovelbyTheaVonHarbauofthesamename.Iwasinspiredinpartbywatchingthe filmwiththemorerecentCallofCthulhusilentfilmtogether–wheretheideaofeditingthetwotogetheroccurredto me.KimNumansfamousmonstersoffilmlandalsoinspiredthiswithhisshortstorywhereSupermanandmetropolis convergewithothersilentmoviecharacterslikeDrCaligari,Nosferatuandothers. 1.Concepts ­usingnarrativeoffilmasbackgroundactivity ­exploreasadecopunkscifihorrorpulpsetting ­NoNazis,HitlerandWW2neverhappened,obscure politicalcult ­Metropolisandcapitalisticmonopolieshavecrushed theworld ­Manycyberpunkideasareinmetropolislike machineconsciousness ­Therearevideophonesbutgunsandcarshavenot changedsinceWW1 ­Firearmsareusedbysomeagentsbutareveryrare 2.LocationsinCityofmetropolis ­NewBabylon ­Yoshiwara ­PleasureHives ­Cathedral ­Catacombs ­SubterraneanChurch ­PrivatelibraryoftheElite ­WorkersCity ­FactoryFloor ­Drainnetwork ­MasterMachine ­WizardHouse ­RoadsAndTransport(aircraft,autogiros,rail, elevators,automobiles)

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­DreamlandsofMetropolis(AncientBabylon) 3.Organizations ­BankofMetropolis ­NWINewWorldIndustriesBuilding ­PlutoMiningCorporation ­Church ­Silvertwilight ­MetropolisAstronomersSociety(AstronomersClub) ­Looktothefuture ­OceanicInc 4.Characters ­CreditRatingdeterminessocialclass­under30subteraneanlabour,31­59servant,50+rulingclass 5.TheMythosinMetropolis­AdventureSeeds

IndependentRaces DeepOnes–Thesprawlingdrainsandwaterworksandsubterraneanreservoirsofwaterareconnecteddistantlytofar offseas.WithitsawesomepopulationandindustrialcapacityMetropolisrequireshugecapacitiesofwater–foruseof humansbutalsoforindustrialuse(whichmaybehighlypolluted).Someofthesesectionshavetheirownworkers accommodationforthosedoomedtocrawlthroughmilesofdamppipes.ADeepOnecolonyhascometooccupyone ofthemostisolatedworkercolonies–whointurninfiltrateandinfectothersimilaroutpostsandcommunicateviatheir secretnetworksofglobetravelingsailors.Someofthecatacombsconnecttowatersourcesalsomakingtheodddeep oneorhybridagentencounter,especiallyinthedankestparts. GreatRaceofYith–Multiplecitizens ofMetropolis(amongthemoremobile wealthyclasses)arecurrentlypossessed andseveralagentcellsexisttoserve themSomeuseYithiancommunicators andhavelightninggunswhichcanbe usedtodisintegrateevidenceif necessary.SomeseekFlyingpolyps vaultsinthecatacombs.Othersjust interestedingatheringinformation.A charactercouldaccidentallycomeinto conflictwithacultgathering informationorartifacts. Ghouls–Thecitywithallits efficienciesdoesnottoleratethe wastefulpracticeofburielswhere possiblebutancientgravesremainbuiltoverbythesprawlingcity.Someusepartsofthecatacombsthecityunderas secretburiels.Thecathedralhousesavaultofancientcorpsesaddedtooccasionallyonthedeathofanimportant religiousperson.Someoftherichburytheirdeadinmausoleumsskyscrapers.Withthelowerlevelsforcremated remainsandceremonies.

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Cthonians–Thetunnelsaremorethanthousandsofyearsoldandnewsectionsaresometimesdiscovered–whichare actuallydugbythechildrenofShuddeMyell.Cultistscrawlbeneaththecatacombsandexpandtheirinfluenceover newterritoriesbycommissioningnewtunnels.TheCthonianslikesomeotherspeciescraverareearthsandusecultists toobtainthem.TheysometimescomeintoconflictwithMi­go. MiGo–FromthesprawlingPlutoTowersadecrepitsprawlingofficeblock,staffedbywizenedoldmenembroiledin incomprehensibleesoterictasksofatediousbureaucracy.ActuallytheyareMiGowithbioengineeredsynthetichuman skins.TheyrunPlutoMiningCorporationandhavehumansfromacrosstheworlddeliveringthemtherareearthsthey cravesomuch.Theiragentsservethemasbutlers,drivers,clerks,messengersandotherduties.Severalfloorsofthe buildingarededicatedtohumanbraincanistersnetworkedseriallytoactasupercomputerbytheMi­gotomanagetheir businessandforeignmoneymarkets. SerpentMen–Severalserpentmensorcerersdwellinhumanformrepresentingdifferentfactionsofancientserpent manculture.Whileseveralroguewizardshavebeenactiveformillennia(atleastonesitsontheboardofmetropolis bank)twomaincoloniesdwellbeneathMetropolis.Oneofdegeneratealbinocavedwellerswhichhasbeenadoptedby abachelorsorcererwhostumbledacrossthem.Planstobreedthemintoanewserpentmasterrace.Thesecondclantoo proudtoconsortwithdegeneratesawakeperiodicallytomonitorhumanity–currentlytheyareinfiltratingmetropolis andtryingtofindandeliminateotherrogueserpentmen.Theyawaitatimetheycanrevivetheirwholecityandwalk onthesurface. Shoggoth–Somewhereinthesubterraneandepthsashoggothmayoccasionallydwell–usuallyactingonamissionfor thedeeponecult. FlyingPolyps–Somewheresealedinabasicvault–severalFlyingPolypshavebeensealed.Iffreedtheywould slaughteralltheycouldfindinthetunnelsthenonenightlaunchintothesky,murderafewdozencitizensthenfleeto somesecretplacetheycanplottofreemoreoftheirkind. InsectFromShaggai–AfewInsectsfromtheircolonyinthebrittishisleshaveinfiltratedMetropolis.Amore restrainedInsectdwellsinNewBabylon–plunderinginformationitcanuseforinsidertradingfortheInsects corporation.Severalothersroamthesublevelsfindingisolatedindividualstosadisticallytorture StarVampires–Mostlysummonedbyrooftopsorcerersfortravelormurder.Onelefttoitsowndeviceswouldstay andhorriblykillahighrisedwellereverynight. DimensionalShamblers–Mostlysummonedbywizardstokillotherswithoutevidence.Aterrifyingprospectwiththe citiesconfinedspacesandmazelikecorridors.Awizardmightalsobeuseonefortransporttoanotherdimension. ServitorRaces SpawnofTsathogua–Aworndownchamberonceahyperboreantemplecontainsavaultwereaguardianspawn dwells.Defilerswillbeslainiftheycannotmakethesignoftsathoguaorusehisname. Byakee–UsedbysorcerorsespeciallyHasturcultistsorthosewishingtotraversethestars. RatThings–possiblythefamiliarsofawitchorwizardorjustinhabithauntedoldhouses.Rundownoldhouseswalls vibratewithrats.Andoccasionallya“ball”ofratswithfusedtailsisdiscovered. DarkSpawn–Thecityismostlytreelessotherthanthegardensoftherich.Aprivategardenonarooftopcouldhouse severalforrichcultists.Triffidsmightbemoreconvenientsize.

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FireVampires–severalCthugacultsexistandthereareseverallonerarsonistshaveappearedfromtimetotime.The cityobservatoryhasseveralcultists. Theykeeptheiractivitiesfairly secret–evenhuntingtheirrogue brethrenwhoindiscriminatelystart firesandsummonfirevampires. Deities ChaugnarFaun–Hisstatueis housedinaprivatecultmuseum wherehiscultsacrificeinnocentsto him.Hisbrothersstatueshave gatheredinMetropolisandhold corporateoffices.Theyarefairly discreet.

brethrenwhoindiscriminatelystartfiresandsummonfirevampires.

Cthuga severalCthugacultsexistandthere areseverallonerarsonistshave appearedfromtimetotime.The cityobservatoryhasseveralcultists. Theykeeptheiractivitiesfairly secret–evenhuntingtheirrogue

Cthulhu–VariousCthulhucultsfromacrossmeetviathewaterwaysofmetropolis. Deeponeshavesettledcoloniesandhybridagentsinthedampestbowlsofthemachine.Whilelandlockedithas millionsofmilesofpipesandhascontrollinginterestinmanyEuropeanportcities.Ariverisusedtoproducehydro electricpower,flowsinandoutofthecitywithmultiplecanals.Allthisallowscultists,deeponesandevenshoggoths toenterthebowelsofthecityandthedamperpartsofthecatacombs.Somemoreaffluentcultistsareinvolvedin globaltradewithcorporationssuchasOceanic(atradeandseaminingcorporation).Cthulhualsoinfluencesmanywith hisdreams–somewitnessorhearhimfirst,ortoucharelicorishexedbyacultistorhybrid.Dagon,Hydraand Starspawnmayalsohavetelepathicinfluence. Eihort­GoodsfromacrosstheworldgettoMetropolismarketsandlabsandmuseums.Onedayasicklytruckdriver parkshiscabandlookedforsomewherequiethecouldbesick.Tofindhewasvomitingcreaturesintothefactorydrain ­butthesickneverstoppedleavingthedriverhostasackofburstskin.Charactersinvestigatethenewspeciestillthey findaninfectedvictimexplodesbeforethemprovingitisapotentiallydangerousplague.Theytrackitbacktothecult whohelpingEihortbybringinghimvictimsthroughagatewayinthecultbasenearatruckstop.Prostitutecultists kidnapdrivers. HasturandTheKingInYellow–MostofchambersmythosfictioncouldbetranslatedhereespeciallytheRepairerof Reputations–whichisinanalreadyalternatefuturewouldfitinwell–orcouldevenbeusedasabasisforUSA. TryingtofindanheirtoHasturonearthwhooncecrownedworkstoruintheworldandruletheremnantswouldmake afinepulpvillain.Moremainstream(orthodox)HasturcultistscalldirectlytothehorrorinthelakeofHalihimselfon Carcosa.InwiththeAstronomersClub.SomewizardsdealwithHasturtocontrolByakeeandtravelthestars.Afew rooftopshaveVshapedpillarsconcealedtosummonHasturdirectly. Nyagthoa–Indeepestreachesofthecavernsisadanksootstainedchamberwithblackhandprintsandmarkswhich couldbewritingorrandomsootymarks.Inthemiddleisasealedstonewell,withcarvedmarksaroundtheedges.

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SometimeshuddledrobedcultsmeedheretosummonNyagthoa. Tsathogua–RemnantsofHyperboreancivilizationisburiedbeneathmetropolisandmanywizardssealedfoulthings beneathit.Tsathoguahasoneancienttempleandguardianbeneathmetropolis(seeunderdarkspawn).Alsofoundare severaldreaminducingblackmonolithsandahandfulofartifacts.Otherhiddentemplesorworsethingswereburied. PossiblyagatetoSaturn'sdreamlandsoraartifactofEibon. OuterGods Azathoth–Whilenotoftendirectlyworshipped,manycultistsareconcernedtofindthelocationofazathothandhis myriadspawnwhichcausedimensionaldistortions.Anumberoftheastronomersofmetropolisworshipazathoth. ShubNiggurath–Acultthriveintheoutlayingagricultureregionsbutafewwealthyoperaterooftopgreenhouse temples.Someofthemedical,farmingandfoodcompanieshaveshrinesinmetropolis.Somegreenhousesactually houseadarkspawn. Nylarthotep­MultiplecultsofNyarlothotepdwellhere.Nyalathotephasappearedtohelpplanthelastdaysanddirect hisculttohidemythosactivity.Hedoesnotappearopenlyinpublic.Curiousinvestigatorswhoriskpublicexposure arelistedaspawnstobedestroyedorsenttobesacrificedtoaspecificgodwithatrailofclues.Variousbusinesses, labs,smallchurchesandothersmallesotericordersallactforNyarlothotep.. Yog­Sothoth–Anumberofwizardsandcultsexistespeciallyamongtheastronomers.Severalsummoningtowersexist inthecityrooftops. Moloch­mymythosaddition Agodwhominhabitantsmegamachinesandalterstheirpurposetoenslavemankindandbefedsacrifices.Molochmay inhabitadangerousfactory,afoulpowerplant,adecrepitcoalminewherechildminersdieenmassorcertainlya wholecity.Themachinecouldincludeprimitivetemplecitycomplex,theBabylonianlibrary,romanfactorymillor anycomplexhumanbuiltsystem.Evenmonolithsarrangedasacalenderscouldformacultandbeuninhabitedbyhim. Hemayusepartsofthemachinetokillorevenformacyberneticbody. OtherSilentEraAdventures TheCabinetofDrCaligari.–DrCaligarirunsMetropolisAsylum.Heisafiendishhypnotistandmindcontrolling wizard,exertinghisinfluenceoverpersonsofallwalksoflifefrombankerstocriminalstocarnivalfolktoother cultists.Healsohascontrolledagentswhoprowlbynightkillingandkidnappingvictims.Ideallythoseinvestigating himdiscoverhiminsomeotheridentitybeforewakingupthemselvesinMetropolisAsylum. DerGolem­OutsidethecoreofMetropolisaresprawlingslumsandfactoriesinconstantprocessofchange.One includesaJewishworkerghettosettobedemolished.Theauthoritieswouldliketodevelopintoamore“modern” metropolisfactoryzonebuthavebeenactingslowlyInfearofapopularpeoplemovement.Apartmentsforbureaucrats alreadyontopmostpartofcity.FromacrumblingoldSynagogueaRabbisendsforthhisgolemtowaylaythe development.Charactersintercedebeforesituationgetsworse. Nosferatu–AcharacterisinvitedtoTransylvaniatoactasalegalagent…. FrauInDerMonde–AtriptothemooniswithinMetropolisreachandinvestigatorsareprobablygeneratedforthe mission.Investigatorscanexplorelunarruinsofancientcivilizations,battlecultistcrewinfiltrators,anddiscoverthe wholemissionwasfundedbycultistsandevenreturntoearthwithanunwelcomeentity.Moonheroesarewelcomed bytickertapeparade–withhungrylookingworkerschildrenwavingflags. DiaryofalostGirl–Workhouseforgirlswhohavechildrenoutofwedlockisrunbyacult.Thebestareselectedas

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sacrificesandtobebridesofcultmembers.Investigatorsfindlinksinseveraloftheircases. Pandora'sBox–ThefemmefataleLuLuentersthecharacterslives,causingsuicide,duelsandmultipledeathsamong theirfriendsfamilyandpeers.EventuallyInvestigatorsinvestigateonlytohaveseveraloftheirmadsuitorsharmthem whomayabusetheirpowersorjustattack.Finallytrackinghertodistantpartstheyfendoffawantedserialkiller beforecorneringher.SheisalamiawithacasketthatopenstoAbhoth–usingittocreatesmallerabhothspawnor floodingabuildingwithAbhoth'slakesizedbodyofbioplasmicviscousfluid.SheisspawnofaSuccubusfromthe dawnofcivilization.WhomenacedBabylonforyears.Allowedtocontinueshewilldestroythecity. Olympia–Annualgamesforthechildrenoftheelitearebeingusedtoselectsacrificesandhostbodiesthancults.Date setatanauspiciousseasonforwizards.Charactersinvestigateseveralhorridmurderswhereprospectivewinning youthswerekilled.Cultsfeudoverwhohasbrokentheirdeal.Encountermultiplecultistgroupsoutforblood. Powerfuloldlechersmaypersuingathletesmaybeviableredherrings.Provideademoofmanycultsactive.Partly inspiredbynotoriousOlympicdocumentary. OtherPulpandHeroicAdventures Anyotherpulpadventurescouldappearjustmoremultilingual Usenovel1984fortheUK. RobertWChambersfutureforNorthAmericaFilm­"DarkCity"worthalook IuseamythiclookingancientBabylonforthedreamlandsofmetropolis.Notunlikeintheunfinishedepic "deliverance".Lilith,Molochandotherancientforceshavebeendrawnhere.

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EPOCH:ANEXPERIMENTINHORRORGAMING byDaleElvy IhaverecentlypublishedEPOCHonDriveThruRPGandRPGNow.IthoughtI’dpauseforamomenttoreflectonthe journeythatledtothispoint(imaginesomewavylinesoneithersideofthescreen). ItallbeganinFebruary2010whenIdivedintoadiscussiononhorrorgamesonthevenerableGametimewebsite.In myrighteouspassionIsaid: “Myownphilosophyisthatifitistobedonesuccessfully,we musttakeapagefromhorrormovies,andtryandemploysimilar techniques.WithoutgoingintotoomuchdetailIbreakthese downinto: ­Playerbuy­inandempathy(throughadegreeofshared narration) ­Visualandaudioaids(notinamajorway­justtocover learningbases) ­GMgroundrulesandtimeoutzones ­Tablediscipline ­Systemreduction ­SharedCharacterdevelopment ­Identifiablesetting ­Identifiablesituationsandchoices ­Distanceclosingtechniques ­Disruptiveplayertechniques ­Increasingthestakeswith(almost)everysuccessivescene” ThislistbecamethecoreofmyHorrorManifesto,thetechniques whichIbelieved,ifdoneproperly,coulddeliveragenuinelytense suspensefulhorrorgameinasinglesession‘conenvironment. So,whythendidittakemenearly3yearstodrawthistogether intoEPOCH?Wellbesidesallthereal­lifeconsiderations,Ineededtotestmyideas.Usingdifferentgamesand settingsIstartedtoexperimentwithavarietyoftechniques. Istartedwithcharactercreation.Irealisedaround2010thatmanyofmypre­generatedcharactersthatIwassovery proudof,usedsimilarelementstostimulateconflictanddrama.Therefore,Iwondered,couldthoseelementsbe isolated,andassignedrandomlytocharacters?Itestedthiswiththesuperherogenrefirst,andfoundthatpeoplereadily graspedtheelements,andwovethemintoclevercombinationsI’dneveranticipated,butIalsonotedthattheinitial establishmentofthecharacterwasparticularlychallengingforsomeplayers.Playersneededtoeaseintotheir characters,andallowedthespacetoweavetheelementstogether.Sothat’swhat'sinEPOCH Mysuperherogamesalsohelpedmetorealisethatastorybuiltaroundthecharactersismuchstrongerthanastory whichthecharactersencounter.IvanhadpreviouslyhelpedmewiththisconclusionwithmyWFRPgame,butseeing theeleganceofconcentratingaone­shotgamearoundthewaythecharactersdevelopandinteractwithoneanother,and thegameenvironmenthelpedmeseetheoftencompetingagendawrittenintomanyscenarios.Ratherthanhavethe playerstakeresponsibilityforthestory(asmanyindiegamesdo)Iwantedtobringthestorytothecharactersasmuch

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aspossibleinatraditionalformat(withouthavingpre­generatedcharacters).Itestedthistoo,andwhilealittlebumpy, itconvincedmethiswasaviablepropositionifthecharactersandplayerswereonboard. NextIwonderedjusthowmuchmoreimmersionagamecouldhaveifIexplicitlystatedmyaimstotheplayersbefore thegame,andsoughttheiragreementtochallengeeachothertomakeforamoreimmersivegame.Again,I experimentedandfoundthatplayerswerewillingtoembracethisconcept,andwhentheydidso,thegamegotthat muchbetter.ButIalsofoundthatitwasveryhardtosustainthisconcentrationforprolongedperiods.Justaswitha movieaudience,concentrationisoftenfragmentaryandshouldbe managedtoallownaturalrelaxation.SoIaddedthattoEPOCHas well. Ialsoponderedwhether‘combat’reallyservedmuchpurposeina ‘congame.AsGMIwasusuallymuchmoreinterestedinwhatthe costofacombatwastothecharacters,howtheyreconciled violence,orrespondedtoinjuries.Themechanicalresolutionstole toomuchtimefrommyone­shotsessions,andeventhemostbasic systemoftenservedasadistractionfromthegameimmersion.SoI decidedI’dpredeterminetheoutcomesofcombat,butlettheplayers determinewhatkindofinjuriesorpsychologicaltraumatheir characterssustained,andwhen. Ihadthoughtthisalonewasenough,buttalkingwithpeopleover theyears,Idiscoveredmanyplayers(althoughnotall)reallyliketo knowduringascenariohowtheiractionsmighthaveplayedout differently.Playersliketocomparenotesabouthowdifferent groupshadactedduringascenario–theylikedtofeelliketherewas meaningtotheircharactersactionsbeyondtheimpacttotheir characters.Iwasn’twillingtowalktoofardownthepathof investigativegames–GumshoeandCallofCthulhuhavetrodthis pathenough–andina‘conenvironmentinvestigativegamescango verybadlywrong.SoIusedasimplemechanicwhichwoulddictatehowhappy,orotherwisethefinalscenesofa gamewereforthesurvivingcharacters.Notallmyearlyreaderslikethis,butIwasverytakenwiththesymbolismofa GMliterallylayingalltheircardsonthetableatthebeginningofagame. ThenofcourseIhadtowritesomescenariostoillustratehowallthesethingswouldactuallyworkinpractise… Sothat’sanoverviewofsomeofthemajorelementsofEPOCH,andhowtheycametobeincluded.Itisagamewitha specificpurpose.It’snotagameforeveryone.Itisanexperimentinhorrorgaming.

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GAMMAGOBBLERS byChrisTamm AsmostofmyreadersareAmericanIvebeenbombedwiththanksgivingcheerbutluckilythankstoAmericanTVlots ofAustraliansknowmoreaboutUStraditionsandhistorythanourown.Butloveturkeysandhadsomeasmybest palsgrowingup.Untilweatethem. IgotMutantEpochbundlefromrpgdrivethroughandhavebeedigestingit.Ithasvariationtableforeachspeciesand lotsagoodies.Lotsofreallyhorriblemutantsincludingbugsizecritters.Itprobablyinfluencedmeabitfromheresay beforeIsawit.Probablywilldosoagain.Goodtoseeareallydensewellillustratedgamebookafterseeingtoomany overdesignedhardcoverswithlittlecontent. IhopetodosomemoreDnDstuffbutmyplayersenjoyinggammagamingatthemoment.Imtemptedtodomyown d1000mutationtablewithideasfromMutantepoch,1sted40k,gammaworldandothers.Stilllookingformyfantasy gamemapsfrom80s­90s.SohereissomeGammaGobblergoodnessfornowasimfeelinglazy.

Name:RidingGobblers Number:Wild2d6+5flock Morale:6(8male) HD:8d8+4 Armour:7 LandSpeed:12/900/18 MS2d6+2IN1d4+2 DX3d6+3CH2d4+1 CN3d6+2PS4d4+10(4d4+20male) Attacks:Peckorwingbuffet2d6orMalescan makeJumpingSpurCharge2d4+6whenclosing Mutations:seebelow Description:Ridinggobblersarestupidbut domesticatedridingbirdsmutatedfromturkeys usuallywhite,ginger,greyorwildhaveblack­ brownbrindlepatterned.Theyarealsodelicious buteatinglotsissleepinducing.Theyalsolay tastyeggs.Wildonestendtohangabouthuman settlementsanddon'tresistbeingfencedoffand tamedlikemanyothercreatures.Differentstrains withvariouscoloursandmutationsaboundwith localbreednames.Mostaretoofattoflybutthey canhopupto30mandliketorestintrees.Witha riderthisisonly10m.Maydonotoriouslystupidthingslikejumpinabarreltokeepoutofrainanddrown.Seekers oftenrideandfarmthemasdomanynewtribes.

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d50Commonvariants­usuallywholegrouphassameandcolours

1Intelligent­+2d6Int,33%chancecantalk 2ShockProne­iffailmoralerollfreezestillsourceoffeargone+1d20minutes 3Gasgeneration­ifscaredproduce2d6+3teargas­itisimmune 4Antlers­2d8extrahornattack 5GammaEye­canKOenemies 6RadiationEyes­zapfoeswithradiation 7Explodesondeathlikeachemaxgrenadier(seekerscankillthemwithoutthiseffect) 8ContagiousWattles­closeprolongedcontactdevelopswattledredfleshbubblesonrider 9Teleport­whenfailedmoraleteleporttosafetywithrider 10SonicBlast­superdestructivegobblernoises 11Fly­fullwings 12ExtraLegs­1d4+1extralegs+10%speedperleg­growbackifamputated(yummy) 13MetallicFeathers­AC4 14Cyborg­thermagraphicvision,eyeviewradioup­link,2weaponmounts 15Beserker­Ifthreatenedattacks+4hittillfoeorselfdead 16Laughterinducingpoisonlasts1d4hoursaftereating2d6+6intensity 17Unigobbler­asinglehornextraattack+1d10,poopcures1d3dam,lastsonly1day(d6/day) 18SenseMetal­gobblesandstrutsifwalksoverburiedmetal 19Altereddiet­eats1d61=plastic,2=metal,3=fleshonly,4=concrete,5­6=contaminatedwaste 20Inflatable­gobblerifenragedinflatesto4timessizeandfloatsawayasgasbagmutation 21Extraheads­1d3extraalertheadssleepinshifts,sometimestryrundifferentdirections 22Luminous­glowvariouscoloursatnightdependingonstrain 23Tentacles­1d4+2wattlecoveredpsuedopodsusedtofeedandgrappleattack 24Clusterbomblets­shoot1d6explosive2d6dampelletsfromwattlesaheadifsurprised 25Firebreather10mconeof4d6fireonceadayifdisturbed 26Sawwingslikebiologicalchainsaws3d6dam 27Formstelepathicbondswithkinorriders 28Dangersense­starttocluckwarningsifambushordangernear 29Turninvisibleiffailmoraleroll 30Poisonbeakintensity13paralysisvenomonbeak 31Wingswithfunctionalhands­toolusers 32Buildmoundsorrottingvegetationtohatchyoung(Australianbushturkeysdothis) 33Chameleonfeathers­aidsinhidingandcommunication 34Spitsgobsofacid2d6rangedattack25mrange 35Growsbigger,redder,beakglowswithheatifmad+2d6peck 36Shootsblackspinesfrombristlybeard,1d4shotsof1d6perround18mrange 37PrehensileSnood(danglythingonbeak)usesasahand­reachto6m 38X­rayvision­canseehiddenweaponsorenamies 39Razorspurs­spurattackwoundsbleed1hpperroundtilltreated 40Elongatingneck­canstretchto5mtofeedorspotdanger 41Hasabulgysingleeye 42Wattlecovered­redfleshylumpsallover­hideous 43Silencefield10mradiuswhennervousorcanbetrainedtoraise 44Aquatic­webbedfeetandcanswimlikeaduck 45Nolegs,floatsbyselfinflationwithgas,multipleselfhealinggaschambers 46Larger+1d6PS,CNand+4HD 47Radiationresistantbutmildlyradioactivepoop1d4intensity 48Fearaura­ifstartlesactivatesfearcloakintensity2d4+6mentalattackonceperencounter 49Extradelicious­addictiveintensity2d6+6toresistlifelongcravings 50Regenerates­1hpperround,maysurgicallyremovemeatandwillrecover

Gammagobblerstaketountrainedriderswellbutlooktoeachotherformorale­allrollingasagroup.Themayattack withmutationsifsurprisedorspooked.Atrainedridercanmakehisgobblersjump,attack,besilent,sitandcanuse theirweaponsunhinderedfromturkeyback.Atrainedridermakeshisgobblerfollowhisleadnotthegroup.Atrained gobblerridercanmakeaCHAchecktoswayallsurroundinggobblersinthecaravantonotpanic.Wildgobblers sometimesfollowpeoplehomeandhangabouttilltrapped.Tamedgobblerswithmissingridersheadtoanybeingsthat don'tlookscaryforhelp. MrGobblestheBonapartistambassadorisinvitedtodinnerwiththeseekersasguestofhonour.Hewillbesuretotell hiskinofthefriendlygreetinghereceived.

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ATASTEFORDIRTYSECRETS

byAlasdairSinclair Oneofthethingswhichhasoftenperturbedmealittleabouttheso­called"StoryGames"hasbeenhowtheyshyaway fromreallygettingtogripswiththemechanicsofthegenreformthey'regoingtotryandemulate. Forexample,AWildernessofMirrorsbringsontothetabletheconceptsofplanningamissionandControleliminating a"rogue"agent­butitneverevertalksaboutwhatkindsofthingshappenonaspymissionandwhythosethings happenthatway.Thismeansthatthegameistotallyflexiblebutitalsomeansthatunlessyoucanbringsubstantial genreunderstandingtothetableyourself,theresultantstorymaynotevenfallwithintherightgenre.Thegameworks bestinthehandsofpeoplewhopossiblydon'tevenreallyneedthesystemtobeginwith.Examplesaresurprisingly common,andIwouldincludetwoofmyfavouritegamesinthatset:ZombieCinemaandFiasco.Bothworkwellwith thepeopleIplaythemwithbecausewe'regenrefansfirstandforemost. Ontheotherendofthespectrum,probablythemajority,therearestorygamesthatfocusontheminutaeofprocedure. Theybreakdownthestoriestheywanttoemulateintosmallchunksandguideyoustep­by­step.Theseprocessesare theresultofstructuralforcesinsidethefiction.Gameswhichfocusontheprocessesare,inessence,recipebooksrather thanamanualsofprinciples.Theyallowyoutoreplicateanexperience,butnotnecessarilyunderstandwhythe experiencewasshapedthatway.Iwanttotalkabitmoreabouttwospecificgamesthatfallintothiscategory:ATaste ForMurderandDirtySecrets. BothofthesegamesareaboutcrimesandtheirsolutionandIoffersomeperspectivesneartheendonsolvingtheir specificgenrequestionsinadifferentwaylateron.Investigationisintendedtoserveasanexampleofamoregeneral problemwheregamemechanicsarenotexplicitlytiedtofictiveoutcomes,oraretiedtothem,butnotinawaywhich explainswhythefictionisstructuredthatway.Thereisprobablynogamethatismoreriddledwiththesethanearly iterationsofDungeonsandDragons.Considersuchasthedifficultyofrationalizingweaponrestrictionsinsidethe fiction.EGaryGygaxoffersnousefuladviceonwhyaMagicUsercan'tpickupaswordinadesperatesituationand runsomeonethrough,therulessimplyconstrainthefictionandleavetheplayerstofigureoutwhy.Investigationisan easiergenretotryandtacklebecauseitismoreconsistentlyformulaic,andthereareover100yearsofliterarycriticism oftheoriginatinggenretodrawonintacklinghowthegamesshouldorcouldwork. ATasteForMurderandDirtySecretsaregamesthattryandevadethecentralquestionposedinalldetectivefiction: Whodunnit?Bothgamesexplicitlywantthistobeunresolveduntilthelastpossiblemoment,whenitisresolvedbythe mechanicsandthenpost­rationalizedbytheplay­group.Normallyindetectivefiction,"Whodunnit"isapproached through3differentandcontra­balancedquestions:Motive,Means,andOpportunity.Thesearethebasicstory­ mechanicalentitiesinplay,andthebasisofalmostallclassicaldetectivefictionisthatoneofthesethingsisnever directlystated,butmustberationallydeduced. Thismirrorstherevelationsinaclassicaldetectivestory,wherethemurdererisunmaskedamidstagatheringofthe suspects.Thereisanotherentiretraditioninthegenre,ofshowingtheexecutionofthecrimeandthenfocusingonthe unraveling.ThefamoususeofthistechniquebyColumbopromptedMalcomCraigtosuggestthisasapossible solutionin2007withtheworkingtitleof"Columboism"[http://gametime.livejournal.com/42287.html]Theapproach takenbythesetwogamesistheopposite.Insteadofeveryoneknowingthemurdereratthestart,nobodydoes,and indeed,everycharacterisSchroedinger'sMurderer:there'snowaytoknowuntilyoucrankallthewaythroughtothe endofthesystemandopenthebox. ATasteForMurderisstructuredintwodistinctstoryphases.Inthefirstthegroupestablishesthefamilialrelationships

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withtheinstructiontotheplayerstomaketherelationshipsdysfunctional.Avictimisthenselectedandthatplayer becomestheinspector,who"investigates"thevariousremainingcharacters,allofwhomareencouragedtorevealdeep darksecretsthatwouldmotivatethemurder.Afteracharacterhasbeen"investigated"enoughtimes,withsuccessful escalationoftheirmotivesformurder,thecriminalisrevealed. Thisevasionofthecentralquestionseemslikeaneatcircumventionofthewell­knownproblemswithinvestigative games.Insteadoftediouslypiecingtogetherclues,yousimplydecidewho'sguiltyandthenreconcileeverything. However,onafundamentallevelofstorystrucutrethisevasionmeansthatthesetwogamesleaveonlythesurface appearanceofthegenreintact.Inorderforthisapproachtowork,thegamemustinherentlyviolatealmostallofthe famous"RulesofDetection"thatlurkinthestorymechanicsofmostofthe"GoldenAge"fiction. TheserulesweremostcogentlyandclearlysetoutbyRAustinFreemanandWillardWrightwritingasS.S.van Dyne's,bothinTheArtoftheDetectiveStory,editedbyHowardHaycraft.Bothadvocatestronglyforthecore principlesof"ratiocination"(i.e.logicaldeduction)andseethegenreasentirelybasedaroundtheconceptofequalizing theinformationaccessibletothedetectiveandthereader.Theseprinciplesarethrownoutonthesimplebasisthatthere isnologicalprocessfordeterminingtheguiltyparty. Whatthatmeansisthatinsidethefictioncreatedbythesegames,wenolongerneedtoreallyaddressthethree principalquestionsofdetectivefiction.Theactionofthegamecanthusbenominally"investigative"butthe investigationisactuallyirrelevant.Itcanbecompletelyimpossibletosolvethecrimeinfictionalterms:withoutthe arbitraryandirrevocableinterventionofthesystem,ambiguitycouldalwaysremain.Thatmakesthestoriesinherently unsatisfyingasmysteries­itshuntsthegamesfirmlyintoanotherinterestinggenre,themelodrama,wherethe revelationsandcounter­revelationsaregivenimpetusbyamurder. Ithinkthisisreinforcedbytheplayadviceafterthemainrules,whichisallabouttheinterpersonalrelationshipsand perioddetail.Formethough,thisbegsthequestionofthegame'sexistence.WhywouldIplayagamecalledATaste forMurderformydoseofmelodramaandinterpersonalstrife? DirtySecretstakesaquitedifferentapproach,andinalotofwaysisevenmoredifficulttousetocreateasatisfying crimestory.ThemaindifficultyisthatwhereATasteForMurdercallsforacollaborative"and"approachto improviseddetail,DirtySecretsactivelyandenthusiasticallycallsforblockingandobstructionateveryturn.Itisthe mostadversarialgameI'veeverreadandafterseveralattemptsweeventuallyhadafungamewithitbybasically disregardingalltheplay­styleadvice.Itdoesredeemitselfthoughbymentioningthekeyphrase"TheoryoftheCrime." Whatitsaysisthatineveryscene,eachplayershouldhaveatheoryofwhodidit,whyandhow,andbeworkingto insinuatefactswhichsupporttheirtheoryintothegame. Itgiveslittleguidanceonwhatthistheoryshouldlooklike­whatarethemovingparts,whataretheconstraints­butit doesmentionit.Onceyouasagroupdecidethattheadversarialaspectisn'tnecessary,andcollaborateonthetheoryof crime,movingtheconflictsintothefictionratherthanaroundthetable,thegamedoesproduceafictionally­functional crime,inasmuchasyouarecapableofitbasedonyourunderstandingofgenre. Isitpracticaltodemandanygenre­emulatinggametoalsofunctionasapoeticsforthatgenre?DoweneedATaste ForMurderandDirtySecretstospelloutthepossiblecrimeschemas?Well­yes.Ithinkthatthereisatendency, exemplifiedbythesetwogames,totryandtreatthegamemechanicsandthefictiontheycreateseparately.Thetwoare usuallyexplainedinparrallel,encouragingthereadertoseethepointsofequivalence,butthereisastrongcausal relationshiptostory"anomalies"fromcertainmechanics.Whatwe'relookingforhereisastatementlike"XRule impliesYplayerbehaviour." InATasteforMurderalltheplayadviceisstructuredaroundthemelodrama,butthereisnospecificdiscussionofhow theneedtohavemotivesformurderwillshapethatmelodrama.Theadviceis"investigaterelationships,don't investigateclues."Butthereisn'tadiscussiononwhatkindofrelationshipisappropriatefortheneedsofthestory,

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otherthanitshouldbedark,andeventhatismostlyimplicitfromthetextonthecharactersheet. OnegamethatdoesintegratethefictionwiththeexperienceatthetablefairlywellisEPOCH.Itisbuiltaround explicitlycallingouttheeffectofcertainmechanicsonplayerbehaviour,andhenceonfictionaloutcomes.For example,whenyoursurvivalinsidethefictionreliesonyoubeinginteresting,thenyoumakethatefforttobe interesting.Intheplay­advice,EPOCHisoneoftheclearestgamesaroundforoutliningwhatwillactuallyhappenat thetable,andhowthegamemechanicspushthegametoturnoutthatway. Formymoneythen,westillneedabettermouse­trap.Forallthattherehavebeeninnovationsaroundthefield,the fundamentalproblemsthatexistwithinvestigation­basedgameshavenotbeenresolved.Themostfundamental problemistheconstructionofacrimewithsufficientcluesandsufficientrobustnesstoberesolvedadequately. ThevariousiterationsofGumshoeareoftendiscussedassolvingthisproblem,butIthinkthatwhiletheyhavesolved theproblemofinvestigationsstallingduetofaileddicerolls,noiterationthatI'vereadcutstotheheartofhowcrimes shouldbestructuredinfictionalterms. Ithinkit'sworthbeingupfrontinadmittingthatthisisaproblemwiththefictionalaswellasthegaminggenre.There aretwodifferentanswers­oneintheso­called"English"schoolAKA"FairPlayMethod"AKA"GoldenAge",and onefortheso­called"hardboiled"detective. Thefair­playgenre,thatalmostallinvestigativegameshaveastheirimplicitmodel,isbasedaroundtheprocessof outlininganumberoffacts(akaclues)someofwhichturnouttobefalse,andbycross­checkingallthevariousstories againsteachotheryouderivetheonetruesituation.Soinherentlythegenreisaboutpenetratinglies,anditisall­too­ easyforanauthor(andhence,aGM)to"unfairly"stackthedecksuchthatthemysterymighttechnicallybesolvable, butinpracticebeimpossible.Addingsupernaturalelementsintotheequationonlycompoundstheproblem. Totryandensurethatmysterieswere"fair",yougetlistsofrulesliketheonescitedabove.VanDyne'srulesconstrain thetypeofcrimeandcriminalquiteclosely.Freemanandothersallowedmorefreedom,butatthecore,allofthem wantedthecluestobeplainlyandcompletelystatedassuch,andforthosecluestofittogetherinalogicalpatternfor thecrime.IthinkthattheGMmustatleastmanagethatmuch­apuzzlewithsufficientclues,whichareapparenttothe readerasclues.Atthatpoint,asolutionisatleastpossible.Inconceptualterms,IthinkthatisasfarasGumshoe usuallytakesus.Atthispoint,itisstillveryeasyforsomethingthattheGMbelievesisobvioustobeallbut incomprehensibletohisplayers. Wemustrefinetheconceptofwhataclueactuallyisinfictionalterms.Atthemostbasiclevelyoumustdealwiththe threekeyquestions:motive,meansandopportunity.Inpracticalterms,mostGoldenAgefictionisorientedtowards untanglingtheverycomplexmeansandopportunityforthemurder,withmotivesoftenbeingfairlynominal­youcan alwaysdefaultbacktogreedasacatch­allmotivation.Meansandopportunityarethetworationalpartsoftheequation ­they'resimplyfactualentities,andsoeasytodealwithfictively. TheGMneedstolookateveryoneoftheir"clues"andaskthemselveswhichofthesethreemajorquestionsis answeredbytheclue.Doesthecluepointtoameans?Doesitpointtoamotive?Doesitpointtoanopportunity?Ifnot ­thenit'snotaclue;atbestit'salinkinascavengerhuntorapointertowherearealclueishidden.Amysterythen needsaminimumof3clues,oneforeachofthebigquestions,andthatisthecriticalelementthatneedstobediscussed ingame­structuringadvice. ForRPGsthesethreethingsneedtoberelativelysimpleincomparisontothefiction.Ialmostalwaysusetelevisionas aguideforwhatcanhappeninanRPG.Fora3hoursession,Iexpecttogetaboutthesameamountofstoryand informationasina40minuteAmericanTVepisode.Orbetteryet,anepisodeofScoobyDoo.Inthatcontext,strictures likevanDyne'slimitof1killermakealotofsense.

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Lookingatthestorymechanicsinthisway,wecanseethatATasteforMurderassumesthateveryonehasameansand opportunity,andsofocusesexclusivelyonmotive.Itisthusprettymuchaninversionofthefocusofadetectivefiction. Andthatmakesalotofsensefromthepointofviewofstructuringagame,sincethatisthehumancomponent,andthe componentwearebothnaturallymostinterestedinandbestabletodealwithintermsofcreatingafiction.Asaresult ofthefocusonmotive,thetextisalmostsilentonthosetwobigquestionsofMeansandOpportunity.Thatiswhyit wantsyoutoinvestigaterelationshipsinsteadofclues,butitneedstocomerightoutandsaythat.Thisisaconstraint onthefiction:youcannotcreateanyaspectofthefictionwhicheliminatesyouastheguiltypartyonthebasisof lackingmeansorlackingopportunity.Bypre­settingthose,younowatleastguaranteeafictionthatwhenitis arbitrarilyresolved,makessense.Ifyouwanttobesophisticatedaboutit,youcancreatetheappearanceoflacking meansorlackingopportunity,butyoumustalwaysacceptthatfactswillberevealedwhichdispellthismisconception. Hardboileddetectivestookanotherapproachentirely,whichwastohaveaverysimplepuzzlewhosesolutioncreateda problematicsituation.Thedramathencomesfromlivingwiththecrime,ratherthansolvingit.Thisisonereasonwhy itisclaimedtobe"morerealistic"eventhoughitispatentlynot. ThereisperhapsnoclearerfictionalexamplethanTheMalteseFalcon.SamSpadeknowsthesolutiontotheformal problemalmostimmediately,andthenspendsthebulkofthenoveltryingtodecidewhattodoaboutit.Most hardboilednovelsresolvenotthroughacarefulrecitationoffacts,buttheinherentlyunstablesituationcreatinga cascadeofscenesuntiltheguiltyareplayedout.Investigationisstillanimportantpartoftheequation,butthefictions arebuiltaroundtheconceptthathumandramaismoreimportantthanpuzzlesolving.Thisisparticularlyevidentinthe worksofDashiellHammettandRaymondChandler;laterhardboiledwritersbecamemoreandmoreadeptat integratingtheiressentiallymelodramaticstorieswithaclue­puzzlecomplex.Forexample,RossMacdonaldcanbe readandenjoyedineithermode. ThisisafarbettertacktotakewithRPGs,becauseithasno"failure"mode(i.e.notsolvingthemystery)andhasthe possibilityofnumerousdifferentpossibleoutcomes.

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TUNNELS&TROLLSBESTIARYA­E byKarlD.Brown Thisisthethirdofaseriesofarticlesfor5theditionTunnels&Trolls,thefirstappearedinRPGReview12andthe secondinissue15.Eachwillprovidesomehouserulesand/oraselectionofmonstersinalphabeticalorder. AirElemental MRvaries Dicevaries Addsvaries NaturalWeapons:blastsofairaretheweaponsofanairelemental.Theelementalcandivideitsdiceintoattacksasitpleases.The attacksalldophysicaldamageofbluntorrendingtypes. NaturalArmour0despitebeingmadeofairblowsdisrupttheirinternalairflowsinjuringthem.Thatthisdoeslittledamageis coveredbytheirlargeCON. SpecialAttacks:ifanelementalhassufficientstrength(STx10isgreaterthanthemassinpoundsofthevictimandhergear)tolifta characterthenitcancapturetheminturbulencepowerfulenoughtocantearsomeoneapart.Treatasanormalattackexceptshields areineffectiveandthecharactermustsaveonluckattheelementalsMR/10rounddownorbethrownprone,battered,anddizzy unabletotakeanyfurtheractionsopportunisticorinitiatedfortherestoftheround. Iftheelementalhassufficientstrength(STx5isgreaterthanthemassinpoundsofthevictimandhergear)toliftacharacterintothe airanddropthemforfallingdamage. SpecialDefences:immunetopoisons,invisible. ST12+0.25*MRIQ10(x1)LK18+0.25*MRCONequaltoMR DEX3(x0.25)theyhavesufficientcontroltohurlbluntweaponsandstones CHRequalto¼xMRSP12(x1)(constantlyflies) Size:onecubicyardperMR.Arefereeusingminiaturescanrepresentthiswithaseparate1yardsquarepieceofpaperforevery 1MR. Weightnegligible StartingAge:NA Oldat:NA AsconjuredbytheAir,Earth,FireandWaterspell.Theyareinvisiblebutifadetectmagiciscasttheyappearasa‘blob’of insubstantialmagicthatcanextendthickpseudopods(1yarddiameter).IfattackedbyanEarthelementalthereisarushofwind carryingbillowingdustandbotharedestroyed. ApeFolk MR120:30Dice7Adds60 NaturalWeapons:Twofists3deachandonebitefor1d NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST60(x6)IQ10(x1)LK25(x2.5)CON30(x3)DEX8(x0.8)CHR8(x0.8)SP10(x1) Heightx8/10Weightx1StartingAge:3d+8Oldat:60 Apefolklooklikechimpanzeesasbigasahumanthatwalkupright.Thoseunfamiliarwiththemareoftensurprisedbythestrength theypossess,theapefolkpackmuchmoremuscleandboneintotheirbodiesthanhumans.Extramuscleandbonealsoprotectsvital organsincreasingtheiralreadysubstantialtoughness.Apefolkweargarishcolouredclothing.Apefolkareastechnologically advancedashumansbutdonotminesomakelessuseofmetals(whichtheygetmostlyfrombogironandtrade).Theybuildtree­top townsinthedensestjunglesploughinguptheundergrowthandplantingcropsandgrazinggoats.Apefolkareclannish;thelargest politicalgrouptheyareabletoorganiseistownsofabout300adultsandanequalnumberofslavesofotherkin.Apefolkrespect strength;theirtownsareledbythestrongestwarriorsandtheyviewmostotherkinasinferiorweaklings.Thesesocialand technologicaldisadvantageshavepreventedthemfromexpandingtheirdomains.Apefolkarenotevilbuttheirmoodsareextreme andmercurialtheycanexhibithowlinglaughter,murderousrageandparalysinggriefwithinminutesofeachother.Apefolkspeak theirownlanguage,anadvancedversionofSimian,thoseknowingthelowtongueofSimianunderstandApeFolkaboutaswellasa

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threeyearold.Manyalsoknowcommon. Asp MR5Dice1Adds2 NaturalWeapons:achillingtouch1d. NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttackspoison4xdamagefrombitebeforeaddsbutaftervictimsarmouraspermainrulessection1.52.5 SpecialDefencesnil ST2(x1/5)IQ1(x1/10)LK30(x3)CON5(x0.5)DEX0(x0CHR­4(x­1/2)SP12(x1)(halfthisonland) Heightx1/3Weightx1/650StartingAge:1d/2Oldat:6 AmoretypicalsmallpoisonoussnakethanthelargerserpentssummonedbytheSerpent(MagicFangs)spell.Thepoisonis proportionallymoretoxicthanthatofmanylargersnakes.Anaspcan‘see’indarknessusingvibration,scentandheat. Asrai MR6Dice1Adds3 NaturalWeapons:achillingtouch1d. NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST10(x1)IQ16(x1.5)LK14(x1.5)CON6(x0.5)DEX13(x1.5)CHR19(x2) SP12(x1)(halfthisonland)Heightx11/10Weightx1 StartingAge:3d+50Oldat:200 Theasraiareafaeriekinnativetotheseasofcoldortemperateregions.Anasrairesemblesanelfwithwebbedhandsandfeet,and skinsocolditstouchburns.Theyareperfectlyadaptedtothecoldwaterstheycallhomeandgenerallygonaked.Asraitakedouble damagefromheatandfirebasedattacksorhostileconditions.Asraicanbreatheonlysaltwaterandsogenerallydon’tmakegood playercharacters.Mostasraispeakonlytheirownlanguage,aversionofElvish. Bear,Huge MR258Dice26Adds129 NaturalWeapons:bite10d,twoclaws8d, NaturalArmour5thickfur SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST150(x15)IQ4(x0.5)LK8(x1)CON258(x26)DEX0(x0) CHR­6(x­0.5).Whileanimalsandnotmonstershugebearsaresolitary,easilyenragedandhavereputationstomatch.Theyare poorleaders SP8(x1)Heightx1.5 Weightx10StartingAge:3d+4Oldat:30 Thiscategoryincludeslargebrownbears,grizzlybearsandpolarbears.‘Dancingbears’andtheliketendtobesmallervarietiesthan this.Asharpsenseofsmellenablesthemtotracklikeahound.Hugebearsareincrediblystrong:abletokillacowwithasingle blowanddragitbacktotheirlair.Hugewere­bearsdoexisttheycanberepresentedbyPCswhostartaspera‘largebear’andgain levelsratherthanusingthistemplate.Suchacharacterreliesonpersonaladdsratherthangainingmoredicetomatchthistemplate andshouldchooseahighstartingweightandsize. Bear,Large MR36Dice4Adds18 NaturalWeapons:bite2d,twoclaws2d, NaturalArmour5thickfur SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST40(x4)IQ4(x0.5)LK8(x1)CON36(x3.5)DEX0(x0)

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CHR­6(x­0.5).Whileanimalsandnotmonsters,bearsaresolitary,andcanbebadtempered. SP9(x1)Heightx1Weightx2StartingAge:3d+4Oldat:30 Thiscategoryincludessmallerbrownbearsandblackbears.‘Dancingbears’andtheliketendtobesmallervarietiesthanthisbut largebearscansometimesbeputtothisuse.Asharpsenseofsmellenablesthemtotracklikeahound.Were­bearPCsusuallyuse thistemplate. Thosethatwishtobebrownbearsandaspiretobecomehugebearsastheyriseinlevelsmayhaveamax.STof4xstartingST(i.e. 16xstartinghumanST)whileinbearformonly.Whileinbearformtheymustadd5poundsofweightand1/3”ofheightforevery1 STgainedbyexperienceandperhapshaveahighstartingST,weight,andsize.Asthecharacterbulksupanyoldgearandclothing fittedtothebearformwillbecometoosmall.Youneedonlyworryaboutthefollowingifyourcharacterhassuchgear.After20ptof SThasbeenaddedtheymustadjustgearetc.forSizeandWeightmodifiersofx1.1andx3forthebearform.After40ptofSThas beenaddedtheymustadjustbeargearetc.forSizeandWeightmodifiersofx1.25andx4.After60ptofSThasbeenaddedthey mustadjustgearetc.forSizeandWeightmodifiersofx1.3andx6.After80ptofSThasbeenaddedtheymustadjustgearetc.for SizeandWeightmodifiersofx1.4andx8.After100ptofSThasbeenaddedtheymustadjustbeargearetc.forSizeandWeight modifiersofx1.5andx10. Boar MR32Dice4Adds16 NaturalWeapons:Gorewithtusks4d NaturalArmour2thickcoarsehairandhide SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST36(x3.5)IQ4(x0.5)LK11(x1)CON32(x3)DEX0(x0) CHR­5(x­0.5).Whileanimalsandnotmonstersboarscanbebadtempered,andhaveareputationforthis. SP14(x1.5)Lengthx1Weightx1.7StartingAge:x1/15Oldat:15 Representingwildboarsbutalsowarthogsandotherporcinebeasts.Fordomesticpigsincreasetheweighttox2andreplacethe gorewithasimplebodyslamfor4d.Wereboarsaregenerallystubborncurmudgeons,butalsoverybrave. Brute MR80Dice9Adds40 NaturalWeapons:twotoughenedfistsdominanthand5d,offhand4d NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST55(x5.5)IQ5(x0.5)LK7(x0.5)CON80(x8)DEX6(x0.5)CHR7(x0.5) SP8(x1)Heightx2Weightx10StartingAge:3d+10Oldat:50 Appearinglikeahugebulkyhumanthislessersortofgiantisnotevilbynaturebutcanbefoundworkingforalmostanyone anywherebrutestrengthwithoutfinesseisneeded. Cat MR10:5Dice2Adds5 NaturalWeapons:bite1d,claw1d NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST3(x1/2)IQ4(x½)LK32(x3)CON5(x½)DEX0(x0)CHR10(x1) SP20(x2)Lengthx2/7(notincludingtail)Weightx1/57StartingAge:x1/15Oldat:12 Thesestatisticsareforacommondomesticcatoronegoneferal.Smallwildcatspeciescouldalsousetheseattributes.Catweresare rarebutnotunknownintheWest,theyaremorecommoninorientallandswheretheyareknownasakindofhengeyokai.

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Carp MR4Dice1Adds2 NaturalWeapons:Biteortail­slap,eitherdoes1d. NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST6(x0.5)IQ1(x1/10)LK26(x2.5)carparehardtohitandconsideredluckyinsomecultures CON4(x1/2)DEX0(x0)CHR1(x1/10) SP10(x1)Height/Lengthx2/5Weightx1/5StartingAge:x1/7Oldat:30 Thecommoncarpisaverylargefresh­waterfishthatisasuitablepreyitemforhungryadventurers.Brightlycolouredcoicanbe foundintheornamentalpondsofmanypalaces.Carphengeyokai(oriental‘weres’)areoftentheguardiansofrivers.Themain advantageofbeingashapeshifterwhobecomesafishisnotincombatbuttheabilitytoexploreunderwaterwithease. Centaur MR32Dice4Adds16 NaturalWeapons:Fourkicksfor1deach. NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST28(x3)IQ9(x1)LK10(x1)CON32(x3)DEX10(x1)CHR7(x0.5)mostareboisterousandcarousing. SP26(x2.5)Height/Lengthx1.5Weightx6.5StartingAge:3d+8Oldat:55 Thesecreaturesareparthuman,parthorse;apttocausetroubleifgivenwine. CuSidhe MR40Dice5Adds20 NaturalWeapons:bite3d,twoclaws1deach NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST20(x2)IQ6(x½)(max9)LK37(x2.5)CON20(x2)DEX0(x0)CHR10(x1)SP20(x2) Lengthx½withouttailWeightx½StartingAge:2d+10Oldat:50 Cusidhe(pronouncedcooshee)arefeyhounds.Theyarelargehoundsofhighqualitywithwhitehair.Cusidhespeakthelow tongueofcaninebutsomehavealittleunderstandingoftheelftonguethoughtheycannotshapewordsthemselves.Likethegreat apes,cusidhewalkthelinebetweenbeastandthinkingkin.Thoughcusheeattributesaresuitableforuseasawere,nowere­cu sidhehaveeverbeenreported. Dog,Medium MR10Dice2Adds5 NaturalWeapons:bite2d NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST10(x1)IQ4(x½)LK25(x2.5)CON10(x1)DEX0(x0)CHR10(x1) SP20(x2)Lengthx1/3withouttailWeightx1/3StartingAge:x1/16Oldat:10 Theseattributescouldbeusedtorepresentcommondomesticdogsortypicalwilddogs. DogweresarerarebutnotunknownintheWest,theyaremorecommoninOrientallands. Dog,Large MR20Dice2Adds8

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NaturalWeapons:bite3d NaturalArmour0 SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST18(x2)IQ4(x½)LK27(x2.5)CON20(x2)DEX0(x0)CHR10(x1) SP20(x2)Lengthx½withouttailWeightx½ StartingAge:x1/16Oldat:10 DogweresarerarebutnotunknownintheWest,theyaremorecommoninOrientallands.

Dragon MR250Dice26Adds125 NaturalWeapons:bite8d,twoclaws4d,tailslap10d NaturalArmour25 SpecialAttacks:Fierybreathonceevery5combatturnsseebelowrange30’(5’widejet)doing26d+addsdamage.Theactof breathingflameisstrenuous,morelikevomitingthanbreathingout,andthedragoncaninitiatenootheractionthatcombatturn. Treatasamissileweaponagainsttheprimarytargetexceptthatsincetheblastis5’acrossthesavetohitisonelevellower(anduse LKnotDEX)andtherolltododgeonelevelhigher.Sincethedragonsneckislongandflexibletheheightandanglemeansthat secondarytargetsinthatlookliketheyareinthepathofthejetofflamemaymoreeasilyavoiditrolltohittheseatonelevelhigher andtheirdodgeatonelevellower.Ofcoarsesituationsmayalterthis,forexamplecharacterspackedintoa5’wideby6’high corridorshouldallbetreatedasprimarytargets. SpecialDefencesnil.Despitetherumoursdragonsaresusceptibletopoison. ST137(x13.5)IQ50(x5)LK10(x1)CON250(x25)DEX3(x0.5)max4.CHR­65(x­6.5) SP20(x2)abletofly,runandswimatthisspeed. Lengthx5.Theneckisaboutaquarterofthisandthetailaccountsforathirdoflength.Wingspanisthesameaslength.Weight x125 StartingAge:3d+100Oldat:200 Dragonvenompoisonisamisnomeritisextractedfromthetailsofwyverns.Despitetherumoursdragonsaresusceptibletopoison. Drake MR2Dice1Adds1 NaturalWeapons:bite1d,twoclaws0d,tailslap0d NaturalArmour1 SpecialAttacks:Fierybreathonceevery5combatturnsseebelowrange5’(1”widejet)doing1d+addsdamage.Theactof breathingflameisstrenuous,morelikevomitingthanbreathingout,andthedrakecaninitiatenootheractionthatcombatturn. SpecialDefencesnil. ST2(x0.25)IQ12(x1)LK24(x2.5)CON2(x0.25)DEX2(x0.25)max4.CHR­1(x­0.1) SP18(x2)abletofly,runandswimatthisspeed. Lengthx0.5Theneckisaboutaquarterofthisandthetailaccountsforathirdoflength.Wingspanisthesameaslength.Weight x0.125 StartingAge:3d+10(butagingbeginsat118years)Oldat:200 Adrakeisanimmaturedragonaboutthesizeofalargecat.Thereproductivestrategyofdragonsresemblesthatofcrocodiles.The motherwatchesoverthenestandtheveryyounghatchlingsbutthenloosesinterest.Thehatchlingsthemselvesarebornactiveand vigorousimmediatelyabletohuntforthemselvesandsoonafterarelivingindependently.Thoughnotfullgrownthedrakehas survivedtheperilousperiodofbeingahatchlingandhascomparablelifeexperiencetoayouthbutismoreself­reliant.After reachingdrake­hooddragonsgrowsporadicallyinresponsetostress. VerydaringrefereesmayallowdrakesasPCs.Drakesbeginningadventuringhaveweakerattributesthanotherkinbutdohave naturalarmourandweapons,canbreathfire,swimandfly.Initiallydrakesarea‘specialability’kindofcharacterratherthana ‘combatmachine’thishoweverchangesathigherlevels.PCdrakesareanewtype.Theydon’tgainextraprotectionfromarmouror spells,insteadtheirnaturalabilitiesimprove.ThisisfortunatesincedrakeDEXandSTpreventsuseofmosttoolsandweapons.A drake’sfore­talonsonlybarelyfunctionashands,experiencemayneverraiseadrake’sDEXover4.Dragonarmourisalsounheard of.NotedownstartingCON.ForeverytenCONaddedbyexperiencethedrakegets:oneextradietoaddtoanaturalweapon(the

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maximumnumberofdiethatcanbeaddedtoweaponsisthediceusedbydragonsforthatweapon);naturalarmouralsoimproves 1pt;similarlyfierybreathgains1d,another1’ofrangeand1”ofwidth.Whenthejetoffireis3’acrossitbecomeshardertododge asperadragon.MaximumSTforadrakeis150regardlessofstartingvalue.ExperiencemayneverraiseSTtomorethancurrent CON(notinitialCON)andCONmayneverberaisedhigherthanmorethantwicecurrentST.Onthedownsideandallincreasesin adrake’spowersarelinkedtogrowth,eventuallysizebecomesinconvenient.Thelengthofolderdrakes(atsecondlevelandhigher) andmaturedragonswillbeatleastinchesequalto(squarerootST)x30andmassatleastSTsquared.Tofindthemultiplierfor equippingthecharacterwithscaledgear(fromaftertheirfirstgrowthspurt)divideheightby66inchesandmassby170pounds(if over5xroundup).Minimumscalingmultipliersforheightandweightare0.5and0.125respectively,raiseifbelowthesevalues. However,ittakesalongtimeforadragontoreachitsfullsize(theDragonlistingaboveisroughlyequivalenttoa45thlevel character). DreadBeasts Thesewerenormalanimalsthatthemonstergodsorevilwizardsthoughthadpotential,suchaswolvesandbats,andsowerewarped intoferocious,evilandcunningversionsoftheirformerselves.Theoffspringofthesewarpedbeastshavebecomenewandterrible species.Dreadbeastsareabout3.5xthemassand1.5xthesizeoftheirnormalcounterparts,havesemi­intelligence(IQ8)and2.5x thenormalMR.Anygaineddicearegenerallyaddedtothemostpowerfulattack.Whengivenfullstatisticsgenerallypriorityis giventoincreasingSTandCONthentheotherattributes.Giventheseguidelinesallmannerofdreadbeastcanbecreated.Foran exampleseedreadwolf. Duck MR2Dice1Adds1(­2inflightand­7onland). NaturalWeapons:peck1d,rememberminimumafter‘adds’is1pt. NaturalArmour2feathers SpecialAttacksnil. SpecialDefencesnil ST1(x0.1)IQ2(x0.2)LK31(x3)halfthisintheair(15),¼thisonland(8).CON2(x0.2)DEX0(x0)max0 CHR5(x0.5) SP20(x2)halfthisinwater,¼thisonlandLengthx1/6 Weightx5/1000StartingAge:x1/35Oldat:16 Duckshavetheadvantageofbeingabletomovethroughtheair,inthewateroronlandandenjoynaturalarmourandwaterproofing fromtheirfeathers.Theycanalsoliveoffthelandbyeatingavarietyoffoodsincludingpondweed,snails,andwormsofallkinds. Somevarietieshavedecorativeplumage,suchasthemandarin.Onthedownsideducksarebluntandtasty.Playersconsideringduck hengeyokai(oriental‘weres’)shouldweighupalltheseprosandconsbeforecommitting. Eagle,Giant MR24Dice3Adds12 NaturalWeapons:bite1d,twoclaws1deach. NaturalArmour8fromfeathers SpecialAttacks:nil SpecialDefencesnil ST26(x2.5)IQ10(x1)LK18(x2)CON24(x2.5)DEX0(x0),max.1CHR­20(x­2)not‘evil’butsolitaryandwithfewsocial instincts SP40(x4)abletoflyatthisspeedbutactonlandat1/16thofthis Heightx1.5(wingspanisdoubleheight)Weightx4.5 StartingAge:3d+10Oldat:80 Gianteaglesliveapartfromtheworldofhumansandotherkininthedeepestforestsandhighestmountains.Theyaresolitary creatureslivingthelifeofawildpredatorbutareasintelligentashumans.Amongthemselvestheeaglesspeakanadvancedformof Avian.ThosespeakingnormalAviancanunderstandEagleaboutaswellasathreeyearold. EarthElemental MRvariesDicevariesAddsvaries

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NaturalWeapons:attacksresembleearthquakesandrockslides.Theelementalcandivideitsdiceintoattacksasitpleases.The attacksalldophysicaldamageofblunt,crushingkind. NaturalArmour0ThatthisblowsdothemlittledamageiscoveredbytheirlargeCON. SpecialAttacks:ifanelementalhassufficientstrength(STx10isgreaterthanthemassinpoundsofthevictimandhergear)tolifta characterthenitcanengulfthemdoingcrushingdamageandpreventinganyfurtheractionbythevictimunlesstheyfirstbeatthe elementalinaconfrontationalSTRsavetobreakfree.Anengulfedcharacterbeginstosuffocate.Atacostof1CONperpoundthe earthelementalcancreatethenhurlboulders. SpecialDefences:immunetopoisons. ST130.25*MRIQ10(x1)LK12+0.25*MRCONequaltoMRDEX2(x0.25)theyhavesufficientcontroltohurlbluntweapons andstones.CHRequalto¼xMR SP8(x0.75)abletomoveoverthesurfaceoftheearthorswimthroughitenablingittopassthroughstoneandearthenwallsand floors.Size:amoundwitharadiusandhieghtofoneyardper10MR. Weight1tonperMRStartingAge:NAOldat:NA AsconjuredbytheAir,Earth,FireandWaterspell.Appearsasamoundingupoftumblingstoneandearth.Ifattackedbyanair elementalthereisarushofwindcarryingbillowingdustandbotharedestroyed. Elephant,Huge MR952Dice96Adds476 NaturalWeapons:Trunkslap3d,Tusksgoreonce13d,slamand/ortrample forfourattacksdoing20deach. NaturalArmour7toughhide SpecialAttacksnil SpecialDefencesnil ST500(x50)IQ5(x½)LK5(x0.5)CON952(x95)DEX1(x1/8max3) CHR10(x1)impressiveandintimidatingbutalso‘ornery. SP12(x1)Heightx3.5long(x1.5tall)Weightx66(about5tonnes) StartingAge:3d+10Oldat:70 AbigelephantsuchasabullAfricanSavannahelephant.Wereelephants doexistbutarewellbeyondtherealmofstartingplayercharacters.

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CONSOLEGAMEREVIEW:DWARFS byMattLindus Website:http://dwarfs­game.com/ Ihadn'theardofthisgameatalluntilitwasonaSteamadasFreetoPlay(F2P),soIgrabbeditandhadalook.WhatI foundwasawonderfullittlemininggame,withincreasingriskovertimetothesurvivaloftheDwarvernpopulation. IntheF2Pformofthegame,youarerestrictedtotheEasyandNormaldifficultyofArcademode(themaingame form),andtheTutorialandChallenges.IboughtthefullversionaftercompletingtheNormaldifficultyonthe60 minutesettingwhenIsawitaspartoftheSteamSales.$4gotmetheHardandHardcoredifficulties,andabunchof skirmishmodesandaBaseDefendgame(TowerDefense...).Moneywellspentinmyview. ThebasicArcadeversionofthegamestartswithasingleWarriorandasingleminerandabasebuilding.Asthegame goeson,yourbasebuildingcontinuestogenerateminersforyouandgenerally,they'reprettymindlessandjustwander andminethesurroundsautomatically.Theycanbecontrolledbylayingarrowsdownthattheywillfollow,butthe arrowsstayforawhileastheydegradeandcandirectmultipleminersandwarriorsiftheyhappentowanderoverthe arrow.Theywillrunacrosssomemineraldepositswhicharebetterthanjustminingthedirtarea.Theminerswillbe attractedtothissowillmineallofthemineralsbeforewanderingonwardstocontinueminingthedirt. Theywillalsofindundiscoveredcaveswhichcanbeveryrewardingtreasurecaves,empty,ordangerousanddeadly. Theycanhavewaterorlavawhichwillflowandkillanydwarvesthattheycomeacross.Theirflowcanbedelayedor stoppedbyplacingsomewallsordroppingsomedynamiteandhavingsomeonesuicideonittomakeahole.Thewater andlavacanbepreventedfrombeingre­releasedbysolidifyingthesurroundingdirt.Somewhatlesscontrollable,and varyinginlevelsofdanger,aretheminionsandbossesthatcanbefound.Thesearebesthandledwithyourwarriors, whichwhileyourbasecanprovidesomeforyou,youwillneedmore,soplacingoutpostsatappropriatelocationswill beveryhelpful.Theyalsocanprovidetrainingforsomewarriorsandsomemoreminersifyouneedorwantthem. TheSkirmishgamesvaryfromanendlessversionofthearcadegame,onewherethecavesarecompletelyhidden, ratherthanjustdarkenedareas.Thereisalsoafunlittlecarnivalgamewhereyouareadwarfthattossesaxesatmoving targetsmuchlikeatargetshootinggallery.Thetowerdefensegameisniceandsimple,butasafanoftowerdefense games,itisplayable,butnotmuchto it. Overall,theFreeversionisan absolutemustplay.Niceandlight, simplegameplay,andmostofall, fun.Canbeashort5minutegame, orawholehour.Alwaysgreatto havetheabilitytoplaythegame properlybeforebuyingitalso.Tryit, andifyoulikeit,buyyourselfacopy andhavefunwiththeharder difficulties.

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MOVIEREVIEW:VHS byAndrewMoshos dirs:MattBettinelli­Olpin, DavidBruckner,TylerGillett, JustinMartinez,Glenn McQuaid,JoeSwanberg, ChadVillella,TiWest,Adam Wingard Thispromopictureis scarierthanthismovie Blah.Terrible.Ananthology ofhorrorflicksashorribleas themediastorageformatthey replaced. Thereissomethingcreepy aboutvideofootage,yes, granted.Noneofthat,noneof itimprovesanyoftheflicksor theframingdeviceusedto situatetheseshort,mostly pointlessflicks.The graininessofthefootagedoesn’taddtotheatmosphereatall,itdoesn’timprovetheterribleframingdevice,anditalso doesn’tmakethatmuchsense,honestly. Asthis‘movie’starts,abunchofcreepyfratboycriminaltypescommitvariouscrimesandfilmthemselvesasthey’re committingthem.They’rerealscumbags,which,inthecontextofthehorrorgenre,isnotabadthing,becausewe knowthatthey’llgettheirsinhell,sotospeak.Theseshitbirdsarehiredbysomeonetobreakintoahouseandsteala videotape,inordertogivecontextandmeaningtotheirconstantfilmingofeverythingtheydo. Whentheygetintothehouseandstartcreepingaround,theyfindanoldguydeadinfrontofabunchoftelevisions,and stacksoftapesaroundthehouse.OnemoronatatimepopsatapeintotheVCRandstartswatching. Thefurtherconceitisthatthemoviesonthetapesthattheshmendrickswatch,whenwe’retheonesreallywatchingthe shortmovies,are‘real’,asin,foundfootage.Ohlook,I’mnotsayingthesethingsactuallyhappened;theseindividual shortflickswere‘directed’bymostoftheguyspretendingtobescumbagsatthebeginningoftheflick.Buttheconceit isthatthemovieswere‘filmed’bythepeopletowhomtheseawfulthingshappened. Mostofthemarenotthatgood.Someofthemhavesomewhatinterestingideas,butthey’reallsodeliberatelybadly filmed(inordertoconformwiththetheme,theaesthetic,orbecausethepeopleinvolvedwerejustthatincompetent) thatwhateverinspirationtheyhadissquashedbytheproductionvalues,orlackthereof.

61RPGREVIEWISSUEEIGHTEENDecember2012

Thefirstone,AmateurNight,hasabunchoffratguys,oneofwhomiswearingglasseswithatinydigitalcamerain theframe,areoutontheprowl.Theywanttomeetsomeladies,getthemdrunkandthendonastythingstothem.Being arseholesinahorrorfilm,though,guaranteesthatthehorriblestuffwillofcoursehappentotheminstead.Asrelieved asIambythat,it’sincrediblyhardtowatch,notbecauseofanyofthecontent,butbecausethecameraseemslikeit wasinaspindryerasitwasfilmingwhatwasallegedlygoingon. Theguywhowaswatchingthisfirstfoundfootagefilmintheolddeadguy’shousedisappears,andadifferentmoron comesintotheroomandpopsanothertapein,thistimebeingSecondHoneymoon.Averyboringcouple,probablythe mostboringcoupleinallofthecontinentalUnitedStates,filmthemselvesastheygoonthemostboringroadtripin Americanhistoryuntilthankfullyoneofthemgetshorriblymurdered.It’sliterally99%ofboredom,1%amusing resolution,whichdoesn’tequalinterestingviaanymathematicsIcanthinkof. Itis,comparedtotheotherones,betterfilmed,atleast,anddidn’tgivemewhiplashoftheeyes.It’saminiscule consolation. Thethirdone,Tuesdaythe17th,seemslikeit’stheonlyoneoutofthefivethatcouldexistasanythingotherthana short,crappyhorrorflickinanevenworseanthology,eventhoughit’sprobablyoneoftheworstofthelot.Abunchof collegedouchebagsgouptoasecludedlakewheremayhemensues,andyetevenwhentheseawfulthingsstart happeningtothesefratarseholesandsororitydrips,someonekeepsfilminginsteadofrunningthefuckaway.Also,and thisisonlyareferencethatcouldmakeanysensetosomeonewho’sbeeninMelbourneandseentheseparticularads thestategovernmentrantoconvincepeoplenottofareevadeonpublictransport. Thispostercampaignfeaturedanimageofaformofpublictransport,withasuperimposedscribbledoutguy,asifto saythatanawfulpersonwhodoesn’tpayforthetramsandtrainsofthisfaircityislessthanscum,they’rejusta scribble,ashittypieceofgraffiti,anon­person. Well,itappearsthatthenextpartoftheircampaign,ifIcanimagineforamomentthattheVictoriangovernment kickedafewbucksintothisanthology’sproduction,thirty,fortybucksatmost,isthattheScribbleGuyhasachieved sentience,andhe’sgoingtobekillingpeoplewhoaren’tusingtheirMykicardsproperlyorwhofareevadewithouta careintheworld. ThebiggestproblemwithTuesdaythe17thisthatit’scrap,it’spredictable,itlookslikecrap,andnoneofthesekinds ofslasherparodies/homagesareevernecessarysinceCabinintheWoodscameout.Stopmakingthem,I’mnever goingtoappreciatethemagain,onanylevel,eventheironichipsterone. TheSickThingThatHappenedtoEmilyWhenSheWasYoungerisprobablythebestofthelot,becauseitfeatures actualactors,andnotpeoplewhowouldfailasextrasinaGodzillamovie.Emily(HelenRogers)keepsskypingher boyfriend,andtheirchatssomehowhavebeenrecordedontoaVHScassettetape,butnomatter.Sheisfreakedoutby somestuffgoingoninherapartment,andenlistsherboyfriend’sdistantaidinfiguringoutwhat’sgoingon.What’s goingonisnotwhatappearstobegoingon,atall,andisfarnastierthanIcouldhavepredicted,withanastyandironic denouement,especiallyasitimpliesthatthenastinesswillcontinue.

62RPGREVIEWISSUEEIGHTEENDecember2012

Sure,itdoesn’tmakesense,likeanyofthem,thatpeoplewouldberecordinganyofthisshithappening,butwe’re meanttoacceptthattheubiquityofcamerasthesedays,andourseemingobsessionwithfilmingeverygoddamnthing thatweseeinevitablyleadstosuchoutcomes.Maybethewholeenterpriseisaheartfeltcry,acridecoeuragainst filmingeverything,relyingonourmemoriesinstead. Notbloodylikely.Thelastone,10/31/98,hasthefunniestpremise,inthatthewaytheseHalloween­celebrating chumpsaccidentallyrunintomoretroublethantheydeservewasbloodyhilarious,butthewayeverythingisfilmedis nonsense,andtheendingkindofundercutsthepoint,iftherewasone. IncaseIhaven’tmadeitclear,IdidnotenjoythishorroranthologyV/H/Sverymuch,thoughIrespectwhattheywere tryingtodo.Someofthesedirectorsarepayinghomagetotheirownmemoriesofwatchingthesehorrifyingandblood­ drainingmoviesbackbeforethedigitalpurityofDVDsandsuch,whethertheyweretapedoffthetellyorfrom degradedcopiesofcopiesofcopies,wherethehorrorofthevisualswasslightlymorehorrifyingbecauseofthesnowy grainthatmadeitevenhardertoseewhatwasgoingon. That’sallwellandgood,buttheimmaturedouchinessoftheframingdevice,thedouchinessofthevariousdirectors actinglikeidiots,theshittinessofthecamerawork,andtheweaknessofmostofthestoriesdoesn’tgetenhancedwith thatoverallsignature,faulty,deliberatelydefectivelook.Infact,itmadesomethingfairlymediocreafairbitworse.If thesamebitshadbeenrecordedproperly,withoutthe‘foundfootage’conceit,itwouldn’thavedetractedatall,andit nevermakessenseanywaysincewhocould‘really’havefilmedthedigitalfootageonwhatevermoderndeviceand thenrecordeditontotheseshittytapesfromthe1980sevenwithinthecontextofthefilm?No­one,that’swho. ThebestexampleofwhyIdidn’tlikethisfilmisthefollowing:atthebeginningoftheflick,thecriminalaspiring filmmakersassaultarandomwomaninacarpark,raisingherjumpertoexposeherbreaststothecameraasshe screams.Sure,youcanarguethat,inthecontextofaflickwhereadozenorsocharactersarebrutallymurdered, singlingthatoutasbeingbeyondthepaleisabitrichorPC.Butthethingis,Idon’thaveaproblemwiththefactthat they’repretendingtosexuallyassaultsomeone,noramIbeingPCaboutit.They’relovelybreastsafterall,anddespite thefactthatit’sfilmedinthemiddleoftheday,andthewoman,obviouslyanactor,wasn’tintoitintheslightest, clearlyshewasaskingforit.Imean,justlookatthesensiblewayshewasdressed. Theproblemisoneofugly,dumbimmaturity,compoundedwhenthesamegoddamnfootageisrepeatedandrepeated, andthen,attheendoftheflick,incasewemissedwhatprofounddouchebagswereinvolvedinthemakingofit,they showthesamewomanbeingassaultedinrapideditssomethinglikeanotherthirtygoddamntimes!Wegetit,you fuckwads,you'reterriblepeopleandworsefilmmakers.Weunderstand,forfuck'ssake.You,sirs,aretrulyshitty people,andIlookforwardtoyournextcontributionsjustsoIcanriptheshitoutofthem. 3timessomeofthesedirectorsshouldusethisflickastheircallingcardsothattheynevergettoworkagainoutof10 ­­ “You’reallgoingtofuckingdie.”–well,aren’tweall,butyoudon’thavetocallattentiontothefact,sinceitreminds usthatweshouldn’twasteourliveswatchingshittymovies–V/H/S Originallypublishedat:http://movie­reviews.com.au/content/vhs

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INTHENEXTISSUEOF RPGREVIEW Apocalypse! The End Times and After … Aftermath! … Twilight 2000 …. Shadowrun … Savage Worlds … Eclipse Phase … Legend … D20 Apocalypse … After The Bomb … GURPS Atomic Horror .. and more! 64RPGREVIEWISSUEEIGHTEENDecember2012

RPG Review 18 - M.MOAM.INFO (2025)
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