Mefi Call of Cthulhu game discussion September 23, 2011 8:02 AM Subscribe
Is anyone up for a Metafilter Call of Cthulhu adventure?
In the Sandy Petersen thread which links to Sandy Petersen reviewing the game Call of Cthulhu as written by Sandy Petersen, several people expressed interest in playing that game. As I have been running a real-world weekly Call of Cthulhu session for over a year now and greatly enjoy the game, I guess I'm as qualified as anyone to run it.
I'm starting this thread to talk about how to do such a thing, for people to express their interest if they wish to play, and general getting started stuff. This thread is *not* intended for hosting the game itself, which I think is rather outside of Metatalk's purpose. That would probably have to be held somewhere else, maybe Mefightclub.
(I've not made many Metatalk posts, someone let me know if I'm doing it wrong or if this isn't the right place for this.)
The way I envision this, it would be a forum game with generally daily turns, which should be most accommodating of most players' schedules (something I've had problems with in the past). I've enlisted the aid of a friend (who some of you may remember) to help run the thing. The scenario run would probably be the prototypical beginner's Call of Cthulhu scenario, "The Haunting," one of the most well-known and respected adventures in role-playing gaming, and many players' first experience with the game.
Beyond these things however I'm not quite sure how this will go. Die rolling, handouts, combat, player positioning, etc., these are all problems that remain to be solved. It's not an especially long scenario; depending on its length I might do another one afterward, or we might switch off keepers, or we might end it all after the adventure depending on how interested players are. I do have several demands on my time right now, but a daily turn schedule doesn't seem like it'd be *too* strenuous.
Any ideas, suggestions, interest, caveats, questions, complaints, horrible elder gods from beyond the veil of reality? What say you?
In the Sandy Petersen thread which links to Sandy Petersen reviewing the game Call of Cthulhu as written by Sandy Petersen, several people expressed interest in playing that game. As I have been running a real-world weekly Call of Cthulhu session for over a year now and greatly enjoy the game, I guess I'm as qualified as anyone to run it.
I'm starting this thread to talk about how to do such a thing, for people to express their interest if they wish to play, and general getting started stuff. This thread is *not* intended for hosting the game itself, which I think is rather outside of Metatalk's purpose. That would probably have to be held somewhere else, maybe Mefightclub.
(I've not made many Metatalk posts, someone let me know if I'm doing it wrong or if this isn't the right place for this.)
The way I envision this, it would be a forum game with generally daily turns, which should be most accommodating of most players' schedules (something I've had problems with in the past). I've enlisted the aid of a friend (who some of you may remember) to help run the thing. The scenario run would probably be the prototypical beginner's Call of Cthulhu scenario, "The Haunting," one of the most well-known and respected adventures in role-playing gaming, and many players' first experience with the game.
Beyond these things however I'm not quite sure how this will go. Die rolling, handouts, combat, player positioning, etc., these are all problems that remain to be solved. It's not an especially long scenario; depending on its length I might do another one afterward, or we might switch off keepers, or we might end it all after the adventure depending on how interested players are. I do have several demands on my time right now, but a daily turn schedule doesn't seem like it'd be *too* strenuous.
Any ideas, suggestions, interest, caveats, questions, complaints, horrible elder gods from beyond the veil of reality? What say you?
I haven't played in...15 years? But I'd give it a shot. Maybe Mr. Arkham too.
posted by JoanArkham at 8:10 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by JoanArkham at 8:10 AM on September 23, 2011
What if I have never played Call of Cthulhu? How much would I need to know to do this? I think I have a rules-lite PDF somewhere that Chaosium put out years ago.
posted by KingEdRa at 8:12 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by KingEdRa at 8:12 AM on September 23, 2011
alternative suggestion, btw: Trail of Cthulhu. Much simpler rules system.
posted by empath at 8:12 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 8:12 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm definitely interested.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:17 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by ryanshepard at 8:17 AM on September 23, 2011
Definitely.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:18 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:18 AM on September 23, 2011
I've not played Trail, while I have a year of Call of Cthulhu under my belt and (shock!) I actually like CoC. Plus, and more importantly, the MeFi thread was about CoC, and I think people are signing up based on that expectation.
But I don't know, there are a lot of unresolved questions at this moment concerning how to run the game. I'm not married to the choice of system. How do you think Trail of Cthulhu is superior? Is there a version of The Haunting for it?
posted by JHarris at 8:19 AM on September 23, 2011
But I don't know, there are a lot of unresolved questions at this moment concerning how to run the game. I'm not married to the choice of system. How do you think Trail of Cthulhu is superior? Is there a version of The Haunting for it?
posted by JHarris at 8:19 AM on September 23, 2011
So far, the list of people I have is:
adamdschneider, howfar, klangklangston, Francis, KingEdRa, empath, Edogy, JoanArkham, ryanshepard, Durn Bronzefist
Hmm. I might have to let the seams out of The Haunting a bit to support this many players.
posted by JHarris at 8:20 AM on September 23, 2011
adamdschneider, howfar, klangklangston, Francis, KingEdRa, empath, Edogy, JoanArkham, ryanshepard, Durn Bronzefist
Hmm. I might have to let the seams out of The Haunting a bit to support this many players.
posted by JHarris at 8:20 AM on September 23, 2011
Oh yeah me too.
posted by seasparrow at 8:22 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by seasparrow at 8:22 AM on September 23, 2011
JHarris, online die-rollers so that everyone is on the same page, scan & mail handouts. There should be some solution for positioning players in combat like creating maps on google docs (like the crpg addict) and marking their spots there.
posted by ersatz at 8:22 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by ersatz at 8:22 AM on September 23, 2011
I sent you a MeMail last night registering my interest. If forum hosting is an issue I (or someone else) can toss up a quick SMF or something. I don't think MeFight Club would be the best fit for such an endeavor.
Regarding dice rolls, the solution I know is some kind of real-time shared chat with a RNG built-in, so all the player can see the rolls and there's no questioning the outcome. I've set up dice-rolling bots on IRC before. Not sure how you would do that on a forum.
posted by Edogy at 8:24 AM on September 23, 2011
Regarding dice rolls, the solution I know is some kind of real-time shared chat with a RNG built-in, so all the player can see the rolls and there's no questioning the outcome. I've set up dice-rolling bots on IRC before. Not sure how you would do that on a forum.
posted by Edogy at 8:24 AM on September 23, 2011
How do you think Trail of Cthulhu is superior?
I don't think it's better, I just think it would be easier to run online. It's more of a 'mystery solving' game that has a few very simple combat rules. It's actually an adaptation of the 'Gumshoe' detective RPG to the CoC setting.
Basically you set your adventure up as a series of set pieces that have clues that need to be discovered that let you advance to the next part.
I can send you a pdf of the rules if you want. I'd play either, but Trail of Cthulhu just seems like it would be a lot quicker and more natural to run online.
posted by empath at 8:25 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't think it's better, I just think it would be easier to run online. It's more of a 'mystery solving' game that has a few very simple combat rules. It's actually an adaptation of the 'Gumshoe' detective RPG to the CoC setting.
Basically you set your adventure up as a series of set pieces that have clues that need to be discovered that let you advance to the next part.
I can send you a pdf of the rules if you want. I'd play either, but Trail of Cthulhu just seems like it would be a lot quicker and more natural to run online.
posted by empath at 8:25 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Or you could use that ascii-art drawer FPP and create document rather than .xls micro-maps.
posted by ersatz at 8:25 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by ersatz at 8:25 AM on September 23, 2011
And you know, if it gets too big I'd sit out. Hate to, but hey, I've seen plenty of games not go well due to too many players, so I understand.
posted by Edogy at 8:28 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by Edogy at 8:28 AM on September 23, 2011
Likewise, what Edogy said.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:32 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 8:32 AM on September 23, 2011
I would hate to disappoint anyone, and there might be a solution to the player number problem with enough forethought. Maybe we could run two scenarios at the same time, one by me and one by my friend? There are three really good scenarios in the core rulebook, and
empath, I already have the rules and have thumbed through them, but I haven't seriously read them yet. I'll have a look through. I'm actually not aware of Call of Cthulhu having all that complicated combat rules actually: you order by DEX, people with prepared shots fire first in a round in DEX order, then everyone goes normally in DEX order, then people with third shots fire again at half DEX.
The thing I'm most worried about is positioning. Not to spoil anything, but sometimes it's important to know just where someone is standing in a room. But I have an idea for that. Maybe ersatz's ascii-art thing might help with that.
posted by JHarris at 8:33 AM on September 23, 2011
empath, I already have the rules and have thumbed through them, but I haven't seriously read them yet. I'll have a look through. I'm actually not aware of Call of Cthulhu having all that complicated combat rules actually: you order by DEX, people with prepared shots fire first in a round in DEX order, then everyone goes normally in DEX order, then people with third shots fire again at half DEX.
The thing I'm most worried about is positioning. Not to spoil anything, but sometimes it's important to know just where someone is standing in a room. But I have an idea for that. Maybe ersatz's ascii-art thing might help with that.
posted by JHarris at 8:33 AM on September 23, 2011
Argh, I should have finished that sentence:
"There are three really good scenarios in the core rulebook, and"...
there are a good number of other favorite scenarios I could present. Some are more suited for more players, like Crack'd and Crook'd Manse, and The Sanitarium. But The Haunting is legendary, it'd be a shame to discard it.
posted by JHarris at 8:35 AM on September 23, 2011
"There are three really good scenarios in the core rulebook, and"...
there are a good number of other favorite scenarios I could present. Some are more suited for more players, like Crack'd and Crook'd Manse, and The Sanitarium. But The Haunting is legendary, it'd be a shame to discard it.
posted by JHarris at 8:35 AM on September 23, 2011
I have never played the game nor am I familiar with the mechanics, but if there was a situation where a warm body was needed to round out a group, I'd like to play.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:39 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:39 AM on September 23, 2011
Probably too late but I would like to express my interest in generally getting involved in some sort of turn based online rpg at some point in time. I'm a total beginner myself but I would like to commend you for making the effort, JHarris.
posted by Think_Long at 8:46 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by Think_Long at 8:46 AM on September 23, 2011
Maybe we could run two scenarios at the same time, one by me and one by my friend?
Well one advantage of playing online is that you don't need to have a bunch of people sitting around a table playing at the same time.
Structure it like a long tv show like game of thrones. Have groups of 3-4 characters each off doing their own things at their own pace, and have several arcs going on -- a long term one for the campaign as a whole and shorter ones for smaller groups of characters.
The advantage of doing things that way is that if some group of players drop off, you can always transfer plot points from one group to another.. Characters get killed off in tv shows all the time.
posted by empath at 8:49 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well one advantage of playing online is that you don't need to have a bunch of people sitting around a table playing at the same time.
Structure it like a long tv show like game of thrones. Have groups of 3-4 characters each off doing their own things at their own pace, and have several arcs going on -- a long term one for the campaign as a whole and shorter ones for smaller groups of characters.
The advantage of doing things that way is that if some group of players drop off, you can always transfer plot points from one group to another.. Characters get killed off in tv shows all the time.
posted by empath at 8:49 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
btw, I plotted out a fairly long trail of cthulhu campaign for some friends last year who ended up flaking out, but i can always adapt it to CoC if anyone wants to try doing this with multiple GMs and smaller groups.. we can always tie stuff together more or less loosely as things go on and players lose interest or we get new ones..
posted by empath at 8:51 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by empath at 8:51 AM on September 23, 2011
Please contact me when you are ready to actually raise Cthulhu.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:57 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:57 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Right now I'm checking out MapTools from the RPGTools suite. It looks like a free RPG manager thingy like Fantasy Grounds or Battlegrounds. I've never used one of these virtual tabletops before so if someone knows better let us know.
posted by Edogy at 9:10 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Edogy at 9:10 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Er that was YES to the original question asked, not YES to IRFH's immediately preceding comment.
YES I AM UP FOR A CALL OF CTHULHU ADVENTURE
posted by Shepherd at 9:12 AM on September 23, 2011
YES I AM UP FOR A CALL OF CTHULHU ADVENTURE
posted by Shepherd at 9:12 AM on September 23, 2011
that was YES to the original question asked, not YES to IRFH's immediately preceding comment
*sadface*
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:16 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
*sadface*
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:16 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
If there's room, I'm definitely up for it. If not, I'd be interested in future games.
posted by steambadger at 9:20 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by steambadger at 9:20 AM on September 23, 2011
This sounds awesome.
(It's kind of a shame that you can't run it in MeTa; I often feel like sanity checks are necessary the longer you're in MeTa.
Maybe the next games issue for the mag, we can write a scenario for awaking the old mods.)
posted by klangklangston at 9:27 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
(It's kind of a shame that you can't run it in MeTa; I often feel like sanity checks are necessary the longer you're in MeTa.
Maybe the next games issue for the mag, we can write a scenario for awaking the old mods.)
posted by klangklangston at 9:27 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm up for both the game and IRFH's suggestion. What can I say -- I'm suggestible.
That said, as this seems like a fairly large group and I may have come to the party late, I'd even be interested in viewing the game once it gets going, as I'm sure a MeFite-campaign would be interesting to watch unfold (at least to me, who found a post about a review for a game I'd never played pretty neat)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:28 AM on September 23, 2011
That said, as this seems like a fairly large group and I may have come to the party late, I'd even be interested in viewing the game once it gets going, as I'm sure a MeFite-campaign would be interesting to watch unfold (at least to me, who found a post about a review for a game I'd never played pretty neat)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:28 AM on September 23, 2011
MeFites playing minecraft playing CoC. That is, the creepers, etc, are not part of the campaign. The minecraft avatars get together to play CoC. The occasional creeper face in the window is just atmosphere.
"Ok, everybody get in here, drop your armour in the chest. There's mushroom soup and cake in the basement. Somebody get the pig out of here and close that door!"
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:29 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Ok, everybody get in here, drop your armour in the chest. There's mushroom soup and cake in the basement. Somebody get the pig out of here and close that door!"
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:29 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Will it have metafilter themed monsters?
(Straw Man Shamblers, Servitor of the False Dichotomy, Ad-Hominenatoth, Spawn of Hurf Durf, etc)
posted by memebake at 9:30 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
(Straw Man Shamblers, Servitor of the False Dichotomy, Ad-Hominenatoth, Spawn of Hurf Durf, etc)
posted by memebake at 9:30 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
I am totally in, if there is space. Despite Lovecraft's tendency toward solitary protagonists, it is looking like we have investigators in platoon strength.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2011
Definitely, if you're open to noobs that have not played this game before.
posted by jbickers at 9:33 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by jbickers at 9:33 AM on September 23, 2011
"In the Sandy Petersen thread which links to Sandy Petersen reviewing the game Call of Cthulhu as written by Sandy Petersen,"
Ugh, I think I suffered SANdy Petersen loss from that one sentence.
Clause.
Claws.
AHHHHHHHH!!!
posted by Eideteker at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2011
Ugh, I think I suffered SANdy Petersen loss from that one sentence.
Clause.
Claws.
AHHHHHHHH!!!
posted by Eideteker at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2011
MeFites playing minecraft playing CoC.
Driven mad by the encroaching darkness and the unceasing zombie drones of the walking dead, i hammer madly into the rocks with my pick, until I burst forth into some sort of cyclopean maze of rough-hewn stone bricks and broken iron bars.
Before me is some eldritch creature with purpurescent eyes and strangely elongated limbs. He carries a block of stone. I can't help but meet his gaze...
posted by empath at 9:38 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Driven mad by the encroaching darkness and the unceasing zombie drones of the walking dead, i hammer madly into the rocks with my pick, until I burst forth into some sort of cyclopean maze of rough-hewn stone bricks and broken iron bars.
Before me is some eldritch creature with purpurescent eyes and strangely elongated limbs. He carries a block of stone. I can't help but meet his gaze...
posted by empath at 9:38 AM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
YES PLEASE. If there's space.
I played it once in high school, and it was goddamned thrilling.
posted by ignignokt at 10:06 AM on September 23, 2011
I played it once in high school, and it was goddamned thrilling.
posted by ignignokt at 10:06 AM on September 23, 2011
I'd be interested although if it's at all possible, I'd prefer something not out of the core rulebook. They're only hazily remembered because its been 10+ years, but I think I've either played or read all of them.
posted by juv3nal at 10:18 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by juv3nal at 10:18 AM on September 23, 2011
I would really like to try, though I have never played before.
posted by jeather at 10:25 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by jeather at 10:25 AM on September 23, 2011
I volunteer to play the hotel bellhop or cab driver who invariably gets drafted into the investigators' party sometime after the first or second wave of deaths.
Seriously though cool idea and good luck. I've played most of the major pen and paper RPGs and several of the more obscure ones, but all my best gaming memories center around Call of Cthulhu. I think one secret to running a great game is to fully center the players in a world with laws, cops, and consequences. It helps to highlight what I think is the philosophical question that drives the game: how far can we go in our efforts to thwart the cultists before we become as bad or worse of a public menace than they are?
posted by chaff at 10:30 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seriously though cool idea and good luck. I've played most of the major pen and paper RPGs and several of the more obscure ones, but all my best gaming memories center around Call of Cthulhu. I think one secret to running a great game is to fully center the players in a world with laws, cops, and consequences. It helps to highlight what I think is the philosophical question that drives the game: how far can we go in our efforts to thwart the cultists before we become as bad or worse of a public menace than they are?
posted by chaff at 10:30 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would also be interested in this if there is space or a second go-round.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:34 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by Rock Steady at 10:34 AM on September 23, 2011
Same as steambadger: If there's room, I'm definitely up for it. If not, I'd be interested in future games.
(I was a terrible Keeper for some college games, but I never played a well-run one.)
posted by cobaltnine at 11:00 AM on September 23, 2011
(I was a terrible Keeper for some college games, but I never played a well-run one.)
posted by cobaltnine at 11:00 AM on September 23, 2011
Before me is some eldritch creature with purpurescent eyes and strangely elongated limbs. He carries a block of stone. I can't help but meet his gaze...
Ah, I see you've met our Keeper. It prefers the d6 variant.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:11 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ah, I see you've met our Keeper. It prefers the d6 variant.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 11:11 AM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
With kid and other engagements, I'd have a hard time making a set scheduled game, but if someone wanted to do a Mythos letter-writing game in the style of The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen or Castle Falkenstein...
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:24 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:24 PM on September 23, 2011
After twenty-two years of nightmare and terror, saved only by a desperate conviction of the mythical source of certain impressions, I am unwilling to vouch for the truth of that which I think I found in running a CoC campaign on July 17–18, 1935. There is reason to hope that my experience was wholly or partly an hallucination—for which, indeed, abundant causes existed. And yet, its realism was so hideous that I sometimes find hope impossible. I might be interested in an online experiment, though.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:35 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:35 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Stupid question: Do we need to buy the boxed game to play? Or is this one of those print-your-own variants?
posted by jbickers at 1:04 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by jbickers at 1:04 PM on September 23, 2011
I'm an experienced RPGer that hasn't played CoC and I'd be in. If there is any desire for a real time game I have access to a private TeamSpeak server we could use for voice. The client is free and although I haven't used them there are dice rolling plug-ins for the client.
Teamspeak is pretty ideal for this. Besides all the standard VoIP features it allows for private messaging (either voice or text) between users and for in band file exchange.
posted by Mitheral at 1:19 PM on September 23, 2011
Teamspeak is pretty ideal for this. Besides all the standard VoIP features it allows for private messaging (either voice or text) between users and for in band file exchange.
posted by Mitheral at 1:19 PM on September 23, 2011
i'm also interested (if room).
I don't have much experience with playing by post.
posted by Shit Parade at 1:23 PM on September 23, 2011
I don't have much experience with playing by post.
posted by Shit Parade at 1:23 PM on September 23, 2011
May not be able to do a scheduled game...someone can have my spot if I can't make it.
posted by JoanArkham at 1:31 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by JoanArkham at 1:31 PM on September 23, 2011
I'd be interested, although I've never played the game. I don't have a huge amount of tabletop gaming experience, but I sure do like getting killed by monsters.
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 1:42 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 1:42 PM on September 23, 2011
Oh, me too. A lot of tabletop RPG experience, but it was y-e-a-r-s ago. Never did CoC though I always wanted to.
Of course, we've got a huge list of people wanting to play now. Here's hoping for multiple groups...
posted by tyllwin at 1:55 PM on September 23, 2011
Of course, we've got a huge list of people wanting to play now. Here's hoping for multiple groups...
posted by tyllwin at 1:55 PM on September 23, 2011
I've never played, but would be in if it's ok for virgins (I hate being called a n00b; I prefer b00b even).
posted by crankyrogalsky at 2:11 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by crankyrogalsky at 2:11 PM on September 23, 2011
I've been working on a good summation of the rules as regard to character creation and general play. Will link when they're done; they should be appropriate to people who have never played Call of Cthulhu before, although they do assume you know what a role-playing game is and what is meant by basic terminology like 3D6 and skill rolls.
Edogy, I'd like to take you up on your offer to set up a message board for the game, thanks for your kind offer.
posted by JHarris at 2:27 PM on September 23, 2011
Edogy, I'd like to take you up on your offer to set up a message board for the game, thanks for your kind offer.
posted by JHarris at 2:27 PM on September 23, 2011
On the off chance anyone's in Toronto, I could divert some runoff into a meat-space game...
posted by kaibutsu at 2:32 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by kaibutsu at 2:32 PM on September 23, 2011
Ok, I just shamelessly went through the thread looking at people's locations...
It seems there's at least one not far from Toronto, and maybe four or something people in Chicago, interestingly enough.
posted by kaibutsu at 3:18 PM on September 23, 2011
It seems there's at least one not far from Toronto, and maybe four or something people in Chicago, interestingly enough.
posted by kaibutsu at 3:18 PM on September 23, 2011
Arkham, represent, yo
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:20 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:20 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'M INTERESTED
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:04 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:04 PM on September 23, 2011
This is the list of interested players I have down:
adamdschneider, howfar, klangklangston, Francis, KingEdRa, empath, Edogy, JoanArkham, ryanshepard, Durn Bronzefist, seasparrow, Alvy Ampersand, Think_Long, Karmakaze, Shepherd, steambadger, MCMikeNamara, ricochet biscuit, jbickers, ignignokt, juv3nal, jeather, Wordwoman, chaff, Rock Steady, Mitheral, Shit Parade, Uppity Pigeon #2, tyllwin, crankyrogalsky, East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94
Yow, 31 people. I'm going to have to think about this and scheme for a while. I'll get back to you all tomorrow on this.
posted by JHarris at 4:21 PM on September 23, 2011
adamdschneider, howfar, klangklangston, Francis, KingEdRa, empath, Edogy, JoanArkham, ryanshepard, Durn Bronzefist, seasparrow, Alvy Ampersand, Think_Long, Karmakaze, Shepherd, steambadger, MCMikeNamara, ricochet biscuit, jbickers, ignignokt, juv3nal, jeather, Wordwoman, chaff, Rock Steady, Mitheral, Shit Parade, Uppity Pigeon #2, tyllwin, crankyrogalsky, East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94
Yow, 31 people. I'm going to have to think about this and scheme for a while. I'll get back to you all tomorrow on this.
posted by JHarris at 4:21 PM on September 23, 2011
In the meantime, this is a version of Chaosium's free "Quick Start" rules to Call of Cthulhu, but edited to remove the included scenario. It doesn't describe the skills at all, and doesn't provide much help concerning occupation, but it's not bad. I'm working on a more complete summary that includes the skills and some sample occupations, but in the meantime you can create characters with this:
coc_quickstart.pdf
posted by JHarris at 4:33 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
coc_quickstart.pdf
posted by JHarris at 4:33 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Are the skills as listed in this guide fairly accurate?
posted by Iridic at 4:48 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by Iridic at 4:48 PM on September 23, 2011
They are, in that they appear to be retyped directly from the rulebook. The same goes for the sample occupation list. It should be acceptable to use both.
posted by JHarris at 5:06 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by JHarris at 5:06 PM on September 23, 2011
JHarris, if you would, please friend me on Steam so we can conspire in realtime. :)
posted by Edogy at 5:07 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by Edogy at 5:07 PM on September 23, 2011
I'm in. Haven't played CoC but have role-played with pretty much every other system.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:07 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:07 PM on September 23, 2011
Yes, I'm in. Could always run it West Marches style, with people coming and going?
posted by adamdschneider at 5:17 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by adamdschneider at 5:17 PM on September 23, 2011
If it's not too late, I'd like to toss my name in the ring.
Total noob, though. There seems to be a bunch like me here; maybe one of the games could be set up specifically for those who've never played before?
posted by the bricabrac man at 5:19 PM on September 23, 2011
Total noob, though. There seems to be a bunch like me here; maybe one of the games could be set up specifically for those who've never played before?
posted by the bricabrac man at 5:19 PM on September 23, 2011
Argh, of all the days to sleep in late!
I actually almost played CoC online once, but the GM disappeared off the face of the Earth after walking me through character creation, which is kind of a CoC plot in itself. I remember he gave me all these extra points for some reason--maybe as part of the house rules, maybe so I could catch up with the other players, I don't know.
Color me interested, is what I'm saying, but I'm not sure I have a clear idea of how to play. Hey, maybe I can even recycle my old character...
posted by KChasm at 5:33 PM on September 23, 2011
I actually almost played CoC online once, but the GM disappeared off the face of the Earth after walking me through character creation, which is kind of a CoC plot in itself. I remember he gave me all these extra points for some reason--maybe as part of the house rules, maybe so I could catch up with the other players, I don't know.
Color me interested, is what I'm saying, but I'm not sure I have a clear idea of how to play. Hey, maybe I can even recycle my old character...
posted by KChasm at 5:33 PM on September 23, 2011
maybe one of the games could be set up specifically for those who've never played before?
You'd think that, but in an RPG you're better off spreading new and experienced players out evenly. CoC is collaborative...at least until someone remembers that they don't need to outrun the shoggoth, they only need to outrun you.
posted by howfar at 5:38 PM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
You'd think that, but in an RPG you're better off spreading new and experienced players out evenly. CoC is collaborative...at least until someone remembers that they don't need to outrun the shoggoth, they only need to outrun you.
posted by howfar at 5:38 PM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Is this bandwagon full yet? I'm very interested. Haven't played anything in years so color me noob-ish.
posted by Roman Graves at 6:11 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by Roman Graves at 6:11 PM on September 23, 2011
jbickers: Stupid question: Do we need to buy the boxed game to play? Or is this one of those print-your-own variants?
No need to buy the rulebook I'd say.
I'm considering splitting this up into multiple scenarios, maybe with different keepers for each. Has anyone here run Call of Cthulhu before and might be interested? I've picked out a list of scenarios I think work well, we could discuss and strategize in MeMail.
posted by JHarris at 6:40 PM on September 23, 2011
No need to buy the rulebook I'd say.
I'm considering splitting this up into multiple scenarios, maybe with different keepers for each. Has anyone here run Call of Cthulhu before and might be interested? I've picked out a list of scenarios I think work well, we could discuss and strategize in MeMail.
posted by JHarris at 6:40 PM on September 23, 2011
Well, if the not-time-allotted folk want to give my letter/journal thing a go, I'd give it a shot. I'm not sure what the game aspect would be, though. Be the last writer sane? I envision 5-7 players, each taking the role of a character who is writing about their current experiences. Each character comes into contact with the journal/letters of another and thus shapes it, going backwards through time.
So, for example, we'd have one player writing Facebook/Livejournal style entries about moving into her dead great uncle's totes creepy house. The next player would be playing the great uncle, maybe talking about some weird experience he had in the South Pacific during WWII. Next player would be the dead captain of the great uncle's unit, writing a military style report on what his unit dug up in that tropical prison camp. Then you have the diary of a guard at said camp. Then the notes of the scientist who first proposed the grizzly experiments, and so on.
Each entry would have three proposed "facts" that would be voted on by the other players. The winning fact is something that is True and must be carried forward. The same could apply for later characters writing about their predecessors - three facts would be proposed, one of them would be true.
So to use the example above, the first player, as the teenage journalist, could propose 1) This house it totally haunted 2) My uncle was executed for murder 3) The locals here are so weird, lots of them have webbed fingers! Let's say #2 won. Then the second player, the weird great uncle could propose the facts in his entry: 1) I never killed anybody, no matter what they say 2) Some evil stuck with me that night 3) One must feed The Idol to survive. And so on. Each proposed fact would be delineated by an underlined passage. Each winning fact impacts the metastory (so if the uncle's 1 won, he'd have to explain the frame up).
As for winners and losers, I dunno. For me, the fun would be in creating the overarching metastory. The first go around would probably best be kept to generations, say of a family that has lived off and on in the same old house in a desolate New England town.
Again, not too sure of the specifics here. I'm a few glasses of wine to the wind, but I think there might be something here to pass the time?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:28 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
So, for example, we'd have one player writing Facebook/Livejournal style entries about moving into her dead great uncle's totes creepy house. The next player would be playing the great uncle, maybe talking about some weird experience he had in the South Pacific during WWII. Next player would be the dead captain of the great uncle's unit, writing a military style report on what his unit dug up in that tropical prison camp. Then you have the diary of a guard at said camp. Then the notes of the scientist who first proposed the grizzly experiments, and so on.
Each entry would have three proposed "facts" that would be voted on by the other players. The winning fact is something that is True and must be carried forward. The same could apply for later characters writing about their predecessors - three facts would be proposed, one of them would be true.
So to use the example above, the first player, as the teenage journalist, could propose 1) This house it totally haunted 2) My uncle was executed for murder 3) The locals here are so weird, lots of them have webbed fingers! Let's say #2 won. Then the second player, the weird great uncle could propose the facts in his entry: 1) I never killed anybody, no matter what they say 2) Some evil stuck with me that night 3) One must feed The Idol to survive. And so on. Each proposed fact would be delineated by an underlined passage. Each winning fact impacts the metastory (so if the uncle's 1 won, he'd have to explain the frame up).
As for winners and losers, I dunno. For me, the fun would be in creating the overarching metastory. The first go around would probably best be kept to generations, say of a family that has lived off and on in the same old house in a desolate New England town.
Again, not too sure of the specifics here. I'm a few glasses of wine to the wind, but I think there might be something here to pass the time?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:28 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
We have enough players that really, anything like that that people would want to play in would be great. Have you looked at the "Armitage Files" scenario starter some company produced some time ago? I haven't seen it myself but the word over at yogsothoth.com is that it's quite nice.
posted by JHarris at 7:48 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by JHarris at 7:48 PM on September 23, 2011
I'm considering splitting this up into multiple scenarios, maybe with different keepers for each.
That seems like the most reasonable way to go about it. I've never played CoC before, so I can't really help on that front. However, I'm in Providence so I can always bring my laptop to Lovecraft's grave and play from there. Assuming graveyards have wifi.
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 7:54 PM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
That seems like the most reasonable way to go about it. I've never played CoC before, so I can't really help on that front. However, I'm in Providence so I can always bring my laptop to Lovecraft's grave and play from there. Assuming graveyards have wifi.
posted by Uppity Pigeon #2 at 7:54 PM on September 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
"I've set up a forum here," he annouced at the stroke of midnight.
posted by Edogy at 9:00 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Edogy at 9:00 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seriously though, let me know if you have any problems.
posted by Edogy at 9:08 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by Edogy at 9:08 PM on September 23, 2011
With the forum.
posted by Edogy at 9:08 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Edogy at 9:08 PM on September 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
If there is still room left I'd also like to hop in. I've been playing for a few summers now. Played Murder on the Orient Express (but I missed the ending) and about halfway through Masks of Nyarlothotep (we stop at the end of summer when people go back to college).
I can Keep or play, whichever one is needed.
posted by Deflagro at 10:43 PM on September 23, 2011
I can Keep or play, whichever one is needed.
posted by Deflagro at 10:43 PM on September 23, 2011
Please feel most welcome as always, and as JHarris mentioned, to join our 2000-strong gang over at MefightClub for meta-discussion about this and any and all things gamery.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:09 AM on September 24, 2011
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 12:09 AM on September 24, 2011
I am late to the party and am kicking myself for it and I'd love to play.
posted by waraw at 10:11 AM on September 24, 2011
posted by waraw at 10:11 AM on September 24, 2011
Okay so here is how it stands. Edogy has generously provided forum space to play on. I will repeat this message there. Please everyone who wants to play, make an account over there.
I will run at least one scenario, maybe two concurrently to get as many people playing at once. After those are done, we'll see. If someone else who has the necessary books wants to run one they can to help get more people playing they certainly can do so; the more, the merrier. All the people who have offered to step aside and let others play, thank you, but it's already complicated enough without taking these requests into account. I'd rather keep it first-come, first-served, so I can just queue up who has and hasn't played yet.
For die rolling, you can use your own dice (perhaps misguidedly, I trust you), or you can use an online die roller, like this one: ">http://www.brockjones.com/dieroller/dice.htm, which seems to strike a balance between simplicity and complexity. Note that 90% of die rolls in Call of Cthulhu are D100, or "D%," so most of the time you'll simply be hitting that button. When rolling, please report both the number you rolled and the value of the relevant skill. During actual play, please don't roll until asked.
Floorplans will probably be distributed via Asciiflow, which has the advantage of being very quick and pasteable into forum messages. Handouts I will link to.
empath's suggestion to use Trail of Cthulhu's rules is interesting, but I'll have to learn more about the system until I can use that. I don't think BRP Call of Cthulhu is too antithetical to forum play though; you don't have to use miniatures or anything like that for combat. Artw, I'm somewhat familiar with Cthulhu Dark. It is somewhat interesting, but might be too simple.
posted by JHarris at 11:22 AM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I will run at least one scenario, maybe two concurrently to get as many people playing at once. After those are done, we'll see. If someone else who has the necessary books wants to run one they can to help get more people playing they certainly can do so; the more, the merrier. All the people who have offered to step aside and let others play, thank you, but it's already complicated enough without taking these requests into account. I'd rather keep it first-come, first-served, so I can just queue up who has and hasn't played yet.
For die rolling, you can use your own dice (perhaps misguidedly, I trust you), or you can use an online die roller, like this one: ">http://www.brockjones.com/dieroller/dice.htm, which seems to strike a balance between simplicity and complexity. Note that 90% of die rolls in Call of Cthulhu are D100, or "D%," so most of the time you'll simply be hitting that button. When rolling, please report both the number you rolled and the value of the relevant skill. During actual play, please don't roll until asked.
Floorplans will probably be distributed via Asciiflow, which has the advantage of being very quick and pasteable into forum messages. Handouts I will link to.
empath's suggestion to use Trail of Cthulhu's rules is interesting, but I'll have to learn more about the system until I can use that. I don't think BRP Call of Cthulhu is too antithetical to forum play though; you don't have to use miniatures or anything like that for combat. Artw, I'm somewhat familiar with Cthulhu Dark. It is somewhat interesting, but might be too simple.
posted by JHarris at 11:22 AM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I set the game discussion section to be only visible to logged-in users to prevent any spoilers leaking out to guests who may be browsing, so if you look at the forum and think "Pfft, there's nothing here about the game" you'll need to reg up in order to get the game infos. Thanks!
posted by Edogy at 11:47 AM on September 24, 2011
posted by Edogy at 11:47 AM on September 24, 2011
I've posted the beginning of a first scenario there. I've sent MeMail to the first nine people on the list about it.
posted by JHarris at 4:45 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by JHarris at 4:45 PM on September 24, 2011
So is this where I suggest a Mefi game of Werewolf? I'm not going to lie, I haven't thought that one through all the way...
posted by disillusioned at 3:27 AM on September 25, 2011
posted by disillusioned at 3:27 AM on September 25, 2011
It's a forum game Artw. Anyone should be able to read it if they're logged in. Although it should be noted that The Haunting is a classic scenario that's been included with the rulebook since the first edition; playing it is a rite of passage, and so one should be worried about being spoiled before having a chance to play it himself.
posted by JHarris at 3:46 AM on September 25, 2011
posted by JHarris at 3:46 AM on September 25, 2011
H, sorry, I was thinking you were going to be Skyping it or somesuch.
posted by Artw at 7:18 AM on September 25, 2011
posted by Artw at 7:18 AM on September 25, 2011
I have learned, from previous attempts to run these games online, that it is nearly impossible to get a bunch of interested people online at the same time on a regular basis. If it turns out we all do have a time we can be online at once then maybe, but we can determine that once we have enough players in a game.
posted by JHarris at 10:29 AM on September 25, 2011
posted by JHarris at 10:29 AM on September 25, 2011
I've just started a second adventure of Escape From Innsmouth here. There are slots for 6 players on a first-come-first-serve basis. So if you want in go on over there and claim your spot!
posted by Deflagro at 7:42 PM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Deflagro at 7:42 PM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cool with me! This would be one of the scenarios from the Innsmouth sourcebook, correct?
posted by JHarris at 7:53 PM on September 25, 2011
posted by JHarris at 7:53 PM on September 25, 2011
Yeah, it's the Innsmouth book, but no cheating for players!
posted by Deflagro at 8:07 PM on September 25, 2011
posted by Deflagro at 8:07 PM on September 25, 2011
Just wanted to say, while I'm not a huge fan of the CoC system, I really support more folks roleplaying! I look forward to hearing tales of terror and madness from y'all!
posted by yeloson at 8:58 AM on September 26, 2011
posted by yeloson at 8:58 AM on September 26, 2011
I think it would be a better game experience for all if I just watched things this go-around.
So if you notice some horrible hairy hideous creature lurking in a shadowy corner, odds are it's just me taking notes.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:58 AM on September 26, 2011
So if you notice some horrible hairy hideous creature lurking in a shadowy corner, odds are it's just me taking notes.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:58 AM on September 26, 2011
I am totally up for this if it becomes a "thing" but I'll sideline for the time being.
posted by tumid dahlia at 7:26 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by tumid dahlia at 7:26 PM on September 26, 2011
I have never played CoC, but would be up for joining in if there's room.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:10 PM on September 28, 2011
posted by rmd1023 at 1:10 PM on September 28, 2011
Quick update: We've got a third scenario open preferably for 4 - 6 players. If you haven't already, head on over to the forums to register, and you'll find all the info you need to get started.
I'm also trying to get some Nerd Checkers, AKA BattleTech, going on the side. It has nothing to do with Cthulhu or Lovecraft, however. There's a thread in the Other Games section if anyone's interested.
Come play!
posted by Edogy at 8:30 AM on September 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm also trying to get some Nerd Checkers, AKA BattleTech, going on the side. It has nothing to do with Cthulhu or Lovecraft, however. There's a thread in the Other Games section if anyone's interested.
Come play!
posted by Edogy at 8:30 AM on September 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Things are rolling along! Reminder MeMails have now gone out to half the list. I've been reminding people slowly as scenario slots open up. If someone else offered to run an adventure I've lost your message, please remind me? The more people we get playing sooner the happier I'll be!
Remaining people on the list, in order:
jbickers, ignignokt, juv3nal, jeather, Wordwoman, chaff, Rock Steady, Mitheral, Shit Parade, Uppity Pigeon #2, tyllwin, crankyrogalsky, East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94, fleacircus, Lovecraft in Brooklyn, adamdschneider, the bricabrac man, Roman Graves, waraw, tumid dahlia
posted by JHarris at 8:58 PM on September 29, 2011
Remaining people on the list, in order:
jbickers, ignignokt, juv3nal, jeather, Wordwoman, chaff, Rock Steady, Mitheral, Shit Parade, Uppity Pigeon #2, tyllwin, crankyrogalsky, East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94, fleacircus, Lovecraft in Brooklyn, adamdschneider, the bricabrac man, Roman Graves, waraw, tumid dahlia
posted by JHarris at 8:58 PM on September 29, 2011
I'm in scenario 2:Innsmouth as Miles Powell, JHarris.
posted by juv3nal at 11:25 AM on September 30, 2011
posted by juv3nal at 11:25 AM on September 30, 2011
Ah okay. Heh, I just sent out your message. I'll send one to someone else in your place then.
posted by JHarris at 2:12 PM on October 1, 2011
posted by JHarris at 2:12 PM on October 1, 2011
If anyone's still reading this, we've had trouble with spammers, so we're now posing question and answers to gain posting rights to the forum. The answers are in my MeMail boilerplate now, if you want access to the forum but don't want to play send me a MeMail and I'll tell you the answers (they are things that most Lovecraft fans should be able to guess, though).
posted by JHarris at 7:55 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by JHarris at 7:55 AM on October 3, 2011
Wow. I guess it's the high Metafilter rank that created the direct trail but still that is an impressive speed of attack.
posted by Mitheral at 8:58 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by Mitheral at 8:58 AM on October 3, 2011
Our third scenario has begin! I'm considering starting a fourth, my second concurrently. If anyone else is still interested in running a game, just let me know.
posted by JHarris at 5:12 PM on October 12, 2011
posted by JHarris at 5:12 PM on October 12, 2011
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posted by empath at 8:09 AM on September 23, 2011