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Post by dmikester on Dec 14, 2018 4:15:36 GMT -5
This is a section for Keepers of Call of Cthulhu who want to discuss various aspects of being a GM of Call of Cthulhu. Players beware, as there will be discussion of scenarios/campaigns that if read before playing them will spoil their surprises and fun!
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Post by professor on Dec 14, 2018 19:13:37 GMT -5
In regards to the new Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign, as was mentioned elsewhere, the new edition is not as deadly as it once was. With the addition of the Pulp Cthulhu options, I think it's less likely to get a TPK, at least earlier on in the campaign. The presentation is not linear, but more sandbox style. Each area has one or more optional side-adventures. The chapters are presented in a specific order, but that only represents the most likely order that players might choose, usually determined by the efficiency of geography. There's no reason they can't do things outside of that order.
I've read the entire campaign through, often paired up with pdfs of previous versions for comparisons. They've done a really wonderful update in my opinion.
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Post by dmikester on Dec 14, 2018 19:36:22 GMT -5
In regards to the new Masks of Nyarlathotep campaign, as was mentioned elsewhere, the new edition is not as deadly as it once was. With the addition of the Pulp Cthulhu options, I think it's less likely to get a TPK, at least earlier on in the campaign. The presentation is not linear, but more sandbox style. Each area has one or more optional side-adventures. The chapters are presented in a specific order, but that only represents the most likely order that players might choose, usually determined by the efficiency of geography. There's no reason they can't do things outside of that order. I've read the entire campaign through, often paired up with pdfs of previous versions for comparisons. They've done a really wonderful update in my opinion. I have very little experience with Masks, and have only been skimming through this update in the off chance that I get to play it some day (I don't think I would feel comfortable running it without playing it all the way through first, but it's likely that my group will want to play it next, so that may happen). The two most dramatic changes that I've seen in my skimming have been (heavy spoilers here of course): 1. Jackson Elias being black and connected to the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s. This works so well and so naturally that I couldn't believe it wasn't an inherent part of previous campaigns. 2. I'd heard about the infamous Painting in the Closet encounter from an article about the most infamous encounters in role-playing, and had heard about how incredibly deadly it is to players. Moving it to be an exclusively Pulp scene makes so much sense that it makes me wonder if it was one of the main inspirations for Pulp Cthulhu.
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Post by chrisu on Dec 15, 2018 13:59:21 GMT -5
As promised another tidbit from my life as a GM. In the beginning all we played were official adventure modules. These gave you a general setting and then mostly some kind of a dungeon labyrinth to slog through, cloister to plunder or forest to explore. In my humble beginnings I stumbled over an adventure which diverted for that path and left me scratching my head. Das Turnier von Gareth (Tourney at Gareth) was about a tjioste tourney and only had a timetable outlining the general events of the tourney and several NSCs and their motivations. From that the keeper could react to the players decisions and ajust the NSCs actions accordingly. Being 16 this was way over my head. In retrospect this was one of the best adventure modules I have ever read. Why? Because no plot survives contact with the players.
Das entsetzlich einsam gelegene Haus im Wald: (The terribly remote cabin in the woods) This adventure only has a short introduction. The players are in rural Maine, driving through a forest in the night. Suddenly they hit a man running in front of their car. Then the adventure provides you with the history of the cabin, the outline of the rooms and item locations. Then the capabilities of the spirit haunting the house and some ideas for effects it might create. That's all.
This adventure is a proving ground for any Keeper. A worse one will only herd you through each room, killing all atmosphere. This isn't a dungeon. It's a haunted house where ever location should be visited more than once. Only your creativity is the limit here. A good keeper will turn this into an awesome experience, which will be unique for the players. In my opinion there are far too few adventures like that. That's because it is too difficult to write open adventures like that. And even then it takes a remarkable talented Keeper to get the most out of these stories. But believe me, for your players it will be worth it.
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Post by professor on Dec 16, 2018 15:23:33 GMT -5
Das entsetzlich einsam gelegene Haus im Wald: (The terribly remote cabin in the woods) This adventure only has a short introduction. The players are in rural Maine, driving through a forest in the night. Suddenly they hit a man running in front of their car. Then the adventure provides you with the history of the cabin, the outline of the rooms and item locations. Then the capabilities of the spirit haunting the house and some ideas for effects it might create. That's all. This adventure is a proving ground for any Keeper. A worse one will only herd you through each room, killing all atmosphere. This isn't a dungeon. It's a haunted house where ever location should be visited more than once. Only your creativity is the limit here. A good keeper will turn this into an awesome experience, which will be unique for the players. In my opinion there are far too few adventures like that. That's because it is too difficult to write open adventures like that. And even then it takes a remarkable talented Keeper to get the most out of these stories. But believe me, for your players it will be worth it. I don't suppose there's an English translation of it available? I love the haunted house style of scenarios.
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Post by chrisu on Dec 16, 2018 16:39:29 GMT -5
I am afraid not. That's the only adventure in the book which is exclusively written by a German author for that adventure collection. My library use skill (or Google Fu nowadays) didn't find any translation. Only the fact that the German CoC community regards it as one of the best adventures. Together with Froschkönig, Kleine Völker and Carnival Obscure. I only can urge you to learn German for all these cool adventures. Maybe then you could coach Hollywood movies as most American movie makers don't hire anyone with more than the slightest grasp of the language. Only exception for this is the movie Krampus. The actress playing old granny is from Austria and her German is excellent. By the way a good horror move to watch around x-mas time.
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Post by chrisu on Dec 16, 2018 16:48:35 GMT -5
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