Nice video Jeff! I'm actually currently getting ready to run a Call of Cthulhu Halloween adventure, I only run CoC about once a year, so I'm not that experienced at running horror games. Thanks for your pieces of advice !
totally agree that with CoC death needs to always be on the cards.... and 'sorrowful' is such a good Vaesen descriptor..... as to incorporating player fears I find your spider example intriguing given many games ask for Lines & Veils nowadays... surely Eliot would put spiders on this list, which make me wonder what your thoughts on Lines & Veils are (you probably already have done a video on this?)... I like the X-card option (and I know you mention its easy to deal with) but have you ever had anyone in your games - or been a player in a game - where the X-card was actually played. I haven't but expect it could really break the flow/immersion in a CoC game? (I might be wrong. I've never been in a game where its been played). Keep up the great videos. Love the topics.
Spooky September! Enjoyed the Memorex version, Jeff. Stephen has some great voice talent on that animation - I feel like I know the voices too. I wonder… Love any Call of Cthulhu coverage. Such a great game, in its many and various iterations and settings.
I still really want to run a good Call of Cthulhu campaign. Due to various life things, I've never really managed to get one going. Many years ago, I got to run a series of linked one-shots with many recurring characters. I guess that was a campaign, but it was spread out over a couple years and probably didn't end up being more than 3 or 4 scenarios. In recent years, I've only been able to get folks together for one-shots. For a campaign, I like the idea of the Investigators' Group, that might allow you to draw new characters from and to pool resources.
I bounce right off Call of Cthulhu for a number of reasons - system doesn't work for the setting/themes for me and I'm not a fan of the usual 'your doomed' approach, although appreciate this is simplifying it. However, I really enjoy Vaesen - definitely gel more with the system and setting and how your characters develop over time, building their personal talents and that of their headquarters. Also prefer the faerie tale/folklore setting of it more than the Cthulhu Mythos. Definitely agree with you about the sorrowful vibe of it and feelings of loss too - the creatures, although monsters in kind, do have a sadness about them - ie, their world is disappearing and with it the link with humanity. Gorgeous books too but that's a standard Free League 'thing' isn't it!
A protagonist that conspire with sociopathic person. This is the case in the story 'Herbert West-Reanimator.' The antagonist is the one telling you the story. This is found in 'The Temple.' Its disappointing that players reject the notion of learning magic. Yes its dangerous, but your not dealing with peaceful monsters either.
I don't know what the general sentiment is about the game, but I know in my experience I tend to want to move away from the known pantheon of monsters etc and try to introduce something original. Same thing I do with fantasy games or sf games, where I try to make things feel a bit fresher, rather than bringing up the old rogue's gallery. So I tend to want to create unique threats and the consequences of that threat existing. I get that there are other ways, and if you're doing a one-off where a TPK is almost a requirement, having a well-known elder god to fill the gaps and make things brisk makes sense, too.
I usually use original critters and definitely my own take on the overall mythos. I also typically drill down and focus for a campaign. By which I mean, I center a campaign on just one Great Old One or one aspect of the Mythos. I've never been a fan of the so-called "monster hoedown," where it feels like trying to do a grand tour of the Monstrous Compendium.
Nice video Jeff! I'm actually currently getting ready to run a Call of Cthulhu Halloween adventure, I only run CoC about once a year, so I'm not that experienced at running horror games. Thanks for your pieces of advice !
totally agree that with CoC death needs to always be on the cards.... and 'sorrowful' is such a good Vaesen descriptor..... as to incorporating player fears I find your spider example intriguing given many games ask for Lines & Veils nowadays... surely Eliot would put spiders on this list, which make me wonder what your thoughts on Lines & Veils are (you probably already have done a video on this?)... I like the X-card option (and I know you mention its easy to deal with) but have you ever had anyone in your games - or been a player in a game - where the X-card was actually played. I haven't but expect it could really break the flow/immersion in a CoC game? (I might be wrong. I've never been in a game where its been played). Keep up the great videos. Love the topics.
I found the information on the UA-cam channel Chronicles - Medieval History to be a great resource. When running Call of Cthulhu: Dark Ages.
Spooky September!
Enjoyed the Memorex version, Jeff.
Stephen has some great voice talent on that animation - I feel like I know the voices too. I wonder…
Love any Call of Cthulhu coverage. Such a great game, in its many and various iterations and settings.
I still really want to run a good Call of Cthulhu campaign. Due to various life things, I've never really managed to get one going. Many years ago, I got to run a series of linked one-shots with many recurring characters. I guess that was a campaign, but it was spread out over a couple years and probably didn't end up being more than 3 or 4 scenarios. In recent years, I've only been able to get folks together for one-shots. For a campaign, I like the idea of the Investigators' Group, that might allow you to draw new characters from and to pool resources.
I bounce right off Call of Cthulhu for a number of reasons - system doesn't work for the setting/themes for me and I'm not a fan of the usual 'your doomed' approach, although appreciate this is simplifying it. However, I really enjoy Vaesen - definitely gel more with the system and setting and how your characters develop over time, building their personal talents and that of their headquarters. Also prefer the faerie tale/folklore setting of it more than the Cthulhu Mythos. Definitely agree with you about the sorrowful vibe of it and feelings of loss too - the creatures, although monsters in kind, do have a sadness about them - ie, their world is disappearing and with it the link with humanity. Gorgeous books too but that's a standard Free League 'thing' isn't it!
A protagonist that conspire with sociopathic person. This is the case in the story 'Herbert West-Reanimator.' The antagonist is the one telling you the story. This is found in 'The Temple.'
Its disappointing that players reject the notion of learning magic. Yes its dangerous, but your not dealing with peaceful monsters either.
I don't know what the general sentiment is about the game, but I know in my experience I tend to want to move away from the known pantheon of monsters etc and try to introduce something original. Same thing I do with fantasy games or sf games, where I try to make things feel a bit fresher, rather than bringing up the old rogue's gallery. So I tend to want to create unique threats and the consequences of that threat existing. I get that there are other ways, and if you're doing a one-off where a TPK is almost a requirement, having a well-known elder god to fill the gaps and make things brisk makes sense, too.
I usually use original critters and definitely my own take on the overall mythos. I also typically drill down and focus for a campaign. By which I mean, I center a campaign on just one Great Old One or one aspect of the Mythos. I've never been a fan of the so-called "monster hoedown," where it feels like trying to do a grand tour of the Monstrous Compendium.