Question about Mythos Fright Checks (Cthulhupunk)

dgswensen · 10-22-2004, 04:08 PM

Hi, all.

I have a question about Mythos Fright Checks. I know that a character's Will is cut in half for purposes of determining the fright check result, before any subtractions for Mythos beasties are made. My question is, some of the higher-level old ones have Fright Check penalties of -20.

So say a character has a Will of 12, which is halved to 6, minus 20 is a total of -14. So not only are they rolling against very long odds (I'm assuming only a critical success would succeed), but since you roll on the table and add the number you missed it by, you could easily roll 3d6 on the Fright Check table and have to add 20 or 30 points to your roll.

Is this correct? (I'm an old hand at original Call of Cthulhu; I am not as familiar with GURPS and just want to make sure I'm understanding how to implement the rules correctly.)

Thanks.

Eljay451 · 10-22-2004, 04:12 PM

That's how I do it. MFC's are nasty.

garyb · 10-22-2004, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgswensen

Is this correct? (I'm an old hand at original Call of Cthulhu; I am not as familiar with GURPS and just want to make sure I'm understanding how to implement the rules correctly.)

I'm also an 'old hand' at CoC... while the fear system works fine for other GURPS in was just a quick fix for GURPS....

I suggest you throw it out... use the CoC System... it helps define the genre much better and should have been imported with the conversion.

Multiply a characters Will+Strongwill times 6 for their current sanity... and then use EVERYTHING else from CoC... I've used it for years...

Eljay451 · 10-22-2004, 04:24 PM

Hi dgswensen,

Note, garyb and I disagree with this issue. I've had good experience with MFC from GURPS Cthulhupunk. He's had good experience with adapting CoC's system.

Use whichever works best for your campaign. Enjoy!

Sincerely,
--Eljay

dgswensen · 10-22-2004, 04:41 PM

Thanks to both of you for your input. I appreciate it.

I might give both approaches a try and see which works best for my players.

Sam Baughn · 10-23-2004, 06:15 AM

My method for simulating Cthulhu style insanity is to allow players to choose new mental disadvantages for their character at any time I judge it appropriate and to give them the points for the disadvantages.

The players like it because it gives them a chance to rapidly improve their characters (I usually ask that the points go to appropriate skills and advantages, such as combat reflexes, hidden lore or supernatural abilities) and it gives them a chance to choose the psychological problems which they feel are most appropriate for their characters.

Eljay451 · 10-23-2004, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect Organism

My method for simulating Cthulhu style insanity is to allow players to choose new mental disadvantages for their character at any time I judge it appropriate and to give them the points for the disadvantages.

You are a kinder, gentler GM than I. I inflict them with the mental disadvantage (which I choose for them). And I don't "comp" them with points to spend.

The net effect is the total bottom-line point value of the character is decreased.

Bruno · 10-23-2004, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgswensen

Is this correct? (I'm an old hand at original Call of Cthulhu; I am not as familiar with GURPS and just want to make sure I'm understanding how to implement the rules correctly.)

Your interpretation seems correct to me. It virtually guarentees that any normal PC will run wibbling away in terror, fall down and wibble, or have a stroke on the spot, when confronted with Cthulhu.

My inner GM says this is the expected result, and therefore is acceptable.

I personally think the halving of Will is a bit of a rules-hack, and would simply give Mythos-check-inducing critters an additional -5 to -10 on the fright check modifier, but I am a kind and loving GM and would never inflict Mythos creatures on my players.

No, never.

Nope nope nope.

Well, maby once.

dgswensen · 10-23-2004, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eljay451

You are a kinder, gentler GM than I. I inflict them with the mental disadvantage (which I choose for them). And I don't "comp" them with points to spend.

The net effect is the total bottom-line point value of the character is decreased.

Yeah, that was going to be my next question... it does seem a little strange to give characters a big point boost for taking a disastrous fright check; however, on the other hand, the original CoC rules do have a provision for "insane insight," which allows you to boost Cthulhu Mythos ratings and / or get insights into Mythos creatures when you go insane.

So I can see both sides of the coin.

thastygliax · 10-23-2004, 01:39 PM

The creatures that impose -20 on Fright Checks are the ones that in CoC have SAN Loss on the order of 1d10[?]/1d100. If your roll forces you to take the larger amount, then your average SAN Loss is approximately equal to an average character's starting SAN--enough to blast your mind to atoms. If you get lucky and only take the smaller amount, you still have a 50-50 shot of temporary insanity based on that loss. And this doesn't even begin to take into account that most PCs unlucky enough to encounter a Mythos god had to deal with cultists, servitors, and elritch tomes just to get that far, so they're probably a little unhinged already.

So, if you've seen Cthulhu up close and personal and are only rolling 3d+20 or so on the Fright Check Table, you got off light.

10-22-2004, 04:08 PM	#1
dgswensen Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manifesto, MT	Question about Mythos Fright Checks (Cthulhupunk) Hi, all. I have a question about Mythos Fright Checks. I know that a character's Will is cut in half for purposes of determining the fright check result, before any subtractions for Mythos beasties are made. My question is, some of the higher-level old ones have Fright Check penalties of -20. So say a character has a Will of 12, which is halved to 6, minus 20 is a total of -14. So not only are they rolling against very long odds (I'm assuming only a critical success would succeed), but since you roll on the table and add the number you missed it by, you could easily roll 3d6 on the Fright Check table and have to add 20 or 30 points to your roll. Is this correct? (I'm an old hand at original Call of Cthulhu; I am not as familiar with GURPS and just want to make sure I'm understanding how to implement the rules correctly.) Thanks. __________________ That ain't no shepherd.

10-22-2004, 04:12 PM	#2
Eljay451 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chanhassen, MN	Re: Question about Mythos Fright Checks (Cthulhupunk) That's how I do it. MFC's are nasty.

10-22-2004, 04:24 PM	#4
Eljay451 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chanhassen, MN	Re: Question about Mythos Fright Checks (Cthulhupunk) Hi dgswensen, Note, garyb and I disagree with this issue. I've had good experience with MFC from GURPS Cthulhupunk. He's had good experience with adapting CoC's system. Use whichever works best for your campaign. Enjoy! Sincerely, --Eljay Last edited by Eljay451; 10-22-2004 at 07:23 PM. Reason: typo

10-22-2004, 04:41 PM	#5
dgswensen Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manifesto, MT	Re: Question about Mythos Fright Checks (Cthulhupunk) Thanks to both of you for your input. I appreciate it. I might give both approaches a try and see which works best for my players. __________________ That ain't no shepherd.

10-23-2004, 06:15 AM	#6
Sam Baughn Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and some other bits.	Re: Question about Mythos Fright Checks (Cthulhupunk) My method for simulating Cthulhu style insanity is to allow players to choose new mental disadvantages for their character at any time I judge it appropriate and to give them the points for the disadvantages. The players like it because it gives them a chance to rapidly improve their characters (I usually ask that the points go to appropriate skills and advantages, such as combat reflexes, hidden lore or supernatural abilities) and it gives them a chance to choose the psychological problems which they feel are most appropriate for their characters. __________________ My blog.

10-23-2004, 01:39 PM	#10
thastygliax Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lexington, KY	Re: Question about Mythos Fright Checks (Cthulhupunk) The creatures that impose -20 on Fright Checks are the ones that in CoC have SAN Loss on the order of 1d10[?]/1d100. If your roll forces you to take the larger amount, then your average SAN Loss is approximately equal to an average character's starting SAN--enough to blast your mind to atoms. If you get lucky and only take the smaller amount, you still have a 50-50 shot of temporary insanity based on that loss. And this doesn't even begin to take into account that most PCs unlucky enough to encounter a Mythos god had to deal with cultists, servitors, and elritch tomes just to get that far, so they're probably a little unhinged already. So, if you've seen Cthulhu up close and personal and are only rolling 3d+20 or so on the Fright Check Table, you got off light. __________________ Tim Emrick / my blog: Studded Plate / my gaming site: Thastygliax's Vault