Explaining "Call of Cthulhu " setting

[Luke Bunyip]

Have tried to explain Call of Cthulhu to one of my roleplaying buddies and his missus. Instead, I have suggested that they just read some of H.P.Lovecrafts musings. Any recommendations? Something short would be good, as I have to print it out (they are very 20th C people, like their hard copy).

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Luke Bunyip

Have tried to explain Call of Cthulhu to one of my roleplaying buddies and his missus. Instead, I have suggested that they just read some of H.P.Lovecrafts musings. Any recommendations? Something short would be good, as I have to print it out (they are very 20th C people, like their hard copy).

The Call of Cthulhu itself is pretty good; so is The Colour out of Space. I'm very fond of The Shadow out of Time and At the Mountains of Madness, but both are rather longer. If you can get hold of the silent film of The Call of Cthulhu (filmed within the past decade, I think, but in a classic 20s style), it's quite well made.

Bill Stoddard

[sir_pudding]

The Dunwich Horror is probably the best model of Lovecraft's mythos stuff for the way the CoC RPG is typically played.

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

The Dunwich Horror is probably the best model of Lovecraft's mythos stuff for the way the CoC RPG is typically played.

Yeah. I think you can get most of the idea about what to do in, and expect from, a CoC campaign by reading it and the eponymous The Call of Cthulhu.

[gmillerd]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

The Dunwich Horror is probably the best model of Lovecraft's mythos stuff for the way the CoC RPG is typically played.

I agree, long run story with multiple stages, solid back story, a story with a pace to it, investigators that are outsiders, innocent insiders, deadly npcs, red herrings, legitimate creepy 'native stuff', impending doom race against time, some amount of nice 'cut scenes', multiple npcs that need to be rallied, various npcs that could go either way as ally or foe, various conflicts that cannot be over come by firepower, opportunities for ultimate sacrifice / hail marry to win, no material gain, a lifetime of searching for answers in a bottle ... suddenly I really play some mythos gurps ... anyone?

[Spudzill]

Actually, I would play the movie From Beyond and Re-Animator. Then bust up at the disonance the game will provide. Strangely, I liked those film adaptations more than the source material. They were livelier.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Spudzill

Actually, I would play the movie From Beyond and Re-Animator. Then bust up at the disonance the game will provide. Strangely, I liked those film adaptations more than the source material. They were livelier.

I'd rather recommend the collection of short stories in the movie about Necronomicon (I think this is the movie's name too, but not sure). From Beyond is somewhat advanced.

Oh, Dagon was pretty good.

The game Dark Corners Of The Earth is very good for the feel, too.

[aesir23]

Originally Posted by Spudzill

Actually, I would play the movie From Beyond and Re-Animator. Then bust up at the disonance the game will provide. Strangely, I liked those film adaptations more than the source material. They were livelier.

"Dagon" by the same director is actually a very well done adaptation of Shadows over Innsmouth. Higher budget too.

[madickey]

Originally Posted by whswhs

The Call of Cthulhu itself is pretty good; so is The Colour out of Space. I'm very fond of The Shadow out of Time and At the Mountains of Madness, but both are rather longer. If you can get hold of the silent film of The Call of Cthulhu (filmed within the past decade, I think, but in a classic 20s style), it's quite well made.

Bill Stoddard

Call of Cthulhu, The Dunwich Horror (with Dean Stockwell for bonus points!) and a few of the HP Lovecraft collection of shorts are all on Netflix instant. Cool Air and Rough Magik Initiative are both soon leaving instant play, but I found them both to be pretty weak anyway.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by madickey

The Dunwich Horror (with Dean Stockwell for bonus points!)

No no no no! Dean Stockwell trying to sacrifice _Sandra Dee_ to a Thing Man Was Not Meant To Know.