Ia! Ia! Chthulhu ftaghn!

Hi all, I'm a very new Keeper with a group of 5 players. We played The Lightless Beacon over two sessions, and all the characters survived (should have had more younglings!). Everyone had a good time and we want to carry on, and at some point do some more modern-day encounters.

Now I'm looking for recommendations for our next adventure. Want to do something with a bit more depth and room for investigation, and something where they will encounter cultists who will drop some Mythos breadcrumbs for them. 1920s/30s era, either New England or potentially West Coast.

This Line Isn’t Secure is an actual play podcast for the Delta Green Roleplaying Game -  a popular modern setting based on Call of Cthulhu. Season One sees our players begin the critically acclaimed campaign Impossible Landscapes. Inspired by great audio dramas like Archive 81 and Malevolent, and the films of David Fincher, TLIS is focused on high production value and immersion, using music and sound design to transport the listener into the story.

Enjoy our teaser trailer, and make sure to subscribe and join us for Episode 1, premiering February 6 at 6 PM EST.

Watch the trailer here >>> https://youtu.be/BAzwgSKtSO4?si=N5Q5lRpU-AmQDetr

How does the Proto Soggoth fighting manuver work when they have a build of 0.

Rules state any character attempting a fighting manuver on someone that is 3 build greater or more - is unsecuessful.

Are these Proto Soggoths just unable to attack Build 3 characters and have to attack build 2 characters with 2 penalty dice?

Am I missing a rule that monsters can ignore build size?

In continuing to rip off The Secret World's League of Monster Slayers, I plan to include a notebook much like the ABCs of Monsters (https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/League\_of\_Monster\_Slayers#The\_ABCs\_of\_Monsters). My question is, how much, if any, Mythos Skill points can/should be gained from such a crude source of information? Or does it not have enough gravitas to be taken seriously?

How does Consume Likeness work? Can the Serpent Person vary their clothing from day to day? Otherwise, seeing someone dressed in the same dress every day for a week while on a luxury cruise would definitely raise eyebrows. I looked at the Keeper's Guide and 2 Headed Serpent as well as the description in a scenario that I'm running and the physical characteristics are fixed, but they don't wear physical clothing and it's not clear if they can modify their skin to vary the appearance of their clothing.

Hi!

My 1-on-1 medieval Pulp Cthulhu scenario, Storm Witch's Revelations, has just been released in the Zgrozy series. The Hero, Karel Dietrichstein, is a witch-hunter, and he hunts the titular Storm Witch, while at the same time trying to discern if his prowess is a gift from God, or something darker and weirder...

I've had great fun testing and designing it, the cover artist Piotr Kozioł did an amazing job as always (the idea actually started with his art), and overall I'm very happy with how it turned out. If you'd like to check this scenario out, it's on DriveThru for $2.99: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/509829/storm-witch-s-revelations-a-1-on-1-pulp-cthulhu-scenario-from-zgrozy

The Investigators ripped the lock out of a stateroom door in the Adriatic in order to conduct a search. They know the ship's detective will be notified and commence an investigation of the burglary. Nobody saw them. What skill should be used for them to cover any evidence of their identity? We ended up deciding to make it an opposed Spot Hidden between the investigators and the detective, but it could easily be their Disguise, Sleight of Hand or Stealth versus the detective's Spot Hidden. You could even make an argument for it to be a function of Locksmith, since that deals with all aspects of break-ins.

Havw there been any updates on the status of updated sourcebooks for Dunwich, Innsmouth, Kingsport, etc.

I love the new Arkham book and I'm jonesing for more!

I'm subscribed to Chaosiums newsletter, but I was hoping I missed an announcement due to the holidays.

I want to make a post-apocalyptic zombie RPG and I really liked the CoC system, Do you think it would look really bad if I changed the monsters' names to the theme I want and took away the players' spells and powers and just used weapons?

In the Arkham sourcebook, Goodie Fowler's Ghost has a Move of 9 (when physically manifested) but it doesn't say anything about her CON (it's blank/just a line). Does that mean, if she chases someone, she always moves at the same speed with no chance of being slowed down with a failed CON roll? Sure, messing with Goodie is a BAD idea, but I'm not a huge fan of guaranteed death unless it's fun.

I ran the haunting today with 4 friends. All of us were playing TRPG for the first time.

!After searching the boston globe/library/hall of records, the players decided to go into the house and met mr dooley. They talked for some time if they should go to the sanitarium/old church but decided to go in since the research part felt a bit repetitive and it didn't give much "real help"(maybe I could have done better on the front part so that it felt more rewarding?) Then the creepy sounds, strange things, and the bed attack happened which the players all liked. The knife and the rat pack did quite a lot of damage to one player, so they retreated for one day without opening the final door.!<

!The next day, when they met mr dooley again in front of the house, they suspected that mr dooley might be the villain and hit him with the trash can lid(with some sanity checks). They dragged dooley to the basement, found that he wasn't the villain(the knife still moved), and Korbitt cast the dominate spell on dooley, who became unconscious the second time after being hit again by the players. They managed to use the knife on corbitt, solve the case, and the player who hit dooley got a 01 on the luck roll, so I just made dooley have amnesia and forget everything about the attack.!<

!Overall, the story went an unexpectable path but we had a great time! Thanks to all the people who gave advice to me on my previous post.!<

Hi all! I’m a new keeper, and new to RPGs in general-I have run 2 CoC scenarios up until now (The Haunting with 2 players and Paper Chase with 1), all to new players.

What feels weird to me is that our runtimes are shorter than suggested or compared to videos/podcasts online. For example, The Haunting took us 2 sessions, the first one about 2 hours and the second about 1 hour (maybe this one is relatively normal?). Paper Chase was less than 2 hours, though, and felt a bit empty.

I can’t help shake the feeling that I’m doing something wrong as a keeper, especially because detailed descriptions or creative improvisation are not my strong suits.

Ultimately, the important question is probably “are we having fun”, and we indeed do. I guess I’m looking for validation that short sessions are normal, and it will get better as we all gain more experience.

A campaign that takes place in just one city/general region instead of all over the planet. Kinda like the Wire, Sopranos, or Breaking Bad. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against MON or Orient Express; it just seems like it'd be interesting to focus purely on one area to flesh it out more.

To be fair theres a handful of mediocre campaigns that do this like horrors heart; and its pretty easy to make a homebrew campaign from existing scenarios in Boston or Arkham; but it'd be nice to have a professional polished campiagn. The only thing not counting Delta Green (simply bevause i dont know it that well) thats like this is a Time to Harvest.

Maybe I'm just a picky bastard.

I'm ripping off The Secret World's "League of Monster Hunters" to an extent, and I'm trying to come up with an 'initiation' ritual. Essentially, kids formed a club decades ago to hunt/investigate monsters, and new members have had to go through an initiation to join. I'm trying to think of things that kids around 9-12 might have to do to join said club. Obviously not immediate death things, or going gibbering mad things (although death and madness have occurred) but things kids in this genre could possibly get away with. I have a couple of things so far:

Carve your name on a specific wall in the Arkham Sewers (watch out for Creepers)

See Goodie Fowler's ghost

Spit in Old Man Gardner's well (in the Blasted Heath)

Any ideas?

One of my friends I play CoC TTRPG with has... Lots of energy let's say and does everithing he wants, not what would fit into Lovecraftian horror roleplay (f. example: investigators meet a farmer (all leads lead to him as a lot knowing and important character) and his first reaction is:"lets shoot him in his head!"). Tho he really enjoys playing, and I am glad he's playing, but i would like you to hive me some advice on how to balance the game to be fun for him and more investigative players

I'm looking for standalone adventures that I could string together to a longer campaign if things turn out that way, but that offer satisfying conclusions on their own.

And I'm not specifically looking for one-shots. Short-to-medium and even a bit longer adventures are welcome!

Hi, in two months time I will be taking part in a small board game and RPG festival. I have been asked to run a CoC session - a one-shot for 4-5 hours of fun for 4 players.

I'm mainly running games of 6 of my friends, so they are stretching the time. I also often lead in such a way that I don't rush them. Therefore, many times scenarios which according to the manual should take one session, take us 2-3. So I have to choose something suitable for a smaller number of people, but to finish the fun in one session.

Personally, I'm leaning towards ‘Mr Corbitt’ - a scenario from ‘House of Madness’ because it contains investigation, conversations and a climactic moment in the form of a battle with a monster. But do you have any other, better suggestions? It would be nice if the scenario included a plot twist, so that new players would still remember the game afterwards.

Title says it all. I’m not super interested in running the classic Cthulhu setting but dark age seems fun. Can I get away with just that book or do I need both?

(Warning: Some potential spoilers here)

I am preparing to run Masks of Nyarltahotep for a group of players who have little to no experience with, or knowledge of, the Lovecraft mythos or the Call of Cthulhu rpg. I tried to run them through Horror on the Orient Express about a year ago, and they had a TPK on the way back to England from Constantinople on the train. They were a little unhappy with some of the obscure weird scenarios in that campaign, some of the horror elements, and the fact that it truly is a "railroad" campaign where they have to follow a particular path laid out for them.

Masks seems more of a sandbox type campaign where once they are given the main mystery, they can pretty much follow the clues in any order, and they have a much longer time limit to accomplish their goals. I think they will like it more.

Anyway, the newest version of the campaign starts off in Peru in 1921, and then picks up in NYC in 1925. I was thinking about presenting some scenarios that take place in between those years that aren't very deadly and might give them more of a hint that Nyarlathotep has many forms and "masks".

What do people suggest? I'm looking for scenarios that involve Nyarlathotep or one of his cults, don't take too many sessions, aren't very complicated, take place in certain years (or can be adjusted to take place in those years) and can be played on a VTT. The scenarios should also involve some adventure that Elias Jackson can lead them into to keep the connection with him for the years between when they leave him in 1921 to the start of the main campaign in 1925.

I know that the book: The Masks of Nyarlathotep Companion has a scenario called The God of Mitnal that takes place in 1923 that I'm considering. So, I have:

1921 Peru

1922 ?

1923 The God of Mitnal

1924 ? (I'm currently considering Black as Pitch at Midnight from Tales of the Caribbean by Goblin Press)

1925 Start of campaign in NYC

I was also considering Servant of God from Tales of the Caribbean but that's too complicated, and also involves a murder mystery making it too similar to what is to come in NYC.

So, what scenarios do people suggest? Has anyone run The God of Mitnal and can comment on it? Or should I just do the Peru introduction and skip right to the campaign?

Thanks.

Greetings, fellow investigators & keepers!

Looking for a story-driven, atmospheric, and thoroughly haunting 1920s Call of Cthulhu (7th ed) scenario that works equally well for newcomers and veteran investigators?

The Menagerie of Forgotten Horrors might be just what you need. This recently updated, well-received adventure is designed for 2–6 investigators, running comfortably in 2 - 4 sessions - perfect as either a one-shot or part of your ongoing campaign.

Inside the 106-page PDF, you’ll find:

• A story-driven plot set in Jazz Age New York & surroundings
• 27 pages of atmospheric handouts and maps
• 6 ready-to-play investigator characters

Join Mary Cobbler in her desperate search for her missing brother, uncover a wealthy New York millionaire’s dark secrets, and confront cosmic horrors in a cinematic finale with multiple possible endings. If you do play it, as an author of the book, I’d love to hear about your experiences - or answer any questions you have.

May the Elder Gods remain merciful - at least until the horrors come true.

Available from Miskatonic Repository

Scenario trailer on YouTube

I recently ran the Haunting, set in modern day, for some friends to see if they were interested in CoC. It ended up being a hit, so now they want to continue on with the same characters they made. Now I'm not sure how to continue and I was hoping for suggestions.

The team is a D-tier vtuber, a football player at Arkham U (go Badgers!), and a videography teacher that's giving the other two extra credit for helping with his ghost hunting Youtube channel. I'd like something set near Arkham, and either already a modern scenario or easily convertible to modern. It'd be a bonus if they got to fight some cultists.

I'm looking at running a Call if Cthulu game to see how my group receives it (plus I love the cosmic orrir genre wo wouldn't mind having this in my collection anyway) and am looking at getting a starter set to jump straight in.

However, I noticed that there are two different starter sets? Which one should I get? Or are they both the same?

Hey, fellow humans and eldritch creatures.

I'm a rather new Keeper but I'm also the only one willing to write a Call of Cthulhu campaign among my friends and I've been planning a multi-era Call of Cthulhu campaign inspired by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, replacing them with Lovecraftian deities. I've already run the "War" chapter, set in WWI Verdun, featuring an avatar of Yogg-Sothoth with false-hydra elements. Now, I’m working on "Pestilence", and I’d love some input.

This chapter takes place in the Middle East during the Middle Ages. A powerful noble has been secluding himself in his fortified city and is refusing to answer the Calif's messengers, cutting off trade and plunging the region into chaos. In the meantime, villages and small towns are being pillaged by mercenaries, and The Black Plague is spreading rapidly from the lands of this almost-seceding noble.

!What the players don’t yet know is that the plague was caused by the seceding noble's grieving wife, who lost her infant in childbirth and made a desperate pact with Shub-Niggurath. The child was resurrected as an avatar of the Black Goat, spreading a horrific, zombie-like affliction and the seceding noble was already turned into a zombie, chained to his own bed and hidden from his own court so that they don't take over and possibly try to kill her and the infant.!<

!The zombies in this setting are slow and mindless but dangerously strong. A few individuals may be outrunned or pinned down and killed, but a mob of them is almost impossible to defeat with conventional warfare. I’m also considering adding "special" zombies and, obviously, a big boss battle between a literal zombie-baby with lovecraftian powers.!<

!Keep in mind that while the main focus of this campaign is the zombie plague, I plan to also run, in parallel, a sub-story around court politics with the seceding noble having made a pact with a rather rich and cunning aristocrat that is disrupting trade in the region while sending his own forces as bandits to plunder the Calif's lands. !<

My players will be a small group of people (4 players with maybe a few NPCs) tasked to deliver an ultimatum to the seceding noble and to help him stem the plague. They must be discreet to avoid bandits and they will have to infiltrate the noble's lands, hoping to get past patrols and plague-ridden villages to deliver their message.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on:

• !Stats & mechanics for plague zombies in Call of Cthulhu.!<

• !Ideas for special infected !<

• How to find cool historical-appropriate random encounters and such
• Cool "scenes" and things for my players to do/experience/investigate on. >!(I already got some ideas of a small villages being forced to pay the tax twice, from different tax collectors, being stuck in a small fort's library, looking for an exit (with puzzles) with a horde of zombies at the door and only a few hours before they punch it down and maybe some large-scale battles they'll have to oversee or run away from.)!<
• Additional lore, inspirations, or historical details to enrich the setting.
• Any advice on running horror in a medieval setting.

Thanks in advance for your time and your inputs. Love you all

Your search for answers about the vanishing of an entire town has carried you further than you ever imagined—across weathered maps and whispered myths, through riddled accounts and the sharp tang of half-truths. The trail was a patchwork of the unreliable, stitched together by stories that unraveled when pulled too tightly. But one stood out—a sailor’s slurred mutter over a cracked mug of something that reeked of turpentine. He spoke of a survivor. A thread, delicate and frayed, left hanging from the tapestry of whatever tore that town from the world.

That thread brought you here: the continent’s ragged edge, to a city that seems to defy cartography, where the streets curl like question marks and the ocean listens more keenly than it speaks. Fathom’s Port—a place cobbled together from compromise and ruin, part stone, part shipwreck, held together by salt, storms, and stubbornness. Its docks groan under the weight of crates and ceaseless footfalls, while buildings tilt toward one another, their crooked spines suggesting whispered secrets exchanged in the dark.

The Salty Mermaid—half tavern, half confession booth—feels like the city bottled and poured into a single, warped room. It hums with an uneasy kind of life: not joyous, but not quite mournful. The patrons lean over battered tables with the air of people trying to forget something they dare not name. Smoke lingers like restless ghosts, mixing with the tang of stale ale and the faint whiff of spilled blood, long since scrubbed away but never truly gone. The chairs and tables are pocked with scars—stories etched in wood by knives and impatience, with no one left to tell their endings.

You and your companions sit in a corner, shadows pooling around your table like an old acquaintance. The light from a hanging lantern sways uncertainly, throwing fractured shapes onto the walls as you watch the door. You’re looking for a man you’ve never seen but somehow feel you’ll know when you see him. The hours stretch, syrup-thick and heavy, and the room shifts around you—voices rising and falling, the scrape of boots against warped planks, a spill of laughter that dies too quickly.

Then the music begins again. At first, it’s nothing remarkable—a wandering melody, as aimless as the drinkers who hum it under their breath, paired with lyrics steeped in betrayal and heartbreak. The sort of tune that drifts unnoticed, lost among the clamor. But something shifts. The words twist just enough to make you pause, drawing your focus to the singer's voice, which rises, curling like smoke into the corners of the room.

You glance at your companions. They’re transfixed, their eyes pinned to the stage as though caught on barbed hooks, and you feel the certainty of it settle over you like a chill