CTHULHU OOC Discussion

I have uploaded some of the material for the Cthulhu Play and Post Game System, but unfortunately the adventure is not to come until October. Perhaps a Halloween launch, who knows?

I have yet to finish designing and compiling all the maps and graphics that will be required for the universe and the adventure, which is quite a bit of work, but hey, if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be doing it. The world has to be constructed, because in Play and Post adventuring parameters have to be set to accommodate the pre-designed adventures.

Everything, with the exception of the OCC Discussion and Character Submittals are locked as there is no need for any posts to be made in those threads.

Please, review the system and present any questions you have in the discussion or you many PM me directly if you wish.

Well, I already said I would be in on this one, and hopefully I will indeed have the time come Oct. However, I will wait till it gets a bit closer to the launch date before I polish off my character ideas. My mood for what type of character I want to play tends to change with the biorhythms, or something, so though I do already have a couple characters in mind, I'll see what I'm feeling like come autumn.

Well there's no pressure. Once everything is in place, it will begin when everyone can be accommodated and not before that. There is going to be a learning curve for everyone, as far as I know a system of this fashion has never been implemented, which is probably because it is reliant upon someone with a design background to run it. If I could ever get my sorry butt to learn Python, I'd program it for easy modification than anyone could sit back and easily make character sheet adjustments, but for now it's all manual. As I said though, I like doing it. This should be very close to a true desktop role playing experience, as it utilizes a complex character sheet.

Oh, I do have a question for people.

Is there anyone who cannot see the graphics in any of the Cthulhu posts?

The pictures are linked to the Gallery and it has been brought to my attention that a Firewall setting may prevent the viewing. This does not seem occur with off site links, which really confuses me, since you'd figure that if anything was going to get blocked it certainly wouldn't be a graphic that originates from the very site you are looking at.

I would like to know if this is a problem, because then I will know to stash the graphics somewhere else so we won't run into any viewing problems.

I was checking out some adventures at Chaosium. (You can purchase and download modules).
There are some cool stories and all the work is already done. One is a Western style adventure as well, looks pretty cool.

Come Autumn I'll make the decision whether or not go ahead with Cthulhu based on time constraints and overall interest.

RPM & Sub Bear,

I am thinking of giving this a go. Things have been a little busy so I am still organizing the adventure (still need to make some more maps, and depictions which is necessary).

This is a Game Mastered adventure, and is run in role-playing, play & post style. I many submit a character, which will be run as an NPC.

I have added some more information, to the Character Submit Topic as I require more information to create your Character Sheets. Look at the 'Reginald Peterson' example (it vanished for a while when Forumotion was screwing around with their servers). Your character sheets will look just like that, utilizing your rolled attributes and skills that you have allotted points to.

Oh crap.

I didn't realiz this was the sort of story that used dice rolls for stuff.

I'm going to have to back out of this. I don't understand the whole dice roll thing and I find it too complicated for me to learn. (Sorry, can't teach this dog a new trick)

I'm sorry to do this to you, Tiph as I was really looking forward to joining this story, but I don't want to join in something I totally don't understand and make mistake after mistake by making posts that don't work because they don't match up to the percentages I rolled or what ever that is.

No worries... I was actually considering the style of the game play myself. I think that we should create a Cthulhu story, but one that is a story telling style, that way, I don't have to get all my 'poo' togehter .

When I get a chance I am going to revamp the scenario. It will most likely phase out Everlasting Night... but it's proving to be a slow mover for good reasons.

I am going to move Cthulhu into the Archive so the characters will be preserved.

So I moved some stuff around.

I suggest that we make this a modern adventure for ease of play. A 1920's setting may be appealing but I suggest we keep in present time and concentrate on some good old fashioned horror or thriller style writing.

Suggestions for characters:

In the spirit of H.P. Lovecraft the characters are usually more cerebral. The shoot first ask questions later types usually don't exist, more often they college professors, archaeologists, researchers.... the sorts who usually don't have adventures nor crave them. Basically they are ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations.

Oh, yeah... these ordinary people eventually learn more about the MYTHOS and even develop the ability to cast spells. Sort of left that one out... that's a BIG part of the scenario. These spells are of course very rare and more than often ritualistic. There are many types of spells, however, I'll post a bunch so people can get feel for them. The thing about Cthulhu spells is that using them usually has dire effects on a person's body... this mainly effects their sanity. The more a character embraces the Mythos and uses magick the crazier they get. The crazier you get the more of the world of the Mythos one can see, but then one risks going totally insane.

That is Cthulhu in a nutshell.

I don't advise characters beginning with magical abilities. I think that's something that should be developed as the character delves more into the Mythos.

I added this passage to 'Cthulhu Universe'

In order to better define this scenario let us imagine that we are writing in the spirit of 'The X-Files' or the more current, 'Fringe' series. Your character is an investigator but not necessarily an FBI agent or police officer. These professions are not discouraged, but generally if one creates an officer of the law it usually forces all other characters introduced into the story to follow suit.

All the strange events that your character(s) is/are investigating are always connected to either the OCCULT or the MYTHOS, in some capacity. The Mythos resides beneath all that is occult, but can be viewed as an esoteric realm amongst what is commonly known in the world.



I think if we approach this scenario from such a perspective it becomes clearer. While a main underlying story line will develop, we can have many side adventures, where characters are dealing with such things as were-wolves or vampires.

I should also clarify that in this story Vampires are MONSTERS. They are not over-sensitive boys or girls who long for mortality, they are vicious creatures that care only about obtaining their next meal. They can camouflage themselves as a normal person but in reality their persona is 100% false and beneath it all they are a creature that cannot relate to, or be related to by humans. Any vampires that are reminiscent of Anne Rice or Twilight will instantly die of their own self-pity.

I should mention that I have read the Anne Rice series and rather enjoyed them, but such romantic interpretations of vampires have no place in a Cthulhu setting.

I like how you've changed things around, Tiph. I'll adjust Beatrice's profile and make the necessary adjustments to fit the new story setting.

I'll keep her name and origin the same, although I may need to find a different image. LOL...no big deal.

Thanks for making it something I can easily adjust to. I feel bad that you had to change the whole gaming system around like that. I didn't mean for you to go to such measures. But I'm glad ya did....

No worries. I believe Contrary may be joining us, as this is a brand new story and nothing has really been established.

Sorry about changing the era, but it just seems easier to keep it modern.

I have basically used Oxford University as the template for Omenwich, although it lies in Canterbury.

Everyone is free to start off their characters anywhere in the world and we'll just slowly pull it all together. My first post has just established a connection, but I have no idea what it will lead to, or if it will just create a connection to another story. The board is pretty much wide open.

No prob. I'll figure out where to put Bea and start working on a story for her. Eventually the character's paths will cross when the time comes.

Been busy of late. Post as soon as I can. Bloody Web Design! It's freakin' time consuming!

Understandable, Tiph. Take your time.

Just to mention (I'll have to post this in Cthulhu Universe) but in the tradition of Cthulhu all monsters tend to dissolve or vanish when killed. Once in a while depending on the circumstances some remnants may be found but for the most part nothing is left behind to offer proof of their existence. This perpetuates the mystery of the Mythos and the Occult and provides a constant reminder that these are other worldly beings of unknown origins.

I thought I read that some where. I did some reading on Cthulu and remembered that from some of the stuff I'd read.

Leaving little to no trace they were even there so no one could trace them to anything, in particular their origins, which, in fact, are other worldly.

Yes... they often dissolve and evaporate. This is why many people think that those who investigate the Mythos are insane... and they might be.

We're ALL insane...it's just a matter of how much that dictates rather or not we spend time in a...um...controlled...envirnment. Yeah...that....that's the ticket.

What I would like see happen is for Callum and Frankie to discover something in the hidden Mythos chamber that will point them and Beatrice in the same direction, perhaps somewhere back in the U.K. or elsewhere in the world.

Bea has had the bajesus scared out of her right now because she doesn't know what she's dealing with other than it was something she'd never seen before. She'd read a few things here and there, but to actually "see" it for herself was something entirely, terrifyingly different.

Now, according to the things I have read, Cthulu is to have the greatest ability to venture into the world from the middle eastern countries. Maybe we could get them together in Egypt? It wouldn't be far fetched for Bea to go on another dig in that region of the world. Perhaps while she's digging there she will accidently discover something else of the mythos just about the time Callum and Frankie start snooping around that same area?

Maybe they are directed to her by locals as her dig would be on a much smaller scale with a lot less people milling about only they don't know it's Beatrice Chadwick they are about to stumble across?

What does Da Bear think?

I was just throwing idears out there for us to chew on. We can make it anywhere we want.

I personally think that is a great idea. Callum and Frankie could start to make there way to where ever you establish Beatrice's new dig. We'll role play it out though, and keep things loose.

It would be nice for a fourth to jump in and give Bea some company, but I am sure you will have no trouble weaving another story line we can merge into.

I have no idea what Bear and I develop our end, but it should be fun entwining the two stories and establishing a common antagonist.

I was thinking that if Bea did see 'Cthulhu' THAT is MAJOR! Those who witness Cthulhu, even in their dreams might go temporarily insane, and at least become quite frantic as you depicted so accurately.

All beasties of the Mythos, H.P. Lovecraft almost always depicted as oozing, bulbous, tentacled, slimy things. Even when dealing with creatures of the occult he tended to somehow make them all the more disgusting. Tentacles or pseudo-pods seemed to be common among his creatures, but they could also be insect or spider-like, basically the kind of creatures that make your skin crawl.

There are also the Deep Ones, however, which are basically like Fish People. They live at the bottom of the Ocean and of course want to take over the world. They are a constant threat to the world and our characters may have several run-in's with their kind in one form or another.

There are also creatures that live on the Moon, in what can only be described as another dimension, where there is oxygen and inhabitable temperatures. Most of the Mythos creatures exist inter-dimensionally.

Hi!

I know I haven't exactly started yet, but I am in favor of Egypt! The Middle Eastern countries definitely have great potential. Just as a point of reference, perhaps for future story lines, the 'Mythos creatures' exist all over the world and many of the stories were set in fictional New England locations like Innsmouth or Dunwich. Since we are thinking Egypt, might I suggest reading up on Nyarlathotep? "He" is an outer god that is said to originate there. Might help us come up with some ideas. ^_^

I am having issues just linking the word, so here is a not-so-pretty direct URL to the wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyarlathotep

I am working on a character now. I'd like for her to have a reason to know or meet with Bea, as Tiph suggested, to keep her company. ^_^ RPMistress--is Bea headed to Egypt right away? Should I try to plant my character there? I'd love some advice!

Awesome suggestion, Contrary. Nyarlathotep would be a great villain to throw in. We have to remember though that the chances of our characters actually killing a god are pretty much impossible, but we can defeat them by dispatching of their minions.

Most gods in Cthulhu want one thing, which is to enter the realm of Earth and create mayhem. It is often the goal of the investigators to prevent this by thwarting the plans of those that have been employed or corrupted by these gods. What do the servants get in return for helping a god? Power of course, the ability to utilize spells and/or summon creatures of the Mythos to do their bidding.

I say we strike out into Egypt and Contrary if you so choose may assist RPM's character in laying the ground work in that part of the world until the Scotsman and Irishman catch you guys up.