Post by stevemitchell on Jan 31, 2019 12:22:34 GMT -6
Chaosium Inc. has recently published the Call of Cthulhu Starter Set as an introduction to the full Call of Cthulhu role-playing game, now in its 7th edition. In my opinion, the Starter Set offers a lot of value for only $24.95, and is one of the best starter set/quick-start packages I have seen for a RPG. The contents include:
Book One: Alone Against the Flames presents a solitaire adventure for 1 Investigator, with the “system” acting as the Keeper. This is set in Emberhead, New Hampshire.
Book Two: Introductory Rules provides the basics for creating an Investigator, using skills, fighting, losing Sanity, etc.
Book Three: Paper Chase and Other Adventures includes three ready-to-run scenarios:
• Paper Chase, for 1 to 2 players plus Keeper, set in Arnoldsburg Michigan.
• Edge of Darkness, for 2 to 5 players plus Keeper, set in Arkham, Massachusetts and surrounding countryside, and guest-starring a Zombie Dead Raccoon!
• Dead Man Stomp, for 2 to 5 players plus Keeper, set in Harlem, New York.
In addition, the game includes 5 ready-made Investigators, 4 blank Investigator sheets, a set of polyhedral dice, and handouts for the scenarios.
You learn the game by running through the Alone Against the Flames scenario first, where you gradually build your character sheet and learn about the system mechanics, with occasional reference to the Introductory Rules in Book Two.
In my first play-through, I created an Investigator named Erica Kane, an antiquarian en route from somewhere upstate in New Hampshire to a new job in Arkham. Unfortunately for Miss Kane, her bus broke down just as it reached the small and isolated town of Emberhead, stranding her there for several days. The rest of the adventure had her exploring the town, meeting some of the residents there, and gradually realizing the town held a strange and possibly dangerous secret.
I don’t want to give away much here, so suffice it to say, that although Miss Kane retained her Sanity throughout the adventure, she was not so fortunate with respect to her life. . .although if she had succeeded with that last Strength roll, she might have reached that new job in Arkham after all!
Book One: Alone Against the Flames presents a solitaire adventure for 1 Investigator, with the “system” acting as the Keeper. This is set in Emberhead, New Hampshire.
Book Two: Introductory Rules provides the basics for creating an Investigator, using skills, fighting, losing Sanity, etc.
Book Three: Paper Chase and Other Adventures includes three ready-to-run scenarios:
• Paper Chase, for 1 to 2 players plus Keeper, set in Arnoldsburg Michigan.
• Edge of Darkness, for 2 to 5 players plus Keeper, set in Arkham, Massachusetts and surrounding countryside, and guest-starring a Zombie Dead Raccoon!
• Dead Man Stomp, for 2 to 5 players plus Keeper, set in Harlem, New York.
In addition, the game includes 5 ready-made Investigators, 4 blank Investigator sheets, a set of polyhedral dice, and handouts for the scenarios.
You learn the game by running through the Alone Against the Flames scenario first, where you gradually build your character sheet and learn about the system mechanics, with occasional reference to the Introductory Rules in Book Two.
In my first play-through, I created an Investigator named Erica Kane, an antiquarian en route from somewhere upstate in New Hampshire to a new job in Arkham. Unfortunately for Miss Kane, her bus broke down just as it reached the small and isolated town of Emberhead, stranding her there for several days. The rest of the adventure had her exploring the town, meeting some of the residents there, and gradually realizing the town held a strange and possibly dangerous secret.
I don’t want to give away much here, so suffice it to say, that although Miss Kane retained her Sanity throughout the adventure, she was not so fortunate with respect to her life. . .although if she had succeeded with that last Strength roll, she might have reached that new job in Arkham after all!
