Jun 21, 2021
In this episode, Jon and Seth talk about game mechanics from
other game systems, and how to adapt them into Call of Cthulhu.
And, they provide advice on where game masters and players can
divine inspiration for playing Call of Cthulhu in other eras or
settings.
Topic #1
Using game mechanics from other
games:
-
Traveler -- During
character creation, players can create backstory links between each
other, and as a result of that, gain one skill improvement check
each due to that backstory event.
- King in
Yellow -- Shock and Injury
cards. In addition to the normal hit point and sanity damage,
physical and mental injury cards could be introduced that are
handed to the players to give them flavor text and game mechanical
info that expands on their physical and mental
injuries.
- Blades in the
Dark -- Flashbacks can be
used to roleplay how the investigators execute some of their kooky
plans. Skill checks can be used to see how well the investigators
prepared to sneak into a building or bribe a
guard.
- Trail of
Cthulhu -- Core clues are
given to the investigators just by simply being in the location to
gain that clue. But skill rolls can be used to determine if the
investigator gains anything extra beyond just the core
clue.
- Dungeons &
Dragons -- Inspiration. If
a player does something commendable (good idea, great roleplay,
says a funny joke, etc.) they get a 1-time credit to add a Bonus
Die to a future roll.
- Kult (Powered
by the Apocalypse) -
unless the PC is in danger of being caught or in combat, no skill
roll is required for actions like First Aid, Picking a Lock, etc.
Can relate to not having to make a Drive Auto check if just driving
to the store on a normal day.
- ALIEN
- Buddies and Rivals - having
special relationships with other player characters where some are
good and some are bad.
Topic
#2
Listener Request - Because the
most popular setting for Call of Cthulhu is in historical periods,
how might players and GMs learn more about those settings in order
to paint them properly and make them feel real?
- Watch movies of shows set during the time
period. (The Mummy (1999), Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders for UK,
Indiana Jones is 1930’s but still works) Murder on the Orient
Express (or several Agatha Christie movies and books). Ken Burns’s
“Prohibition” Documentary.
- For Gaslight Era - From Hell, Penny Dreadful,
tons of Sherlock Holmes, The Nevers
- Down Darker Trails - Warrior, spaghetti
westerns, True Grit
- Cthulhu Invictus - Rome, Spartacus
- Dark Ages - (13th Warrior is technically a
Cthulhu Dark Ages movie)
- One of Seth's players really got into 1920’s
automobiles and went down several Wiki-holes on early auto
manufacturers. Learned of the Stanley Steamer and the Jewett (with
magic amulets imbedded into the dash)
- Straying from perfect history is OK. It’s your
game. Racisim, Sexisim, Homophobia, Classism,
etc.
Things Seth keeps in mind when
doing 1920’s
- Telephone operators and switchboards. Long
distance could take over an hour to connect.
- Travel, even by car, took a long time
(Interstate system not established. Many roads unpaved and winding)
and gas stations weren’t on every street corner
- Guns (even automatic) available in hardware
stores or by mail. Concealed in most cities was still
illegal.
- Bribery -- Government officials (cops and
elected officials) are more than happy to accept a
bribe
- Prohibition (speakeasies, or cafes. Private
Clubs. Booze Cruises)
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Link:
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Thank you!!!
We can’t do this show alone. We
want to thank our amazing editors Max Mahaffa and
Edwin Nagy for their hard work and keen skills at
making us sound awesome!
We also want to thank
John Sumrow, for our badass logo. He’s a very
talented artist, so please follow him on Facebook, check out his
official website, and please consider joining his Patreon
account.
John Sumrow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnsumrow
Sumrow Official Website:
http://www.johnsumrow.com
Sumrow Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JohnSumrow
And finally, we want to thank
The Darkest of the Hillside Thicket for generously
allowing us to use their song, Gluttony,
as our intro and outro music. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s
writing and the Call of Cthulhu RPG, then you need to check out The
Darkest of the Hillside Thicket. Please check out their BandCamp
site and their official band site.
Bandcamp: https://thedarkestofthehillsidethickets.bandcamp.com/
Official Website: http://thickets.net/