2 comments about Coming Full Circle (Call of Cthulhu).

1. Coming Full Circle is yet another excellent sourcebook of Lovecraftian horror produced by Pagan Publishing. This book contains a wealth of game-related material on the more legendary myths of New England. Here the witch, the phantom, and the vampire of ancient legend take center stage to the sanity- blasting eldritch horros of the Cthulhu mythos. Additionally, this sourcebook offers great material for psychic investigators (ala late Fox show "Millenium"). I highly recommend this book for serious players and readers of Lovecraftiana.



2. This is a solid collection of non-Mythos CoC scenarios set in New England in the late 1920's and the 1930's. It would be easy to change it to earlier in the 1920's if desired. There are four scenarios which can either be played separately or linked to form a modular campaign. It's an especially good choice if your gaming group does not have the time or inclination to plow through an extended, continous campaign. The scenarios feature plenty of investigation and roleplaying, as well as possibilities for combat. It's classic supernatural horror brought to gaming.

No comments about H. P. Lovecraft's Arkham : Unveiling the Legend-Haunted City (Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game Ser., 8803).

No comments about H. P. Lovecraft's Arkham : Unveiling the Legend-Haunted City.

1 comments about Central Casting: Heroes Now! (Character Creation System - 20th Century).

1. This was the third book in the Central Casting series, and each one got progressively better as time went on. The only thing I could possiblly fault this book for is bowing to the PC police.
   Central Casting: Heroes NOW! is designed for any era of 20th or early 21st century games (Though some of the information about technology and geography is a little dated), from Wild West, to Pulp, Horror, Espionage, and SuperHero. Even time travel. The books are designed to allow you to plot out significant events in your character's history from before birth through adulthood, and the personality ramifications of each encounter. You will need a complete set of dice, including d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20.
   While some charts are very similar to previous volumes, Heroes NOW! has the advantage of being able to define many more stable elements of modern times, and take advantage of what was learned from Heroes of Legend and Heroes of Tomorrow.
   
   Though now out-of-print, with a little effort, you should be able to find a copy for $40-45.
   
   I highly recommend buying a copy of this book to help whenever you are in need of assistance breaking through writer's block.
   
   Happy gaming, and may the dice roll in your favor.

4 comments about Cthulhu by Gaslight: Horror Roleplaying in 1890s England (Call of Cthulhu Horror Roleplaying, 1890s Era, #3303).

1. I read this many years a go and can heartily recommend it as a valuable source book.Victorian Britain with it's occult revival and Ripper murders makes a convincing back drop for the cthulhu mythos. Please note that the title should read 1880's not 1980's.If one wishes a cthulhu product concerning modern Britain pagan's Delta Green Countdown is very good.



2. This version appears to be a copy of the original second edition. The large map is missing and there are no colored plates.

   If you just want the information this is okay, but if you wanted the artwork, you'll have to look elsewhere.




3. The new series of reprints of Chaosium's works really are poor! The are effectively photocopies of the original, and fail to reproduce both color as well as the solidity of the originals. Comparing the new to the old, you immediately realize that this is an inferior product. These can be spotted immediately by examining the back of the book for a black logo of an open book with a lightning bolt hitting it in the spine.

   Stay away!

   All of the reprints of Chaosium's works are like this, including the Stars are Right!, Blood Brothers, and others.... *sigh* I am obviously a disappointed customer.




4. CTHULHU BY GASLIGHT is one of Chaosium's books that would benefit from a significant makeover. It was difficult to rate because I believe it would have seemed a better quality product 17 years ago, but the field of role-playing games has matured and so has Call of Cthulhu. Some of the material serves an outdated purpose, namely to get 1920s investigators into the 1890s; I suppose it was too radical to simply play 1890s investigators? In any case, rumors are circulating that Chaosium plans to ravamp and re-release CTHULHU BY GASLIGHT, so hopefully the more dated elements will be replaced.
   
   CTHULHU BY GASLIGHT started as a boxed set with a picture on the front of a gentlemen attacked by weeds. The material came in the form of stapled booklets, along with maps. The current incarnation (second edition) is a softcover book with color plates (if your plates are b/w photocopies and there is a lightning bolt by the UPC, you have a copy from Lightning Press. My condolences). This book serves to introduce people, places, and things from the Victorian era of England (primarily 1890s) to the Keeper. There is also a single, longish adventure called "The Yorkshire Horrors", 1890s character sheets, and a London map.
   
   
   Most of the material (besides the adventure) consists of articles on 1890s topics. There is a short mention of the importance of social class, an update to the rules on professions, skills, and weapons, a short article on world affairs and events of each year from 1880 to 1900, and a series of short biographical blurbs on British citizens (emphasis on political and literary). Then follows a long description of different places and things to see in London. There are articles on crime, law enforcement, a GOOD article on Victorian occult organizations, and some miscellaneous stuff (see below on why the miscel. stuff is the MOST IMPORTANT SECTION). There is a whole section on time travel (primarily to get investigators here) and another section on Sherlock Holmes and the fictional characters of H.G. Wells.
   
   "The Yorkshire Horrors" is a scenario that takes up half the book. I thought it was an excellent adventure, involving Sherlock Holmes without his being the focus of the action. There was plenty of period atmosphere, good Lovecraftian monsters, and good sleuthing (although it could easily become a party wipeout in a number of places - Keepers have to decide ahead of time if that is acceptable or not).
   
   CTHULHU BY GASLIGHT also has a number of drawbacks. The very first is what I mentioned above; a section of miscellaneous facts in the middle of the sourcebook contains vital atmospheric elements. Look; I don't know the difference between pounds, guineas, crowns, and sovereigns. This is explained in the miscellaneous chapter, but not until you've slogged through half the book wondering how the heck you convert shillings to pounds and what's the funny notation? Likewise, what's an inverness cape? What's the difference between a duke, earl, and lord? A lot of this was explained in the middle, but I really wanted to know at the beginning so that I could form a mental picture as I read. Better organization would really have helped.
   
   Also, the time travel chapter is pointless anymore. So much space is spent on something that could be solved in one sentence, "Just play 1890s characters." If Chaosium really wants to leave in time travel, I would leave it solely as a plot device connected with HG Wells.
   
   Also, what's up with Wales and Scotland? Heck, India, Afghanistan, or Hong Kong could stand a mention. This is really about London and that's it. Would have like to know more about the British Empire. Yes, I could google it, but if I'm doing all the legwork, why purchase the sourcebook?
   
   While I am complaining, only one adventure is stingy by today's standards. However, I'd hate to see "Yorkshire Horrors" removed to make room for three adventures in its place.
   
   
   In summary, I think that CTHULHU BY GASLIGHT is a great resource on both London and Victorian era England for those who have none already. A lot of important topics are covered, but not in the most useful order. You'd also better like Sherlock Holmes. Hopefully future editions will add more depth ot the period information as well as information on Britishness, reduce the reliance on Sir Doyle, and add an adventure or two.

3 comments about Fearful Passages (Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game Series).

1. Fearful Passages is a book containing several scenarios to the RPG game- Call of Cthulhu. All of them are linked with a way of traveling. I think its a good scenario pack, although some of the adventures are hard to play. No, i dont mean they're difficult, i mean it is hard to think of some good reason for Investigators to travel to India, Syberia or Irak. In my opinion the best adventure in this pack is "Fear of Flying". It was the first scenario we ever played in Call of Cthulhu and from that time we play CoC regulary. All in all Fearful Passages is an amusing adventure pack and a good way to spend your money.



2. This book is broken down into chapters, each emphasizing a particular mode of travel or somehting similar, along with an adventure or mini-adventure revolving around that mode of transport or whatever. For example, one chapter is a short adventure set aboard a zeppelin, another set aboard a train...etc etc. I guess that sounds like a decent idea to start with, and ya know, different strokes for different folks, but I personally just did not like any of the adventures in this book. They all seem to me contrived and a bit cliche, and none of them seem more in the mood of Indiana Jones than Call of Cthulhu - there's plenty of adventure but not much suspense or scariness. About the only use I have for this book is for the deck plans of the zeppelin, train, and other info on vehicles. It is probably the least useful (or should I say most useless) Call of Cthulhu sourcebook I have. But take it for what it's worth - that's just my opinion. I would strongly recommend you take a good look at this book before buying it to see if it's really what you want.



3. I have had this book for years, and have yet to use it a single time. It has about 10 or so "mini-scenarios" or interludes, a few of which are a bit longer. They are intended for insertion into an ongoing campaign. My main problem with the book is that many of them are set in way out-of-the-way places, like Siberia and India, and the 3 or 4 that aren't are short and not very good. This is definitely the worst Call of Cthulhu supplement I own. Although I should add that most of the ones I own are absolutely excellent, so perhaps my expectations for a CoC book are a bit higher than for most RPGs.

No comments about The Stars Are Right/2337 (Call of Cthulhu).

No comments about Arkham Sanitarium: A set of player aids for use with Call of Cthulhu.

1 comments about The Compact Trail of Tsathoggua (Call of Cthulhu Role Playing Game Series).

1. It's not a bad adventure, but I've had players who totally despise it. I never got around to playing the second half (Curse of Tsathoggua), but Trail of Tsathoggua is railroad city. It also suffers from a miserable payoff -- the investigator's think they're gonna find a lost city and end up with a tiny little temple.

   I had one player tell me "I hate this game, I hate this scenario, it ...!" Still feel bad about that. Although, I have learned to GM a lot better since then.

2 comments about Day of the Beast (Call of Cthulhu Horror Campaign).

1. This book is some what good, if you're in coma.I was in ahospital room doing this campaign with an injured friend. The guyacross from us was in a coma and he got out of it to tell us that thebook was horrible, then he died from boredom. So if you plan on getting this don't play in a hospital. Only play it in a mental hospital where people are insane anyways. ...the story reminds me of The Lion King. I f you actually play this and retain your sanity then I commend you for your superior mind.



2. Keith Herber put astonishingly ghastly deeds to paper when he spun this tale of unrelenting horror. Your players will fall giggling at your feet and you will reap your own rewards for playing out this classic of horror roleplaying. I put it up next to my copy of "Masks of Nyarlathotep" as one of the best campaigns for CoC because of its expansiveness, but what makes it better than MoN is it's compactness and straightforwardness. For beginning Basic Role-playing, GURPS, or D20 rules Keepers, it provides the kind of structure and intuitive "yeah that makes sense" momentum that holds excitement for players without railroading them. There are deadly episodes and encounters, which is to be expected, but a Keeper can easily reduce/increase the threat level to the players. The art is from the classic era of Chaosium and feature's very competent pencils of their in-house artist at the time. The handouts are readable and easily photocopied. If you are looking for something to kick off your 1920's era campaign, start here!