Episode Notes
In this episode, we dissect and reanimate The Code written by Christopher Lackey with Lynne Hardy for Call of Cthulhu 7e, and available as part of the Mansions of Madness vol. 1 collection from Chaosium (links below). We're also joined by special guest Jon Hook from the Modern Mythos podcast! Jon has been a huge fan of this scenario for some time, and shares his plans to transplant this scenario to the Gaslight setting, which he plans to run at Chaosium Con 2025!
Reanimation starts around 1:10:55
Links:
Mansions of Madness:
Physical: https://www.chaosium.com/mansions-of-madness-vol-1-behind-closed-doors-hardcover/?srsltid=AfmBOorzGWHzhApBWS8kGoTrhN2In7lwsCvndJxsc9d1xeZKJRhHqVa-
PDF: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/310791/mansions-of-madness-vol-1-behind-closed-doors
Plaintext handout resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1d3YyDVeiN3w6oXs-mw93q7DtXOUWr38i?usp=drive_link
Choice Cuts 2, as mentioned during this episode: https://pnc.st/s/rpg-reanimators/63fcaee1/lights-out-spilsbury-9485-the-mummy-of-pemberley-grange-wreck-this-deck-choice-cuts-2
Jon's previous run of the code with Into the Darkness: https://youtu.be/weNoovb2AJc?si=gFOe8yqiEzhYgFXb
RPG Reanimators Discord invite: https://discord.gg/R8Q6aeyVk8
All music and sound effects are sourced under attribution free creative commons licensing.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
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2:01:09
S1:E37 – Unland - Dissection with Scott Dorward
Episode Notes
In this episode, we dissect and reanimate the Call of Cthulhu scenario UNLAND written by Scott Dorward, with the author himself! We dissect the creepy amusement park rides and talk about Silent Hill 2 more than a bit, while Scott shares how he runs this scenario very differently than written, as the scenario that made it to print became quite different than he'd originally envisioned it to be!
The scenario is in the Fear's Sharp Little Needles collection, which is available here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/245289/fear-s-sharp-little-needles-26-modern-day-call-of-cthulhu-scenarios
Additionally, our Beating Heart-tier Intern Zander made some awesome custom handouts and gave us permission to share them, available in our Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JT-mFFRhNrfkHJjC5VCVgx2aMi-4z12x?usp=sharing
If you'd like to join our Discord: https://discord.gg/R8Q6aeyVk8
All music and sound effects are sourced under attribution free creative commons licensing
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
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1:56:29
S1:E36 – The Burning Stars - Dissection with Matt Sanderson
Episode Notes
In this episode, we meet with Good Friend Matt Sanderson to talk about his favorite Call of Cthulhu scenario The Burning Stars, written by David Conyers for Call of Cthulhu 6th edition. I describe this as "the most Call of Cthulhu-y-est scenario I have ever played" and for the first time, I'll recommend to anyone who has not already read or played this scenario to carefully consider if they want to spoil themselves on it by listening here, as it has a really fantastic twist that needs to come through at the table.
You can purchase a PDF of the Terrors from Beyond collection which contains this scenario from Chaosium here: https://www.chaosium.com/terrors-from-beyond-pdf/
After this recording, we also got permission from Thom Raley of Into the Darkness to share the fantastic updated handouts that he hasmade for this scenario, which you can find in our Google Drive here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IRMWBjHWd0ISXjiywCPKcca3fPpdEafP?usp=sharing
All music and sound effects were made using attribution-free creative commons resources.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
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1:38:22
S1:E35 – Realism, Verisimilitude, and Pulp in TTRPGs - Consultation
Episode Notes
In this episode, we bicker about how to handle realism and verisimilitude vs. explosive pulpiness when we run RPGs, and how this can vary depending on system, scenario, and players. (Spoiler: Communication is still key)
Consultations are free-form topic discussions based on our own GM experiences, preferences, and gaming philosophies. We hope some of this gibbering can be helpful to other GMs dealing with, or considering using, these issues at their table (or at least add new and exciting chattering voices inside listener's heads).
All music and sound effects are sourced under attribution-free creative commons licensing.
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1:05:41
S1:E34 – Cthork Borg with Richard Kelly - Aberration
Episode Notes
In this episode, we hack apart another game system, Cthork Borg, with its mad scientist creator Richard Kelly. Cthork Borg is a low-prep cosmic horror RPG set in the gloomy jazz age. As it's name suggests, it's an aberrant mutation from the Mork Borg core ruleset with some interesting changes by Richard that help it feel fresh, wriggling, and fun for GMs and players looking to try something a bit lighter than Call of Cthulhu, but still fully capable of delivering horrors at the table. We also talk about a lot of different games & systems in this interview:
It's Alive! Cthork Borg APs
Where to find Richard Kelly: https://kumada1.itch.io/cthork-borg ; https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/382082/cthork-borg
Stygian, a game of Lovecraftian RPG inspiration: https://store.steampowered.com/app/779290/Stygian_Reign_of_the_Old_Ones/
Free copy of the Mork Borg Bare Bones edition: https://jnohr.itch.io/mrk-borg-free
Richard's recommended games to check out:
Behond the fence, Below the grave - https://t-akw.itch.io/beyond-the-fence-below-the-grave
Mendicant Spell Vixens (not "Menda Can't Spell 'Vixens', as I have now learned) - https://kumada1.itch.io/mendicant-spell-vixens/purchase
Hollow Halls - https://rotten-shotgun-games.itch.io/hollow-halls-shallow-grave-edition
T.H.A.W. - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/477078/thief-healer-arcanist-warrior
All music and sound effects are sourced under attribution free creative commons licensing.
A discussion-based podcast for GMs where we break down horror ttrpg scenarios for systems like Call of Cthulhu and Delta Green, discuss what worked for us, what didn't, what changes we made while running them, and how it all turned out for the table. Additional special topics include general game philosophies, advice, and occasional actual plays.