The natural choice here is to talk about a great RPG memory.

Day 23 Memory

I will admit I have a lot of really great RPG memories.  Here are a couple of highlights.

Getting My Hands on the First Monser Manual

It seems only fair to start with my first D&D memory, and indeed my first any RPG ever memory.  The first time I held the AD&D Monster Manual was a defining moment. Here I became introduced to the game that so many of us love.  I can remember afterward riding my bike around the neighborhood thinking about it and what the game was. I had no rules yet, the copy of Holmes Basic had not made it its way to me just yet, so I could only imagine what this game could be like. 

Summers Playing D&D/AD&D

As much as I would have LOVED the connection to the world via the Internet we have today (and believe me I tried with my little TRS-80 Color Computer) I am also glad I got to spend all my summers in the 80s playing D&D.  First D&D with a group of kids from Jr. High and then and another, semi-related group, in High School with AD&D.  The cut off there was not perfect, I remember we mixed a lot of Holmes and Moldvay Basic with AD&D, but these are the broad strokes.  I can still remember fighting Liches, getting trapped in the A Series, and battling the "Queen of the Succubi" in Jr. High. Later moving on to bigger things in AD&D in High School.  Oh, there was my short live Atlantis campaign in College before moving on to Ravenloft/2nd Ed but none of those lasted as long as my misspent youth in the 80s. 

Teaching My Kids to Play

One of my greatest joys and successes in life is getting to be a dad.  Honestly every other achievement I have made and am proud of takes a back seat to this one.  So teaching my kids to play was one of my greatest joys and memories.   The look on my oldest son's face when he would hit a monster, or better yet, roll a "20" and proudly proclaim "DOUBLE DAMAGE!" or just the wacky character my youngest would come up with was pure joy.  I taught them both using D&D 3rd edition and now we all play 5e.

It has truly been fantastic. 

I also have some great memories of various Cons I have played at over the years.  The time the guy playing an Occult Poet composed an epic poem on the spot, the time my son's character plunged the Sun Sword into the Forge of Moradin to re-ignite the Sun,  the time I got to play Piper in a Charmed game.  All great memories. 

 Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—
Name: The Mad PriestPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Marco Carrer

Setting: Dark Ages Iceland using Cthulhu Through The Ages and Mythic Iceland
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Ten page, 792.80 KB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: A plague upon their crops, a plague upon their animals, what madness has come upon the village?Plot Hook: The price of hospitality can lead to horror.Plot Support: Plot outline, one handout, two NPCs, two Mythos monsters, and five pre-generated Investigators.Production Values: Plain.
Pros
# Short, one-session one-shot or convention scenario# Support for Cthulhu Through The Ages, Mythic Iceland, and Cthulhu Dark Ages# Best to fit the scenario to Investigators’ village
Cons
# No Sanity losses for failure# Underdeveloped plot 
# Needs an edit# Needs development
Conclusion
# Compact scenario waiting for a Keeper’s input# Support for Cthulhu Through The Ages, Mythic Iceland, and Cthulhu Dark Ages

 Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—
Name: A Shrieking VioletPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Jacob Parker

Setting: Jazz Age Chicago
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Nineteen page, 14.40.95 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: A husband’s body on the cobbles, his wife, a curse, and Chicago gangland.Plot Hook: The detectives’ first nosedive just ain’t right.Plot Support: Plot, three handouts, some Mythos monsters, and four pre-generated Investigators.Production Values: Uneven.
Pros
# Chicago detectives, not Chicago mob# Short, one-shot investigative plot# Easy to set in other time periods# Decent pre-generated ‘actual’ Investigators# Scope to expand the scenario with the mob and the cops on its payroll
Cons
# Requires an edit# Plain handouts
# No illustration of the scenario’s MacGuffin# Connection between plot and climax unclear
Conclusion
# Scope for expansion, but plotting unclear# Needs some development by the Keeper before play

 Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—


Name: The Great TrapPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Heinrich D. Moore

Setting: Jazz Age Chicago
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Sixty-six page, 18.39 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: What were the  Investigators doing thirty years ago and don’t know about?Plot Hook: A letter from their past reveals an unknown future.Plot Support: Highly detailed plot, seventeen good handouts, one map, three NPCs, four Mythos tomes, three Mythos entities, and six pre-generated Investigators.Production Values: Fulsome.
Pros
# Time travel and quantum mechanics—fun for the whole party# Fitting choice of Mythos elements# Surprisingly experienced pre-generated Investigators # Death is not the end, merely a change# Straightforward plot with a complex conclusion# Even the chase tracking sheet is themed!# Could be run using Pulp Cthulhu: Two-fisted Action and Adventure Against the Mythos# No, Gary Gygax has not been born yet, but neither is this Castles Forlorn—though it is close...  
Cons
# Pre-generated Investigators too powerful? (Keeper’s Discretion)# Non-Public Domain artwork scrappy# Straightforward plot with a complex conclusion# Keeper needs a better grasp of multi-temporal causality than a concussed bee
Conclusion
# Complexity to the scenario’s potential outcomes means it needs care study and preparation# Science Fiction Horror# To infinity, and beyond!

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—


Name: Without WarningPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: William Adcock

Setting: 1950s Arctic Canada
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-seven page, 18.30 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Mini-King Kong on ice (with added Mythos)!Plot Hook: An evacuation flight leaves an aeroplane and its stranded, but not alone...Plot Support: Detailed plot, one good handout, a single floor plan, one Mythos monster, and six pre-generated Investigators.Production Values: Excellent.
Pros
# Suitable as a one-shot or convention scenario# Good use of the historical background# Straightforward Mythos monster movie plot# Could be run using Pulp Cthulhu: Two-fisted Action and Adventure Against the Mythos# Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s short story, ‘Polaris’  # Inspired by Howard Hawk’s The Thing From Another World # Could be adapted to a pulp Sci-Fi setting for ‘The Thing On Another World’ 
Cons
# A map or two would have helped# No female pre-generated Investigators
# May require access to Malleus Monstrorum# Primary inspiration makes the plot obvious
Conclusion
# Short of the flaming carrot, the scenario’s inspiration crashes you onto the ice, then the Mythos socks you on the jaw.# ‘B’ movie horror one-shot# Whither Blood Brothers III?

Related to yesterday, in my desire for systems that "get out of the way" I often substitute a rule from one game for another.

Day 22 Substitute

When I write a supplement or a core rule book I assume that people are going to play it more or less as written.  At least that is, one time.  After that I make no assumptions of how someone is going to play something.  Generally speaking, I also don't play things rules as written.  I am always substituting one set of rules for another.

In Post-2000 D&D skills are much better defined than they are in previous versions.  So I find when running an older version of D&D (say AD&D or Basic-era D&D) then I find myself often asking my players for a skill check.  To make life easier for all of us I will typically use 5e style names and tell them what they need to roll.  It moves the game along faster in most respects.

I am not limited to substituting one form of D&D for another. I will also grab ideas from other games.  I will for example allow a character to use a skill that is not tied to a particular ability.  For example, in Unisystem the skills are independent of Abilities.   So the Art skill can be tied to Intelligence for knowledge of a particular bit of art. Or use it with Perception to determine if a piece of art is a fake. Or with Dexterity to create a piece of art.  In D&D 3, Knowledge is always tied to Intelligence. But sometimes I let characters tie it to Wisdom if they came upon their knowledge via practical experience instead.  

And these are just for skills.  I use the Bloodied condition from 4e for some monsters in combat.  I use the conditions from 5e in old school games, and more publically I use the 5e size modifiers in almost all my D&D games now.

In some ways, though I still prefer AD&D 2nd ed, d10 initiative roll, but 3e-5e's d20 works roughly the same way.

What rules do you like to substitute?

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—


Name: Michigan Mythos: Fall ColorsPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Charles Dunwoody

Setting: 1930s Michigan for Pulp Cthulhu: Two-fisted Action and Adventure Against the Mythos
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-six page, 3.38 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: When more than the leaves fall in the autumn...Plot Hook: Who can say why a Civilian Conservation Corps team is off-colour?Plot Support: Detailed plot, four good handouts, eight maps, four NPCs, one Mythos monster, and one gadget.Production Values: Reasonable.
Pros
# Suitable as a one-shot or convention scenario# Three incalcitrant NPCs# Straightforward plot# Easily adjusted back to Call of Cthulhu, Seventh Edition# Pleasingly strong emphasis on the five senses
Cons
# Requires an edit# Slightly odd layout
# Underwhelming investigation
Conclusion
# Colourful employment of all five senses# Straightforward scenario

  Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—


Name: The Drooler in the DarkPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Michael LaBossiere

Setting: Anywhere with shoes, sex (potentially), and mobile phones (optional)
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Six-page, 262.23 KB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Sometimes your partner’s dog really does hate you.Plot Hook: Love and Labradors don’t mix Plot Support: Plot set-up, six random behaviour tables, and a demonic dog.Production Values: Reasonable.
Pros
# Brings the Mythos (or is it?) into an investigator’s love life# Enlivens an Investigator’s life away from deadly confrontations with the Mythos# Lots of roleplaying potential# Lots of embarrassing situations for a single investigator# Easily adapted to other settings and periods# Pets are evil?
Cons
# Requires a slight edit# Requires a fair degree of set-up beforehand
# Pets are evil?# Or is the Keeper being evil to the Investigator?
Conclusion
# Keeper merriment with a malign mutt at an Investigator’s expense# Can you say Cynophobia? I bet you can! Go on, there’s a good boy.

Doing a bit more research on my next Witch Queen adventure when I turned up this little Italian gem.  So. What do you get when you mix Italian actors, Norse myth, a witch, the son of the Devil, and a magical throne?  Well, you get Il trono di fuoco or 1983's The Throne of Fire.

The Throne of Fire (1983)

Azria the witch is impregnated by the Devil to give birth to a mutant baby.  The baby grows up to become the less mutated Morak played to great scene-chewing effect by Harrison Muller. Born at the same time is Siegfried played by Italian stuntman Pietro Torrisi in his last role.  I can't really find much on him.  

In order to gain the Throne of Fire Malak has to marry Princess Valkari, played by Sabrina Siani.  Now, obviously, this is an allusion to Valkerie, but they keep pronouncing it "Val-Kar-EE."  Hmm. I can live with it.  Malak captures the Princess, but not before she can show off her own Xena moves.  

Siegfried comes to the court of the former King Agon, and now belonging to Valkari, to fight Morak.  He stabs Morak, which only causes him to laugh and reveal his "devil face" ala Lucifer.   Defeated he is tossed into the Well of Madness, which admitted was fun.  Here, for reasons, he finds his father, Well it is revealed in a long flashback that he was in the court when Morak first attacked.  He makes Siegfried invisible and invulnerable to everything but fire. 

Siegfried teams up with the Princess and helps her escape, but not before Morak can shot him with a flaming arrow. 

Recaptured Princess Valkari shows she is more than capable of getting herself out of jams and if that means sacrificing Seigfried, well she only just met the guy after all.  She doesn't wear much more than what is show in the poster above in this, but that is still a lot more than she wore in the Blue Lagoon rip-off, the Blue Island.  But I'll give the writer and director credit, for a bit of 80s, Z-Grade Sword and Sorcerery romp Princess Valkari is quite capable. She manages to escape on her own and kill a few guards in the process while Siegfried is still tied up.  

Malak lets Siegfried go to lead him right the Princess, which of course works. And they are recaptured again.  This is getting monotonous. 

Malak charms the Princess to get her to marry him and the solar eclipse happens, "The Night in a Day," so he can sit on the Throne of Fire.  But I guess the timing was not quite right, because when Siegfried throws Malak onto the Throne he burns up.  

Valkari becomes the new Queen and the people want Seigfried to be King.  Really???  He didn't really do a damn thing.

Game Content

The Well of Madness is nice, and a real Queen would have given Seigfried a title and then told him to pound sand.   A Witch Queen would have turned him into a newt for his impertinence. 

Not much here though that can't be found in other, better movies.

--

Tim Knight of Hero Press and Pun Isaac of Halls of the Nephilim along with myself are getting together at the Facebook Group I'd Rather Be Killing Monsters to discuss these movies.  Follow along with the hashtag #IdRatherBeWatchingMonsters.

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—


Name: The Oxford ArticlesPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: David Wright

Setting: 1950s Oxford
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Fifty-eight page, 61.95 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Missing books amongst Oxford’s dreaming spiresPlot Hook: Missing books and arson, could they be connected?Plot Support: Highly detailed plot, eight good handouts, eight maps, seven NPCs, one Mythos monster, and six pre-generated Investigators.Production Values: Fulsome.
Pros
# Good use of the historical background and city# Richly detailed investigative plot# Cluedo-like floor plans# Compact scenario in terms of time and setting# Could be adapted to the Jazz Age or Cthulhu by Gaslight# Scope for a sequel?
Cons
# Requires a strong edit# Too richly detailed investigative plot?
# Mythos threat underwhelming?# The Dreamlands rather than Yog-Sothoth?# Oxford and no J.R.R. Tolkien?
Conclusion
# Oxford Bibliophilia noir# Mythos may not fit the feel or nature of the scenario# Compact, but thoroughly detailed (perhaps overly so) investigation

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—

Name: Storm From A TeacupPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Royce Wilson

Setting: Prohibition Era New England or the North West
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-five page, 3.03 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: What happens when the high life comes from a cuppa...?Plot Hook: Is there something in the tea?Plot Support: Detailed plot, six good handouts, two maps, and eight NPCs. Production Values: Good.
Pros
# Good use of the historical background# Solid investigative plot# Underplayed sense of violence (which could be overplayed)# Works as a one-shot or a convention scenario# Mythos pleasingly underplayed# Scope for a sequel with another cult?# Scope for links to Innsmouth?# Could be adapted for use with Pulp Cthulhu: Two-fisted Action and Adventure Against the Mythos
Cons
# Requires a slight edit# More maps would have helped
# Some handouts underdeveloped
Conclusion
# Decent little investigation# Mythos pleasingly underplayed# Madness in a teacup

When I first started in RPGs I was all about complexity and systems that mirrored everything, these days, I am more about simplicity.

Day 21 Simplicity

There used to be big debates in RPG circles, narrativist vs. simulationist.  Gamist was thrown in there as well. You don't see that as much anymore. Well.  You do, but now the focus has shifted a bit. 

This debate has waged on in various formats, various permutations, over the decades. But in the end, the one that wins out for me is Simplicity.

I like a lot of games. I like to read and play a lot of games.  I don't like needing huge volumes of pages to explain to me how to play a game.  Sure I understand the value and the place of supplements and "Splat" books, but the core needs to be simple and complexity for complexity's sake is not a value. 

AD&D is a great game, but let's be honest. The rules are a hodge-podge of systems that are largely unrelated to each other save in a post hoc fashion. The layout of the rules is equally poor. We learned it then because it was what we had and we didn't know any better.  AD&D 2nd Ed is better organized (sort of its purpose) but there are still bolted on systems.  Honestly look no further than skills and psionics.   Also, AD&D 2nd ed loses some of the charms of AD&D 1st ed.  Is the charm in the complexity or is the charm in our memory via "Nostalgia Goggles?"  Hard to say. 

D&D 3rd Edition did a bit of a better job of this. 5th Edition does a better job still.  Still neither are at the level of say WitchCraft, Ghosts of Albion, or even Doctor Who Adventures in Time and Space.

I am not trying to imply that simpler is always better.  For example, many of the Powered by the Apocalypse games are quite simple and none of them have ever really grabbed me.  In fact, I usually find them too simple.  

But for me, I desire to remove unneeded complexity for complexity sake and keep my games and my designs a little more simple. 

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—

Name: The Evil on the East RiverPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Ryan Graham Theobalds

Setting: Jazz Age New York
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-one page, 5.26 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Extracurricular activity puts the Investigators on another path.Plot Hook: What extras will an opportunity for extra credit lead to?Plot Support: Detailed plot, three good handouts, two maps, ten NPCs, Mythos tome, one spell, and four pre-generated Investigators. Production Values: Good.
Pros
# Potential addition to the New York chapter of Masks of Nyarlathotep: Dark Schemes Herald the End of the World# Good addition to a Harlem Unbound campaign# Strong historical background# Decent quartet of pre-generated African American Investigators# One very surprising NPC# Fantastic shipboard fight# Could be adapted to other periods and settings, but not easily# Desperate race to stop disaster# Action-orientated adventure (suitable for Pulp Cthulhu: Two-fisted Action and Adventure Against the Mythos?)
Cons
# Requires a slight edit# Adult in tone# More maps would have helped
# Research links poorly developed# Action-orientated adventure# Adult tone means it is unsuitable as a convention scenario
Conclusion
# Action-orientated adventure# From debauchery to disaster, a desperate race to stop a madman# Fantastic shipboard fight

 Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—
Name: Pop Goes the WeaselPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Chris Stewart

Setting: Miskatonic University in the SeventiesProduct: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-three page, 1.67 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: One day the computer will rule all our lives.Plot Hook: The opportunity to be present at the dawn of a new computer age...Plot Support: Detailed plot, seven good handouts, five NPCs, one Mythos tome, one Mythos entity, and six pre-generated Investigators. Production Values: Decent.
Pros
# Little explored period for Call of Cthulhu# Suitable as a one-shot or convention scenario# A plot that is almost, and thus suitably, programmed# Inserts the Mythos into the digital dawn# Graphic design fits the seventies  # Helpful goal achievements listed at the end of each act# Potential Delta Green links?# Enjoyable period piece
Cons
# Requires a slight edit# Layout incomplete# Villain underwritten
# Link to the Mythos tome for the Investigators unclear# Mythos tome left undetailed# Technical aspects make it less adaptable to other periods
Conclusion
# Enjoyable technical period piece # Nicely different one-shot or convention # Villain and Mythos tome need some development

 Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—
Name: Horror at the Westmore MotelPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Leopoldo Rueda

Setting: Early Eighties New England
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-eight page, 8.29 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Missing Mother MysteryPlot Hook: Alice’s mother is missingPlot Support: Detailed plot, three handouts, three NPCs, one Mythos tome, one spell, and three pre-generated Investigators. Production Values: Reasonable.
Pros
# Little explored period for Call of Cthulhu# Suitable as a one-shot or convention scenario# Strong emotional impact for one pre-generated Investigator# Interesting roleplaying challenge in negotiating with the Mythos# Appendix details options for using it as part of an existing campaign
Cons
# Requires a strong edit# Needs a spell check# Plotting is quite direct
# Sanity losses underwhelming given their potential emotional impact# Uninspiring maps# Lacks maps where it counts# Emotional impact all on one pre-generated Investigator# Emotionally influenced Sanity losses underwhelming
Conclusion
# Requires a strong edit# Might work better as a one-on-one scenario?# Directed  plot which focuses too much on one pre-generated Investigator

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—

Name: AutopsyPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: G.A. Patrick

Setting: Shaw University, Jazz Age New England
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Thirty-five page, 12.89 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Extracurricular activity puts the Investigators on another path.Plot Hook: What extras will an opportunity for extra credit lead to?Plot Support: Detailed plot, twelve good handouts, seven NPCs, two Mythos tomes, one spell, and three pre-generated Investigators. Production Values: Decent.
Pros
# Better suited for experienced players of Call of Cthulhu# Suitable as a one-shot or first part of a very dark campaign# Delightfully vile NPCs the Keeper can sink her roleplaying teeth into# Strong ‘film-like’ plot pulls the Investigators into the Mythos# Some fraternities are eternal# Easily adapted to other periods and settings# Constantly pushes and prods the Investigators# Could be relocated at a horridly dour boarding school# Well done handouts# School for Ghoul(s)?
Cons
# Requires a strong edit# Adult in tone# More maps would have helped
# Needs a stronger overview# Not suitable for inexperienced players of Call of Cthulhu# Adult tone means it is unsuitable as a convention scenario
Conclusion
# Requires a strong edit# Strong plot with some horrifying fun NPCs and great clues# Enjoyably different introduction to the horrors of the Mythos

Today's alt-word has been on my mind a lot lately.  I have been wanting to talk more about it so today feels like the day. 

Day 20 Lineage

Since its inception, D&D has had race as a feature of the game.  However, since its inception race has been more or less been misused.  Really Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, and Humans are different species.  Now while it is true humans can interbreed with elves and orcs I am going to stick with the notion here that they are species.  

Race, as a term, has a lot of negative connotations about it.  There is the idea of ethnic or phenotype determiners of race. There is the colonialism notion of races, and how that was used to justify all sorts of crimes against humanity for centuries.  There are even the Theosophical ideas of races which seem to be the well that D&D has drawn from.  In the end "Race" is not only not even the proper word, it is a woefully loaded word.

I like Species myself.  But you might say "but species can't interbreed!" except of course when they do.  There are sterile hybrids between species, there are even fertile ones. These range from plants to animals and even mammals.   Even in humans, there are fossils that may be human-neanderthal hybrids and many scientists think that we may have killed all the other archaic hominids or we may have bred with them until their genome was absorbed into ours.  We know from mitochondrial DNA scans that Neanderthals share more alleles with Eurasians than with sub-Saharah Africans.  

I also remember having debates in my Philosophy of Science class that species only serve the needs of scientists making taxonomic nomenclature.   

So can all the D&D Player Characters be different species? Of course. Can they interbreed? Absolutely some of them can.  But this is not really the full picture either.

Let's take the term used by the latest D&D 5e book, Lineage.  

Lineage has none of the baggage that race does. Nor does it have to overly complicated scientific logic that species does.  Lineage allows you to build what your character is.  

From Tasha's Cauldron of Everything:

At the first level you choose:

• Creature type. You are a humanoid. You determine your appearance and whether you resemble any of your kin.
• Size. You are Small or Medium (your choice).
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2.
• Feat. You gain one feat of your choice for which you qualify.
• Variable Trait. You gain one of the following options of your choice:
• Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
• Proficiency in one skill of your choice.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for your character.

Simple.  You can rebuild any race you want.  

Just prior to Tasha's Arcanist Press released their Ancestry & Culture: An Alternative to Race in 5e.  A fantastic guide.  Where Tasha's uses "Lineage" this uses "Ancestry," which is in my opinion just as good.  But this product also includes "Culture" in the mix.   So what if you are a human raised by elves?  Or in the case of my own Sharis Val, a drow raised by dwarven clerics in a monastery.  It can even explain the already established differences in the three types of halflings/hobbits with fallohides/tallfellows having halfling lineage and living near elven culture.  Yeah, they are taller and the like, this is a blog post not comparative biology. 

You can also vote for Ancestry & Culture: An Alternative to Race in 5e for the 2021 ENnies awards. It is up for:

• Best Electronic Book
• Best Supplement
• Product of the Year

Pathfinder 2nd Ed also does something with all of this too.  Their system is more mechanically oriented.

Personally, I prefer this over the systems we have been using.  

I would adapt these to Old-School play, but I am going to wait to see how Chromatic Dungeons does it first. 

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.

—oOo—

Name: The Colour of MoneyPublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Sean F. Smith

Setting: Modern day, Essex, England
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Eight page, 1.41 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Right of possession in a numismatic mysteryPlot Hook: An undocumented Merovingian coin can’t be in that good a condition, can it?Plot Support: Detailed plot outline, one NPC. Production Values: Plain.
Pros
# Short one-session scenario# Straightforward plot # Suitable for one or two Investigators# Easily adaptable to other time frames# Solid little investigation
Cons
# Requires a slight edit# Keeper will need to add colour to the NPCs and town
# Villain motivation undeveloped
Conclusion
# Decent, modern small scale investigation # Villain motivation undeveloped

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Repository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Repository.


—oOo—

Name: Bootleg Whiskey, Liquor, Champagne & WinePublisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: C.M. Arnold

Setting: Gangland New England
Product: One-shot scenario or part one of a campaign
What You Get: Thirty-eight page, 23.88 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: The Color of WhiskyPlot Hook: Pulled back in for one last job...Plot Support: Detailed plot, three decent handouts, six NPCs, one Mythos monster, and four pre-generated Investigators. Production Values: Reasonable.
Pros
# Gangland bloodbath# Suitable as a one-shot or first part of a campaign, ‘The American Empire Saga’# Nicely flawed pre-generated Investigators# Horrible dream sequences# Possible sequel to ‘The Colour Out of Space’# Intriguing campaign set-up and antagonist
Cons
# Requires a strong edit# Plotting not always clear
# Similar theme to (but not exactly like) ‘Blackwater Creek’ from the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Screen Pack# Odd mix of Mythos elements in places
Conclusion
# Requires a strong edit# Plotting not always clear# Gangland bloodbath# Punchy, physical investigation which suits the gangland setting

The annual ENnies awards is now open for voting and as usual, there are a lot of great choices to vote for, or at the very least shop for.

I might get into my picks later on (have to see how long voting is) but for today I want to focus on one particular book and maybe convince you to consider voting for it.

Up for Best Adventure and Best Cartography is Halls of the Blood King for Old-School Essentials. 

I reviewed Halls of the Blood King last month and frankly, I loved it.  So it is great seeing it get some official recognition.  It would be even great if it wins.

It has some serious competition, in particular from the Alien RPG adventure.  But keep in mind that OSE is still largely a one-man operation of Gavin Norman.  Alien and Free League is a more traditional publisher.  So to say that OSE and Blood King are punching well above their weight class is not hyperbole. 

So, if you can make the time, give HotBK a vote for both Best Adventure and Best Cartography.