Chaosium Digest Volume 11, Number 9 Date: Sunday, September 24, 1995 Number: 1 of 1 Contents: Freud in CoC (Frederic Moll) CALL OF CTHULHU Marriage & Childbirth (Don McKinney) PENDRAGON Announcement: Mythos (Chaosium) CALL OF CTHULHU Announcement: Convulsion 3D (Heidi Kaye) MISC Review: Beaumains #6 (Heidi Kaye) PENDRAGON Review: Heraldry Shareware Programme (Heidi Kaye) PENDRAGON Editor's Note: This week, a big batch of short tidbits for various Chaosium games. Shannon RECENT BOOKS OF NOTE * Call of Cthulhu - _The Dream Cycle of HP Lovecraft_ (Del Rey, $10.00, ISBN 0-345-38421-0) is the newest mass market collection of Lovecraft's Work. If you've already got all the Arkham House hardcovers, there's nothing new here. However, this book is interesting because it puts together all of Lovecraft's dream stories in one place. I'm tempted to reread the set, to see all the past connections that I might have missed. Definitely worth at least a look. _The R'lyeh Text_ (Skoob Books, #6.99/$11.99, ISBN 1-871438-90-X) is the newest in Lovecraftian fakery. It's in the same vein as the 1978 Necronomicon, which was reprinted by Skoob in 1992. The book contains sections by Colin Wilson, Robert Turner and others. Mostly the authors seems to theorize and draw historical connections, but there is also 25 pages of 'Necronomicon translation' in the center of the book. I've yet to do more than skim the book, but it looks pretty interesting. And, those 25 pages could make great CoC props. * Nephilim - _The Big Book of Conspiracies_ (Paradox Press/DC Comics, $12.95, ISBN 1-56389-186-7, 224 pg) is a huge black & white comic covering a number of the best known conspiracy theories. It emphasizes the twentieth century (numerous assassinations, the CIA, the greys, etc) but tendrils span back to Assassins, Masons, Christ and the Pyramids. Full of interesting ideas for a Nephilim campaign. -------------------- From: FREDERIC MOLL <100350.1766@compuserve.com> Subject: Freud in COC System: Call of Cthulhu Original idea by Frederic Cosson Write-up by Frederic Cosson and Frederic Moll Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Famous psychoanalyst who lived in the city of Vienna (Austria) in the waking world. He used hypnosis in his search to heal different types of mental diseases. Also a fine dreamer, he travelled through the Dreamlands and finally became one of the Sages of Zakarion, a seaport of the southern sea, east of the Enchanted Wood. There, he studied the arcane records of Zakarion in his quest to free men from the madness generated by mythos creatures in the waking world and the Dreamlands. The results of some of his studies were published in the waking world and used as techniques for healing the mind. Finally, Freud left forever the Dreamlands, fleeing the wrath of Hypnos who became aware of his research in the domain of the gods. STR 10 CON 14 SIZ 12 INT 18 POW 16 DEX 12 APP 15 EDU 22 SAN 85 HP 13 Skills : Cthulhu Mythos 15%, Debate 95%, Diagnose Disease 60%, Fast Talk 80%, Hypnosis (self) 80% / (other) 70%, Oratory 55%, Psychology 60%, Psychoanalysis 50% (*), Treat Disease 55%. Dreaming 30%, Dream lore 50%. Spells : Elder Sign, Vortex of Far Journeying, Ironmind, Crystal World. Notes : The psychoanalysis skill of Sigmund is variable, as he is the father of a new discipline and is still perfecting it. Comments are welcome. Frederic Moll 100350.1766@compuserve.com or fm10@calvanet.calvacom.fr -------------------- From: Don McKinney Subject: Marriage & Childbirth System: Pendragon A few weeks back, I posed a question on childbirth rolls for PC females and random death... The responses ranged everywhere from "unless they remain chaste, death is a danger" to "ignore it if it's a problem"; I would like to thank everyone who wrote me with their ideas. We have decided to use the simplest method: such a roll indicates a major wound, and failing a CON roll sends the player to the Aging Table. Now, a new problem has arisen: Female Knights who wish to use the Random Marriage Table. This was followed by male Knights who wanted a chance of their random wife being a Knight or warrior... (these things are never simple). So I offer the following tables for discussion: RANDOM MARRIAGE TABLE A (for use by Male Knights, d20) [allows marriages with female warriors and knights] 01-15 normal lady [use table B] 16-19 female warrior [as table B] [has warrior package if culture allows, add appropriate glory] 20 female knight [use table C] RANDOM MARRIAGE TABLE B [standard table from book] RANDOM MARRIAGE TABLE C (for use by Female Knights, or from Table A, d20) [represents random Male and Female Knights] 01-04 squire, d3L 25 glory 05-07 poor knight, 1 manor, d6L 1050 glory 08-17 ordinary knight, 1 manor, d6+3L 1100 glory 18-19 rich knight, 2 manors, d6+6L 1250 glory 20 superlative knight, 2 manors, 2d6+6L 1500 glory The squire entry normally assumes an older squire (20+), but if a Male Knight receives this result, it means he has married a squired woman whose education and provision is now in his hands... In my campaign, Cymric daughters, especially the younger daughters, are given training as Cymric Warriors, to assist against raiders, and to defend their homes when the men are away. Of course, once such a woman has daughters of her own, she is inclined to expect such training, and woe to the man who unsettles his own house by refusing such! Lastly, another question to Pendragon GMs: Has anyone updated the procedures from the old Nobles Book to the current edition of the rules? -- Donald E. McKinney (dmckinne@csci.csc.com) -------------------- From: Subject: Announcement: Mythos System: Call of Cthulhu ************* MYTHOS UPDATE ************* Mythos is Chaosium's upcoming Call of Cthulhu collectable card game. We have been playtesting the game for the last few aeons, including continuous private games at this year's GENCON. The playtesters have been having quite a bit of fun. It seems to appeal both to players who are deeply into collectable card games and those that aren't. Even those who claim that they hate collectable card games are uncannily attracted to MYTHOS. FURTHER DETAILS MYTHOS will consist of starter decks featuring 60 cards, plus an Investigator Card and rulesbook. You can even read the rules without the use of a magnifying glass. 8 decks come in a display. We are creating a number of different Investigators, each with different skills, different beginning Sanity values, and slight variances in how their hands work. At the same time that we are designing the basic game, we are also working on the first three boosters. This will allow us to release the boosters at the appropriate times following the release of the starters in March 1996, without the delay that had plagued some games. The total number of cards in the starters and boosters is 400. The cost of a starter will be $8.95, and each booster pack will cost $2.95. Of course, the stock number for the starter display is #1300. Release is scheduled for March 1996. NOTES ON DESIGN The goal of a MYTHOS game is to travel to various locations described in the tales by Lovecraft, gathering allies, tomes, spells, and artifacts, while trying to avoid being driven insane. Everyone who has played enjoys the storytelling aspects of the game, and feel that we are managing to capture the spirit and feel of the Cthulhu Mythos. Starter decks focus on Lovecraft Country. Boosters will further explore the world. The game works for two or more players. A two-player session lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. Each additional player adds about 20 minutes to the length of the game. WRITE! We know that you have many ideas of your own, and that there are many things that you would like to see in this remarkable new game. We have created a specialized online e-mail address just for MYTHOS. Simply jot down your ideas or comments and send them to MythosCCG@aol.com. -------------------- From: Heidi Kaye Subject: Announcement: Convulsion 3D System: Pendragon, Cthulhu, RuneQuest Plans are afoot for next year's convention, Convulsion 3D, The Epic, in Leicester. Anyone who was at either of the two previous Convulsions, and particularly anyone who played in the Gloranthan freeform games, won't want to miss it. They will be running a new and improved version of Home of the Bold, as run at the first con and developed at an American RuneQuest con. An Australian RuneQuest tournament, a Cthulhu tournament, and regular guests Greg Stafford, Sandy Petersen, and Michael O'Brian are all promised. Paul and I are certainly booking early. David Hall is once again organising it. The date is 19-21 July 1996, and it will be held at Stamford Hall, University of Leicester. Residential membership is #18 plus room deposit of #10. They are promising that rooms will be no more than #19 per night including breakfast. Non-residential membership is #28. Make cheques payable to "Convulsion." You must be 18 or over to attend. For registration and/or further info, write to: David Hall Convulsion 21 Stephenson Court Osborne Street Slough Berkshire SL1 1TN United Kingdom -------------------- From: Heidi Kaye Subject: Review: Beaumains #6 System: Pendragon Just received issue 6 of the fanzine _Beaumains_. It contains: * Editorial * The Adventure of the Strangers' Path - by Gareth Jones, as run at last year's _Convulsion_ in Leicester. * The Adventure of the Noble Baby - by Tim Harris - good adventure nugget about a mysterious foundling. * Readers' Survey * What Your Character Knows in 495 AD - Michael Trout - a supplement to the material from the rulebook for campaigns starting before the standard 530. * Reviews of: Pagan Shores - by Heidi Kaye and Ed Everett; King Arthur's Camelot pop-up castle and 4 storybooks - by Gareth Jones; AD&D 2nd ed. Crusades Sourcebook - by Ed Everett; The Ellyllon Knights Campaign 1995 - a week-long roleplaying break run by Gareth Jones, reviewed by him * To Wax Wood - by Gareth Jones - chat column * Divers Dabblings - Temporary Fellowships - by Heidi Kaye; Saracen Knights - by Danny Bourne The 495 article is very useful, as is the short piece on Saracen knights. The adventures are interesting; I especially like the idea of a baby of unknown origins, which creates a story which will continue to develop as the campaign proceeds and could lead to many intriguing twists. Issues are now #2 and can be ordered from: Gareth Jones 69 Atherley Road Shirley Southampton SO1 5DT Don't know what it costs in dollars, but you can order in the US from: Eric Rowe 1635 Julia no. 3 Berkeley CA 94703 and in Luxembourg from: T. Jones 37 Rue D'Ernzen L-7635 Ernzen ---------------- From: Heidi Kaye Subject: Review: Heraldry Shareware Programme System: Pendragon There is a very useful shareware programme for creating coats of arms. It is called Blazon, and is produced by Pete Barrett. It can be obtained from various shareware supply companies, which is where I recently spotted it. Blazon allows you to build up a coat of arms using the various tools: ordinaries, charges (symbols, animals, inanimate objects), with different kinds of lines of division (dancetty, embattled, etc.). It can even cope with differencing coats of arms for combining the arms of two families by quartering or empalement. You can choose to follow the strict rules of colour combinations or not. The charges and poses for creatures (only lions) are rather limited, but do offer a reasonable range. You can even use the "fur" colours (ermine, vair) and do patterned backgrounds such as lozengy, chequey, or fleur de lis. The coats of arms can be printed out. This programme could teach the basics of heraldry to an interested player as well as be a useful game aid for creating characters' coats of arms. I recommend it, and hope that it will be developed further if interest is shown. The addition of more animals and other charges would be useful. Registration is #10. Write to: Pete Barrett 40 Warren Road Stirchley Birmingham B30 2NY -------------------- The Chaosium Digest is an unofficial electronic 'zine about Chaosium's Games. In no way should it be considered representative of the views or beliefs of Chaosium Inc. To submit an article, subscribe or unsubscribe, mail to: appel@erzo.org. The old digests are archived on ftp.csua.berkeley.edu in the directory /pub/chaosium, and may be retrieved via FTP.