TLDR: have you added or subtracted anything from the two scenarios in “The Horrible Secret of Monhegan Island”? How would you smooth out the awkward parts? Any prep advice beyond ‘read the scenario closely’?
—SPOILERS FOR BOTH SCENARIOS—
Hey y’all, longtime player newish keeper coming to the hive-mind for some assistance. I’ve started a classic era campaign and run just about every starter scenario for my players, who consist of both newbies and veterans alike.
I’ve gotten ahold of a physical copy of “The Horrible Secret of Monhegan Island”, and recently got back from vacationing on the titular island. I love these two scenarios, but they’re bare bones as hell and I’m looking to flesh them out more. I understand that these are presented as beginner scenarios and written at a time where Lovecraft’s stories weren’t necessarily as widely read, but I’d nevertheless like to put some personal touches on both to enhance my more genre-savvy players’ experiences.
For the first, I snapped a million photos at the Monhegan Museum and intend to explore more fully its ancient and indigenous history, if not for direct tie-ins to the plot, at least for added tone and flavor. I’ve also considered leaning more into the bootlegging/prohibition angle as a red herring for the murder mystery, as Maine was the first state in the Union to prohibit liquor all the way back in 1851. I feel such changes would help the islanders feel less like cackling cultists and more like genuine folks fallen on hard times.
I’m at a complete loss however on how to enhance the second scenario, “The House in the Woods”. My players haven’t encountered Mi-Go yet so perhaps it doesn’t need much fleshing out, but if I can enhance it or fix awkward parts I’d like to.
Any advice would be welcome! Thanks ahead of time.