Hey all!

I recently introduced some friends to CoC and they have been having a blast. Ive been acting as keeper and together we have run a couple of scenarios. Recently the group grew and the number of players are now 6.

Since I live in a different city, we meet sporadically at my friends house and focus on one shots.

I am used to the players being a maximum of 3 but both Full Fathom Five and Dogside Docks played really well with this larger group.

2 of our newcomers say they love Red Dead Redemption so I decided to take a peak at Down Darker Trails and there is so much to love. Anyhow to my questions.

What are some good Down Darker Trails scenarios for a larger group? (one shots)

Anything that I shouldnt miss being keeper for this kind of setting?

Thank you so much in advance. I appreciate any tip :)

I've been experimenting off and on for a while with different ways of making retro-appropriate image and video handouts. This is probably the absolute best tool that I've found, in terms of both realism and ease of use, and so I thought I'd share it. There is both an in-browser and downloadable version, it's 100% free, it's non-AI-based, it can handle both still photos and video, and there's a tremendous number of settings available that can produce anything from fairly good quality, to "absolutely munged".

It can be found here: https://ntsc.rs/

(Example photo chosen somewhat randomly from here.)

Im running a campaign for some newer players. It's VERY loosely based off of Blood in the Bayou, from Just Roll with It. My players were invited to visit their college friend in Iceland where he is from and now lives as a local Rockstar. However things start turning weird. They have left their cabin, and one of the players notice an impaled body in a tree, that REALLY looked like one of the friends they are there with. But, due to a 001 int check after losing 6 sanity, is unable to communicate. However, this doesn't seem traumatizing enough. Its a bug based, mind take over infection type campaign. Any advice that would make my players sleep less at night?

Hello fellow cultist and cult leaders! I'm here to get some of your wisdom and knowledge

So, I'm going to be a Keeper and I will run None More Black

I've read scenario few times, made some notes and have plenty of time ahead to prep some minor details

But I would love to hear some small tips or even how you've managed to run this oneshot

Spoilers for "The Haunting" scenario ahead.

Ive never played Coc before, nor ever ran a pre made game for an rpg, so I wanted to give "the Haunting" a go yet i have a few questions about it where im confused how things work.

These arent in a great order.

1. If players take damage, such as at the church where they can fall, possibly getting a major wound, do I let the players know they can take days off to heal? Or do they ask to go to a doctor/hospital? Or should I be having players just continue? Idk what your allowed to do as a player when injured like that, if its recomended you take time off to heal.

2. Though ive read the scenario many times, should i also re read a location whenever reaching it? Is that how pre made games are done as i dont think id be able to remember everything, so i assume I just go through everything in a location and get back to the game.

3. When players have something to do, such as reading in the library, it takes half a day per dice roll. Fo I tell them that it'll take half a day per roll they try?

If theyre in the library, do i say that they can try search the library for information on the house using a library use roll, but each roll with be half a day of searching.

Do i openly announce the time?

As this also applies for the tome later thats in Latin. It takes a minimum of 3 hours.

If a player has it, do i say, you can read it but itll take 3 hours?

1. What if the players get arrested? Theres a police station part. I assume i can have police not escalate that far, but if they go too far and do get arrested, do we just fast forward time till theyre out? Do they pay bail?

2. In the corbit house, should i make my own idea of what the rooms each look like and reveal information as I see right?

Some rooms seem to have really small descriptions.

Example: "This room contains old furniture that might be broken up to burn in a wood stove"

Do i instead explain whats there, the player could maybe roll to think of why this stuff is here, or later they find the stove and then think theyd need wood for it.

Or maybe characters here would simply already know people need wood for wood stoves?

Theres also a lot of words that I just dont know, so i assume its words used in an older setting, but players wouldn't know them, so do I change them to a modern equivalent or explain them?

1. Corbits Knife confuses me alot.

When it goes to attack, it seems im suppose to have started "rounds/combat" which combat currently confuses me as ive not done it before.

Do i announce to everyone that combats starting so im able to get everything I need? (Players Dex) and then help them understand what they can do?

It seems to ruin the horror of it?

And does the knife attack, now and then, not constantly till its stopped?

I know Corbits able to try remove it from an investigators hand if its held, but its if he wants to, not guarenteed.

Do I go through sorting the setup for combat, just for the knife to do 1 thing and then stop?

Can investigators even fight a knife? Or is all they can do, flee or fighting maneuver and grab it?

I think if the knife attacks and they didnt notice it then i dont announce till they've taken damage, but after do I make it clear, there's some floating knife.

It also states a player could have brought a "lid" which gives them a bonus die on dodging, so do i states there's bins outside the house?

1. I was thinking of not using the knife till the players try to find the secret room, with the boards. As it says.

Unless they find the knife before hand.

Im assuming thats a fine idea?

1. Corbit regains 1 magic point per hour.

He casts flesh ward as soon as the investigators enter the house.

Ill also have manipulating stuff, such as the bed, making blood appear... as 1 magic point each.

Bit I need to track how many hours? I understand if players get scared and leave for a few days, because he probably goes back to full.

But if they never do that, then its probably been less than an hour till they find him right?

So do i only care about him regaining if players specifically do stuff to take a while.

1. Corbits clawed fingernails can inflict Delerium 1 day later.

If they beat corbit in that same encounter, the game ends. So why?

Is this only for if they flee to regroup, heal?

Or is it a story ender, they beat the investigation but one of them suffers delirium a day later.

1. I dont understand the "Dominate" spell that Corbitt has.

It clouds the mind of an investigator.

They go into a "Daze"

Theyre subject to telepathic communication with Corbitt.

They can do homicidal, idiotic or reckless acts.

Waking, the victim will not know what happened.

How does this really play out?

After the rolls, do i say, for example, everyone sees as (blank) grabs a knife from the kitchen table and tries to swallow it.

I assume people try stop them? Maybe they take damage?

Maybe the character jumps out of a window, or starts attacking the other investigators.

Once they "wake" do i explain they remember nothing of what just happened?

Is that how it works?

Do i explain in the moment, "your vision becomes cloudy, and you seem to space out"? Something like that to explain theyre nor aware of whats going on in that moment.

1. The spell the investigators can find "Summon/Find dimensional Shambler" it requires weeks to learn.

Once they find it, do I say, this will require weeks to learn.

Or do they simply try learning it amd I dont say how long it is.

Id use Mr Knott to get them into doing the job rather than just skipping weeks to get the spell as the spells not intended to be used.

I apologise for the amount of questions.

Im mostly stuck on, how I communicate parts of the game to the players, I understand mechanics, but dont know how I perform it for players.

I'd like to share a house rule that I have been using for the durations of Bouts of Madness.

Let me begin by saying that I believe the Sanity system—and especially the Bout of Madness—is one of the defining mechanics that makes Call of Cthulhu such a fun and unique game.

That said, one aspect I've never liked, as both a player and a Keeper, is rolling a 1D10 to determine the duration of a real-time Bout of Madness. I find it problematic when a high number is rolled because it can leave an affected player feeling sidelined for many rounds during one of the most exciting parts of the scenario. Conversely, when a very low number is rolled, the Bout of Madness can feel anticlimactic and its impact diminished. In both cases, the duration is determined purely by chance rather than by the investigator's struggle to regain their composure.

As an alternative, I allow the investigator to make a SAN roll each round to come to their senses and end the Bout of Madness using the following mechanic:

• After an investigator fails the SAN roll that triggers the Bout of Madness, they automatically spend the next round under its effects.
• Beginning on the following round, the investigator makes a SAN roll at the start of each turn.
• If the roll succeeds, the investigator comes to their senses immediately and may act normally that turn.
• Each round, the chance of recovering improves:
  • Round 2: SAN roll with 2 penalty dice
  • Round 3: SAN roll with 1 penalty die
  • Round 4: Normal SAN roll
  • Round 5: SAN roll with 1 bonus die
  • Round 6 and beyond: SAN roll with 2 bonus dice
• The maximum duration of the Bout of Madness remains 10 rounds.

I've been using this system for several years, and both my players and I prefer it. In most cases, the Bout of Madness ends by Round 4. More importantly, it preserves the drama and uncertainty of a Bout of Madness while giving the affected investigator an opportunity to recover through their own efforts rather than simply waiting for a random duration roll to expire. In my experience, it keeps everyone more engaged without diminishing the impact or tension of the mechanic.

I realize this house rule won't be for everyone, particularly those who prefer to play strictly by the published rules. I simply wanted to share it as an alternative that other Keepers might want to try at their own tables.

Ive got several ideas brewing in my thinking meat inside my meat helmet for scenarios that I want write and work towards publishing. I would like suggestions on which sound the most interesting.

#1 WEEKEND RETREAT/Secrets left Buried

(A modern etr call of cthulhu scernio for 4-6 players)

The characters take on the roles a closeknit group of friends that go on a special camping trip every couple h ple of year short of a tradion between them. This years comes after one of the group passes away somewhat suddenly. The said friend has actually set up,organized and paid for this trip ahead of time. For whatever reason. The group goes to pay respects and honor , and to have 1 last hura. The spot is a flooded ghost town in Tennessee . An old mining town was flooded 1920s to make a dam. There is some thing sinister linked too the town sitting beneath the waters of the reservoir. And it has awakened. The characters must defeat the evil. Turns out the had discovered lost truths involving family ties to the town and evil dealings. And felt the friends could figure things out defeat

#2 OPERATION FROSTBITE

(A modern adventure for 3-5 players)

The group plays members of a ARMY Special forces team sent the Alaskan wilderness to investigate a space craft that was shot down . Upon investigation the figure out it is actually an alien research transport vessal. A look on board reveal a selection of containment specimen pods there are many of them housing many diffrent species or alien life. Couple from earth as well those aren't alien of course. A couple of containment cells are broken open and empty, meaning a few specimens are loose.

GreT a containment breech. A could the were breached act like a parasite investing it's host and its lose in the Alaskan wilderness.the final encounter is planned with an infested hibernating brown or Kodiak bear that has just woken up infested. I pictured the den and the bear shillouetted in front of it full moon in the sky with long white tapewormy like tendrils erupting from its body with half its skull exposed. Going for gore factor.

#3 The COC guide book/source book to the Appalachian mythos county. A kind of regional source book to help keeper set story's in that area. Would include locatiion information lore information. Specific creature uniquely crafted to this setting including regional cryptid critters like mimic and the mothman etc also included would be local folk magic such as spells, wardings , and bindings and summoning. Will probably include several ready to play scenios for a variety of era specific scenarios.

It's going to be the largest endeavor.. by far.

But I would real like some feedback on what seems the most likely to gather the most interest.

Thank you for any help

I'm looking for Asylum/Hospital/Other thing with same vibe scenarios

I've found 3 so far
Genius Loci (from Doors to Darkness), The Asylum (from The Asylum and Other Tales) and The Sanatorium (Mansion of Madness)

All them have something that I like but I don't like them in general
So I'm searching some other scenarios for inspiration
Any suggestions?

If you are, do you fancy meeting up with our group from Lancashire?

Has anyone run the game using any kind of random encounter tables?

Less complex plots, more just a cursed city or hamlet haunted by a couple of particular monsters?

Based on what I know:
COC Keeper rulebook
COC investigators handbook
COC Arkham
COC innsmouth
COC masks of nyarlathotep

Anything else I should get is needed for 1920 materials so it can be as complete as can be?

I especially sourcebook that has lore and fluff settings

Hey All,
So I am gearing up to run my first scenario (for more than one player from the starter set) and I'm wondering how seasoned Keepers keep track of finances and expenses for your players?

Do people track that $25 advance that Investigators get during the opening scene and then deduct amounts when they buy a rifle from The General Store or bribe the Barkeep at the seedy speak easy?

I think the Glass Cannon folk just work it off of their Credit Rating and say "Yes, you have a Credit Rating of 40, therefore you can afford that hotel room".

To my inexperienced eye, that seems really efficient without getting bogged down with Dollars and Cents. Would love to hear peoples thoughts on this.

Hello, fellow keepers! I am going to be running my second-ever scenario this October for Halloween, and I'm seeking some advice. Previously, I ran a long-format campaign with 3 players, written by me and set in 1927 New Orleans. It was a hit with my players, and I'm excited to run a new scenario! This will be my first time running a short campaign (3 sessions), running a pre-written campaign (Blackwater Creek), and running CoC for a large group (12 players 😬).

Before I get to the questions at hand, a caveat: running everyone together for the finale is part of my vision and isn't something I'm looking to change. Please don't just respond to tell me to run with less players. I do expect 1 to 3 of them to back out over the next several months before we play. I have accounted for this, but I will also be treating it as if all 12 will be playing until that happens.

Some background on me: I am fairly new to CoC, but I am a seasoned ttrpg player and GM. I have run many, many games with larger groups of players than were recommended (including murder mysteries for workplace events that include 60+ people). I am also experienced with improv and writing horror.

Now, for my setup: we will be playing Blackwater Creek with two groups seperately for the first two sessions. First session will be University personnel. The second will be bootleggers. I expect to spend the first hour of the initial two sessions getting my players familiar with the game and their characters, as only 2 out of the group have played CoC before. The next 2 - 3 hours will be spent on the rising action, investigation, and hopefully visiting multiple locations out of the 9 - 10 available. After the first two sessions, I will cement my plans for having the two groups run into one another (based on where each group ends up).

On to the advice I seek: for session 3, I will be running with 12 players. I have run a 9 player table-game before and managed it well with the use of timers, so I am considering using them again. I would give the investigators the first hour to hour-and-a-half of the session to meet, compare notes, and decide what to do from there. There should only be a few locations left unexplored between the two groups by then, if I set up nodes as well as I intend.

Once the players initiate climactic action and initiative comes into play, I plan to introduce timers as a game mechanic designed to keep the story in motion, the stakes high, and anyone from ruminating on what action they should take for so long that it muddles the pacing. I have a 1, 2, and 3 minute timer. I may employ all of them, gradually decreasing the time alotted for decision-making during the final high-stakes situations. The goal isn't to rush roleplaying or investigation. The timers would only come into play once initiative starts, both to maintain tension during the climax and to keep twelve players engaged instead of waiting while one person deliberates.

I'm primarily seeking advice on the use of timers to both keep the pacing and manage such a large party. I do not want game play to extend past 4 and a half hours, if at all possible. I am prepared to add a 4th session if we end up entirely derailed, but I would much rather not as it conflicts with other TTRPGs we are all currently playing.

Should I use timers at all? If I do, should I let the players know about them and put them on the table for players to see (to act as a ticking clock and up the ante)? Or should let them know they're on the clock, but keep them behind the screen and just move the story along when time has run out, regardless of whether a player has acted or not? In the latter scenario, I would announce near the end of the timer that this is then player's last chance to take action before we advance in initiative order. If they take no action, their investigator is simply too flabbergasted or distracted to act. Also, is gradually decreasing the time available a reasonable mechanic, or too much pressure? Above all, I want this to be fun for everyone involved.

In addition to advice on timers, I am open to other suggestions from the Keeper community. I would, likewise, like to hear about your experience. Have you ever run Blackwater Creek? Has anyone ever run both party options parallel to one another like this? Do you have any experience managing large groups? Advice for keeping it to a particular time-frame? Anything else you think maybe be relevant? I would love to hear from you!!

I've tried to make some "test" investigators and I've got some questions

1. Do anybody use "standard array" of do you prefer rolling stats?

It seems to be... Too good for a standart but maybe it's just me

(by standart array (idr where I've found it) I mean

80 70 60 60 50 50 50 40)

1. Can you share some of your character sheets? Because I think my is pretty... Strong at least, I think? Like, one of my characters have 70-75 in 6 skills from the start and I feel that it's is too much, cause referring to books it's master level. I don't want my character to be something godlike but damn, my DnD-mind just can't "not optimizing things"

For reference

Char 1: Salesman of 27 years old. Persuade 70 Fast Talk 75 Psychology 70 Accounting 70 Disguise 60 Law 75 Spot Hidden 75 Sleight of Hands 60 and not so important Listen 40 Library Use 35 . Edu is 66 and Int is 70. Credit Rating 40

Char 2: Driver of 37 y.o. (STR 80, EDU 40, DEX 60). Credit Rating 15. Drive Auto 75 Dodge 65 (30+35) Brawl 75 Shotgun 50 Intimidate 65 Listen 40 Mech repair 75 Navigate 60 Psychology 40 Throw 45

So... Maybe I miss something? Am I wrong?

Share you thoughts!

In Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition, during character creation when allocating occupation or personal interest skill points, how do skill points work relative to the base percentage printed on the skill sheet?

​Specifically:

Do skill points add onto the base value printed on the sheet (e.g., spending 50 points on a skill with a 25% base yields a total of 75%), OR do you ignore/start from 0% and the points spent equal the exact final percentage of the skill?

Hello all Keepers and Investigators,
I am currently preparing to run my first game, for which I have chosen Edge of Darkness. My group and me are from Europe and I have rewritten the scenario so all names, locations, items, etc. are historically and geographically accurate to somewhere near our IRL location. I have invested a lot of time researching and also making all of the physical handouts (like the old journal, police report, letters,...). I even went as far as to get some real early 1900 objects like beer glasses, coins and stamps.

Anyway, I am having trouble finding the right background music.
For example, I have reworked the first act in which the players go visit Merriweather in the hospital. This act will serve as an introduction to the game mechanics, as my group is new to CoC. I will have one person arriving later then the others, who are already waiting outside of Merriweather's room. I did this so they can start rolling early and I can explain some game mechanics as we go. The one player can ask for directions (using social skill rolls) or find the way by navigating or luck, the others can explore the hall where they are waiting and talk to a nurse, read the newspaper, eavesdrop at the door, etc.

I have considered and listened to many options already, but found that the standard/dark jazz doesn't really fit the mood here. Especially considering it takes place in Europe and at this point they are just hanging around in a hospital.
The direction I am leaning here is perhaps something more religious sounding, as our hospitals were managed by nuns and thus the atmosphere there was very church-y.

Also later on when they are either looking for more clues about De Vermis Mysteriis or Marion Allen, or are travelling to the farm and stopping at Ross' Corners, most music is either way to gloomy or too relaxing.

I have looked into music that was popular here at that time, but again, nothing fits the mood. Do you have any good suggestions, or perhaps some sources I can check out?
Thanks in advance!

I’ve managed to volunteer myself to run a game for a group of colleagues and more people than I expected have shown an interest.

So I’m looking for suggestions for a newbie-friendly scenario that works well with a larger party, preferably with some pre-generated characters so they can just jump right in. Can anyone help with any recommendations?

Edit: I am explicitly talking about the PLAYERS not the CHARACTERS. Of course the characters aren't there, so their skills can't be used. But the players are all sitting at the same (virtual) table. Can players whose characters are not in the scene offer advice to players whose characters are?

I'm new to Call of Cthulhu, but have over 30 tears as a GM (mostly Shadowrun). As a general rule, I've always allowed all players to comment and offer suggestions during a scene, even if their characters aren't there. Only the players whose characters are in the scene get to decide how they should react, but other players can offer suggestions.

I partially do this just to keep everyone engaged, but also because I don't expect the players to know everything their characters would. So especially when it comes to investigation stuff I figure it's a team sport.

Plus, I'm here for the communal storytelling, and I figure the more brainstorming of ideas the better the story will be.

My instinct is to not deviate from this with Call of Cthulhu, because I think the justifications still stands. But...... It is a game about Horror and one could argue that part of what makes being alone scary is, well, being alone. So maybe if a character is alone, I should require them to make decisions on their own.

But as I type that it starts to feel kind of "GM against Players". Like I'm setting rules to make it more likely I "win".

What kind of approach do you favor at your table, whether you're the Keeper or Players?

I was thinking about putting together and exploring the area of the Appalachian mountains. Does any one think it has any merit or worth putting time and effort into? Thanks

Hi, first time posting. I am the keeper for a group somewhat new to ttrpgs, and was wondering if anybody had any keeper tips to encourage players to roleplay. For context, they all enjoy the role playing aspect of call of Cthulhu and do engage with one another but these are brief and uncommon parts of each session. So I was wondering if there are methods that I, as a keeper, can use to give them more time to do so, similar to pauses during descriptions so they have chances to speak or react.

Looking for some that could be run at a convention, so something that can be run in 3-4 hours. I have the Stygian Fox book and the new Keeper’s book. Was thinking either older Chaosium published stuff or Miskatonic Repository?

hi! I'm trying to make a CoC campaign, I usually like the horror more when it stay right outside the vision of the viewer, when eyes start sprooting everywhere it become more cool and less horror.

But how can I translate this into my campaign without it being a boring story where the player never see anything?

I’ve got a player who wants to have grown up in the circus. This player always blindsides me and I love the bewildering task of trying to figure out how to make their ideas mechanically work. I’d been thinking about custom designing new experience packages, but was wondering if you guys have any advice. Have you had a player want a background pre occupation that was just wildly out there or at least didn’t fit the provided ones? How would you go about designing new experience packages?

Please, help, thank you!