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Chris Bailey
United States
Broomfield
Colorado
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Call of Cthulhu sounds like a lot of fun but there's a ton of stuff. Is 6th Edition what I should buy to get started?
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Wouter Dhondt
Belgium
Anzegem
My armor is contempt. My shield is disgust. My sword is hatred. In the Emperor's name, let none survive.
When I now saw this Coppelius, the frightful and terrific thought took possession of my soul, that indeed no one but he could be the Sandman.
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6th edition is the latest version and all you will need to start. Some find the layout distracting and choose the 5.6 version. Not much difference in both versions so choose whichever is easier to get.
Note that you can also download the quick start for free from the chaosium website ( http://www.chaosium.com/article.php?story_id=87). That should give you a good idea about the game.
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Michal E. Cross
England
London
London
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I agree with Wouter - get the quickstart rules, turn the lights down, put on a freaky soundtrack (I recommend Silent Hill!) and run the adventure in that. It's great!
I also have the 6th edition and I've much fun with the game.
Note that there are some titke cock-ups on the character sheets, but nothing too bad.
(Though you can get better and fixed ones elsewhere).
Cheers! 
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OK, first off I recommend the chaosium system version, it's the best. Also stick with it in the 1920's setting, that's really the best setting for CoC and really, given the differences in society and technology between then and now, it's practically an alien world in a lot of respects. (No internet, no cell phone, radically different social values, etc.)
As a final note I must recommend you read as much HPL as possible, but be warned that a lot of lovecraft's writings are, like, say, Mark Twain's, quite shocking to modern readers given their overt racism and xenophobia towards non europeans. HPL penned a poem that to this day is considered one of the most racially offensive in history and is still often quoted by racists.
As for the stories you really should, or dare I say must, read to really get into the lovecraft spirit, please check the list below:
The call of cthulhu.
The shadow over innsmouth.
At the mountains of madness.
The dunwhich horror. (UTTERLY IGNORE THE GHAWDAWFUL MOVIE VERSION!!!)
The whisperer in darkness.
The shadow out of time.
These stories form the base that a good CoC player or, most especially, keeper needs to really do the game right.
Here's a link to the HPL article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._P._Lovecraft
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Yes, buy the 6th edition if you like cool layouts, or a 5/5,5th edition if you find it cheap. The rulebook has everything you need to play happily ever after.
Of couse, there are tons of amazing supplements for the game. Just check this geeklist for a list of campaigns: http://rpg.geekdo.com/geeklist/49121
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Brian Franzman
United States
Tacoma
Washington
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Yes, I would say (as well) that the 6th edition is the way to go, if you don't mind the layout. I love it! Older editions have minor rules variations (spell modifiers for tomes that were dropped, d6 for skill improvement rather than d10, etc.), and less "bang for your buck" overall. The 6th edition is wonderful as it has collected all of the spells and many of the tomes that originated in earlier printed adventures. It also has insanity rules that are far more realistic than those found in earlier editions.
All you need is the core book to play an excellent game! Afterward, you'll probably want to pick up a few books of scenarios (there are a few included in the core book to get you started -- Dead Man's Stomp, yeah!) There are also plenty of short adventures to be found online as well, such as these:
http://www.talesofterror.net/
http://chaos-digest.blogspot.com/
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Chad Bowser
United States
Kernersville
North Carolina
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Like most others have said, any edition will get you what you need. The core rules have remained practically unchanged since day one. Skill names have changed, some ancillary rules have changed, but nothing major in terms of how the game is played. My personal favorite is the 5th edition. I prefer the cleaner layout, but that's just a matter of taste.
Bokrug tossed out a couple good websites for you to check out, but you should also check the downloads section of www.yog-sothoth.com if you want more scenarios. In addition to the traditional three eras (gaslight, 1920s, and modern); they have adventures from all eras, including Roman, early Medieval, and future.
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Chris Bailey
United States
Broomfield
Colorado
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Awesome. Thanks for the quick replies everyone! As for reading HPL, I've only read Call of Chtulhu but a trip to the libray would take care of the rest.
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Eric Neff
United States
Indianapolis
Indiana
"Blessed is the mind too small for doubt"
"Just once, I'd like to face an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets!"
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ixnay66 wrote: Awesome. Thanks for the quick replies everyone! As for reading HPL, I've only read Call of Chtulhu but a trip to the libray would take care of the rest.
For some good HPL audio stories, check out the Cthulhu podcast:
http://cthulhupodcast.blogspot.com/
It's done by a fellow geek:
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Chris Bailey
United States
Broomfield
Colorado
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JovenShadowcaster wrote: I'd recommend skipping Call of Cthulhu entirely. I never really liked it. I'm really digging on the Savage Worlds' Realms of Cthulhu, though; been running it for weeks, and I just love it. That's my .02  , anyways.
Too late. After reading about 20 glowing reviews I bought a used copy of 5.6 (wanted the hard copy) from Amazon.com
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Good for you
It really is one of the best games out there.
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William Hostman
United States
Eagle River
Alaska
Gaming in Greater Anchorage area, Alaska since 1978. Looking for Indy-willing RPG players in Eagle River (or willing to drive to Eagle River). Geekmail me if interested.
Yes, this really is what I looked like when I uploaded that avatar. Not that it's quite current anymore.
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Paulie Powersword wrote: Good for you It really is one of the best games out there.
Or one of the worst, depending on one's views of the game in relation to the books.
After all, CoC makes it possible to kill a great old one, because they are statted out...
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Hehe..well, everything is possible.
Doesn't mean it's likely. But you're welcome to try
CoC is a weird game. If you like the premise of the game(which was narrativistic, before the term was even thought of), there is a good chance you'll be put off by the (skeletous)simulationist system.
If you like the system, there is a good chance the premise won't work with you(what do you mean; write a last will and testament? I just finished character generation dammit!?)
But the game as a whole is absolutely golden.
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Chad Bowser
United States
Kernersville
North Carolina
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Congrats! If any questions come up after you've given the book a once over, make sure to post them. There's more than one Call of Cthulhu fan lurking around here.
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Paulie Powersword wrote: CoC is a weird game. If you like the premise of the game(which was narrativistic, before the term was even thought of), there is a good chance you'll be put off by the (skeletous)simulationist system.
If you like the system, there is a good chance the premise won't work with you(what do you mean; write a last will and testament? I just finished character generation dammit!?)
I don't quite agree. I think CoC rules are perfectly balanced to allow a narrative game without going into the straitjacket of narrativist games or the excessive complication of simulationism.
I have tried Trail of Cthulhu, which I found too railroading, and Savage Worlds, which was too complex for me. CoC, however, is perfect. Light, simple and with plenty of freedom.
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neonaeon wrote: Paulie Powersword wrote: CoC is a weird game. If you like the premise of the game(which was narrativistic, before the term was even thought of), there is a good chance you'll be put off by the (skeletous)simulationist system.
If you like the system, there is a good chance the premise won't work with you(what do you mean; write a last will and testament? I just finished character generation dammit!?) I don't quite agree. I think CoC rules are perfectly balanced to allow a narrative game without going into the straitjacket of narrativist games or the excessive complication of simulationism. I have tried Trail of Cthulhu, which I found too railroading, and Savage Worlds, which was too complex for me. CoC, however, is perfect. Light, simple and with plenty of freedom.
No argument from me there.
But some people don't see it the same way.
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Chris Bailey
United States
Broomfield
Colorado
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neonaeon wrote: CoC, however, is perfect. Light, simple and with plenty of freedom.
Since I'm a newbie, this sounds great.
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Chad Bowser
United States
Kernersville
North Carolina
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JovenShadowcaster wrote:
Savage Worlds too complex!?
:R::O::F::L::M::A::O:!!!!
You don't know much about Savage Worlds, do you?
In my opinion, I prefer Call of Cthulhu over the other systems available.I've used Savage Worlds for Realms of Cthulhu, The Savage World of Solomon Kane, and Rune Punk. I've found that BRP stays out of my way enough to let me tell the stories I want.
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Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
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I'm also a recent convert to Cthulhudom (though I've read pretty much all of Lovecraft, even some of his journalism and critical stuff...) and I started with 6th Ed. I like it. Smooth, flowing, easy to use and of course, built around the entertaining sanity mechanic.
I give it  easy.
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Wouter Dhondt
Belgium
Anzegem
My armor is contempt. My shield is disgust. My sword is hatred. In the Emperor's name, let none survive.
When I now saw this Coppelius, the frightful and terrific thought took possession of my soul, that indeed no one but he could be the Sandman.
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ixnay66 wrote: JovenShadowcaster wrote: I'd recommend skipping Call of Cthulhu entirely. I never really liked it. I'm really digging on the Savage Worlds' Realms of Cthulhu, though; been running it for weeks, and I just love it. That's my .02 , anyways. Too late. After reading about 20 glowing reviews I bought a used copy of 5.6 (wanted the hard copy) from Amazon.com
Nice. Let us know if you like or hate it  .
Quote: After all, CoC makes it possible to kill a great old one, because they are statted out..
The fact that they have stats doesn't mean you will be able to fight them.
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JovenShadowcaster wrote:
I said it was "too complex for me".Of course your mileage may vary. I simply prefer the intuitive and transparent percentile system to the beanies and wild dies of Savage Worlds.
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William Hostman
United States
Eagle River
Alaska
Gaming in Greater Anchorage area, Alaska since 1978. Looking for Indy-willing RPG players in Eagle River (or willing to drive to Eagle River). Geekmail me if interested.
Yes, this really is what I looked like when I uploaded that avatar. Not that it's quite current anymore.
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Kwakkie wrote: Quote: After all, CoC makes it possible to kill a great old one, because they are statted out.. The fact that they have stats doesn't mean you will be able to fight them.
Enough brainwashed cultists and yes, you can...
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Michal E. Cross
England
London
London
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aramis wrote: Kwakkie wrote: Quote: After all, CoC makes it possible to kill a great old one, because they are statted out.. The fact that they have stats doesn't mean you will be able to fight them. Enough brainwashed cultists and yes, you can...
It is nigh on impossible to kill an Elder God, even if they have stat blocks. They are statted out by Chaosium, but reluctantly.
Sandy Peterson and co. did not want to originally stat out the Elder Gods, Great Ones etc. (look at 1st edition!), but the fans demanded it. They said something along these lines: "You can't really say 'no' to those who will be buying your product."
Cheers!
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Marc Gibson
United States
Little Rock
Arkansas
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ixnay66 wrote: Call of Cthulhu sounds like a lot of fun but there's a ton of stuff. Is 6th Edition what I should buy to get started?
I agree, there's no reason not to go with the sixth edition. The game has changed very little over the years and you'll find that you're able to use CoC products that are 20 years old with a minimum of fuss. CoC doesn't use my favorite set of rules but their serviceable and many others seem to like it.
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Jordi B. V.
Spain
Ripollet (Vallès Occidental)
Barcelona - Catalonia
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Judge Death wrote: OK, first off I recommend the chaosium system version, it's the best. Also stick with it in the 1920's setting, that's really the best setting for CoC and really, given the differences in society and technology between then and now, it's practically an alien world in a lot of respects. (No internet, no cell phone, radically different social values, etc.) As a final note I must recommend you read as much HPL as possible, but be warned that a lot of lovecraft's writings are, like, say, Mark Twain's, quite shocking to modern readers given their overt racism and xenophobia towards non europeans. HPL penned a poem that to this day is considered one of the most racially offensive in history and is still often quoted by racists. As for the stories you really should, or dare I say must, read to really get into the lovecraft spirit, please check the list below: The call of cthulhu. The shadow over innsmouth. At the mountains of madness. The dunwhich horror. (UTTERLY IGNORE THE GHAWDAWFUL MOVIE VERSION!!!) The whisperer in darkness. The shadow out of time. These stories form the base that a good CoC player or, most especially, keeper needs to really do the game right. Here's a link to the HPL article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._P._Lovecraft
I'm with Ed.
I can tell you what version not to use: D20. I haven't read it, but I don't like what I've heard of it (in fact, I've heard very bad things about the spanish version...)
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