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[Joben]

Roll To Investigate: (6) You have discovered the true nature of reality. The knowledge drives you mad. You spend your final months writing an Apocalyptic Log for the next investigator.

The year is 1920 and the place is Boston Massachusetts in the United States. The game is one of eldritch horror.

The Plot Hook: The landlord of an old house in North Boston is worried. The last tenants in one of his houses went insane. They babbled about spooky events and some sort of lurking figure. The services of you and your friends were recommend to him as ones who can look into unusual matters. What, if anything, is going on at 20, Copp’s Hill Terrace. Can you solve the mystery?

I'm looking for 4 players.

Spoiler: What Is This? (click to show/hide)

It's Call of Cthulhu with stripped down rules. This is a game that reverses the typical power fantasy found in roleplaying games. You are not Conan the Barbarian of Gandalf the Grey. You're just a normal guy. Foes are deadly, some ancient horrors literally can not be fought with conventional means. Others will shatter your mind if you just know they exist. Investigation, research and thought are often required to even figure out what's going on. You may live to regret ever uncovering that which man was not meant to know. But maybe it will be worth it. Maybe you can be like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, holding back the destruction of all you know. For a time.

Spoiler: Update Schedual (click to show/hide)

Fast. Up to 3 per day. Once all, or at least most, players post there will be an update within hours.

Spoiler: Characters (click to show/hide)

There are no skill points or anything like that. The dice treat everyone equally for simplicity sake.

But please give a few minutes thought to what your character is like. What do they do for a living, what is their personality like etc. Roleplay is encouraged and will probably make this type of game more fun for all involved. I can provide basic info on 1920's jobs and culture if you need it.

You can start with a few items you want that are important to your character. (See Character Sheet section for notes on inventory.)

Spoiler: Rules: (click to show/hide)

I have complexity addiction. I'm trying to avoid that here. Your actions will use the standard RTD 1d6 system or minor modifications of it.

Generally Speaking:

1 = Catastrophic Failure.
2 = Failure.
3 = Incomplete, mixed or otherwise unsatisfactory result
4 = Success.
5 = Great Success. Could not have gone better.
6 = Success. With a downside if applicable.

Very mundane actions may not require a roll. Multi-step actions may require more than one.

Talking is generally a free action and may be continued in character between turns.

Turns may have blurry edges. I might occasionally process extra actions for a player before every other player has posted. Most of the time this will be because one person's action will be "Pick up the book" and another person's action will be "Read the book." Guess which takes longer.

The hard exception being any sort of combat, in which case everyone with a character present has to post before things move forward, so there isn't a character standing there in limbo while his buddies get their faces melted off.

Spoiler: Post Format Style (click to show/hide)

Your Actions are described in bold face.

Things your character says aloud go in italics.

Out of character meta-game commentary goes in ((double parenthesis))

Character sheet goes at the end in spoiler tags.

Example Action Post:

"Look out, it's right behind you!" Tom yelled. He then drew his cavalry saber and poured the Strange Red Liquid onto the blade. "I sure hope this works." he thought to himself, "though I doubt I'll have much time for regret if it doesn't." ((How much damage does my sword do again?))

Spoiler: Character Sheet (click to show/hide)

I won't maintain this sheet for you. That's your job, and part of the price you pay for really fast updates. Put it in Spoiler tags in your action posts.. Please remember to do this as often as possible. Some of the info on it I'll need to reference when writing turns.

Here's an example sheet:

Name: Joseph Cohen
Description: Gentlemanly history professor and veteran of the Great War.
Hit points: 11/13
Sanity: 43
Inventory: Notebook with drawing of strange symbol, Unidentified bone
Owns (not on person): Service Pistol, Automobile, Complete Works of Algernon Blackwood

You don't need to declare that you have a handkerchief. It's not THAT kind of game. If it's mundane and normal you probably have it. If it's standard equipment for your job you probably at least own it.

But I won't let you suddenly announce that "Of course my priest always carries a 8 pound crowbar in his back pocket for no reason. This locked door is no problem!" You gotta declare the important stuff. And if you find any McGuffins we'll want to know who has it so it doesn't get lost.

You can start with a few items that are important to your character. (Subject to GM approval.)

Spoiler: Injury: (click to show/hide)

You start with 13 HP.
2 or fewer hitpoints = Unconscious. May get worse without aid.
0 = Mostly Dead
-3 or fewer = Absolutely Dead

If a single injury removes more than half your current hitpoints your character has a 50/50 chance of falling unconscious.

First aid and other medical intervention is possible. You might get patched up and moving again, but this isn't D&D. You can't rest at an inn for full healing overnight. Injury is a serious lasting problem in this game.

Once per injury First Aid may be attempted. On a roll of 5 or 6 it is very successful and the target recovers 1d3 hitpoints. A low roll still bandages or cleans the wound but no immediate healing results.

There is a grace period after potentially lethal injury. If you can administer first aid immediately and get their hitpoints above zero you might be able to save them.

Investigators recover naturally at a rate averaging about 2 HP per week, 4 if under a physician's care and avoiding further serious injury.
Specifically it's a 30% chance of recovering 1 HP every morning, two chances with proper care.

Spoiler: Sanity: (click to show/hide)

You start at 50 San Points.

Losing 5 or more San from a single cause results in your character panicking in some way.
Losing more than 20% over a few turns and/or one game hour may have long term consequences.

Your sanity score functions as an abstraction of your stress level, mental fortitude, and general psychological health. The lower your San score the harder it is to cope with subsequent horrors. Roleplaying a decent into madness may be entertaining, but is not strictly required. You could just be quietly getting PTSD.

If your character's San reaches 0 they are completely irrational and you no longer have control of their actions. They basically turn into an NPC. If your friends are nice maybe they'll find you a good doctor and a padded cell and you'll be ok in a few years. In the meantime you can go on the wait list, or make a new character if there isn't one.

Spoiler: Combat (click to show/hide)

This is not a game where going in guns blazing will always be a good option. A lot of the time it will be suicidal. But violence may be unavoidable, or at times need to be done.

Weapons operate on a slightly altered 1d6 table. 1-3 are miss. 4-6 are hit. 1 is very bad. 6 is very good. It's not an opposed roll.

Ranged weapons fire before melee is used. If the weapon can fire more than once in a round the rest of it's come after the melee segment.

Instead of attacking on a particular round you can choose to Dodge. If this actions of yours succeeds you avoid the first hit coming your way.

In some circumstances you may be able to parry a melee blow, such as fist vs fist, or sword vs sword. This attempt is automatic, and you can still attack that round.

Individual weapons may vary, but here's a general idea of what the damage range looks like:

12 Gauge Buckshot (Point Blank): 4d6
Average Pistol: 1d10
Average Rifle: 2d6+4
Large melee weapon: 1d8
Small melee weapon: 1d6
Unarmed Strike: 1d4

Grappling and knock-outs are also a possibility. I'm not going to list the rules here. But they exist. You can wrestle for control of weapons, knock people over, apply choke-holds etc.

[Joben]

Active Investigators:

Pancaek -

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Pierre Fortescue
Description: A librarian drafted into the Great War, he served as a field medic. Unable to bear remaining in france after he saw his friends shot to pieces and his hometown destroyed, he immigrated to America in hopes of starting anew. He is about 1.8 meters tall and has dark brown hair with a moustache. His eyes are grey. He wears a simple brown checkered suit with a red bowtie.

Mastahcheese -

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Cromwell Jackson
Description: Tall, lanky man with thick eyeglasses, he is a travelling street magician down on his luck.

Harry Baldman -

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Fyodor Vadimovich Boganski
Description: A former member of Russia's White Guard, Fedya left, well, escaped his homeland shortly after the October Revolution, rather unwilling to place himself under the looming power of the proletarian dictatorship who would be all too glad to lynch him for his political allegiance. And since Europe was quite ruined and he didn't have any relations there, he decided to move as far as possible - to America. He kind of likes it here - he's been working as a renovator, fixing up old houses and the like. He is quiet and unimposing, conservatively and frugally dressed, and most would call him quite phlegmatic. He is, however, also quite hardworking, and never complains, much to the delight of many of his employers.

Patrick Hunt -

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Harvey Jones
Description: Harvey is a criminal who got tired of running from the law and so found himself another job that he could devote his less socially acceptable skills to. He grew up on the street surviving on his speed and his skill with a knife.
He's 6 ft tall and has a lean but well muscled figure with piercing blue eyes and short brown hair.

------------

Wait List:

vagel7 -

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Jack Howard Smith
Description: A tall, skinny man wearing an ill-fitting dark blue suit and white shirt. He is a writer of the macabre and supernatural.

greenstarfanatic -

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Alexi Pratston
Description: Just out of College, Alexi, having studied an extra two years, has already been accepted into the local police academy as a rookie, and has been assigned to tag along with the investigators assigned to the actual investigating. She doesn't care that she's just tagging along for now. I mean, it's experience, right? Either way, she's a generally excitable girl, and nobody has ever seen her angry. She's fairly average in all aspects, except for the very...oddly coloured hair of hers. It's done in an alternating pattern of brown, black, and blonde.

[Pancaek]

Name: Pierre Fortescue
Description: A librarian drafted into the Great War, he served as a field medic. Unable to bear remaining in france after he saw his friends shot to pieces and his hometown destroyed, he immigrated to America in hopes of starting anew. He is about 1.8 meters tall and has dark brown hair with a moustache. His eyes are grey. He wears a simple brown checkered suit with a red bowtie. He is currently undergoing further medical training at the Miskatonic University.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Nagant revolver(7/7,1d8+1,2,VS), book "the three musketeers", Satchel bag with basic medical supplies.

[mastahcheese]

Hey, I know you! I made a bunch of reactions for your crossbow fix mod.

Spoiler: Character (click to show/hide)

Name: Cromwell Jackson
Description: Tall, lanky man with thick eyeglasses, he is a travelling street magician down on his luck.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Deck of Trick Cards, Worn Top Hat, Caged Rabbit, Backpack with miscellaneous "magical" Equipment
Owns (not on person): Nothing, he is homeless.

[Joben]

Name: Pierre Fortescue
Description: A librarian drafted into the Great War, he served as a field medic. Unable to bear remaining in france after he saw his friends shot to pieces and his hometown destroyed, he immigrated to America in hopes of starting anew. He is about 1.8 meters tall and has dark brown hair with a moustache. His eyes are grey. He wears a simple brown checkered suit with a red bowtie.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Nagant revolver, book "the three musketeers", Satchel bag with basic medical supplies.

Lol excellent, with that backstory I feel like you know where this is going.

What are you doing for work these days? Is investigating...stuff your day job? If so you might have acquired a PI license. This might smooth any awkward questions about why you're being nosy or carrying a firearm. Being a librarian, and/or getting further medical training at nearby Miskatonic University would also make sense.

Here's your revolver's stats: 7 Capacity, 1d8+1 Damage, 2 aimed shots/round, Very Slow Reload
Abbreviated: (7/7,1d8+1,2,VS)
You can have a standard box of ammo (50).

Hey, I know you! I made a bunch of reactions for your crossbow fix mod.

Spoiler: Character (click to show/hide)

Name: Cromwell Jackson
Description: Tall, lanky man with thick eyeglasses, he is a travelling street magician down on his luck.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Deck of Trick Cards, Worn Top Hat, Caged Rabbit, Backpack with miscellaneous "magical" Equipment
Owns (not on person): Nothing, he is homeless.

Oh really? Can you drop me a link or PM me about it? I've been out of touch with the modding scene for about a year.

Interesting character. There aren't really stats in this game. But I'll keep in mind that Cromwell would be familiar with sleight of hand and other performance related stuff.

Just in case it's ever relevant you rabbit has 3 hp.

[Harry Baldman]

Name: Fyodor Vadimovich Boganski
Description: A former member of Russia's White Guard, Fedya left, well, escaped his homeland shortly after the October Revolution, rather unwilling to place himself under the looming power of the proletarian dictatorship who would be all too glad to lynch him for his political allegiance. And since Europe was quite ruined and he didn't have any relations there, he decided to move as far as possible - to America. He kind of likes it here - he's been working as a renovator, fixing up old houses and the like. He is quiet and unimposing, conservatively and frugally dressed, and most would call him quite phlegmatic. He is, however, also quite hardworking, and never complains, much to the delight of many of his employers.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: toolbox (contains hammer, nails, crowbar, screwdriver, screws), thirty dollars.
Owns (not on person): cart, cart-pulling donkey (named Nikolai), sledgehammer (in cart), shovel (in cart).

[Patrick Hunt]

4th place holder.


Name: Harvey Jones
Description: Harvey is a criminal who got tired of running from the law and so found himself another job that he could devote his less socially acceptable skills to. He grew up on the street surviving on his speed and his skill with a knife.
He's 6 ft tall and has a lean but well muscled figure with piercing blue eyes and short brown hair.

Hit points: 13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Pair of military combat knives ( 1d4+2 x2. ), large backpack with a few clothes and his set of thieves gear plus his flashlight.
Owns (not on person): Nothing.

[vagel7]

Name: Jack Howard Smith
Description: A tall, skinny man wearing an ill-fitting dark blue suit and white shirt. He is a writer of the macabre and supernatural.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Notebook on supernatural research and a pocketknife.
Owns (not on person): Automobile, a vast library that fills most of his little town house.

[Joben]

Name: Fyodor Vadimovich Boganski
Description: A former member of Russia's White Guard, Fedya left, well, escaped his homeland shortly after the October Revolution, rather unwilling to place himself under the looming power of the proletarian dictatorship who would be all too glad to lynch him for his political allegiance. And since Europe was quite ruined and he didn't have any relations there, he decided to move as far as possible - to America. He kind of likes it here - he's been working as a renovator, fixing up old houses and the like. He is quiet and unimposing, conservatively and frugally dressed, and most would call him quite phlegmatic. He is, however, also quite hardworking, and never complains, much to the delight of many of his employers.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: toolbox (contains hammer, nails, crowbar, screwdriver, screws), thirty dollars.
Owns (not on person): cart, cart-pulling donkey (named Nikolai), sledgehammer (in cart), shovel (in cart).

You're in. In addition to to their obvious functions Several of your items could be improvised as weapons. Your best bets are the hammer or crowbar at 1d4+1 or the sledge hammer at 1d8+1

4th place holder.


Name: Harvey Jones
Description: Harvey is a criminal who got tired of running from the law and so found himself another job that he could devote his less socially acceptable skills to. He grew up on the street surviving on his speed and his skill with a knife.
He's 6 ft tall and has a lean but well muscled figure with piercing blue eyes and short brown hair.

Hit points: 13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Pair of military combat knives, large backpack with a few clothes and his set of thieves gear plus his flashlight.
Owns (not on person): Nothing.

You're in. Your combat knives do 1d4+2

Name: Jack Howard Smith
Description: A tall, skinny man wearing an ill-fitting dark blue suit and white shirt. He is a writer of the macabre and supernatural.
Hit points: 13/13
Sanity: 50
Inventory: Notebook on supernatural research and a pocketknife.
Owns (not on person): Automobile, a vast library that fills most of his little town house.

I'll put you on the wait list.

[Pancaek]

Lol excellent, with that backstory I feel like you know where this is going.

What are you doing for work these days? Is investigating...stuff your day job? If so you might have acquired a PI license. This might smooth any awkward questions about why you're being nosy or carrying a firearm. Being a librarian, and/or getting further medical training at nearby Miskatonic University would also make sense.

Here's your revolver's stats: 7 Capacity, 1d8+1 Damage, 2 aimed shots/round, Very Slow Reload
Abbreviated: (7/7,1d8+1,2,VS)
You can have a standard box of ammo (50).

((oh, hah, completely forgot what he's doing now. I'll update my original post to reflect that he's indeed training to be a full-fledged doctor now. Also, as for the gun, I believe reading that there weren't actually many laws until the firearms act of 1934?))

[Joben]

Lol excellent, with that backstory I feel like you know where this is going.

What are you doing for work these days? Is investigating...stuff your day job? If so you might have acquired a PI license. This might smooth any awkward questions about why you're being nosy or carrying a firearm. Being a librarian, and/or getting further medical training at nearby Miskatonic University would also make sense.

Here's your revolver's stats: 7 Capacity, 1d8+1 Damage, 2 aimed shots/round, Very Slow Reload
Abbreviated: (7/7,1d8+1,2,VS)
You can have a standard box of ammo (50).

((oh, hah, completely forgot what he's doing now. I'll update my original post to reflect that he's indeed training to be a full-fledged doctor now. Also, as for the gun, I believe reading that there weren't actually many laws until the firearms act of 1934?))

There are in general MUCH more lax than in the US at present, and the country in general had a culture more prone to view guns as normal. Country boys were often given a .22 and kicked out the door to go amuse themselves. And you could by Thomspon submachine guns off the rack. Target shooting was a common sport for much of the last few centuries.

However many municipalities in the long and densely settled East coast have local laws that require a permit for concealed firearms. And discharging a weapon within city limits will make law enforcement very unhappy unless you have a darned good explanation. I'm not actually sure of the specific laws in Boston in 1920. But I'm going to say a cop might not be happy if he noticed you had one, and the result would depend largely on how you handled it.

[Patrick Hunt]

(( Hence why I'm carrying knives not guns. ))

[Pancaek]

((I see, well, I guess I'll just have to roll with it then. If the time comes, I'll try to talk my way out if it.))

[Joben]

You are meeting with Mr John Reeves in his office. It's after lunch on Monday the 20 of August, 1920. He has a problem and your services were recommended by a school friend of Pierre Fortescue.

"Hello Gentlemen. Thank you for coming. As told you in my letter I own a property at 20, Copp’s Hill Terrace. Perhaps you read of the events that occurred there several months ago with regard to the tenants? I was away on business at the time but know little of the mater other than the rumors. However they are quite lurid."

"As it stands now Mr and Mrs. Marcano have been committed to Roxburry Sanitarium indefinitely. I have been forced to formally evict them, and now, of course, much rent the property to new tenants. However I am worried that the house may have acquired an evil reputation. I will give you free rein to investigate the matter. I will pay a total of $10 a day and a $100 bonus if you can clear up the matter and give the place a clean bill of health so to speak. I am willing to pay this in hopes of silencing the rumors and protecting my investment in the property. There is little harder than than renting or selling a haunted or 'evil' house."

Mr Reeve is offering your party $10 a day to investigate details of what went on at one of his properties. And a $100 dollar bonus upon favorable completion if you can clear the place of any problems. You may speak with him further about the matter or proceed with your investigations.

((In general when conversing with an NPC, which you may do a fair bit, it isn't really a "Turn" you can post dialog and I'll try to post their reply fairly promptly as it comes in.))

[Patrick Hunt]

(( 10 each? Or 10 split between us? ))