Good starting points for Cthulhu?
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Post Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:47 am 
 

brute wrote:OK, with the link provided above, I see a 1st, 2nd and 'Complete' Edition of Masks. Sound correct? Is there a link to a page with better images of Masks?

The only thing on Ebay after a quick search was a card game by the same name.


IIRC, there is the original boxed set (still the coolest version), the 2nd print, large softcover book with the Australia chapter re-installed (left out of the box set due to space considerations), and the 3rd print softcover book, the most complete, with all of the above plus a few more related scenarios.  For completists, the 3rd print is the best becomes it has everything plus more, but the boxed set just has a certain charm, and has a separate booklet for every destination (although you have to get the Australia supplement for the Australian chapter).  

They REALLY should put out an anniversary edition of this in a new boxed set, with booklets for every chapter (including Australia this time), and all the extra scenarios included, plus interviews with the author etc.

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Post Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:19 pm 
 

There is an ongoing project at yog-sothoth.com to develop a companion volume for Masks of Nyarlathotep.
It sounds like an interesting project. As of January they were in the editing/proof-reading stage and the text was over the 100,000 word mark.

Masks of Nyarlathotep Companion


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Post Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:53 pm 
 

Cool, thanks guys for the info. I've scanned the companion thread. Wow, big project!

May go for the 1st ed, and then add the Aussie supplement.

Will take another look at the yog site. Looks good.

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Post Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:23 pm 
 

Mike is dead right that the 1st edition (box set) has real charm and also that the 3rd edition is the most complete.  However note that the 2nd edition softback book doesn't have the Australian chapter - you get that in the 3rd 'complete' edition.  Also, you should know that the early campaign; Funghi from Yuggoth, was re-printed as Day of the Beast with a some additional chapters.

Tatters of the King was a new large campaign which only came out a few years ago - and has received really good reviews, although I haven't read it.  Anyone here had a look/played it?


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Post Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:23 pm 
 

red_bus wrote:Mike is dead right that the 1st edition (box set) has real charm and also that the 3rd edition is the most complete.  However note that the 2nd edition softback book doesn't have the Australian chapter - you get that in the 3rd 'complete' edition.  Also, you should know that the early campaign; Funghi from Yuggoth, was re-printed as Day of the Beast with a some additional chapters.

Tatters of the King was a new large campaign which only came out a few years ago - and has received really good reviews, although I haven't read it.  Anyone here had a look/played it?


Whoops, didn't look before I posted, I assumed the 2nd ed had the Australian chapter? If not, avoid that one, no point.

Another campaign I didn't care for actually was Spawn of Azathoth. Sort of all over the place, with not a good unifying theme, and a kind of "railroady" plotline.

Pagan's Walker in the Waste, if you can afford it, is pretty darn good.

The 1st edition Cthulhu Now is also pretty nifty, as the rules make it very easy to make the jump to the 1980s, and all four of the included scenarios are top notch.  The sequel to "The Colour Out of Space" is especially great and could lead to some frightening and nail biting moments...I've always wanted to run it!

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Post Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:41 pm 
 

What is a ballpark cost for getting a 1st Ed Masks?

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Post Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:19 am 
 

You should be able to get one for $20-40, I think; they're not usually super-expensive, but then I also haven't been looking in earnest in the past 12-18 months either ;)


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Post Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:38 am 
 

I think that Allan is right about the price if you are willing to be patient.

Although lately the perfect-bound reprint "Complete Masks of Nyarlathotep" has been selling in the $40-$45 range.

The key thing to do if the item comes up for auction is to contact the seller to determine the state of the player handouts. If it has been used in gameplay there is a chance that they have been cut out in which case it is difficult to know if they are all present.


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Post Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:53 am 
 

Here's a sighter for a VGC- 1st ed.




** expired/removed eBay auction **

  


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Post Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:23 pm 
 

g026r wrote:Well, Horror on the Orient express falls into both the collectible and the boxed adventure category, though it falls just outside your preferred range (1991).

There weren't many other adventures that came in a box: the first ed of Masks of Nyarlarthotep, the first Spawn of Azathoth.  There may be more (the 1st versions of Cthulhu by Gaslight and The Dreamlands came in boxes, but those are more settings than adventures.), but that's all that's immediately coming to mind.  As a side note: if you pick up a first ed. Masks then I also recommend getting Terror Australis, which contains the "missing" Australian chapter that was later added into the Complete Masks printings.

For rules, I'd suggest the 3rd ed. hardback that GW put out in the mid-80s.  It's essentially the same as the previous editions, but reorganized in one volume and with some wonderful colour illustrations.  Tends to be a bit cheaper than the boxes as well, and you don't have to worry about missing parts.  (Though there is that lovely Games Workshop binding quality to watch out for...)

For adventures, if you want something early then there's always Shadows of Yog-Sothoth, which was the first published campaign for the game.  Another I enjoy/would recommend is 1989's Great Old Ones -- a classic collection of scenarios, in my mind.


Dreamlands in the box includes a wonderful set of scenarios, though the book has them as well.  All of the early boxed sets were incredibly good works.


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Post Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:53 pm 
 

Thanks for the price idea. And great timing! I'll at least get to watch and see how much interest this one gets :)

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Post Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:43 am 
 

Rafm did blister packs for CoC, I don't think Ral Partha ever did.

  


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Post Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:23 am 
 

Badmike wrote:
Another campaign I didn't care for actually was Spawn of Azathoth. Sort of all over the place, with not a good unifying theme, and a kind of "railroady" plotline.


Absolutely agree.  Fabulous cover art for the box set and great teaser text.  But inside, a little disconnected and a bit odd generally.

Badmike wrote:Pagan's Walker in the Waste, if you can afford it, is pretty darn good.



Another super campaign (ten chapters or something), and the artwork for Pagan's stuff is better than Chaosium.  Although I don't know anyone who has actually run it  :D


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Post Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:37 am 
 

Walker:


** expired/removed eBay auction **


Course I'll be bidding so things will get very silly, as usual!



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Post Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:07 am 
 

Speaking of silly:



http://cgi.ebay.com/SHADOW-OVER-INNSMOU ... p1638.m124



Any true Lovecraft aficionado must own this book.....right?  :wink:


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Post Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:32 am 
 

red_bus wrote:
Another super campaign (ten chapters or something), and the artwork for Pagan's stuff is better than Chaosium.  Although I don't know anyone who has actually run it  :D


Survival rate would be horrific.  There are at least five TPKs (or close to it) in Walker in the Wastes.  I honestly think the only way to run it would be for the players to have their own mercenary team of WWI vets, ex-cops, gangsters, and big game hunters loaded with weaponry as their personal bodyguards through the adventure. But yeh it looks great.

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Post Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:34 am 
 

Kingofpain89 wrote:Speaking of silly:


** expired/removed eBay auction **


Any true Lovecraft aficionado must own this book.....right?  :wink:




Only if you have very deep pockets...  8O



If you are a real fan, you will look for this version which includes the original notes from Lovecraft and portions of a discarded draft of the story. Preserved and edited by Lovecraft scholars S.T. Joshi & David E. Schultz.



http://cgi.ebay.ca/H-P-Lovecraft-The-Sh ... 8314051182


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Post Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:26 am 
 

jasonw1239 wrote:

Only if you have very deep pockets...  8O

If you are a real fan, you will look for this version which includes the original notes from Lovecraft and portions of a discarded draft of the story. Preserved and edited by Lovecraft scholars S.T. Joshi & David E. Schultz.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/H-P-Lovecraft-The-Sh ... 8314051182




BTW Jason good timing on the Tibet monograph...hopefully you'll get a bump in sales from all the pub lately about the troubles there.



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