Miskatonic Monday #19: The Premiere of the King

Between October 2003 and October 2013, Chaosium, Inc. published a series of books for Call of Cthulhu under the Miskatonic University Library Association brand. Whether a sourcebook, scenario, anthology, or campaign, each was a showcase for their authors—amateur rather than professional, but fans of Call of Cthulhu nonetheless—to put forward their ideas and share with others. The programme was notable for having launched the writing careers of several authors, but for every Cthulhu Invictus, The Pastores, Primal State, Ripples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in Egypt, Return of the Ripper, Rise of the Dead, Rise of the Dead II: The Raid, and more...

The Miskatonic University Library Association brand is no more, alas, but what we have in its stead is the Miskatonic Depository, based on the same format as the DM’s Guild for Dungeons & Dragons. It is thus, “...a new way for creators to publish and distribute their own original Call of Cthulhu content including scenarios, settings, spells and more…” To support the endeavours of their creators, Chaosium has provided templates and art packs, both free to use, so that the resulting releases can look and feel as professional as possible. To support the efforts of these contributors, Miskatonic Monday is an occasional series of reviews which will in turn examine an item drawn from the depths of the Miskatonic Depository.

—oOo—

Name: The Premiere of the King

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Jonathan Baxter

Setting: Jazz Age Hollywood
Product: Scenario
What You Get: 1.09 MB, 19-page full colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Double ‘Yellow’ Peril in Hollywood Babylon.

Plot Hook: A missing ingenue gets lost behind Hollywood’s bright lights
Plot Development: Sleazy producers, a driven matinee idol, the fate of a nation, and a cloud of opium smoke.
Plot Support: Straightforward plot, four vibrant maps, four lurid handouts, and a rooftop chase.
Production Values: Decent beyond a slight edit.

Pros
# Familiar setting
# One-session scenario
# Needs little preparation
# Adaptable to other modern periods with mass media
# Low suggested price
# Atmospherically sleazy

Cons
# No final Sanity losses
# Underwritten Sanity rewards
# Plot all too obvious
# Atmospherically sleazy
# Keeper may want to check for stereotyping

Conclusion
# Sleazy, one-session scenario
# Low suggested price