Miskatonic Monday #21: A Light in Darkness

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: A Light in Darkness 

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Matthew Puccio

Setting: World War II Pacific Theatre
Product: Scenario
What You Get: 4.45 MB, 39-page colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Sound and fire, box and bell in the Pacific.

Plot Hook: ‘Can do’ Seabees must protect a mysterious box from Japanese counterattack and survive DAYBREAK.
Plot Development: Exhaustion and shellshock, madness and mushrooms, a race to find safety as the last men standing.
Plot Support: Linear plot, five maps, three handouts, weapon handouts, shellshock and insanity rules, and  eight pre-generated Naval engineers.
Production Values: Decent beyond a slight edit.

Pros
# One-shot
# One-session scenario
# Needs little preparation
# Desperate survival horror
# Convention scenario
# Suitable photo illustrations
# Works with Achtung! Cthulhu: Guide to the Pacific Front 

Cons
# Linear plot
# No female characters
# Murky maps
# No Engineering skill

Conclusion
# Good convention scenario
# Solid survival horror