Miskatonic Monday #36: Lost Symmetry

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 Repository, 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 Repository.

—oOo—

Name: Lost Symmetry

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Benjamin Schäfer

Setting: Lovecraft Country in the Jazz Age of the 1920s

Product: Scenario
What You Get: 1.65 MB twelve-page, full colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Sometimes the numbers add up to more than they should. 
Plot Hook: A missing brilliant mathematics student would never miss an exam, would he?
Plot Development: A missing friend, grumpy faculty staff,something for the bookhound in your life, sir?, and the Mythos comes home.
Plot Support: A new Mythos tome, two handouts, and a set of floorplans.

Pros
# Simple set-up
# Easily adapted to other times and periods
# One-shot or one-session scenario
# Potential addition to a Lovecraft Country campaign
# Nicely curmudgeonly NPCs
# Easy to run with little preparation
# Potential investigator introduction to the Mythos
# Could be played one-on-one
# Cinematic feel to a fun climax
# Possible sequel to Spark of Life

Cons

# Needs editing
# Underdeveloped in places
# Why do the police turn up?
# No Sanity rewards

Conclusion
# Needs editing
# Simple, straightforward scenario with a cinematic climax 
# Decent one-shot or introduction to Lovecrafian investigative roleplaying