Miskatonic Monday #72: Autopsy

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: Autopsy

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: G.A. Patrick

Setting: Shaw University, Jazz Age New England

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Thirty-five page, 12.89 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Extracurricular activity puts the Investigators on another path.

Plot Hook: What extras will an opportunity for extra credit lead to?

Plot Support: Detailed plot, twelve good handouts, seven NPCs, two Mythos tomes, one spell, and three pre-generated Investigators. 

Production Values: Decent.

Pros
# Better suited for experienced players of Call of Cthulhu

# Suitable as a one-shot or first part of a very dark campaign

# Delightfully vile NPCs the Keeper can sink her roleplaying teeth into

# Strong ‘film-like’ plot pulls the Investigators into the Mythos

# Some fraternities are eternal

# Easily adapted to other periods and settings

# Constantly pushes and prods the Investigators

# Could be relocated at a horridly dour boarding school

# Well done handouts

# School for Ghoul(s)?

Cons
# Requires a strong edit

# Adult in tone

# More maps would have helped
# Needs a stronger overview

# Not suitable for inexperienced players of Call of Cthulhu

# Adult tone means it is unsuitable as a convention scenario

Conclusion

# Requires a strong edit

# Strong plot with some horrifying fun NPCs and great clues

# Enjoyably different introduction to the horrors of the Mythos