Miskatonic Monday #77: The Oxford Articles

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: The Oxford Articles

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: David Wright

Setting: 1950s Oxford

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Fifty-eight page, 61.95 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Missing books amongst Oxford’s dreaming spires

Plot Hook: Missing books and arson, could they be connected?

Plot Support: Highly detailed plot, eight good handouts, eight maps, seven NPCs, one Mythos monster, and six pre-generated Investigators.

Production Values: Fulsome.

Pros
# Good use of the historical background and city

# Richly detailed investigative plot

# Cluedo-like floor plans

# Compact scenario in terms of time and setting

# Could be adapted to the Jazz Age or Cthulhu by Gaslight

# Scope for a sequel?

Cons
# Requires a strong edit

# Too richly detailed investigative plot?
# Mythos threat underwhelming?

# The Dreamlands rather than Yog-Sothoth?

# Oxford and no J.R.R. Tolkien?

Conclusion

# Oxford Bibliophilia noir

# Mythos may not fit the feel or nature of the scenario

# Compact, but thoroughly detailed (perhaps overly so) investigation