Sunday, 22 August 2021

Miskatonic Monday #78: The Drooler in the Dark

  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 InvictusThe PastoresPrimal StateRipples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was a Five Go Mad in EgyptReturn of the RipperRise of the DeadRise 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—
Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Michael LaBossiere

Setting: Anywhere with shoes, sex (potentially), and mobile phones (optional)

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Six-page, 262.23 KB Full Colour PDF

Elevator Pitch: Sometimes your partner’s dog really does hate you.
Plot Hook: Love and Labradors don’t mix 
Plot Support: Plot set-up, six random behaviour tables, and a demonic dog.
Production Values: Reasonable.

Pros
# Brings the Mythos (or is it?) into an investigator’s love life
# Enlivens an Investigator’s life away from deadly confrontations with the Mythos
# Lots of roleplaying potential
# Lots of embarrassing situations for a single investigator
# Easily adapted to other settings and periods
# Pets are evil?

Cons
# Requires a slight edit
# Requires a fair degree of set-up beforehand
# Pets are evil?
# Or is the Keeper being evil to the Investigator?

Conclusion
# Keeper merriment with a malign mutt at an Investigator’s expense
# Can you say Cynophobia? I bet you can! Go on, there’s a good boy.

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