Miskatonic Monday #86: Lost Port Royal

 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 Port Royal

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Andy Miller

Setting: 1690s Port Royal

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Sixty-six page, 37.78 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Ripples in Carcosa II?

Plot Hook: The madness that came to Port Royal

Plot Support: Detailed plot, bibliography, three good handouts, seven maps, ten NPCs, NPC portraits, and six pre-generated Investigators. 

Production Values: Solid.

Pros
# Lots of detailed research

# Excellent maps

# Enjoyable playtest notes

# Rarely visited period for Call of Cthulhu

# Multiple alternative setting suggestions listed

# Decent sextet of pre-generated Investigators

# Includes a list of period and setting Occupations

# Includes a period weapons guide

# Dedicated Investigator-NPC connections and motivations

# An investigation amidst a detailed descent into madness 

# Carcosa in the Caribbean or the Caribbean in Carcosa?

# Not staving off the inevitable, but staving off the worst outcome

Cons
# Involve the effects of slavery (but not actual slavery)

# All male pre-generated Investigators (at first sight)

# Potentially challenging Investigators to play

# Challenging investigation to understand or thwart the threat

# Too long to run as a convention one-shot

# Requires a mature gaming group

# Linear plot

Conclusion

# Carcosa in the Caribbean or the Caribbean in Carcosa?

# Challenging, but linear plot

# Rich in roleplaying opportunities as the infamous pirate port descends into madness