Miskatonic Monday #162: Good Vibes Only

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 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: Good Vibes Only

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Phaedra Florou & Stars Are Right

Setting: Modern day England
Product: Scenario

What You Get: Forty-six page, 38.86 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: “Why can’t the Mythos make you happy?”

Plot Hook: A spiritual retreat is the place to find a newer, better you.
Plot Support: Three NPCs, six handouts, two maps, one Mythos tome, six Mythos spells, and one Mythos monster.

Production Values: Decent.

Pros

# Shot modern one-shot

# Can be adapted to other periods and places

# Creepy, culty sense of otherness

# Surprisingly benign scenario 

# Horribly in-game handouts

# Neophobia

# Cherophobia

# Anthrophobia

Cons

# NPC led in places

# Short

Conclusion

# New Age horror involving the loss of self and becoming the new you at a definitely well-intentioned spiritual retreat

# Well-intentioned happiness is sure to get all the players’ backs up, but remember, “Breathe deeply, calm yourself… everything will be alright.”