Miskatonic Monday #174: The Shambler Between Worlds

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: The Shambler Between Worlds

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Jason Shayer

Setting: Jazz Age Arkham
Product: Scenario

What You Get: Twenty-five page, 2.78 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: A disappearing inmate from Arkham Assylum? This calls for the Miskatonic Mystery Club!*

Plot Hook: A disappearing inmate from Arkham Assylum leads to occult shenanigans.
Plot Support: Staging advice, six pre-generated Investigators, three NPCs, one handout (justabout), five maps, and one Mythos monster.

Production Values: Plain.

* Miskatonic Mystery Club Mobile not included

Pros

# Miskatonic University horror scenario

# Miskatonic Mystery Club is a great idea

# Straightforward, simple plot

# Teraphobia

# Multiversophobia

Cons

# Needs a slight edit

# Underwhelming hook to get the Investigators involved

# Is the island ‘unvisited’ or ‘uninhabited’?

# Needs more handouts

# No information about the emergency book reading

# Investigators could kill an important to the plot NPC

# Miskatonic Mystery Club only briefly detailed

Conclusion

# Straightforward, simple plot needs further development and details fleshing out 

# Potentially serviceable Miskatonic University/Arkham-set scenario that needs more of the Miskatonic Mystery Club