Monday 3 June 2024

Miskatonic Monday #287: Lost in Cremation

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—
Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author Poul Holmelund

Setting: Noughties Denmark
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Thirty-six page, 11.09 MB PDF
Elevator Pitch: Creativity burns like the Sun...
Plot Hook: What is the mystery of the madness to an unsolved missing persons case?
Plot Support: Staging advice, four pre-generated Investigators,
nine handouts, five NPCs, one Mythos tome, and one Mythos spell.
Production Values: Decent

P
ros
# Sequel to The Art of Hygge
# Title is a clever play on words
# Straightforward, detailed investigation
# Very Danish investigation
# Pyrophobia
# Chorophobia
# Pyromania

Cons
# Artwork variable in quality
# Very Danish investigation. Everyone is almost too helpful

Conclusion
# Very serviceable sequel to The Art of Hygge
# Can an investigation be too Danish? Their help undermines the challenge.

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