Monday, 16 September 2024

Miskatonic Monday #299: Operation Hope

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: Marco Carrer

Setting: Post-‘the Stars are Right’ Germany, 2035
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Eighteen page, 512.92 KB Full Colour PDF

Elevator Pitch: “Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Plot Hook: A search for sanctuary in a time when dreams are all that anyone has
Plot Support: Staging advice, six pre-generated Investigators, five handouts, five maps, four NPCs, and four Mythos monsters.
Production Values: Plain

Pros
# Near future-set post-apocalyptic scenario for Pulp Cthulhu: Two-fisted Action and Adventure Against the Mythos
# Ososphobia
# Oneirophobia
# Phagophobia

Cons
# Who was calling for help?
# Needs an edit
# Sanity rewards too high
# Underdeveloped setting

Conclusion
# Operation Hope turns to Operation Hopelessness...
# Underdeveloped setting
# Reviews from R’lyeh Discommends

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