Miskatonic Monday #129: Radio Killed Verna Starr

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: Radio Killed Verna Starr

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Michael Schaal

Setting: Jazz Age Pennsylvania

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Thirteen page, 2.83 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Radio control in rural Pennsylvania

Plot Hook: Strange deaths in small town Pennsylvania reveal the dangers of new technology
Plot Support: Staging advice, three handouts, six NPCs, one Mythos monster, and one Mythos entity. 

Production Values: Decent.

Pros

# Weird first encounter 

# Works as a single Investigator scenario

# Keeper can prepare period recordings as handouts and atmosphere

# Switch to the 1950s for televisiophobia?

# Radiophobia

# Pun title

# Finally, an Investigator gets to use the Electrical Repair skill!

Cons

# Underwhelming hook for the Investigators

# Needs a strong edit

# First encounter should be the hook

# NPCs with similar names

# Pun title

Conclusion

# Weird first encounter signals an entertaining period side-trek Call of Cthulhu investigation highlighting our fears of technology and the new.

# Pun title does give the plot away, but solidly plotted, easy to run twist upon the zombie horror genre (and back again).