Miskatonic Monday #131: Contact

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: Contact

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Cameron Tressler

Setting: Modern Day Texas

Product: Scenario
What You Get: Nine page, 1.42 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Modern Myth & Mythos collide

Plot Hook: Missing persons case reveals a terrible truth behind a belief.
Plot Support: Three NPCs and a Mythos monster

Production Values: Plain.

Pros

# Straightforward, modern day investigation. 

# Easy to adapt to other locations

# Potential modern day campaign starter

# Suitable for convention play

# Has the feel of a television series episode

# Dramatic finale

# Potential X-Files-style (Delta Green) investigation

Cons

# Underwhelming scenario hook

# Has the feel of a television series episode

# Familiar plot for experienced Investigators/players

# Needs a slight edit

Conclusion

# Straightforward, modern day investigation which will be too obvious for experienced Investigators and their players.

# Solid, introductory X-Files-style one-shot which would work as a convention scenario or even a campaign starter.