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Monday 17 October 2022

Miskatonic Monday #136: Gold Fever

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 InvictusThe PastoresPrimal StateRipples from Carcosa, and Halloween Horror, there was Five Go Mad in EgyptReturn of the RipperRise of the DeadRise 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: Gold Fever
Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Erik Åhlin

Setting: Jazz Age Sweden
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-nine page, 9.56 MB Full Colour PDF

Elevator Pitch: “All that glisters is not gold.”
Plot Hook: A missing son leads to murder, mystery, and the Mythos under the Midnight Sun.
Plot Support: Twelve NPCs, five (ten) handouts,
and two Mythos monsters.
Production Values: Decent.

Pros
# Silver medalist for the 2022 national Swedish Call of Cthulhu scenario competition
# Solid Sweden-set investigation
# Detailed notes and handouts provided to adapt the scenario to the USA
# Engaging portrayal of period Sweden
# Good handouts
# Potential for expansion into the Dreamlands
# Easy to adapt to other time periods
Ophidiophobia
# Aurophobia

Cons
# Needs an edit
# Clearer final Sanity rewards and losses needed 
# No Swedish pre-generated Investigators
# If the silver medal winning scenario is as solid as this, how good is the gold medal winning scenario?

Conclusion
# Worthy medal winner in the 2022 national Swedish Call of Cthulhu scenario competition 
# Impressively decent scenario combines solid investigation with an engaging portrayal of Sweden in the 1920s

3 comments:

  1. Hi! As a Swede, I'm always happy to see work from my country being appreciated. And "Gold Fever" is indeed a great scenario. I noticed that you wrote, "If the silver medal winning scenario is as solid as this, how good is the gold medal winning scenario?". Well, there's an easy way to find out: It's called "The Flooding of Black Tarn" and is for sale at Miskatonic Repository (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/404470/The-Flooding-of-Black-Tarn). Since I'm the author, let me know if you want me to send you a free copy for reviewing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jonas, thank you for reading the review and commenting. I would be delighted to review 'The Flooding of Black Tarn'. Contact me via the Contact Form to the right (or I can be found in the Misaktonic Repository Discord or the Facekbook group.)

      Delete
  2. Awesome! I send you a Messenger-mail with the scenario attached.

    ReplyDelete