Miskatonic Monday #163: A Cold Wind Blows

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.

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Name: A Cold Wind Blows

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Sara Martinez

Setting: Jazz Age Colorado
Product: Scenario

What You Get: Nine page, 4.77 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Caught out in the cold...

Plot Hook: After staying one night, you will never take a shine to this place.
Plot Support: Three NPCs, three handouts, and one Mythos monster.

Production Values: Decent.

Pros

# Short Pulp action scenario

# Scenario for Pulp Cthulhu: Two-fisted Action and Adventure Against the Mythos

# Trapped with a ‘near impossible to kill monster’ type scenario

# More action than investigation 

# Frigophobia

Cons

# Trapped with a ‘near impossible to kill monster’ type scenario

# More action than investigation

# Consequences of the villain’s actions left undeveloped

# No hotel floorplans

# Short

Conclusion

# Pulp action scenario set at an Overlook Hotel-style hotel

# Investigation frozen out in favour of combat in this Mythos in winter versus high-tech gear scenario