Miskatonic Monday #191: Victor Frankenstein-Reanimator

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 noneeless—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: Victor Frankenstein-Reanimator

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Al Smith

Setting: Regency Cthulhu: Dark Designs in Jane Austen’s England
Product: Pamphlet Scenario

What You Get: Two-page, 1.92 MB Full Colour PDF (Plus more)
Elevator Pitch: H.P. Lovecraft writes Mary Shelly/Mary Shelly writes H.P. Lovecraft

Plot Hook: Victor Frankenstein’s greatest experiment!

Plot Support: Staging advice and FAQ, four pre-generated Investigators, two handouts, one NPC, one floor plan, one Mythos tome, and one Mythos monster.

Production Values: Decent.

Pros

# Minimalist pseudo-scientific one-shot

# Low preparation scenario

# Plenty of elements left up to the Keeper to decide

# Another find the solution to the unstoppable monster scenario (but themed)

# Chemophobia

# Necrophobia

# Diokophobia

Cons

# Minimalist pseudo-scientific one-shot

# No stats for Victor Frankenstein or Igor (Fritz)

# Plenty of elements left up to the Keeper to decide

# A grand manor with one floor?

# Another find the solution to the unstoppable monster scenario (but themed)

Conclusion

# Lovecraftian creature-feature in minimalist style

# Easy to set-up and run Mythos-Monster mash that goes all points Herbert West