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Monday 19 February 2024

Miskatonic Monday #263: Operation Midnight Sun

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—
Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Chicho OCARIZ ‘Arkashka’

Setting: World War II Iceland
Product: Scenario
What You Get: Twenty-seven page, 13.25 MB Full Colour PDF

Elevator Pitch: Nazis versus dinosaurs versus ‘hoard of the Nibelungs’ meets Journey to the Centre of the Earth under Iceland… in World War II
Plot Hook: Iceland is neutral right now, but will it be after Operation Weserübung?
Plot Support: Staging advice, four pre-generated Investigators, eight NPCs, three maps, and one dinosaur type.
Production Values: Decent

Pros
# Straightforward scenario
# Easy to run one-shot or convention scenario
Nyctophobia
Speluncaphobia
Ornithoscelidaphobia

Cons
# Needs a good edit
# No location map
# More military operation than Mythos investigation
# No Mythos content

Conclusion
# Short, action and stealth-focused World War II scenario
Ultimately more military operation than Mythos investigation

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