Miskatonic Monday #266: Monsieur Deloffre Has Gone Quite Mad!

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: Monsieur Deloffre Has Gone Quite Mad!

Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Author: Cameron Hays

Setting: Paris, 1830

Product: One-shot
What You Get: Twenty-eight page, 24.24 MB Full Colour PDF
Elevator Pitch: Les Misérables meets the Mythos (singing optional)

Plot Hook: Madness, Monarchy, & the Mob

Plot Support: Six pre-generated Investigators, six NPCs, two maps, one Mythos spell, and one Mythos monster.

Production Values: Excellent

Pros

# Intriguing historical background and setting

# Potential convention scenario

# Nicely done NPCs
# Nicely done pre-generated Investigators

# Dementophobia

# Submechanophobia

# Phasmophobia

Cons

# Needs a slight edit

# Plot outline could be clearer

# What does the invisible body feel like?

# No NPC stats

# No mob rule

Conclusion

# Intriguing background and set-up supports a solid plot

# Lack of mechanical development undermines the ease of use