TheRPGSite

Hi folks, after some time recovering from the madness of Starblazer Adventures my creative mojo has returned in full force with my own games imprint MODIPHIUS (http://www.facebook.com/modiphius) and the forthcoming ACHTUNG! CTHULHU (http://www.achtungcthulhu.com) project.

Achtung! Cthulhu came about because I discovered an artist with some stunning art for Lovecraft's Mountains of Madness story, we teamed up and I came up with the idea of setting the latest expedition during the opening shots of WW2. We are releasing Achtung! Cthulhu with my own new system called Expeditions but we plan to release several different versions of the setting statted for popular RPG systems and this is where you come in!

What I'd like to know is which RPG system you'd like to see Achtung! Cthulhu for? Obvious contenters include:

Savage Worlds
Call of Cthulhu
Trail of Cthulhu
Hollow Earth Expedition
FATE
GURPS
D20

So let me know what you think!

cheers
Chris

What can you tell us about Expeditions?

Well Expedition's started life as an attempt to make an RPG that my non-gaming friends would just 'get'. Too many RPG's reduce interesting people to boring numbers and statistics, when it's the stuff you're reducing which is the interesting thing.

Expeditions 'reduces' chargen to some simple card draws based on classic character stereotypes, with enough choice to make the kind of tough, resourceful, brainy or mysterious kinds of characters you really want. Chargen can take moments, working out your character's story is easy and rewarding. We've worked hard to make the geeks and sensitive types as interesting and useful as the walking tanks. Characters have Attributes and life experiences as card draws. 'Fate points' are now meaningful descriptions on cards. When it comes to using 'luck' do I want to be thinking of spending points or using the card that says 'Just made it!' It's a dice pool vs difficulties or opposed pools and there's some cute stuff going on.

There's also a meta game which let's you outfit and run the expedition as a character with the heroes intervening in saving or helping the expedition when it's needed - I particularly wanted the whole expedition to be a key element to the game too.

We're planning to release a closed beta next, then a PDF version with tables, choices or printable cards for the card set in time for Gen Con, then publishing a full basic set with the nice shiny cards in time for christmas or the new year more likely. Starting off with the Mountains of Madness setting, followed by sci-fi and fantasy versions down the line.

Quote from: ChrisBirch;522411Well Expedition's started life as an attempt to make an RPG that my non-gaming friends would just 'get'. Too many RPG's reduce interesting people to boring numbers and statistics, when it's the stuff you're reducing which is the interesting thing.

Expeditions 'reduces' chargen to some simple card draws based on classic character stereotypes, with enough choice to make the kind of tough, resourceful, brainy or mysterious kinds of characters you really want. Chargen can take moments, working out your character's story is easy and rewarding. We've worked hard to make the geeks and sensitive types as interesting and useful as the walking tanks. Characters have Attributes and life experiences as card draws. 'Fate points' are now meaningful descriptions on cards. When it comes to using 'luck' do I want to be thinking of spending points or using the card that says 'Just made it!' It's a dice pool vs difficulties or opposed pools and there's some cute stuff going on.

There's also a meta game which let's you outfit and run the expedition as a character with the heroes intervening in saving or helping the expedition when it's needed - I particularly wanted the whole expedition to be a key element to the game too.

We're planning to release a closed beta next, then a PDF version with tables, choices or printable cards for the card set in time for Gen Con, then publishing a full basic set with the nice shiny cards in time for christmas or the new year more likely. Starting off with the Mountains of Madness setting, followed by sci-fi and fantasy versions down the line.

Interesting...

Is the core mechanic card-based as well?

And is there room in the setting for pulp heroes like the Shadow and Doc Savage, or are the PCs assumed to be "normal" WW2 heroes?

Sounds really good! I like card based character generation and if the card design is intuitive, the system itself is good aid for immersion.

Quote from: Dan Davenport;522413Interesting...

Is the core mechanic card-based as well?

And is there room in the setting for pulp heroes like the Shadow and Doc Savage, or are the PCs assumed to be "normal" WW2 heroes?

No it's a dice pool as the core mechanic, cards are used to build characters along with the resulting attributes or skills, descriptions aid re-rolls.

All kinds of heroes will be possible from dark Cthulhu style investigators to two fisted heroes.

Quote from: Tonpa;522415Sounds really good! I like card based character generation and if the card design is intuitive, the system itself is good aid for immersion.

There's also the ability to be as advanced (within certain restrictions) as you like but gaining too much experience brings also akk kinds if risks...

Quote from: ChrisBirch;522416No it's a dice pool as the core mechanic, cards are used to build characters along with the resulting attributes or skills, descriptions aid re-rolls.

Gah... Sorry. Missed the mention of the core mechanic in your previous post.

QuoteAll kinds of heroes will be possible from dark Cthulhu style investigators to two fisted heroes.

Well, let me rephrase: Will the system allow for heroes with pulpy powers like the Shadow?

Also, just let me know if you'd be interested in a review in exchange for a review copy. :)

I know, and like, Call of Cthulhu... so I'd be wanting it for that system.

Quote from: Simlasa;522419I know, and like, Call of Cthulhu... so I'd be wanting it for that system.

Same here -- and this does sound like something I'll buy. Cthulhu and Nazis? How could I pass it by.

Have you looked into the Laundry RPG system? I'm not familiar with it, myself, having only just started to read the Bob Howard books, but since it hinges on Lovecraftian stuff meeting espionage... I don't see why it couldn't work with a setting like this.

I'm massively biased towards Call of Cthulhu, which is in fact one of My Favorite Games.

Cthulhu & Nazis isn't exactly the most original plot on the planet; Delta Green did a nice job with the Karotechia, and it would be fun to have a historical look at that particular take on mad sorcerer-scientist Nazis.

Drawing parallels between the Nazi involvement with HEX's Hollow Earth and an eventual "race" between the PCs and the Nazis for the good ole' Mountains is also tempting.

Then again, my general advice would be to go with Call of Cthulhu and/or Trail of Cthulhu if you're playing it straight; Call of Cthulhu, Savage Worlds, Ubiquity/HEX and/or FATE if you're playing it not-so-serious, self-aware to any degree or even tongue-in-cheek. That's right, CoC is on both lists, and I feel it's the only game that might do justice to both takes, being conversant with both highbrow literary Lovecraft (ToC's "Purist") and damn-the-torpedoes, empty-a-tommy-gun-magazine-on-it, ram-Cthulhu-with-a-ship Lovecraft (ToC's "Pulp").

CoC seems like the absolute must-have system in there.  I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product, btw.

RPGPundit

Thanks everyone keep the votes coming, we're only 2-3 weeks away from our first release which is really exciting - hope to announce the system featured in the first release soon!

Chris, if you at all know German, or have friends who do, you owe it to yourself to order this book:

(http://www.reich-der-spiele.de/files/admin/pegasus/niemandsland.jpg)

It's a 260 page hardcover for Call of Cthulhu that exclusively deals with World War I, tellingly entitled "Niemandsland - Grabenkrieg und Heimatsfront".

You can order it at a bargain (and with free shipping to the US) here:

http://www.bookdepository.com/Niemandsland-Heiko-Gill/9783939794035

I own the book and will not comment on the quality. I doubt the level of historical research is high, but given your project this seems to set an important precedent that could be instructive in its accomplishments as much as its failures.

My other recommendation is "Mutants & Masterminds: Golden Age" which explicitly deals with setting a RPG in World War II. Admittedly it's a different genre, but again it may be instructive to look at.

PS. To answer your OP: in my experience people hardly care about mechanics as long as insanity is in. My personal favourite is Trail of Cthulhu.

Thanks Windjammer! Will check it out, my fiancee knows German so can check out some reviews.

I've been researching how to make more an impact with terror and fear using the systems we're going to be releasing Achtung! Cthulhu with so watch this space!

Quote from: ChrisBirch;522813Thanks Windjammer! Will check it out, my fiancee knows German so can check out some reviews.

I've been researching how to make more an impact with terror and fear using the systems we're going to be releasing Achtung! Cthulhu with so watch this space!

For research material on WW1 you have good selection of books on British side but German side has less in English. Jack Sheldon's books, German Army on Vimy Ridge, German Army at Passchendaele etc. are awesome. There are really good journal entries there; for example multiple observations how being the target of mine attacks is like.

Richard Hargreaves The Germans in Normandy is similar on WW2.

Quote from: Géza Echs;522427Have you looked into the Laundry RPG system? I'm not familiar with it, myself, having only just started to read the Bob Howard books, but since it hinges on Lovecraftian stuff meeting espionage... I don't see why it couldn't work with a setting like this.

The Laundry RPG, like CoC, is a BRP-based game.  There's not much difference between them.

I might be interested in a Call of Cthulhu version.  I'm afraid that I don't have the time or energy to learn an entirely new system to run a Lovecraftian game.  It just seems unnecessary IMO, given the presence and popularity of CoC.

CoC or D20 are the only two listed above I would run it with. Of the others, even FATE, which I like a lot as a system, wouldn't feel right to me for Cthulhu mythos adventures.

RPGPundit

CoC should be there. D20 is also a good option, and, as I like ToC's take on Sanity, I would recommend it, too. I don't think the other games are good fits.