Thinking of getting Call of Cthulhu, which version?

smiorgan · March 08, 2013, 02:17:35 AM

I never felt I needed more than the 4e book.

I do particularly like the 4e cover, and I have a nostalgia for Chaosium titles from that time (love my 4e Stormbringer, too). 4e does have a great pull-out section at the back. Also I think the tone of CoC 4e is just right, I like the way the text is presented, etc.

But unless they royally mucked up later editions you probably won't go wrong with anything from 4e onwards. You'd probably be fine with 3e, if you could find a copy that hadn't fallen apart (hello, GW).

danskmacabre · March 08, 2013, 03:02:54 AM

Quote from: GrumpyReviews;635301For some reason the rules update in 7th Edition now require you to keep a live and angry cuttlefish on the table during a game.

I hate that rule, I wish they had never implemented that.
It's especially irritating to keep it alive and so risky poking it all the time to keep it angry.. ;(

danskmacabre · March 08, 2013, 03:04:56 AM

Quote from: Bilharzia;635309There's the stunning 30th anniversary edition of CoC produced by Sans-Detour:
http://www.yog-sothoth.com/threads/21698-French-Call-of-Cthulhu-30th-Anniversary-edition-(L-Appel-de-Cthulhu)
PDF samples here:
http://sans-detour.com/index.php/Jeux-de-Role/L-Appel-de-Cthulhu/L-Appel-de-Cthulhu-Les-essentiels/L-Appel-de-Cthulhu-Editon-30e-anniversaire.html

The rule modifications are pretty good too.

But I don't speak or read French so that puts that one out of the question..

Bilharzia · March 08, 2013, 08:07:01 AM

Quote from: danskmacabre;635332But I don't speak or read French so that puts that one out of the question..

It's so immaculately and beautifully produced I would recommend it despite that, it's not likely anything like this will be published again and it gives you an excuse to brush up on your French

besides, reading is much easier than speaking or listening.

K Peterson · March 08, 2013, 09:36:34 AM

Quote from: danskmacabre;635295Does anyone know how different 7ed will be ?

There is a summary of some of the proposed changes here. There's no guarantee, though, that all of these changes will make it into the final text.

3rik · March 08, 2013, 11:00:52 AM

I use 6th edition, but I'd probably prefer 5.6 from what I hear, because of its cleaner layout.

Last thing I saw, the idea was to take somewhat of a toolkit approach with 7E where you can decide for yourself if you want to add particular rules modifications/additions/expansions to the core system or not.

danskmacabre · March 09, 2013, 05:16:11 AM

Hmmm 7ed ed looks interesting, but I can't wait until August for it.

Actually I went to our LFGS today to pick up a copy and they didn't have ANY Cthulhu books. Really disappointing. They had loads of other RPGs including other BRP RPGs.

I thought CoC was pretty popular, seems strange he didn't have anything in stock.
Oh well, back to ordering online for this I guess.

Piestrio · March 09, 2013, 01:11:29 PM

Chaosium seems to be suffering from the same idiocy that has infected many gamers and companies nowadays that "New Edition" means "New game with the same title".

It's sad really, CoC has been a touchstone of the hobby for many a year, and now it looks like they want to shit can it and make a new game.

TristramEvans · March 09, 2013, 03:42:31 PM

Quote from: Bilharzia;635372It's so immaculately and beautifully produced I would recommend it despite that, it's not likely anything like this will be published again and it gives you an excuse to brush up on your French besides, reading is much easier than speaking or listening.

Its almost worth Babelfishing it one sentence at a time...

SionEwig · March 10, 2013, 12:42:32 AM

To me 5th is much better organized (I've never looked at 6th) and does have all three of the time periods represented in the core book. However, 4th was a lot better (to me) with character creation in the core book and both the separate Gaslight and Cthulhu Now are excellent. Currently I use the 4th ed books for character creation (with the few skill changes in 5th) and then 5th for everything else.

RPGPundit · March 10, 2013, 01:02:17 PM

Quote from: Piestrio;635661Chaosium seems to be suffering from the same idiocy that has infected many gamers and companies nowadays that "New Edition" means "New game with the same title".

It's sad really, CoC has been a touchstone of the hobby for many a year, and now it looks like they want to shit can it and make a new game.

I don't know how far off they go, but yes, its stupid. One thing CoC had going for it is that you could use any book from any "edition" and they were all compatible.

Akrasia · March 10, 2013, 02:58:13 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;635852I don't know how far off they go, but yes, its stupid. One thing CoC had going for it is that you could use any book from any "edition" and they were all compatible.

Chaosium seems committed to maintaining cross-edition compatibility (i.e., CoC 7e can use pre-7e CoC material; pre-7e CoC can use 7e CoC material).

danskmacabre · March 10, 2013, 09:46:20 PM

Yeah as long as 7th ed is compatible with earlier editions, I probably going to like it.

I'll just get 6th edition and roll with that. If I happen to be able to pick earlier editions cheap, than all the better.

Thanks for all the advice.

RPGPundit · March 11, 2013, 04:47:58 PM

I would personally recommend either 5e or 6e.

RPGPundit

GrumpyReviews · March 11, 2013, 10:14:38 PM

Quote from: danskmacabre;635606Actually I went to our LFGS today to pick up a copy and they didn't have ANY Cthulhu books.

I had to special order my copy of CoC6th at my local game store. From what I understand Chaosium is still working out of severe financial difficulties, which means reduced print runs. I wonder if they will go print-on-demand, like White Wolf.

Anyway, all the editions appear to be easily backwards compatible and I like 6th.

If 7th is bad, then fans and fan response will be partly responsible for the badness.

Thinking of getting Call of Cthulhu, which version?

TristramEvans