tylermalan
First Post
I'm interested in possibly trying out Call of Cthulhu, but I'd like to play the best edition of the rules. I know that the most recent version is 6th, but what is the best, in your opinion, and why?
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Best Version of Call of Cthulhu
- Thread starter tylermalan
- Start date
Hella_Tellah
Explorer
Trail of Cthulhu (The Trail of Cthulhu RPG by Kenneth Hite for the GUMSHOE system) won the ENnies for Best Rules and Best Writing. If you can't trust ENWorld, who can you trust?
tylermalan
First Post
That's true...
So I just got done looking at a bunch of stuff online for this game, and it looks really good. Does it keep the same feel as the other cthulhu games, though?
vagabundo
Adventurer
Slang for a Private Detective.
Betote
First Post
I have 3rd and 5th editions, and they're mostly the same. Mechanically, the game hasn't suffered any changes apart from some very small ones (skill caps at 99% instead of 100%, higher beginning skill points), so you could go with any of them and you wouldn't be wrong 
About Trail of Cthulhu... I like the system, it's very light and easy for wing-up Keepers as I, but perhaps a little too gamist, in that it could have players think more as if they're in a game with rules and resources to tap, which can detract from the story. OTOH, the sanity rules are brilliant.
To start, I'd take one of Chaosium's CoC editions (the latest one should be easier to find, but any one will do), just because with it you can use any of their scenarios, which are the greatest strength of CoC.
About Trail of Cthulhu... I like the system, it's very light and easy for wing-up Keepers as I
, but perhaps a little too gamist, in that it could have players think more as if they're in a game with rules and resources to tap, which can detract from the story. OTOH, the sanity rules are brilliant.To start, I'd take one of Chaosium's CoC editions (the latest one should be easier to find, but any one will do), just because with it you can use any of their scenarios, which are the greatest strength of CoC.
Nebulous
Legend
I also think there is a Shadows of Cthulu out that is based on True20. It looked great from previews.
shadows of cthulhu
shadows of cthulhu
JeffB
Legend
I've had the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 5.6 (hardcover) versions and have browsed through the 2nd, 4th and newest (6th).
Mechanically as stated the difference are very small-its still the same game it was 25 years ago. Chaosium calls them editions but they are more like other game manufacturers "printings".
The big difference is in "extra stuff". Later editions add more "stuff"- things from Keeper supplements, more monsters, more info on different genres, more scenarios in the book, etc.
IMO- the best bang for the buck is finding a copy of the 5.0-5.2 edition- (white edged cover-circa early 1990s)- This book has the Gaslight and Modern eras covered,and alot of added info from the classic supplements. I picked up a perfectly servicable used copy on Amazon for I think it was $3.50? maybe $5? can't remember now- and it has nearly all the content of the 5.5/5.6 blue cover version (missing the actual CoC story by Lovecraft and some other bits, but nothing glaring I could remember).
Oldest versions (1st/2nd and the 3rd/GW print) are becoming "collector" items and while very cool are expensive and don't have all the extras-- 4th can be had pretty cheap, but is a "thinner" product than the 5th+ editions
Mechanically as stated the difference are very small-its still the same game it was 25 years ago. Chaosium calls them editions but they are more like other game manufacturers "printings".
The big difference is in "extra stuff". Later editions add more "stuff"- things from Keeper supplements, more monsters, more info on different genres, more scenarios in the book, etc.
IMO- the best bang for the buck is finding a copy of the 5.0-5.2 edition- (white edged cover-circa early 1990s)- This book has the Gaslight and Modern eras covered,and alot of added info from the classic supplements. I picked up a perfectly servicable used copy on Amazon for I think it was $3.50? maybe $5? can't remember now- and it has nearly all the content of the 5.5/5.6 blue cover version (missing the actual CoC story by Lovecraft and some other bits, but nothing glaring I could remember).
Oldest versions (1st/2nd and the 3rd/GW print) are becoming "collector" items and while very cool are expensive and don't have all the extras-- 4th can be had pretty cheap, but is a "thinner" product than the 5th+ editions
Crothian
First Post
It really depends what you want from your Cthulhu game. The orginal game is still a classic and is still very popular for a reason. I'm told the newest edition is very well done, but I'm still very happy with my 5th edition. It is the game most people think when we talk Lovecraft and the one mostly played at cons.
Trail is a differnet game. The Gumshoe system I like but it is different enough to really change the feel of the game as the PCs have limited resources for skills. When I've run it it met with very mixed reviews as some people really did not like what the mechanics do.
Monte Cook did a d20 version for Wizards a few years back that works pretty well. If it is the system your players know then that is a great advantage.
Shadows of Cthulu is the new True 20 version and it is sitting on my review shelf waiting to be fully digested. IT looks pretty good, though it might be a little too rules focused for me.
Trail is a differnet game. The Gumshoe system I like but it is different enough to really change the feel of the game as the PCs have limited resources for skills. When I've run it it met with very mixed reviews as some people really did not like what the mechanics do.
Monte Cook did a d20 version for Wizards a few years back that works pretty well. If it is the system your players know then that is a great advantage.
Shadows of Cthulu is the new True 20 version and it is sitting on my review shelf waiting to be fully digested. IT looks pretty good, though it might be a little too rules focused for me.
