D&D 5E (2024) Cthulhu Confirmed!

[LuisCarlos17f]

The main of times the heroes, monster-hunters or investigators don't face the "big bosses" but their minions and cultists. Mr. Squid may be a "bad influence" but my opinion is Nyarlathotep is potentially more dangerous because it is more active instead only sleeping a nap.

If Yig "the father of the serpents" becomes canon in 5e, then it is not only more yuan-ti cults but the return of the wereserpents (3.5 Serpent Kingdoms) or ophidians but also the cobra-dragons. (#146 Dragon magazine) who would want to play with a cobra-dragonborn? I could bet Destro and Baroness would love it)

* Now I remember "Call of Chulthu" is more popular in Japan than "D&D". I guess with fast-creation survivor classes WotC could try to earn more market share in Japan.

* If the players wanted, the videogame "Cult of the Lamb" could become a dark domain. The fun part would be the PCs were allowed to lead it.

* What if Junji-Iro (horror mangaka) was hired to create a dark domain?

* Oficially there aren't true divine powers in the demiplane of the dread, and I can't imagine a dark domain to can jail an outer or great god. Clerics can cast divine magic and reload the next day but all communication with their deitis is impossible within the Demiplane of Dread.

 

[Seramus]

Mr. Squid may be a "bad influence" but my opinion is Nyarlathotep is potentially more dangerous because it is more active instead only sleeping a nap.

Oh, absolutely. Cthulhu itself is very low on the totem pole, almost hilariously so for all its publicity. Literally a mini-boss, not even a Darth Vader to the Emperor.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Oh, absolutely. Cthulhu itself is very low on the totem pole, almost hilariously so for all its publicity. Literally a mini-boss, not even a Darth Vader to the Emperor.

Oh yeah, there are far more interesting Eldritch horrors in Lovecraft's works then Cthulhu.

 

[Maxperson]

It's built into the Immortals rules of the Basic D&D sequels, and is certainly a well known trope. I guess it comes from Moorcock, who quite often kills off gods, usually with Stormbringer. My group killed Tharizdun as the level 20 boss, but failed to make it permanent.

No it isn't. You didn't kill a god in the Immortals rules in order to ascend. You grew powerful enough to have an immortal sponsor you to godhood, which you could fail and relied entirely on that immortal. Except for Redrian who become an immortal because the engine of his spaceship gave him a huge influx of power.

As for Elric, he killed one god with Stormbringer. Checkalakh, who had starved for millennia and was almost no longer a god, and Elric would have died if not saved by the god Donblas. Basically he killed a weak avatar and would have died in the process.

 

[Parmandur]

Oh, absolutely. Cthulhu itself is very low on the totem pole, almost hilariously so for all its publicity. Literally a mini-boss, not even a Darth Vader to the Emperor.

Cthulu is memorable and a esthetically interesting, and Call of Cthulu is a particularly strong story.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Jaws is a great movie, and my partner’s all time favourite, but I never considered it scary* (and I was pretty young the first time I saw it). It’s very like Jurassic Park - exciting, not frightening. But scariness is not a measure of if something is good or not.

*I think scariness depends a lot on what the viewer believes could be a real threat.

Jaws literally lead to declines in beach community tourism for a year or two and experts believe it's partially to blame for the stunning decline in shark populations worldwide. I think it's safe to say a lot of people were scared.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Really?! At least in D&D they are pretty much the same in 5e as they have been in 1e, 2e, and 3e. Not sure about 4e.

Hey, they got rid of 1E's gray elves! So that's something.

 

[dave2008]

A force of nature? Foil? Obstacle? He is no more character than Moby Dick.

Depending on what mean as a "character" I think you could use Cthulhu as such, but it is not necessarily needed either.

 

[dave2008]

To be fair, that is probably what this stat block is, a natural disaster to be faced by high Level PCs.

From what we see in the preview it seems likely that it doesn't live up to that title IMO. However, if there is something akin to the mythic trait hidden in there I may change my opinion.

Personally the best take I have seen so far for 5e was Sandy Peterson's version.

 

[dave2008]

Have you ever tried to actually read At The Mountains Of Madness? It is a SLOG.

Anyway, Lovecraft created a lot of interesting ideas, and others have made those ideas into good things sometimes, but his greatest contribution in vibes. We don't need yet another statblock for Cthulhu in D&D. We could use a new interpretation of cosmic horror in Ravenloft, though, once that builds on the past and makes it relevant to the present. Instead, we get Cthulhu. Again.

It is been a minute, but I don't remember AtMoM being a slog. Was it scary? Not me, but I found it interesting and engaging.

I am halfway there with you as, IMO, Cthulhu is one of the least "cosmicy" of the mythos horrors (depending on your interpretation) and I am always pro new ideas and approaches (which this book could still have). However, I still like me some Cthulhu and don't mind seeing another take (even if I know it will not be as good as my own).