D&D 5E (2024) Cthulhu Confirmed!

Charlaquin · 2026-03-06T23:53:17+0000

dave2008 said:
I saw it in the theatre when it came out. Maybe it was the shaky camera, but I don't remember anything being gross

The crying scene. So, so much snot.

Charlaquin · 2026-03-06T23:55:54+0000

dave2008 said:
Cthulhu is not a man, or did I misunderstand your response.

Well, not exactly. But I can understand why he might be less sexually appealing to folks who are not into men. Cthulhu has a pretty distinct masculine energy, and you kinda gotta be up for finding out what them tentacles do.

Planescape · 2026-03-07T00:22:00+0000

I just think if something is supposed to be an indescribable, mind melting horror. No way our measly sheet of numbers could convey it's power!

You woke up an Elder God! That's game over. An extremely fun and memorable game over, but still!

My nerd-nitpicking aside - what is Cthulhu doin the Strahd book anyways lol?

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-03-07T00:29:11+0000

Planescape said:
My nerd-nitpicking aside - what is Cthulhu doin the Strahd book anyways lol?

Love triangle with Tatyana.

Selas · 2026-03-07T02:44:29+0000

So far, here's what I've read around regarding Mythos influences found in some of the promos for the new book since announcement:

Cthulhu: likely a weakened or chained version (confirmed)
Great Race of Yith (Confirmed)
Shoggoths (unconfirmed)
Azathoth as a Lord of Dread, along with some mentions of the Cult of Azathoth--possibly using Cthulhu as an envoy {in the Mythos, Cthulhu is considered a priest of Azathoth} (unconfirmed)

If anyone has read anything else, feel free to add.

Paul Farquhar · 2026-03-07T07:36:19+0000

Selas said:
Cthulhu: likely a weakened or chained version (confirmed)

According to the portion of text that is visible, this Cthulhu is not a prisoner. Every time you adapt a literary character, you create a new version of that character. There are lots of different Draculas, lots of different Frankensteins, lots of different Sherlock Holmes, and not quite as many different Cthulhus. The Cthulhu in D&D isn't the same as the Cthulhu in Call of Cthulhu, isn't the same as the Cthulhu in Underwater, etc. And since the character is fictional there is no true version of that character.

Some people tend to treat the original version of a character with greater reverence than any adaptation, but in this case, there is no reverence for HPL. As pointed out elsewhere, this author is well and truly dead, leaving people feeling free to do whatever they like with his characters.

Selas said:
Azathoth as a Lord of Dread, along with some mentions of the Cult of Azathoth--possibly using Cthulhu as an envoy {in the Mythos, Cthulhu is considered a priest of Azathoth} (unconfirmed)

This isn't a Mythos book. It includes some mythos creatures to accompany one new domain - presumably R'lyeh. It will no doubt have several other new domains, featuring different horror subgenres*. It's not going to include the entire pantheon of Elder Gods, just the one mentioned in the PHB, and the useful monsters.

Note, Bluetspur is basically an X-Files domain, not a mythos domain, and was described in VGR. It's unlikely to be revisited in this new book.

*I would guess things that haven't really been done much previously - a Stephen King domain and a Slasher domain perhaps.

Rumours that Winnie the Pooh is the dark lord are greatly exaggerated - or are they....

LuisCarlos17f · 2026-03-07T13:09:49+0000

Maybe the new domain isn't the true and original R'lyeh but a "copy", a mindscape created by some crazy cultist, the true dark lord.

There isn't a small enemy

Anyway, I don't think all players prefer nightmare mode where they feel powerless; some ones want more opportunities to kick the bad guys' butts.

If there are cultists in Ravenloft these should have failed a lot of power checks because those horrible sacrifices and dark rituals.

* If lord squid isn't a dark lord then this could attack ther domains.

* Could Resident Evil 4 and Village(VIII) to become dark domains?

* Tharizdum cultists could cast divine magic within "Ravenloft", couldn't they?

* Do you know the martians from Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks!" are public domain? the copyright had to be renewed in 1990.

Upper_Krust · 2026-03-07T14:36:07+0000

Planescape said:
Cthulhu should never have stats imo.

Kinda goes against the point!

Bah Humbug!

Charlaquin said:
I don’t mind stats on Cthulhu. Azathoth shouldn’t have stats though.

Bah Humbug!

Parmandur · 2026-03-07T14:45:48+0000

Paul Farquhar said:
According to the portion of text that is visible, this Cthulhu is not a prisoner. Every time you adapt a literary character, you create a new version of that character. There are lots of different Draculas, lots of different Frankensteins, lots of different Sherlock Holmes, and not quite as many different Cthulhus. The Cthulhu in D&D isn't the same as the Cthulhu in Call of Cthulhu, isn't the same as the Cthulhu in Underwater, etc. And since the character is fictional there is no true version of that character.

Some people tend to treat the original version of a character with greater reverence than any adaptation, but in this case, there is no reverence for HPL. As pointed out elsewhere, this author is well and truly dead, leaving people feeling free to do whatever they like with his characters.

This isn't a Mythos book. It includes some mythos creatures to accompany one new domain - presumably R'lyeh. It will no doubt have several other new domains, featuring different horror subgenres*. It's not going to include the entire pantheon of Elder Gods, just the one mentioned in the PHB, and the useful monsters.

Note, Bluetspur is basically an X-Files domain, not a mythos domain, and was described in VGR. It's unlikely to be revisited in this new book.

*I would guess things that haven't really been done much previously - a Stephen King domain and a Slasher domain perhaps.

Rumours that Winnie the Pooh is the dark lord are greatly exaggerated - or are they....

Since this seems pretty clearly similar to Forge of the Artificer, I reckon there will be Campaign Frames and Bastions. Wouldn't surprise me if there were some Mythos material in there, and more than just the Hithians and Cthulu. I would think at least the MM approach of having Mythos opponents to insert at any gameplay Tier.