[1930] Pulp Cthulhu

[Frosty]

We played CofC last saturday instead of D&D. I was a lot of fun (and scary) and I got interesting in playing more CofC. (We played the Secret of Castronegro.) Years ago CofC was the game of choice among my fellow gamers. Today I visited Chaosium's website and found something called Pulp Cthulhu. This seems to be right up my ally as the 1930 is a very intriguing time. Now, does anyone know anything about Pulp? If so what changes should I expect on Lovecraft Country for example? Please feel free to inform me on anything you want to share.

I just have one gripe with CofC d20. It's not open content. In my opinion this is a huge mistake. What's wrong with Chaosium, are they afraid of a little competition? Sheesh. The first day after the release of D&D I found 20 character sheets and a fair number of adventures as well. I can't find anything on CofC weeks after it's release. If CofC d20 was open content I'd be happy to make a character sheet myself (as I did for D&D) but now I don't feel the same need to contribute.

Well, I have another gripe too... Why do Chaosium feel the need to apologize for endorsing CofC d20? On their website they can't stop informing us that this is a one time occurrance and that it certainly won't happen again and the only reason they do it is to grab some cheap buck. Not that there's anything wrong with grabbing but I like some enthusisam to go with that. Chaosium actually managed to sap my enthusiasm for CofC with that weak introduction.

 

[LcKedovan]

We played CofC last saturday instead of D&D. I was a lot of fun (and scary) and I got interesting in playing more CofC. (We played the Secret of Castronegro.) Years ago CofC was the game of choice among my fellow gamers. Today I visited Chaosium's website and found something called Pulp Cthulhu. This seems to be right up my ally as the 1930 is a very intriguing time. Now, does anyone know anything about Pulp? If so what changes should I expect on Lovecraft Country for example? Please feel free to inform me on anything you want to share.

Hi Frosty,

I think the main thing about the book is that, unlike the WotC CoC book, it will focus on the "original" times of the BRP CoC. It will add some additional material to "pulp" up the Lovecraft Mythos. One of my dissapointments in the Hardcover was the fact that it wasn't mainly 1920s focuses. But I'll get over it

I just have one gripe with CofC d20. It's not open content. In my opinion this is a huge mistake. What's wrong with Chaosium, are they afraid of a little competition? Sheesh. The first day after the release of D&D I found 20 character sheets and a fair number of adventures as well. I can't find anything on CofC weeks after it's release. If CofC d20 was open content I'd be happy to make a character sheet myself (as I did for D&D) but now I don't feel the same need to contribute.

Well, traditionally they have been lenient in certain areas compeltely (see the Byakhee character generator for example. You would see Wizards shutting something like that down in a heartbeat yet Chaosium links to it on their website, and fan-created adventures... some even hosted on Chaosium's site!)

What you see is a differing marketing strategy. WotC has big backing and cash, Chaosium is run by 4.5 people. What works for WotC does not necessarily work for smaller companies. You would never see a small WotC make the move with "open content" that they did. Chaosium is IMHO "fan friendly" to date, so they don't need "open content".

As for finding material. I have been posting new profession templates here, as well as conversions and haven't even had an ounce of feedback or response *shrug*.

In addition, see this thread which points to a seriously kickass set of character sheets and a set of GM reference sheets: http://test.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14065

Well, I have another gripe too... Why do Chaosium feel the need to apologize for endorsing CofC d20? On their website they can't stop informing us that this is a one time occurrance and that it certainly won't happen again and the only reason they do it is to grab some cheap buck. Not that there's anything wrong with grabbing but I like some enthusisam to go with that. Chaosium actually managed to sap my enthusiasm for CofC with that weak introduction.

For me it didn't read that way at all. CoC has a big fanbase, and a lot of people were upset since they thought that Chaosium was dumping them and the BRP and going totally d20. Chaosium just point out that is not the case, with two seperate lines of releases: BRP and d20, with both containing converted stats for the other system. Sounds smart to me.

-Will

 

[LcKedovan]

Oh, I forgot to mention something else about the differences between Chaosium and WotC.. This from their writer's guidelines:


Rights and Rewards

This is a good chance to see yourself in print and impress your friends and those ever-curious relatives. Your name will be prominent on the cover and title page. Usual payment is by the word, on merit, between three cents and four cents a word for all rights worldwide. If a single author substantially writes the book, it is copyrighted in that author's name. If it is a group-effort book, usually it is copyrighted in Chaosium's name. In either case, all rights to their original words return to authors when their books go out of print. Authors get 6-12 free copies and can always get additional copies at standard discounts.


The Common Pool

Just as Mythos authors have done since the original Lovecraft circle, we ask that new authors allow other authors to refer to or employ the characters, tomes, entities, and spells that they create. In exchange, such elements within the rulesbook and supplements are available for your use. Authors maintain complete control of their own human characters, if they wish, and may always use them in other publications and other media.

I can't see the creator of "Krusk" being able to go off and write an independant short story, or movie about him without WotC getting involved legally, can you?


-Will

 

[Frosty]

Thank you for your replies. I still think open content is the way to go but I'll cut Chaosium some slack on this. I'm looking forward to Pulp.

 

[Horacio]

Oh, I forgot to mention something else about the differences between Chaosium and WotC.. This from their writer's guidelines:


Rights and Rewards

[SNIP]

-Will

I didn't know that, Will! It sounds very fair!

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Having only 4.5 people on staff also means that can not possibly write all thier own stuff. In fact they are asking for submissions of material for books and modules on thier website since all of thier books are freelance. I wish I was capable of writing things like that, but since not I hope that the many people here that are more than capable will consider it.

Just because a system has an original version and a d20 version should not prevent new stuff from coming out dual stated, just see AEG's Rokugan stuff for examples.