Call of cthulhu D20 or not so D20?

[Imperialus]

I guess the title pretty much says it all. I've read all of the mythos stories by Lovecraft and a good chunk of ones written by other authors and have been toying with the idea of doing a CoC campaign but want some imput on what system people seem to prefer? My FLGS has copies of both 6th edition and D20

The big thing that concerns me about a level based system is the assumptions of player power that levels imply and quite frankly in CoC it shouldn't matter if you are 1st level or 20th, the only effect it might have on characters is detemining if they are still sane when Hastur makes a snack out of them or not and if he finds them praticularly chewy.

For all I know however the old system is level based too but with each book costing almost 60 bucks CDN I don't want to buy them both and decide which I like better.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hmmm, I have and like both. My preference is for the original Chaosium system. Characters start of much more skilled than their D20 counterparts, but remain fragile for their entire (often short) lives.

If you want to include Mythos elements in your D&D or other D20 based games (for example Skull & Bones ) then D20 CoC is the best choice. For a stand alone game my preference would be the original.

The Auld Grump

 

[jdrakeh]

Ironically, I prefer CoC d20 as it's more 'open' in terms of serving as a generic horror RPG. While it's true that this utility comes at the cost of not focusing exclusively on the Cthulhu Myhos, the larger scope was an approach that I welcomed. In CoC d20, a scenario about a lunatic who stalks the nearby abandoned summer camp felt just as natural as a scenario where Cthulhu cultists try to summon a eldritch evil from beyond space and time. In BRP CoC, a 'slasher' scenario always seemed somewhat awkward and disjointed.

That said, the support material for CoC d20 is not only sparse, but also of lesser quality than much of that available for BRB CoC (with the exception of the few dual-stat sourcebooks published by Chaosium). If you want a lot of pre-written support, from campaigns to setting supplements, you'll want to consider picking up BRP CoC instead of the d20 version.

 

[Imperialus]

hrm... well seeing as how I would kinda like to focus more closely on the Cthulhu Mythos themselves so far at least it looks like Chaosium is winning. Of course it will mean forcing my players to learn a new system but hey I'm a bastard that way .

So what is the Chaosium system like? What are the nuts and bolts of the mechanics? How's the learning curve? For the record I plan on setting the game with the players starting as English university professors including one psychiatrist and a single world war one vet who is suffering from dillusions and wierd dreams (I'll probably pregen the characters to make the story flow better) in early 1919. The overall plot as I see it so far is that a group of cultists are going to be attempting to use some of the latent energy released during some of the more catastrophic WWI battles to awaken Cthulhu and friends.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I personally prefer using Grim Tales for Cthulhu games.

 

[jdrakeh]

What are the nuts and bolts of the mechanics?

It's a skill-based system, with skills being ranked in percentages - you must roll equal to or less than a character's skill rating percentage on d% in order for an action to succeed. Incidentally, the latest revision of the core BRP rules is available for $4.95 from Chaosium which makes it a great primer for players new to the system.

How's the learning curve?

It's arguably just as easy to learn (if not easier) than d20.

For the record I plan on setting the game with the players starting as English university professors including one psychiatrist and a single world war one vet who is suffering from dillusions and wierd dreams (I'll probably pregen the characters to make the story flow better) in early 1919. The overall plot as I see it so far is that a group of cultists are going to be attempting to use some of the latent energy released during some of the more catastrophic WWI battles to awaken Cthulhu and friends.

You might want to track down Delta Green (not Delta Green: Countdown) as it specifically deals with espionage and the Cthulhu Mythos (although most of it is set in the 1990s, the time line covers earlier eras). Also, a lot of the information in Delta Green concerning security clearances, chain of command, etc are extremely well-reasearched.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I do have to say that the d20 CoC book is one of my Top Five gaming books. If everything in my collection were burned tomorrow, it's one of the few books I'd save.

I've found just too much of utility in it to be able to say an extra few hit points ruins the mood of the game. I mean, eaten by a Shoggoth is eaten by a Shoggoth, whether or not you're BRP Fragile or have six d20 Hit Die. The key, I think, is accepting that you CAN start at a level other than 1.

--fje

 

[jdrakeh]

I do have to say that the d20 CoC book is one of my Top Five gaming books. If everything in my collection were burned tomorrow, it's one of the few books I'd save.

It's one of three d20 products that I regret ever parting with (the other two M&M 1e and BESM d20).

 

[Turanil]

My FLGS has copies of both 6th edition and D20

CoC d20 is not printed and distributed anymore. It's also a very nice book. IMO: it's a collector that will over time increase in monetary value, and thus you should buy it!

For all I know however the old system is level based too but with each book costing almost 60 bucks CDN I don't want to buy them both and decide which I like better.

BRP Call of Cthulhu is not a level-based system. PCs can improve their score in some of their skills after the end of an adventure, provided they used the skill successfully and that they succeed at a dice roll (roll a d100 above their current score which is in the 0-100 range). Nothing else (hit-points, etc.) changes!


Anyway, to run a game true to the spirit of Lovecraft's horror, I would suggest BRP CoC. Myself, I like powerful heroes who will survive the monsters from the Mythos, so I prefer to use CoC d20 (for the monsters and occult) plus Grim Tales (for PCs creation and horror). The two mix very good IMO.

 

[arwink]

For running a strictly mythos game, the original rules are probably the better choice. For advice on actually running a really good mythos game, the d20 version is certainly the stronger book.