D&D 5E (2024) Cthulhu Confirmed!

[Paul Farquhar]

I mean to each their own, but the thing is it NEVER gets scary

True, but it’s great sci fi. It did the Silurian hypothesis before Doctor Who, it did alien autopsies before the X Files, it did aliens look weird but they are actually people just like us before Star Trek, it did sentient species being the cause of their own destruction before humanity.

 

[Parmandur]

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

Yeah, it's great (albeit insanely problematic)...?

Death of the Author is one thing, but also his beliefs are deeply ingrained into is writing. And I’m not just talking about Rats in the Walls. In most of his stories, the fundamental fear being expressed is of regression to a more “primitive” state, especially through miscegenation.

Now, I love me some cosmic horror. But, IMO the best way to use cosmic horror is to deconstruct his writing and make something better out of the good parts.

I would not recommend Lovecraft to impressionable readers, but I think reading Lovecraft critically can help dissect racism & misogyny at their psychological root and therefore serve a useful function for careful readers.. Y College DM is actually an English professor who has done work on that with Lovecraft and Howard.

I mean to each their own, but the thing is it NEVER gets scary. it does not slow burn toward anything horrifying. At least IMO. Not like Color Out Of Space, which I think is legitimately disturbing, or Herbert West, which (while being blatantly, disgustingly racist) is actual horror.

I do not really ever feel scared with Horror stories, personally, the genre doesn't really float my boat as a whole. Lovecraft is interesting to me for his prose and the raw energy with which he communicates his own fears, whi h is interesting.

 

[Reynard]

Yes, yes and yes.

The more I think about this, the more I think Shadowdark would be a good choice.

 

[Reynard]

Yes I have, and seen it performed on stage. And it’s excellent. Definitely my favourite work by Lovecraft. Slog? I’ve heard a lot of people use that word to describe LotR.

I am SHOCKED that you and I disagree on the fundamental value of foundational D&D inspirations.

 

[Remathilis]

Here's an interesting idea: could you run a D&D campaign in a DoD without telling the players and have it be a slow reveal? Would that work? Would it be fun?

You can. I find that Ravenloft (and really, any campaign setting) works best with player buy in. Horror is something a player has to be comfortable with and they have to be willing to play in a setting like Ravenloft. I'm sure if you pitched the game as a horror game and slowly pulled back the curtain to reveal they are in the Mists, you could do it. But I wouldn't sell it as your typical kitchen sink setting and then surprise them game one being struck in Barovia. Not unless you have very open or forgiving players.

(Though I don't think that's unique to Ravenloft. I wouldn't do that with Spelljammer or Planescape either, for example.)

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

You can. I find that Ravenloft (and really, any campaign setting) works best with player buy in. Horror is something a player has to be comfortable with and they have to be willing to play in a setting like Ravenloft. I'm sure if you pitched the game as a horror game and slowly pulled back the curtain to reveal they are in the Mists, you could do it. But I wouldn't sell it as your typical kitchen sink setting and then surprise them game one being struck in Barovia. Not unless you have very open or forgiving players.

Yeah, you'd definitely have to let everyone know it's a dark and horror-adjacent game.

And I would probably create a new domain from scratch, one that's larger than the ones in Van Richten's, so that the players don't perk up and say "wait, the entire world we know is a castle, two towns, and a spooky forest? Guys, we're in Ravenloft."

 

[Remathilis]

Yeah, you'd definitely have to let everyone know it's a dark and horror-adjacent game.

nd I would probably create a new domain from scratch, one that's larger than the ones in Van Richten, so that the players don't perk up and say "wait, the entire world we know is a castle, two towns, and a spooky forest? Guys, we're in Ravenloft."

The only official domain I could argue you could get away with it in is Classic Darkon. It's massive, has dozens of towns and cities, a variety of biomes, and enough stuff to do you could theoretically adventure for a while without worrying about Azalin. However, it's pretty well known and the gig is up when they hear about Ole Azey Rex

 

[Planescape]

Cthulhu should never have stats imo.

Kinda goes against the point!

 

[Charlaquin]

Cthulhu should never have stats imo.

Kinda goes against the point!

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

 

[Remathilis]

Cthulhu should never have stats imo.

Kinda goes against the point!

You could make the argument Orcus, Tiamat and Vecna shouldn't either, but here we are.