Please Rate D20 CoC

[nsruf]

I like it! I have only DMd 4 sessions so far, but it seems to do the "job" of d20 horror RPG very well. As soon as I have more time on hand, I will also write a detailed review for ENWorld.

The only thing that bugs me (I tend to be picky about that) is that there are quite a lot of minor editing errors and things left vague or unexplained (see Monte Cook's messageboard for an errata thread). So I would rate it 4 on a scale from 1-5 (5 being excellent) for that. A "revised" version incorporating all errata but changing nothing else would easily get a 5 in my book.

 

[Olive]

its great...

just a quick note: if you plan on using Monte cook's freebie intro adventure that came in game trader (and is now on line at their site I THINK), then make sure you read it very carefully, and make sure you have something else planned for the night as well, cos its good, but its short as hell...

 

[Hopping Vampire]

not as good as the origianal, but decent none the less.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I think it's as good as the original, but different. In fact, they're so different I'm inclined to say it's like comparing apples to oranges. Sure, they cover the same subject matter, but take different attitudes and approaches to it. The original is better at evoking a feeling of hopelessness, which in turn breeds fear and horror - the characters die much more easily than in the d20 version. While the d20 version is pretty lethal to the PCs, it seems more...optimistic.

I sorta see it like this - CoC d20 is more like d20 Horror than CoC. Use it to recreate Dark*Matter or a game like that - X-Files-ish, rather than Cthulhu-ish.

 

[Henry]

Quick agreement with the good colonel. Any game with level improvement built in, does seem more optimistic in actual play. Think about the original game: Was there much improvement built in? Darned little. You infrequently increased your skills, and that was it. However, when in a game, you make a determination to have a well-thought out advancement system, you are saying you will have characters who survive to advance.

It's WELL worth it, if you have a group that shies away from anything non-d20. Otherwise, it's to me just as good as the original, but the Chaosium rules version holds the edge in my mind more to feel and nostalgia than anything else.

 

[Desdichado]

Quick agreement with the good colonel. Any game with level improvement built in, does seem more optimistic in actual play. Think about the original game: Was there much improvement built in? Darned little. You infrequently increased your skills, and that was it. However, when in a game, you make a determination to have a well-thought out advancement system, you are saying you will have characters who survive to advance.

It's WELL worth it, if you have a group that shies away from anything non-d20. Otherwise, it's to me just as good as the original, but the Chaosium rules version holds the edge in my mind more to feel and nostalgia than anything else.

There's some folks that responded in the forums below the reviews of this game at rpg.net that claim that in fact, although it isn't immediately obvious, the d20 version is very likely more lethal than the Chaosium version (at least you can't max out Dodge and never get hit, for instance) but never having played that, I can't comment.

CH: like you, I don't know what I'd ever really use it to do something specifically Cthulhu-esque. But my wife has been asking for an X-files-ish game for a while now...

 

[Jaws]

Incorrect

There're some differences from standard D&D (Like Wounds and Vitality, rather than Hit Points), but the differences are few and far between and it is very much a D20 game. I say get it.

d20 CoC uses Hit Points. There isn't even an optional rule for Wounds and Vitality in it. I wish there was. Must be a House Rule that Green Knight uses.
I agree that you should buy it. Money well spent.

Peace and smiles

j.

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, I suggest you read my rather lengthy review of it that I wrote for this place. I think there are a couple other good reviews for it here as well.

I think it's far superior to the original BRP CoC rules. But I'm not a huge BRP fan (though I didn't mind it for CoC in the past). I like the task resolution mechanic of d20 better. Easier to use, although mathmatically it's the same.

Admittedly, it's very very pricey. I had a hard time paying full price for it (Yes, I'm cheap.). But I thought it was worth it. You can also generally get it on Ebay for new pretty cheap. $25-30.

 

[Green Knight]

d20 CoC uses Hit Points. There isn't even an optional rule for Wounds and Vitality in it. I wish there was. Must be a House Rule that Green Knight uses.

*slaps forehead* D'OH!

Sorry about that. I don't know how it happened, but for some reason I thought it had VP/WP rather than HP. Damn, I can't believe that slipped by me. Must've been thinking of Star Wars or something. Oh, nevermind.