Pulp Cthulhu - what happened?!

[GlassJaw]

CarlZog and I played Pulp Cthulhu at GenCon 2 years ago. We signed up for it pretty much on a whim but it ended up being one of the best games we played. It was basically in beta test at the time.

Two years past and still nothing. I couldn't even find it in this year's GenCon events list. The last bit of info I could find on the Chaosium site was 2005.

Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[Kafkonia]

Chaosium tends to put products out verrrrrry slowly. But they do put them out.

 

[WayneLigon]

Two years past and still nothing. I couldn't even find it in this year's GenCon events list. The last bit of info I could find on the Chaosium site was 2005.

I guess they heard you. From their news page:

May 2007 update: Most of this book has now been written. The manuscript is huge. Art direction has not yet begun. We hope to release PC late 2007.

The new Pulp Cthulhu book will be a stand alone Call of Cthulhu RPG. The format will be similar (but much beefier) than our Cthulhu Dark Ages book.

I wonder why they did it as a stand-alone book? Did they re-write parts of the basic game system to accomodate a 'pulp' feel or something?

 

[Odhanan]

Chaosium really sucks on release schedules... really, really sucks... :\

 

[Ron]

[...]I wonder why they did it as a stand-alone book? Did they re-write parts of the basic game system to accomodate a 'pulp' feel or something?

If I what I read at rpg.net boards months ago is correct, there are several changes to make the action more cinematic. Perhaps GlassJaw, who played it, can comment.

 

[jaerdaph]

The guys at Chaosium are some of the most talented and creative designers in the RPG industry, and I love their work.

Unfortunately, they are also some of the worst businessmen in the RPG industry, with their biggest fiasco being to drop the d20 ball when WotC passed it back to them.

Still, I will continue to buy their products, because they are that good.

 

[GlassJaw]

If I what I read at rpg.net boards months ago is correct, there are several changes to make the action more cinematic. Perhaps GlassJaw, who played it, can comment.

Ok, like I said, it was two years ago so I forgot some of the specifics (Carl, help me out here. ) It was based on the traditional percentile system and I do remember that there was a complete vehicle/chase system that was really cool. I know there were a couple of core differences from the traditional Cthulhu rules. I think there were some expanded luck and combat rules.

System aside, the game was great - lots of props (including a book of Poe stories, complete with hidden map sewed into the backcover - I'm serious), cool character backgrounds, etc. It was run by William Jones, who is also the author (he had a co-GM as well but I forgot who it was).

The main thing I remember is that I really wanted the book after playing it. Besides campaign potential, it felt like the ultimate one-shot ruleset because it was easy to learn, fast to play, and surprisingly robust for what it allowed the players to do.

 

[ShadowDenizen]

On a (semi) related note...
Where's "DELTA GREEN"???

 

[Jim Hague]

On a (semi) related note...
Where's "DELTA GREEN"???

Released about two months ago...? And Chaosium doesn't publish Delta Green - that's Pagan Publishing all the way.

 

[Kafkonia]

On a (semi) related note...
Where's "DELTA GREEN"???

As Jim said, it came out a short while ago. If you listen to the latest Yog Radio (www.yogradio.com) you can hear a very long interview with the mastermind behind it.