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Wag
 
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| Does anybody know of any Cthulhu Live groups currently active in the uk? I’ve found a few links but they mostly seem to be groups that have stopped actively playing. Also does anybody have experience of the official sourcebooks for the live version? Are they worth buying?
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RL: Mr Sofar
Curved core weaponry and bespoke stuff.
ShelfordFX
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I do talk a good fight
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I think I have a copy of the 1st edition live rulebook around somewhere. Not bad -- some good costuming & prop ideas.
http://www.hyboriantales.com
PD: Ghostdance ("The most irritating curse I've ever encountered" -- NPC played by H.)
Riftworld: Rossar Kuug ("Clearly mad, because he thinks he's a Com-Trow Skirmisher" - Aela)
Hyborian Tales: Crew, cook, dogsbody, general labourer, toilet cleaner ("Dangerously overoptimistic ref" -- Tom Nowell)
Otherwise usually crew ("Quite spry & fit, & willing to wear a big costume & run around a lot" -- various event organisers)
"My other oversized foam weapon is THE LORD" -- Questionable Content
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Heroic Knight
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After much deliberation, I decided that a Lovecraft-inspired system would only work well with a very small number of players (aside from anything, an investigation game requires a HUGE amount of prep work). As such the events I'm currently running are private for a handful of invited individuals, and quite expensive... I believe other Cthulhuesque groups do run on a similar basis.
My opinion on the Cthulhu live book (which I do have) is that it's utter drivel, worse than the Minds Eye bolleaux. Building a Shoggoth from a tent aside, I believe it completely misses the point of Lovecraftian horror which is all about atmosphere. I don't see how you can get the right mood and tension without using a predominantly freeform system with reliance on hard skills.
In my opinion, the rulebook is more for people who will get a great deal of satisfaction by becoming a Level Five Byakhee-Summoner, and they are welcome to it...
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Maelstrom - Carl Whitesnake
Scavenger LRP - Organiser
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Heroic Knight
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| In general I'm not a huge fan of what roleplaying has done to Lovecraft (though its all ultimately Derleth's fault - the wanker). The Cthulhu roleplaying stuff I've seen has mostly, as Alastair points out, missed the point of Lovecraft's writing, which is about the dread of the unknown and the feeling of being inconsequential and insignificant next to the vastness of the universe, instead giving very specific and codified definitions to entities that were always supposed to be vague and nebulous, and reinventing Cthulhu as Godzilla. I've read the Cthulhu live book, and found it to be a horrible pile of shit (though I did nearly cry the first time I read the Call of Cthulhu rulebook and saw that Azathoth had stats, so its possible that my reactions on this topic are a tad extreme). That said, though, I have seen some really good things done with a small number of players, very minimalist rules and an understanding of Lovecraft's writing - the last game Alastair ran, for example, was excellent and captured the spirit of the stories while still allowing potential for players to shape and own the world (in much the same way as Ian's Hyborian Tales does with Howard, but with considerably less violence or opportunities for Sam Harber to get naked). I'd definitely advise looking for small groups using free-form rules systems (or close to them) and stressing the atmosphere of the original Lovecraft stories over being able to clearly describe Hastur's relationship with Eihort.
No spoken or written word can ever be a substitute for one's own practical experience. No-one too can convince another who does not wish to believe what he is told - only the doubter loses by his incredulity - T.C. Lethbridge
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I do talk a good fight
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Richie, if you want a good non-live Cthulhu game, I recommend _De Profundis: Letters from the Abyss_. I'd be up for a game if you can get hold of your own copy (I have one).
More info here:
http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_5528.html
It's sadly out of print at present I believe.
http://www.hyboriantales.com
PD: Ghostdance ("The most irritating curse I've ever encountered" -- NPC played by H.)
Riftworld: Rossar Kuug ("Clearly mad, because he thinks he's a Com-Trow Skirmisher" - Aela)
Hyborian Tales: Crew, cook, dogsbody, general labourer, toilet cleaner ("Dangerously overoptimistic ref" -- Tom Nowell)
Otherwise usually crew ("Quite spry & fit, & willing to wear a big costume & run around a lot" -- various event organisers)
"My other oversized foam weapon is THE LORD" -- Questionable Content
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Heroic Knight
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Actually, Ian, you recommended De Profundis to me when I first met you about 3 years when I agreed to give you a lift from Liverpool to a Shards game (and initially wondered what state the police would find my body in when someone with a snake tattooed on his head got into my car), and since then I've looked fucking everywhere for it, with a complete lack of success. If anyone's reading this who has a copy they don't want, let me know and I'll be happy to discuss prices with you. In fact, how big is it Ian? I'd even be willing to think about paying for a photocopy, provided its not too massive.
No spoken or written word can ever be a substitute for one's own practical experience. No-one too can convince another who does not wish to believe what he is told - only the doubter loses by his incredulity - T.C. Lethbridge
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Heroic Knight
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Last Login: Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:02 PM
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Though, to be honest, do you really need the book to play it?
No spoken or written word can ever be a substitute for one's own practical experience. No-one too can convince another who does not wish to believe what he is told - only the doubter loses by his incredulity - T.C. Lethbridge
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I do talk a good fight
Group: System Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 8:02 AM
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The book's worth owning, it's a great read & has a lot of ideas on how to play better games of itself.
This chap has a load for sale:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZcityintheseauk
You thought I was going to murder you?!? I have a far worse fate in mind for you, young Richie.... 
http://www.hyboriantales.com
PD: Ghostdance ("The most irritating curse I've ever encountered" -- NPC played by H.)
Riftworld: Rossar Kuug ("Clearly mad, because he thinks he's a Com-Trow Skirmisher" - Aela)
Hyborian Tales: Crew, cook, dogsbody, general labourer, toilet cleaner ("Dangerously overoptimistic ref" -- Tom Nowell)
Otherwise usually crew ("Quite spry & fit, & willing to wear a big costume & run around a lot" -- various event organisers)
"My other oversized foam weapon is THE LORD" -- Questionable Content
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