Call of Cthulhu: Carnival of Madness - RPG Review

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
  • Taking a trip into Carnival of Madness, an elaborate Call of Cthulhu adventure set in 1970 in the vein of the old 'grindhouse' exploitation movies. Written by Alex Guillotte and Ian Christiansen, the scenario is a whopping 90 pages long, but playable in a single session.
    You can pick it up on DriveThru RPG: www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
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ความคิดเห็น • 256

  • @zerodeadpodcast7102
    @zerodeadpodcast7102 ปีที่แล้ว +208

    We hope you all have as much fun listening to/playing this as we did!

    • @CGhee135
      @CGhee135 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I love it. I basically live vicariously through you guys playing since I don’t have a gaming group.

  • @WoobooRidesAgain
    @WoobooRidesAgain ปีที่แล้ว +59

    I genuinely think more CoC scenarios need to be set in 1970's America. You have everything that the 1920's and 1930's scenarios offer - soaring social tensions along ideological lines, distinct and classic fashion styles, new and untested technologies reshaping the world, a society-wide fixation on mysticism and a rise in cult activity, thousands of disaffected and psychologically scarred war veterans, international intrigue - while adding psychedelic drugs, badass mirror shades, some of the greatest music ever made and some of the most horrifying forms of interior decorating mankind has ever witnessed.
    Seriously, whoever got the deep brown shag carpeting to become a nationwide trend must have been an agent of Hastur.

    • @dbensdrawinvids8390
      @dbensdrawinvids8390 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'll see your deep brown shag carpeting and raise you faux wood panelled walls.

    • @RaithSienar
      @RaithSienar ปีที่แล้ว +9

      "You walk through the bead curtain into the room that is full of bean bag chairs, a hookah, and yellow shag carpeting. MAKE A SANITY CHECK!"
      "What? Why? Is there something horrible in that room?"
      "Yes, the carpet. The sanity check is you desperately trying to figure out how any sane person could ever think that looked good."

  • @SkullDixon
    @SkullDixon ปีที่แล้ว +121

    Man, it would have been awesome to have the Meddling Kids, riding in a van on their way to the Carnival, and suddenly the music they are listening to on the stereo/radio gets all static. Suddenly they hear that little girl's voice coming through the static, singing that creepy nursery rhyme.

    • @SSkorkowsky
      @SSkorkowsky  ปีที่แล้ว +56

      That. Is. BRILLIANT!

    • @Ropetupa
      @Ropetupa ปีที่แล้ว +25

      "Ruh-roh!"
      "Like, you said it, Scoob!"

    • @Bluecho4
      @Bluecho4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@Ropetupa "Jinkies!"

    • @Tasfarel
      @Tasfarel ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Holy shit - i will use this
      Thanks for the inspiration

    • @petercooper456
      @petercooper456 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The little singing genuinely scared me I’d honestly rather take my chances with a zombie than head any closer to the source

  • @koichijenius
    @koichijenius ปีที่แล้ว +10

    To contribute my own group's quotes from the end: "We open the doors and push the little girl out the back of the van." and "I run over the clown."

    • @richmcgee434
      @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Given the least excuse, does anyone *not* run over a clown? If nothing else you know you're curious about whether they'll make a honking noise when squashed.

    • @CommadoreGothnogDragonheart
      @CommadoreGothnogDragonheart ปีที่แล้ว

      Those are good ones. :)

  • @Shannovian
    @Shannovian ปีที่แล้ว +54

    "As we get closer to Halloween..."
    While technically we are getting closer to Halloween, this causes me physical pain to hear someone say that in January.

    • @samprastherabbit
      @samprastherabbit ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Gotta get that costume prep done early, man! You think the competition isn't chalking out measurements and hitting up the thrift stores already!? I'm in a bidding war on ebay right now for a witch's nose from Hocus Pocus!

    • @mfmageiwatch
      @mfmageiwatch ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It is probably just that the video got delayed.

    • @dbensdrawinvids8390
      @dbensdrawinvids8390 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      We are always either getting closer to Halloween or currently in Halloween.

  • @KevinNott
    @KevinNott ปีที่แล้ว +97

    I run a CoC campaign set in 1969 and I was already thinking about picking up this adventure. My group just got hospitalized after rescuing a missing girl from Black Devil Mountain and I think a fun carnival visit is just what they'll need to unwind. Thanks Seth!

    • @zerodeadpodcast7102
      @zerodeadpodcast7102 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      It's all fun and games! Until someone sprouts an extra eye.

    • @--enyo--
      @--enyo-- ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Nice

    • @pretentiousname01
      @pretentiousname01 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Would be a shame if it was the same missing girl as at this carnival. That they turned her over to the people who are going to sacrifice her.

  • @bossman4799
    @bossman4799 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    I love the King and Yellow and actually used him as the endgame of my first CoC campaign. The villain sacrificed a theater full of people to summon the king. The PCs didn’t stop the ritual and the King was summoned. Surprisingly my players won. A big chandelier strapped with dynamite and an insane PC sent the King in Yellow back to Carcosa.

    • @andrewrobinson4019
      @andrewrobinson4019 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Oohh, very Phantom of the Opera!
      Also a “chandelier strapped with dynamite” is the most Player Character thing I’ve ever heard of.

  • @bryanstephens4800
    @bryanstephens4800 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    I have already done a one shot with a mansion and 4 medling kids and their dog in the 1970s. Sounds like the same crew has a new mystery.

    • @GexMax
      @GexMax ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Were there Eldritch Treats involved?

    • @bryanstephens4800
      @bryanstephens4800 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@GexMax there were snacks and the dog could be heard by the party but only insane outsiders heard him talk

  • @michimatsch5862
    @michimatsch5862 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Are there other people who just sometimes put on videos of Seth as like comfort food?
    It feels kinda cozy to listen to him.

  • @FoolsGil
    @FoolsGil ปีที่แล้ว +33

    I'm kind of surprised there isn't a Meddling Kids list of modules where you basically play as Mystery Inc or whatever Hanna Barbara Detectives you enjoy.

    • @richmcgee434
      @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There are multiple entire RPGs along those lines.

  • @BudsRPGreview
    @BudsRPGreview ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Those quotes at the end brought it all back. 😂😂😂😂
    And I even remember who said most of them.

  • @dustincameron787
    @dustincameron787 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    "I spent all my luck to hit a little girl with brass knuckles."
    ... Yes, I have no doubt a player said this 🤣

  • @stephenohanlon1671
    @stephenohanlon1671 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Another hook you could add to get the kids involved is the two police character treat them like suspects for the missing girl because they’re young out of towners, so then the players have to prove their innocence by finding the girl hence why they’re engaged

  • @fleetcenturion
    @fleetcenturion ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The "medeling kids" angle would be perfect in combination with _Cthulhu, Where are You?_

  • @livecatgrenades
    @livecatgrenades ปีที่แล้ว +41

    The quotes are starting to be my favorite part. So outrageous out of context yet you could imagine ways they would naturally happen.
    SPACE BEES!

  • @UntoTheBreach24
    @UntoTheBreach24 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I think a slasher villain could be a good way to "naturally propel" a group of unfortunate teenagers through a story like this. A group of teens and some cops trapped in a supernaturally confined carnival madhouse? I kept waiting for you to bring up the adventure's wandering chainsaw clown.
    And one of the premade teenagers should honestly just know French. It's what would happen in the movie. A kid picks up a journal, one of them happens to have paid attention in French class, they read it, lose some sanity, and learn about their impending doom. And I don't think that would take 20 minutes in the movie

  • @trioofone8911
    @trioofone8911 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    As a musician, I really appreciate the tale that Jack the NPC spins for how a group of kids could get swept up into this thing. Just excellent. I may totally have to steal that. 😆

  • @colinflanigan9153
    @colinflanigan9153 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This is too well done not to get! Lost Carcosa Ambrose Bierce, Robert Chambers, Seth Skorkowsky and now Alex Guillotte &
    Ian Christiansen

  • @codycornwell8657
    @codycornwell8657 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Alex personally ran his Highway of Blood scenario for me at Gencon 2022. He and his partner make great content and are great storytellers. Definitely recommend picking up the rest of their works! Would love to see a review of their Grindhouse series as well.

  • @roundishwhale
    @roundishwhale ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Ohhh this sounds like such a fun adventure, thank you so much for the review!
    One idea I got while listening:
    It might be fun to give the player characters rather bad french skills. Like "we had one year of french at school" kinda levels of french. Make the journals easily findable, but then they gain only sparse glimpses and partial insights into the contents when they read them. So now they gotta find someone they can trust, or bribe, or force, or trick to potentially read these pages for them and explain their content. Which would tie in very nicely in the wandering carnival guests from other times (gotta be a few french folks in there), or the fact that not all workers in the carnival are cultists.

  • @williamfawkes8379
    @williamfawkes8379 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Creepy rhymes will always get me right in the ❤️. Carnivals are also a special thing, with the potential of wonder and horror intrinsically bound together so tightly. It is a very intriguing story.

  • @squeethemog213
    @squeethemog213 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    The entire time I was listening to this I was having flash backs to Ashes. Thanks for an awesome book Seth as well as another fun video 🤟😁
    Ps: Out of context Jack is great 🤣

  • @williambennett7935
    @williambennett7935 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    For a Call to Action, the lost little girl could be billed as an amazing singer in the carnival. I would make her a little older to match the age of the player characters though. Then, the player characters could be looking for her to see if she'll want to sing for their band tomorrow night as the lead singer for the band either got sick or had to move to another town. Although she's not in the brochure, so Keepers may not want to take the time to edit a new brochure.

  • @mathsalot8099
    @mathsalot8099 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    "Especially as we start getting closer to Halloween!"
    Checks calendar... ok, it is still January. Just making sure I didn't fall into a temporal rift, too.

    • @SSkorkowsky
      @SSkorkowsky  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Currently its 280 days away. And every day gets closer.

  • @BalsasTableTales
    @BalsasTableTales ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This game got two of my players who were unsure about CoC into LOVING CoC. They still talk about this game months later (we played it on Halloween)

  • @scottturner3831
    @scottturner3831 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I want Jack the NPC to team up with Deathbringer in a sort of odd couple fight against evil.

  • @TheDeliciousMystery
    @TheDeliciousMystery ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Not even 30 seconds in and i'm already heading to drivethru.

  • @richmcgee434
    @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    5:00 Interesting that they used a 1-800 number for the reward poster. They were still pretty new back in 1970, having only been introduced three years before. You actually needed two separate numbers at that point - one for in-state and one for out-of-state calls - and the majority of early 1-800 accounts were used by hotels and car rental businesses. Wasn't until 1981 that the phone system was upgraded so you only needed a single universal number, which is when you started seeing loads of businesses opting for toll-free lines.
    The weird stuff you learn over the years...
    Also, I can't stop thinking how much "Alice" looks like Penny from Land of the Lost. Adventure needs some sleestaks showing up as time-lost phantasms.

    • @nolgroth
      @nolgroth ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Sleestaks...thanks for the walk down memory lane. Might also explain my fascination with "reptile people" bad guys.

    • @CommadoreGothnogDragonheart
      @CommadoreGothnogDragonheart ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I did research that when we wrote it, and it made sense that the Massachusetts State Police could have an 800 tip line set up. At least they did in Lovecraft's alternate universe. 😉

    • @richmcgee434
      @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@CommadoreGothnogDragonheart Possible, but in our world they likely have done two numbers, one for in-state calls (possibly with a regular area code) and one for out of state - unless they were very confident the kid hadn't gotten far. I remember toll calls being teh norm for even fairly short distances back then - like less than fifty miles, in some cases. Really nickel and dimed you to death that way.
      Perhaps access to all that mi-go technology has bumped Ma Bell's tech ahead by a decade or so in-universe. Hmmm. I wonder if you could rig a brain in a cylinder to run a switchboard? :)

  • @JonHook
    @JonHook ปีที่แล้ว +13

    That was an amazing game! If I recall correctly, I was the first of our group to die. I foolishly tried to escape the carnival through the woods, and met my end with the wolves.

    • @BudsRPGreview
      @BudsRPGreview ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Correct! You were also the hitchhiker that gave me drugs.

    • @JonHook
      @JonHook ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BudsRPGreview , but dude... if you take both the blues and the reds you'll feel all purple inside. It's awesome, man!

    • @BudsRPGreview
      @BudsRPGreview ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@JonHook as we all know, purple is the best feeling colour. You make a compelling argument.

  • @toko099o
    @toko099o ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I think I found a way around the whole specialized skill needed but none of the pre-gens have it issue.
    If your table is using pre-gens offer a number of skills to be set to 40% that none of the pre-gens have. Offer the same number of skills as you have players. Have each player pick one skill and add this to the pre-gen. Include the skills that are needed in the module as well as any skills you think may cause some creative solutions.

  • @albertcapley6894
    @albertcapley6894 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    That childrens rhyme is just creepy AF... I was just about to run a ravenloft game with elements of Hastur/Kingenyellow sown in and it's just so perfect! Great video as always!

  • @chadmunson6538
    @chadmunson6538 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    There should be more scenarios featuring The King in Yellow.

    • @midnightalleypodcast
      @midnightalleypodcast ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I know it's not a scenario, but check out Tatters of the King. It can be broken down into smaller parts. Also the 1st adventure in cults of cthulhu could easily be converted into a yellow king scenario.

    • @zerodeadpodcast7102
      @zerodeadpodcast7102 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ripples from Carcosa has 3 scenarios. Able to be run as one big story or seperate from each other.

    • @richmcgee434
      @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'm too much of an old time comics history fan to ever take the King in Yellow seriously. I can't help imagining it as "The Kid In Yellow" instead and it takes all the dignity out of him as a villain you can only see him as a barefoot, shaven-head kid with lousy teeth wearing an oversized nightshirt.

    • @testcase6997
      @testcase6997 ปีที่แล้ว

      He’s in too many as it is

    • @chadmunson6538
      @chadmunson6538 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@richmcgee434 Ha ha, well, as a Robert Chambers fan, I certainly don't have that problem.

  • @artyomsaveli9681
    @artyomsaveli9681 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Damn, you really hit me with that line about spending luck to punch a little girl's face with brass knuckles.
    Now I know how she felt.

  • @SquirrelGamez
    @SquirrelGamez ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A single 45h sessions... Daaaaaaaaaaaayum XD
    Also, both the rhymes and the quote are amazing.

  • @Paxchi
    @Paxchi ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One way to get additional info to the players and help steer them on the right track might be if Madame Fortunae or Alice's good side are somehow able to influence the hallucinations the carnival is causing. Maybe in the hall of mirror their own reflection gives them some tips. Maybe the missing child poster starts talking to them and Alice's picture begs for their help. Maybe they get enough random info that when they pointed towards the journal, it all comes together, makes the difficulty check easier or take less time, etc.
    Maybe Madame Fortunae also slips something into each of the players pockets to help blunt the sanity cost. Or you could have her as a red herring where she steals something personal from each member, makes voodoo dolls of the players and places the dolls in a ritual circle. The dolls are protected which spreads that protection to the players somewhat, and when they confront her she has a chance to share some of the backstory and help direct them.

  • @FelixGWilliams
    @FelixGWilliams ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I was lucky enough to be a playtester on Carnival of Madness and thoroughly enjoyed it. However I played one of the Detective duo and so definitely imagine I had a very different experience from anyone going through it as a Meddling Kid, as fun as I think that hook is.
    Really great to see this review, hope this means we might get the Highway of Blood review in the not too distant future? Pretty please? :p

  • @BobbyBlackhearts666
    @BobbyBlackhearts666 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    My first thought upon seeing the title: "Maybe the killer clown and corny dog diarrhoea are gonna be in this one?"
    Thank you for another great video! It made me happy once I saw that you uploaded and watched it straight away. Loved how surreal everything is getting as the madness waxes, especially the ghosts of the past materialising. Jack's end quotes made me chuckle, it's awesome when you include these random bits. They really add a special touch!
    Question for you as a writer who's gathering ideas for his future project. It's not the first time I have an idea which I came up on my own, only to encounter a story with one or two identical plot points, here it being a character having a child with the sole purpose to sacrifice her.
    I know it's impossible to come up with 100% original content, but instead to realise our works contain original combinations, however I still end up feeling somewhat dejected, and feel a sort of urge to change my original ideas, or that now my own ideas are unusable. Would love to hear your thoughts on this phenomenon, if you also experience it and how you deal with it!

    • @michaelramon2411
      @michaelramon2411 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      RPG adventures are generally based on tropes, especially Call of Cthulhu. This is a feature, not a bug - the familiarity of the tropes makes the players feel at home and makes roleplay easier. Solutions to mysteries are especially prone to this because there are only so many possible answers to anything without going to Agatha Christie levels of trickery. A mystery answer being the same as something else is fine as long as you have dressed up the surroundings appropriately with enough clues and uncertainty that it's not immediately obvious to the player that that's the solution.

    • @BobbyBlackhearts666
      @BobbyBlackhearts666 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@michaelramon2411 Thank you! I think I should've stated that my project is going to be either a novel or manga, and not an rpg. Though this is definitely interesting, I didn't think there was not only a large amount of overlap in mysteries, but a very realistic reason behind why it is this way. As Seth said in a previous video, mysteries that Agatha Christie wrote, or Sherlock Holmes solved are not meant for the gaming table. Thanks for the insight! Personally I don't play ttrpgs, but I love to watch these videos to get inspired by for my own works.

    • @michaelramon2411
      @michaelramon2411 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BobbyBlackhearts666 Well, if it's a normal narrative, then you've got even more flexibility because you can use characters and tone to differentiate your story from others with a similar plot or concepts. For a TV example, you could put the exact same plot in an episode of CSI, Sherlock, Monk and Psych, and they'd all play out very differently. Execution really is more important than originality, especially in genre fiction.

  • @nicholashurst780
    @nicholashurst780 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Before we begin I just wanna say I grew up in the carnival business and will be judging this module solely on its fidelity to carnie cultural norms (jk, but I was raised by carnies)

  • @TheeAugustCaesar
    @TheeAugustCaesar ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Whats better than waking up to an "I love you text"? A Seth Skorkowsky Video notification! LETS GOOOOO

  • @josephtodaro9515
    @josephtodaro9515 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I bought all the grindhouse one-shots available on Drive-thru RPG. They're all so good!

  • @catyear75
    @catyear75 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    A regular, normal , everyday Carnival can be scary enough ....

  • @MindOfGenius
    @MindOfGenius ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Having quotes helps you remember the weird and funny bits from games.
    Such as "FINE! A WET WILLY IS A MELEE ATTACK, SURE."
    or " *gasp* WE CAN SELL HIM A PIMP CANE!"

    • @richmcgee434
      @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว

      I mean, it's obviously not a ranged attack now, is it?

  • @andrewrobinson4019
    @andrewrobinson4019 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You mean to tell me that Madame Fortuna stole our instruments to get us to come to this dang carnival!?

  • @edackerman5460
    @edackerman5460 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "The journal in a language no one can read" thing seems to be a reoccurring problem. Any thoughts on just having them be of an undetermined language and with luck rolls having it match with a language one of the Investigators have? Especially when it's a major part/clue to the story

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones ปีที่แล้ว

      That is a good solution, imo. Have it be the whatever language the adventure says it is if they fail.

  • @russelljacob7955
    @russelljacob7955 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Idea on how I would deal with the language issues and pregen. Madness boons since scenario drives sanity hard. Whispers and insights from sister as players go insane. So at some point, a random player finds themselves just knowing french if have journal and met the seer. Could put in a few narrative assist clues like that perhaps? Almost like a sort of possession?

  • @darcyw156
    @darcyw156 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great vid! I love the out of context lines at the end as well! I want to run this for my group now! I am absolutely going to use the little girl audio clips. Thanks so much for those ZeroDead Podcast!

  • @IlPane1505
    @IlPane1505 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Not having Jack the Disco Dancer NPC is real missed opportunity given the time periodo of this advdnture. Besides that, thanks for the amazing review as always!

    • @oz_jones
      @oz_jones ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Disco Jack

  • @lloydnicholls1439
    @lloydnicholls1439 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Oh my goodness!
    I just bought this from drivethrurpg last month!

  • @BF-up5xw
    @BF-up5xw ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Man, I would so love to read a novel touching on aspects of Carcosa right now. If only I could find one...

  • @scottplumer3668
    @scottplumer3668 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I bought this a couple months ago because... 70s! Haven't run it yet, but now I really want to!

  • @3phemaral
    @3phemaral ปีที่แล้ว +1

    There are so many people worried about how they will find an audience for TTRPG content if there isn’t OneGame to rule them all. Have you met Seth? Now you get to cross your arms and scowl while saying “I exclusively covered other(tm) games before that was cool” just like everyone does when their favorite band hits it big.😂
    You demonstrate that it doesn’t take anything more than thoughtfulness…and maybe a willingness to do a bit of cosplay…to build a loyal following of subscribers. As always, awesome video.❤

  • @dangarthemighty0980
    @dangarthemighty0980 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I need to get this to run for my group. Thank you for the recommendation and review Seth. 😊

  • @michaelwest4325
    @michaelwest4325 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great review and suggestions! I particularly like the idea of the medium manipulating things so the characters are brought together. And with a group, especially pre-generated to facilitate an adventure or just pad out an investigator or few to accomplish the scenario, I am drawn to the old Gangbusters style where you had playable Cops, Reporters, Gangsters, Detectives, etc., not always on the same side normally but working here towards the end in a mashup of diverse backgrounds/stories/motivations. That might bring all the skills needed and allow players to opt into whatever character they enjoy but still make sense why they are allies.

  • @dutch6857
    @dutch6857 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This looks like great fun! I presume that only a small percentage of the carnival will be encountered, but the writer covered any and all eventualities, and thus the 76 pages in 4 hours.

  • @justinsinke2088
    @justinsinke2088 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    It seems to be a recurring theme in these Call of Cthulhu modules you review that if pertinent backstory information even can be found, it's in a language the pregenerated characters can't read. It's like the author put in the journal or other source as a token "it's there" but in such a way that it seems clear the intent was to never actually be found or read, which rather defeats the point of it being there in the first place.

  • @britishshock
    @britishshock 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love these stories, cause they never grow old, still as good as I remember a year ago

  • @JJRinSF
    @JJRinSF ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great review, Seth, and great suggestions on the tweaks--especially the ones regarding Madame Fortunae. I ran this for a group a few months ago and I addressed the motivations of the meddling kids (who are a not so subtle homage to the Scooby Doo gang) by pressing the "Shaggy" character into working as an informant by one of the cops who had previously busted Shaggy for selling weed. This added a great tension-filled alliance to the group dynamic.

    • @Andy_Enderson
      @Andy_Enderson ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Excellent use of the implication of Shaggy being a stoner my dude

  • @zterrans
    @zterrans ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I gotta give it a shot- got a group of players who are eager for another crack at making it through a module, especially after their unfortunate dynamite incident...

  • @midnightalleypodcast
    @midnightalleypodcast ปีที่แล้ว

    You just keep getting better and better.

  • @josephtodaro9515
    @josephtodaro9515 ปีที่แล้ว

    Months ago, I bought every Grindhouse one-shot for CoC on drive-thru RPG. I have run most of them and my group has had a blast everytime.

  • @GryphonDes
    @GryphonDes ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Brilliant suggestions and a concise & very thorough review!

  • @samprastherabbit
    @samprastherabbit ปีที่แล้ว

    Jack giving out of context game quotes is why I keep coming back here 🤣

  • @gothmissstress
    @gothmissstress ปีที่แล้ว

    Oh wow, thanks for the recommendation and tips. We actually have a spot to fill on February 18... Seems like a great opportunity to run this scenario.

  • @MarkFillmore
    @MarkFillmore ปีที่แล้ว

    Seth! Great video and review - thank you.
    Side note: Your dice from Q Workshop arrived yesterday. These are amazing, great job in their design and coloring. Even the box packaging was wonderful. So happy I picked them up, they're gorgeous!

  • @ckmishn3664
    @ckmishn3664 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A band of musicians solving a mystery of a spooky circus to make money to replace their stolen instruments? Seems like this will be the darkest episode of "Josie & The Pussycats" ever.

  • @Ropetupa
    @Ropetupa ปีที่แล้ว +1

    "Do you breath name of your savior, in your hour of need?
    And taste the blame..." no wait, it is carnival of MADNESS. Nevermind me then.

  • @johnnysizemore5797
    @johnnysizemore5797 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Clown's It had to be Clown's that try to bring back The King, now you could run this through multiple eras with different PC's from each era kinda like that Carnival from "Something Wicked This Way Comes" remember what the dude said in it the Carnival had been around in one form or the other for many years, then when you get to the part where the ghost's start to show up you could have some of there old characters show up. Then towards the end you could have the good sister tell the characters that she's been bringing the PC's here to try and stop her sister (she could even tell them that there the reincarnated version's of her friend's from the very first time they did it) it would make this game an awesome one.

  • @ChurchofCthulhu
    @ChurchofCthulhu ปีที่แล้ว +1

    “. . . they’re doin’ this to save rock and roll!” 🎉

  • @robbabcock_
    @robbabcock_ ปีที่แล้ว

    Awesome review!

  • @gmross9265
    @gmross9265 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks for the review. It gives me an idea for a pretty fun convention run through. Two distinct groups, who run through this investigation sepperately. As the years wane by the survivors of those two investigation learn that the carnival is still opperating. They join forces for a final confrontation with Lady Sari.

    • @gmross9265
      @gmross9265 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I did it! I ran two sets of investigators through this scenario at a convention. One set in 1952, another set in 1962, with the third session in 1972. I had to go back and have a host of different NPCS for the different times, most of which was not explored. The last session was an absolute blood bath. Good Times.

  • @Dr-Lex
    @Dr-Lex ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video as always, Seth! I bought this scenario when Alex put it on sale last October and was also struck by how dense this scenario was for just a one-session game. I may try running it for Halloween this year with more time to prep & will definitely make note of your meddling kids recommendations since this offers a unique chance for Scooby-Doo shenanigans.

  • @ianthecomicartist
    @ianthecomicartist ปีที่แล้ว +1

    aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand sold. Just bought the adventure based on this video!

  • @UnwalledGarden
    @UnwalledGarden ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you! This looks great. I think maybe one of the kids could have taken French in high school and the journal would be a bit easier to find…

    • @SSkorkowsky
      @SSkorkowsky  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It only requires a 30+ in French, so saying there were some school classes or family and adding that to any of the PCs would be pretty easy.

    • @UnwalledGarden
      @UnwalledGarden ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SSkorkowsky She would have gotten away with it, if it wasn’t for those meddling kids!

  • @markpowell5228
    @markpowell5228 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Seth, fantastic choice!
    I'm gonna wait until tonight and share this one with my buds.
    PS We share 90% same taste in horror movies, man. Lol.
    Peace.

  • @davidwright7193
    @davidwright7193 ปีที่แล้ว

    One possibility for another location in the past is Aylesbury with the carnival taking place inside Aylesbury Ring for the required standing stones. Given that the authors have chosen to create an Aylesbury Mass for the location.
    Also the Dunwich name is taken from a medieval port on the east coast of England that was lost to the sea. The last ruins fell into the sea in the 70’s I think.

  • @ValdVincent
    @ValdVincent 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I realize this is an older video, but the long backstory can often be figured out via optional library checks, just go on about old news paper clippings, or folk lore, etc.

  • @fernandogaragnani
    @fernandogaragnani ปีที่แล้ว

    Those sideburns are insanely amazing.

  • @simonfernandes6809
    @simonfernandes6809 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The long back stories aren't really for the benefit of the players. The back stories are there to provide justification for the antogonist's motives. It helps with Keeper suspension of disbelief. God knows, I struggle to run villains whose motives are that they are evil.

  • @SHDW-nf2ki
    @SHDW-nf2ki ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think the meddling kids are intended to "loose" more for players who want to just witness the madness like in a horror movie sort of way than anything

  • @danielmouatt5570
    @danielmouatt5570 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I came across a TTRPG that was more fun than I expected and I think would be hilarious for Seth to try with his group… although I’ll understand if he doesn’t think the group will go for it.
    Magical Kittens Save the Day
    Yes it is a real game.

  • @OzrikTentakles
    @OzrikTentakles ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Looks like a great if unwieldy adventure. BTW I read Onyx and thought is was super-fun, I really like the way it escalates the setting and the stakes.

  • @brendanodonnell3960
    @brendanodonnell3960 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Coincidentally, I just finished reading Ashes of Onyx two days ago. It was a great read! Definitely worth the price.

  • @vitore.sanches7712
    @vitore.sanches7712 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Great video as always!
    The out of context lines were my favorites! 😂
    It's rare to see a CoC scenario focused on the Yellow King (Ripples from Carcosa comes to mind, but not many others). I'll definitely check it out!
    On a side note: do you have any opinions on the Yellow King rpg?
    Anyway, great work! Love your reviews!

  • @jesselalli9551
    @jesselalli9551 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Everyone is big mad about the ttrpg drama. Meanwhile, I'm twirling my mustache. It's time to drop all the COC!

  • @chadsmith8966
    @chadsmith8966 ปีที่แล้ว

    Got this one on PDF last summer, haven’t ran it yet. But I’ve been thinking, if a Keeper is willing, there are a few carnival/circus themed scenarios both for COC and other game systems, a Keeper could turn this into a mini campaign. The investigators are attending a carnival themed Burning Man event.
    Say the dark ritual to summon Hastur takes 5 days to complete. investigators come across dark and foreboding things like psycho killer clowns and tragic “accidents” that happened in the carnival’s past. All the while, Alice’s astral form giving them tasks/clues to help rescue/aid in the ritual’s completion. Giving the investigators morsels of exposition to what is going on.

  • @derekbrown4227
    @derekbrown4227 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love hearing your views as always, Seth. To me, my players would definitely be trying to understand everything and the "Meddling Kids" absolutely seem to have a hook...but then I get massive Scooby-Doo vibes. (Especially if they have a van).

  • @toddtaylor4649
    @toddtaylor4649 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Wow seth!! That was creepy. 2/3 through your review i was marveling with appriciation, thinking; I love and have to tell Seth how artful he is at finding these plot holes and dead motive spots and filling them in with his own creativity....I'm going to buy ONYX.... Then your finale'. I'm in. Gunna buy Onyx.

  • @bigsarge2085
    @bigsarge2085 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Cthulhu, you incorrigible rascal!
    "Ashes of Onyx" was fantastic, my favorite Skorkowsky novel.

  • @nohface4544
    @nohface4544 ปีที่แล้ว

    Considering running this with Madame Fortunae trapped within the carnival, having experienced millenia and been driven mad but occasionally becoming lucid.
    Of course she's also stuck inside an automated fortune teller's booth.

  • @TheHunterD69
    @TheHunterD69 ปีที่แล้ว

    This sounds fantastic. I just might use some of these ideas in a V5 game I'm running.

  • @britishshock
    @britishshock ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Yeay. More stories of the void between worlds.

  • @easterbunny3850
    @easterbunny3850 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Its kinda bizarre to see Buds RPG Review face and not just his hands.

    • @richmcgee434
      @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      My brain automatically pixelated everything but his hands, so he remains largely a mystery to me. :)

  • @jesternario
    @jesternario ปีที่แล้ว

    Simone Lacroix is apparently a popular name. In Deadlands, he's one of the rail barons trying to be the first to make a transcontinental railroad. And yes, I said He. Baron Simone Lacroix took the name in honor of his sister, whom he devoured in a voodoo ritual to obtain her power.

  • @quma2590
    @quma2590 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I hope Seth will make a video on Degenesis some day.

  • @citcoin-official2681
    @citcoin-official2681 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well, I'm a bit late to the upload so the next part of the Incomplete Constellation story is gonna be even later, I'm too busy to ramble at the moment. I'll drop it Whenever I can, it'll probably be a reply to this comment, or it'll be on the next video.
    For now, you have a great day.

  • @ravdobikjarb93
    @ravdobikjarb93 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I absolutely love your reviews!!! Thank you for being even handed. I wish more people were like you. Have you ever heard of SLA Industries? There are two versions. I only ask because I’m curious if you would prefer the more “mechanic” heavy version of 1st Edition or the more narrative version of 2nd Edition. In abstract way I guess I could ask what draws you to an rpg the most (crunchy mechanics or narrative flow)?

    • @benfranklin2168
      @benfranklin2168 ปีที่แล้ว

      It would be great if SLA Industries was covered.

  • @theredsoldier26
    @theredsoldier26 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't know why, but I love at when 1:42 and we see all of the players, it's either old whise men with thing grey beards, or older gentlemenwith large stacks of books and old tomes behind them. Really fits imo.

    • @BudsRPGreview
      @BudsRPGreview ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for making me feel old.

    • @richmcgee434
      @richmcgee434 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@BudsRPGreview Don't blame the stripling, that's just your joints talking. :)

  • @--enyo--
    @--enyo-- ปีที่แล้ว

    I bought this a while ago! I have to admit I haven’t run it yet, as I’m still a little intimidated (also I’m not as good at such sandbox-y scenarios), but it looks so good I really want to sometime. Awesome to hear a review!

    • @--enyo--
      @--enyo-- ปีที่แล้ว

      Also can we listen/watch your play through anywhere? 🥺

    • @SSkorkowsky
      @SSkorkowsky  ปีที่แล้ว

      Nope. Outside of the out-of-context quotes, there's no recording of our game.

  • @KageRyuu6
    @KageRyuu6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Those quotes out of context were funnier than they had any right to be.

  • @borusa32
    @borusa32 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Seth-something else wicked this way comes is an attractive prospect.