MOB

Glorantha is flat but does have a horizon—in-world "scientific" explanation here, with diagrams: [TL/DR - light, being a manifestation of Aether and thus properly belonging in the Sky World does not travel in straight lines. The elements always seek their own proper level in the bubble that is Glorantha, thus light tends to curve upward slightly as it flits along at a great pace. This is why you see the top of a mast as a ship approaches, then the sails, then the body.]

Call of Cthulhu is already out in a Korean translation; its crowdfunding campaign was the biggest game-related crowdfunding campaign in Korea to date. The Korean publisher Dayspring recently crowdfunded Masks of Nyarlathotep to great success too:

Tickets are now on sale for Carcosa Con, taking place in the atmospheric Czocha Castle near the Polish-Czech border on March 27-29, 2020. "Call of Cthulhu thrives on atmosphere, isolation and shadows. CarcosaCon at Czocha Castle has all that, plus incredible hosts and wonderful fellow gamers from around the world. It is an unforgettable experience, and the best possible place to lose your sanity for a weekend!"—Call of Cthulhu writer Mark Morrison. CarcosaCon is organized by Black Monk Games, publisher of the Polish edition of Call of Cthulhu. Chaosium is proud to be the Strategic Partner for this event! Tickets are limited to 350 places. https://carcosacon.com

We are excited that renowned French novelist, film director, and Eisner Award-winning comic book artist JOANN SFAR is contributing illustrations for the new French edition by Studio Deadcrows:

Arclight, publishers of the immensely popular Japanese version of Call of Cthulhu, have announced they will be producing Japanese and Chinese versions of Chaosium's Reiner Knizia board game Miskatonic University - the Restricted Collection. (And Call of Cthulhu in Chinese!) Arclight had demo versions of Miskatonic University to play at their Shanghai Wonder Festival Stand, and said it received "a fantastic reception". More details at the link: Some pics of the new version at Shanghai Wonder Festival last weekend:

Big news at the Shanghai Wonder Festival this weekend! Chaosium licensees Arclight, publishers of the most popular tabletop roleplaying game in Japan - CALL OF CTHULHU - have announced the Chinese edition is coming. Plus, Japanese and Chinese versions of the MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY: THE RESTRICTED COLLECTION board game too! https://www.chaosium.com/blogchinese-edition-of-call-of-cthulhu-and-miskatonic-university-board-game-announced Arclight are of course the publishers of the Japanese edition of Call of Cthulhu, the most popular tabletop roleplaying game in Japan.

The MISKATONIC REPOSITORY is going from strength-to-strength! Here are recent contributions from Call of Cthulhu creators from around the world - check them out on DriveThruRPG!: https://www.chaosium.com/blogmiskatonic-monday-a-whole-lot-of-new-community-content-titles-to-enjoy

Our friends the master prop makers at TYPE 40 are making RuneQuest swords, modelled on the sword from the cover of the RuneQuest Roleplaying in Glorantha Quickstart - here's the first one, fit for Rune Lord!

67. After the horrors of the Iron Crusade, the surviving atheistic Ingareens gratefully accepted Talar Barat as their new overlord. Under the guidance of the Talar's wizards and by carefully mimicking his followers, Ingareen society has adapted many elements of Brithini culture. As a consequence, they too have taken on a measure of longevity, at the price of certain vitality and innovation. (T) 68. Once Ingareen ingenuity helped spawn the hubristic mechanical abominations of the Machine God Zistor. Now however, Ingareen originality tends to be directed to the more abstract—and harmless—arts of speculative philosophy, mathematics and game theory. (B — Leonardo the Scientist is perhaps the greatest counter-example, and he takes care to never make more than one of his physical creations, lest he be branded a Zistorite.) 69. Like the Ingareens, the neighboring Esvularing tribe were once atheists too, actively supporting the construction of the Machine God Zistor. But for them, the spectacular fall of the Clanking City led to a henotheistic revelation, and rather than take on the Brithini way, the Esvularings embraced the Aeolian variation of Malkionism, which holds that the Orlanthi gods are but emanations of the Invisible God. (T/F, R) 70. The Esvularings have a long-standing alliance with God Forgot, particularly the people of the neighboring Bandori valley. As the Brithini way of life is not especially productive here, many Esvularings come to labor for them in God Forgot. They are well compensated by the Talar, and look on him reverently as their Godfather. (T)

Love it. They probably run the caper out of here: 66. Doctor Hierogamos’s House of Pleasure is a smaller establishment than the Lupenar, but is famous for its mermaids. Current aquatic attractions include the so-called Zabdamar Princess of Kylerela and the fantastically obese Ouori-girl. (R — the Ouori-girl really is one of the walrus-folk, far from her home in the remote reaches of the Banthe Ocean, but in reality the so-called "Princess of Kylerela" is just an ordinary Ludoch-woman from nearby Seapolis with some magical augmentations and a fanciful costume.)

65. Red’s Globster on the Main Strip is a cheap and popular “all you can eat” buffet (provided you’re happy eating endless portions of vaguely fish-like material cut into various shapes then deep-fried or boiled). The proprietor “Red” hearkens from the Lunar Empire, and keeps a live walktapus out the back. Pieces are continuously hacked off for the pot. His first walktapus apparently escaped in the confusion during Harrek’s visit, and he’s only recently been able to import a replacement. Just what was Red serving up in the intervening time? (A) Thanks, have added to the above entry!

The rumours provided here are spurs to adventure. The Game master should take care to present the rumours in an interesting manner, often with the intent of provoking actions by the players. Each rumour is prefaced by a single letter code dealing with the veracity of that rumour – but, ultimately, any rumour can used in whatever manner that best suits the campaign! Rumor Indicators: (T) Indicates that the rumour is true. (F) Indicates that the rumour is false. (M) Indicates that the rumour is meaningless. (R) Indicates that the rumour may or may not be true at the GM’s discretion. (B) Indicates that the rumour is generally true but it also has a substantial false component. (A) Indicates that the rumour is too awful to contemplate. The rules of Casino Town are simple: No Killing, No Cheating, Everyone Makes a Wager. (T) There's a metallic statue in a special niche at the town gate. Who it originally was is uncertain – perhaps Zzabur himself – but over many centuries the punters have worn its features so smooth it has taken on the generic appearance of a woman. It is now colloquially known as “Lady Luck”. (T) Touching “Lady Luck” is like a Tap spell, only in reverse! (F) Everyone residing within the walls of Casino Town pays a weekly vigourish. To ensure the Great House receives what it is due, each year the Talar appoints the Synod of Visitors. This is a committee of Ingareen citizens from Refuge, selected for their highest moral probity. (B) Argil Arcry, the current head of the Synod of Visitors, is said to have a “wide stance”. (M) Brithini age if they lose at gambling. (T) Despite the Brithini prohibition, the Ingareens' obsession with abstract numbers has led them to be inveterate and superstitious gamblers — "It’s not gambling if you always end up ahead", is one rationalization they often use, though on the whole Ingareen punters appear to be no luckier than others. (T — certainly there are few Ingareen professional gamblers of advanced age.) Talar Barat and the Brithini appear relatively indifferent as to who controls the different gambling concerns in Casino Town, provided the weekly vigourish is remitted in full. (T — even the Vadeli have recently been allowed to set up an establishment.) The new Vadeli establishment, known as the Vadotto, has a secret basement, where all manner of depraved and forbidden pleasures may be indulged. (B – the Vadotto doesn’t have a basement; such activities actually take place on the building’s exclusive top floor.) All the casinos and gaming parlours in Casino Town set their own table limits (what minimum and maximum bets permitted). They also set a house edge (a factored-in mathematical advantage) on all games, which varies from establishment to establishment. (T) The Faro Wheel itself has no table limit. (B — this is qualified by the fact Belintar the Stranger did actually “break the bank” when the Talar finally blinked after the house lost a 60x or nothing bet.) The odds offered by the Vadotto are subtly different to those offered elsewhere in Casino Town. (T — the Vadeli claim it is their practice to pay on odds “for”, rather than “to”. For example, on a successful bet at 5 silvers for 1 on a roulette table at the Vadotto, the winner receives 5 silvers but the Vadotto keeps the initial silver piece. At establishments offering “to” odds, the winner would also receive back the original 1 silver wagered. The Vadeli do not make this distinction clear to new patrons.) Longstanding Light and Illusion spells make many of the buildings on Casino Town's Main Strip look more impressive than they really are, especially at night. (T) 'Hangers' on the Main Strip is part of the famous Esrolian restaurant chain catering to the elite. It can often get very rowdy. A key attraction is the cock-fighting pit (T — although this has nothing to do with poultry.) Dayzatar’s Casino & Revue is the premier show venue in Casino Town (though some headline acts have recently defected to The Vadotto). A stalwart of the stage here is the seemingly ageless entertainer Unkle Shine, “the hardest-working horal in show business”. (B) Red’s Globster offers an all-new “Vormaino sushi” platter, but it is advisable to at least stun each piece before attempting to swallow, or preferably use the Disrupt spell. (R) The Lupenar is Casino Town’s largest and most notorious bawdyhouse, said to be able to cater to any carnal desire. As vividly remembered in a series of erotic wall friezes, Harrek singlehandedly engaged the Lupenar’s entire company during his 1618 visit; such was his amatory enthusiasm, the building had to be completely rebuilt afterwards. (T — fortunately he left a tremendous tip.) Tombolar’s Bingo Hall is a rather drab establishment, but is very popular among the Ingareens (T — they use various arcane theological justifications from Zzabur’s Abiding Book to rationalize why Bingo should not be considered gambling.) The blue-skinned perfumer who operates The House of Hemrehana is from distant Garguna. (F — he is actually from equally distant Polostan, the fragrant city of a thousand delights in Fonrit.) Silvermane the Shaman’s game with betting sticks enables you to wager against the living and the dead. (T) Gorp-wrestling is much harder than it looks. (B) The only thing Basmoli have to lose when they gamble is their pride. (M) Talar Barat actually died decades ago but the Brithini maintain the pretense their leader is still alive. (F) Talar Barat’s beard turned gray that day Belintar "broke the bank" on the Faro Wheel. (B) The Faro Wheel literally fuels the Brithinis’ ongoing way of life here, but a curious side effect is its ability to produce random combinations determined by Luck and Fate. (T) Because wagers on the Faro Wheel can be made with intangible concepts (runic affinities, mana, life-force, perception etc), Ingareen statisticians have long disputed what the Great House’s house edge actually is – hotly argued estimates range from 2.70% – 5.26%, but the mathematics remain elusive. (M) The Tournament of Luck and Death is about to start again – this time for sure the God-King Belintar will return to save us all! (R) The Talar stopped paying back Belintar’s massive Faro winnings after he disappeared. (F) The circular outer walls of Casino Town are actually the foundations of a much larger Faro Wheel, but Belintar’s massive jackpot put an end to Talar Barat’s grand plan. (F — the outer walls were raised after Belintar broke the bank.) On the fall of the Clanking City the Talar stole away the machine god Zistor. To this day it lies chained up under the Faro Wheel! (F) The glow of the Faro Wheel can be seen for great distances and serves as a helpful navigational beacon, drawing in ships through the Troll Straits and from across the Mirrorsea Bay. (T) Although he won (and lost) big on the Faro Wheel during his soujourn in Casino Town, Harrek's favourite sport was the crude but entertaining betting game from the Shadow Plateau, “Pull my Finger”. This is offered every evening at the troll eatery Thunderbreath Gobbleguts. (R) The only reliable source of fresh water in Casino Town is a well at the Talar’s Great House, which is generously piped to the nearby Pool Hall (T —about the only thing in the city that’s free, some people joke.) The so-called put-put barges used by the Ingareens are foul Zistorite abominations. (M) Don Duras is actually Duke Raus of Rone, an exiled Lunar nobleman. (R) Jammy the Beak's off-sider Bluster is the only Wind Child in the world with a five o’clock shadow. (M) Mock Wing notably has several other keets working for him as collectors and enforcers, including Big Bill (a pelican keet) and the voracious Bluefoot Brothers (booby keets). (T) Grand Master Shamat claims to be the greatest ouranekki player in the world. An émigré from the Lunar Empire, he confides to anyone that he lives in constant fear of Yolanela the Taloned Countess of Spol, who he long ago once offended. (R) Professor Artingale is a fallen Ingareen who styles himself “the Wizard of Odds”. He can be found at the Pool Hall, where he claims he knows various “foolproof” systems for winning, which he’ll share for a price. (F — The Professor’s “surefire” strategies are dressed up with all sorts of complicated mathematical flim-flam, but essentially center around increasing bets after each loss in the hopes that an eventual win will recover all previous losses.) Despite dressing like an archetypal Western wizard, Professor Artingale actually comes from the dronar caste. (T) The Lounge Lizard is a very unusual crested dragonewt that has resided in different gaming establishments for well over a century, and is fondly considered a sort of mascot. Rubbing its scales is said to give good luck. (M) Leonardo the Scientist regularly infiltrates the Clanking Ruins. (T) Leonardo the Scientist and Talar Barat are one in the same person. (F) Leonardo the Scientist belongs to the zzaburi caste. (F) A fire breathing metallic turtle keeps the curious away from Leonardo the Scientist’s island hideaway at Crab Key. (T) Woe betides anyone mistreating the fisherfolk of Fishertown, for they are under the protection of the Ludoch. (B — technically, their protection comes from the High Admiral of the Boats.) A Trollball match is planned for the Squeaky Sands – the bookies are looking for a human side to go up against the Uz! (R) Small groups of Wolf Pirates have been seen in various establishments around the city, but they say they are just on “shore leave”. (R) Talar Barat has concluded a secret deal with the Wolf Pirates for them to stay away from God Forgot, but who’s going to pay for it? – the punters of course! (R) Beware - the Lunars are preparing to invade God Forgot by land and sea! (R) Why did the God King have his magic bridge terminate at the Clanking Ruins instead of Talar Hold or Casino Town? (M) It’s said there’s a tunnel under the Troll Strait, connecting the old God Learner fortresses at the tips of the Rightarm and Leftarm Islands. Could this be a way to get into the Iron Fort, which has been sealed since the Second Age? (R) A secret passage leads into the Machine Ruins from the deserted Jrusteli fort at the southern tip of Kostern Island. (B) At low tide it is possible to walk across from Thoxos Island to Tosk Island, and thence even to Refuge on the mainland, if one knows the way and can avoid the giant cranes, swarming were-crabs, and other perils. (T) The Machine Ruins are guarded by fiendish traps and curses, but these are designed to keep the mechanical horrors locked inside from escaping, rather than preventing anyone getting in. (B) Foreigners are forbidden from visiting Talar Hold because the inhabitants there still brazenly use forbidden Zistorite technology! Abominations include staircases that move, machines that dispense hot cooked food, and tiny boxes that play music as if there is an orchestra trapped inside. (B — true enough, but Talar Barat has other reasons why outsiders are not welcome at his capital…) Because the traditionally ordained agricultural practices of the Brithini are better suited to frigid Old Brithos than rain-sodden Heortland, the Bandori who come to God Forgot to work on the Talar's farms keep one field for show, and do things their own way on the rest. Just before harvest-time, they will surreptitiously "dress" the show field with the finest produce from the back fields. (T) Porthomekan cigars clear the mind and aid concentration. (R) Attempting to skip town without settling the gate wager invokes swift retribution. Swarming metallic creatures nicknamed One-Armed Bandits hunt deadbeats down and drag them to the Clanking Ruins, never to be seen again. The superstitious say they are Our Lady of Credit’s spirits of reprisal. (B — defaulters must face and defeat one, then seven, then fifteen, then thirty and finally sixty of the One Armed Bandits before their debt is written off. The other option is to return to Casino Town and pay up!) The tables at [choose any gaming establishment] are rigged. (M) The tables at [choose any gaming establishment] are running hot! (M) The tables at [choose any gaming establishment] are cold. (M) The tables at [choose any gaming establishment] are easy etc. (M) While it might seem incompatible with the Brithini law that utterly forbids gambling, the Talar’s view is "he doesn’t gamble, he invests". (R — though Talar Barat's enduring immortality and the success of Casino Town seems to prove the case.) Red’s Globster on the Main Strip is a cheap and popular “all you can eat” buffet (provided you’re happy eating endless portions of vaguely fish-like material cut into various shapes then deep-fried or boiled). The proprietor “Red” hearkens from the Lunar Empire, and keeps a live walktapus out the back. Pieces are continuously hacked off for the pot. His first walktapus apparently escaped in the confusion during Harrek’s visit, and he’s only recently been able to import a replacement. Just what was Red serving up in the intervening time? (A)

Header of this story should of course be "How RuneQuest..." (fortunately, RuneQuest is linked to in the story itself) https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/04/how-games-science-fiction-shaped-linkedin-co-founder-hoffmans-career.html

CARCOSA CON is coming back again next year! An amazing Call of Cthulhu convention in an amazing location (a castle in Poland!), with the friendliest bunch of cultists. Chaosium is proud to be the Strategic Partner of Carcosa Con. https://carcosacon.com

Contribute to funding the French version for RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha on June 15th, 8pm CEST, on www.gameontabletop.com. Our friends at Studio Deadcrows are proud to offer those 3 products in Standard and Collector versions: RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha RuneQuest: Glorantha Bestiary RuneQuest: Gamemaster Screen Pack These beauties will be encased in a glorious slipcase! Thanks to this preorder campaign, Studio Deadcrows will also be adding exclusive French-created content (scenarios, art and lots of surprises…).

Mozy on over and check out SHADOWS OVER STILLWATER - it's now out in full color hardback! We have a full campaign, a standalone adventure, Stonegarden - a new locale to explore, and more adventure hooks for DOWN DARKER TRAILS, mythos adventures in the Weird West. Available now (includes PDF): https://www.chaosium.com/shadows-over-stillwater-hardcover

Here's the B&W version of Kalin's map - the map in the product itself is in colour:

Back in 1985, Mark Morrison—now renowned in RPG circles for such mythos masterpieces as Horror on the Orient Express, Terror Australis, Reign of Terror, Call of Cthulhu the Video Game, and more—wrote his second-ever scenario for Call of Cthulhu. This was for a competition in White Dwarf Magazine. To Mark's great surprise and delight, his submission was a runner-up in the contest. Although he won a year's subscription to the magazine for his efforts, sadly the adventure never saw print. But that experience was a huge validation to a then 20 year old budding writer, and before long, Mark was writing for Carl T. Ford’s legendary Call of Cthulhu fanzine Dagon, and soon after, working on his first published scenario for Chaosium (“Land of Lost Dreams” for the H.P. Lovecraft’s Dreamlandsboxed set). But now, with the advent of the Miskatonic Repository on DriveThruRPG, we have the chance to see that early scenario of Mark's in print, at last! In his afterword to The Saltwater Inheritance, Mark writes, this is... We have cheerfully assisted Mark in getting this early work into publication by recommissioning the Saltwater Village map (fine work by Kalin Kadiev) and selecting some illustrations from the Miskatonic Repository Art Packs. Chaosium and the Miskatonic Repository hope you enjoy this piece of Call of Cthulhu RPG history!

Campaigned just ended: ₩166 900 000 (USD$140,374) 1112% funded 1215 backers I think they'd be pretty happy with that result!

With four hours remaining, the crowdfunding campaign for the Korean edition of MASKS OF NYARLATHOTEP is 1092% funded and currently at ₩163,874,000 (that's nearly USD$138K). An amazing follow-on to Dayspring Game's record-breaking Call of Cthulhu crowdfunding campaign two years ago, and indicative of the immense popularity of the game in Korea!https://www.tumblbug.com/nyarla

Congratulations to Lynn Yin, winner of the UK Games Expo 2019 Cthulhu Masters, after being a finalist at least 5 times in the past! Chaosium thanks the Keepers from the Cult of Chaos who GMed the initial sessions, and Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition co-author Paul Fricker, who oversaw the final round. And thanks to all the players who joined in the fun!

Some of the superb interior art by Doruk Golcu from A COLD FIRE WITHIN:

Robin Laws and Ken Hite discuss the core pleasures of RUNEQUEST in the latest episode of their podcast:http://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/index.php/episode-346-everybodys-limbs-are-still-on

We wait until we have the printed copies in all three fulfilment warehouses - Australia, USA, UK (that's generally the order in which they arrive, BTW). And the printed version of Shadows Over Stillwater arrived in our UK warehouse in the last day or so - just in time to rush some copies up to Birmingham for UK Games Expo. This means we'll have it available on Chaosium.com very soon.

Look what just rode into town! SHADOWS OVER STILLWATER, our new full-color hardback release for DOWN DARKER TRAILS. Available from the Chaosium booth at UK Games Expo, and now that it's in all three of our warehouses (USA, Australia, UK) will be up on Chaosium.com soon!