Grimmshade

Original (box) cover art is still my favorite! (Actually the image of Cthulhu on the original rules is pretty great too.) A reprint of the map that came with the boxed edition would be fantastic. So would a nice set of cardboard miniatures (or a new edition of the two boxed sets of miniatures!)

That's one of the things I do like about the system.

It's weird to me that the monster attack descriptions don't include it as an option.

Makes sense about Monster Build making escape impossible from larger creatures. I didn't consider that. So I guess my question is, can you also use a Fighting Maneuver (and whatever bonuses or penalties would go with it) to escape Monster Restraint, or only the opposed STR/DEX roll?

Using the combat rules, if an opponent succeeded on a grab maneuver against you, you would need to use a maneuver of your own to get free. So why is it in most monster descriptions you don't use a maneuver but instead using opposed STR or DEX roll to get free? Can you also use a maneuver?

Added Child of Set (from The God in the Bowl) to original post.

I'm sorry, it's for 5e D&D. I should have made that clearer! I play CoC and D&D currently and forget to specify often. BUT... it does go above and beyond if your goal is to play a complete Mythos inspired fantasy campaign. You can even play a cat. I expected a book of Mythos monsters for D&D 5e and got a ton more, enough for a full conversion if that's what I wanted. If its not exactly what you are looking for at your table (if you don't like D&D or something) the ideas would still probably be useful but perhaps not at the price tag. I am using bits of it in my current D&D campaign, but I've found it useful to see what a full on fantasy Mythos world would look like. Also, the art is pretty great.

I just had a look at my 1st edition book, and the system doesn't quite work that way. It's basically exactly like 7e except skills are grouped into categories (like "Manipulation") for no real reason other than "to aid play." There were no more bonuses from Attributes than there are now.

Have you checked out Sandy Petersen's Cthulhu Mythos 5e? It basically gives the tools to make 5e into a full on Mythos fantasy game, complete with Sanity and Mythos magic, races, etc. Might do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

Added Thoth-Amon to the original post.

I need to dig out my 1st edition rulebook, I forgot skills worked that way! Maybe I just need to make sure I use Attribute rolls more. One other idea I'm toying with is using an Attribute either in a combined roll, or having the player roll the Attribute first to possibly earn a Bonus die, if the Skill action is somehow playing up the Attribute. So someone using their stunning good looks to aid a Charm roll allows the player to roll a combined roll of Charm/Appearance, earning a Bonus die if only Appearance succeeds. It's a work in progress. Preparedness is sort of covered by Luck in 7e, if I'm remembering my Trail correctly. Contacts is derived from every skill in 7e.

If you wanted something simple without buying a new book, I'd just make CON rolls and then use the other damage table. Don't allow natural healing of this damage until the characters warm up. Maybe a second failed CON roll gives the equivalent of a Major Wound, depending on how cold it is. You could give Bonus or Penalty dice to the CON roll depending on shelter found, clothing, previous failed rolls, etc.

There are some hypothermia rules in Malleus Monstrorum. (Under Gnoph-Keh)

Thoth-Amon will be coming next, in a couple days. (and a "Child of Set" from The God in the Bowl story.)

The Serpent Ring of Set A magic artifact for Call of Cthulhu 7e Mentioned in the Robert E Howard stories The Phoenix on the Sword and The Haunter of the Ring, The Serpent Ring of Set is the magical artifact that allowed the Stygian Wizard Thoth-Amon to become one of the greatest sorcerers of his time. In both of these stories, the Ring is described exactly the same: a copper ring made in the form of a serpent, coiled three times with tail in mouth. The eyes are evil yellow gems. How, exactly, did Thoth-Amon use the ring to achieve this? Well, first he found the Ring in a deep tomb that was of pre-human origin. Probably the serpent-folk created the ring and eventually it was entombed in the land that became Stygia. Thoth-Amon says he “did dark and terrible magic with the Serpent Ring of Set”, and from all instances of the Ring’s power shown in the stories, this terrible magic was the summoning of demons from the outer dark. Besides the demon we see in The Phoenix on the Sword, he mentions “They hated me, but they feared me, for I controlled beings from outside which came at my call and did my bidding. By Set, mine enemy knew not the hour when he might awake at midnight to feel the taloned fingers of a nameless horror at his throat!” So we can assume Thoth-Amon gained power by fear, through sending demons after his rivals. To use the Ring, Thoth-Amon rubs the blood of the freshly killed Dion over the serpent’s eyes and chants “Blind your eyes, mystic serpent,... Blind your eyes to the moonlight and open them on darker gulfs! What do you see, oh serpent of Set? Whom do you call from the gulfs of the Night? Whose shadow falls on the waning Light? Call him to me, oh serpent of Set!” The summoned being always appears first as a shadow, and coalesces into existence. The creature called forth in The Phoenix on the Sword is a large humanoid thing, like a mummy and a baboon, and it’s only harmed by blessed or magical weapons (thus the Phoenix on the Sword). However, the text makes it pretty clear that many types of demons could be called by the Ring. In the story The Haunter of the Ring, we learn that the Ring was “handed down by foul cults of sorcerers since the days of forgotten Stygia.” It is finally found in Hungary. The Ring in that story is used to allow one of the demons of the ring to possess the wearer for short instances. The Ring itself is only mentioned as having been used to summon the possessing demon. The evil sorcerer of the story, Vrolok, used other black magic to pull Evelyn’s soul from her body and allow the demon to control her. During the time period of the story, Evelyn cannot take the ring off, and describes the demon as “A black thing,... a horrible faceless black thing that mows and mumbles and paws over me with apish hands. I dream of it every night. And in the daytime I try to kill the only man I ever loved.” When the demon thinks it’s task is done, it turns on Vrolok. While at first glance the Ring in the second story seems to have different powers, it actually seems to have the same power, that of summoning beings of the Outer Dark, and it is Vrolok who uses it in a different way, combined with further magic. The Serpent Ring of Set (Unique) - A copper ring made in the form of a serpent, coiled three times with tail in mouth. The eyes are evil yellow gems. The Ring gives a Bonus Die on all POW rolls if the bearer is a servant of Set. When fresh blood (at least 1 HP worth) is rubbed over the eyes of this ring, it allows the user to summon a creature from the black gulfs. Each Magic Point expended gives a cumulative 20% chance for the summoning to succeed. Each use costs 1d4 SAN plus any cost for encountering the being summoned. The spell takes 5 minutes, and the creature arrives 1d4 minutes later via a gate. The creature may be tasked with one command once summoned. The creature summoned is either a “Demon of the Ring”, (see Below) or another that the Keeper deems appropriate. Examples would be a Byakhee or Dimensional Shambler for travel, etc. Demon’s of the Ring may, at the Keeper’s discretion, become free after their task is finished. This chance is higher if the user sacrificed their own blood for the casting, and is much lower if a sacrifice was performed for the blood. If the creature is free, the user must win an opposed POW roll versus the creature or it attacks either the user or someone with them before returning to the black gulfs. The user may also use the ring to cast Contact Set spell (which is exactly like the Contact Yig spell in the Grand Grimoire, except the ring negates the 5 POW cost.) A note about Thoth-Amon’s loss of power in Phoenix on the Sword when he loses the Ring: Thoth-Amon's loss of power in The Phoenix on the Sword is one of the quandaries that stumps many game systems. I didn't like Mongoose's explanation, and I really don’t like the Modiphius 2d20 explanation (he's just obsessed with the ring.) In Call of Cthulhu he can gain nearly all of his sorcerous power from the ring and the “demons” it summons. Simple! Demon of the Ring, Lesser Servitor Race “Upon him crouched a great black thing which he knew was born in no sane or human world. Its slavering black fangs were near his throat and the glare of its yellow eyes shrivelled his limbs as a killing wind shrivels young corn. The hideousness of its face transcended mere bestiality. It might have been the face of an ancient, evil mummy, quickened with demoniac life. In those abhorrent features the outlaw's dilated eyes seemed to see, like a shadow in the madness that enveloped him, a faint and terrible resemblance to the slave Thoth-amon. Then Ascalante's cynical and all-sufficient philosophy deserted him, and with a ghastly cry he gave up the ghost before those slavering fangs touched him. Conan, shaking the blood-drops from his eyes, stared frozen. At first he thought it was a great black hound which stood above Ascalante's distorted body; then as his sight cleared he saw that it was neither a hound nor a baboon.” Alternate Names: Haunter of the Ring Demons of the Ring are beings from the black gulfs. They are sometimes faceless black things with apish limbs and hands, and sometimes baboon-like mummies. Life Drain: Can blast a victim's soul by holding them and staring into their eyes. Each round that the victim is held, if they lose an opposed POW roll they lose 1d6 hp + 1 hp per magic point spent by the Demon of the Ring. Possession: The Demon of the Ring may attempt to possess someone who is sleeping or otherwise incapacitated. This functions as per Spirit Attacks and Possession in the Grand Grimoire. Demon of the Ring, Ape-ish thing from the black gulf Char. roll averages STR 5D6x5* 85-90 CON 3D6x5* 50-55 SIZ 5D6x5* 85-90 DEX (3D6+6)x5 80-85 INT (3D6)x5 50-55 POW (3D6+6)x5 80-85 Average Hit Points: 13-14 Average Damage Bonus (DB): +1D6 Average Build: 2 Average Magic Points: 16-17 Move: 8 Combat Attacks per Round: 2 (Claws, Bite, Grab, or Life Drain) May attack with both claws, or grab and claw, or bite and life drain a grabbed opponent. Grab (mnvr): If the maneuver succeeds, the Demon of the Ring has grabbed the victim or pounced on them and is holding them down. The victim is knocked and held prone if the demon wishes. The victim may attempt to escape with their own Maneuver. Fighting 50%(25/10), damage 1D6 + DB Grab (mnvr) 50%(25/10), held (and possibly prone) Life Drain Held Only, Opposed POW, damage 1d6 + 1 per magic point spent Dodge 40%(20/8) Skills: Climb 55%, Spot Hidden 50%,Stealth 60%, Track Prey 80% Armor: none, but immune to all mundane weapons Spells: usually none Sanity Loss: 0/1d10 Thoth-Amon, Stygian sorcerer and lord of the Black Ring Thoth-Amon was a great sorcerer in the south during the Hyborian Age. “Men spoke of me as they spoke of Rammon. King Ctesphon of Stygia gave me great honor, casting down the magicians from the high places to exalt me above them. They hated me, but they feared me, for I controlled beings from outside which came at my call and did my bidding. By Set, mine enemy knew not the hour when he might awake at midnight to feel the taloned fingers of a nameless horror at his throat! I did dark and terrible magic with the Serpent Ring of Set, which I found in a nighted tomb a league beneath the earth, forgotten before the first man crawled out of the slimy sea.” Thoth-Amon, who is the master of all priests of Set, and dwells in Luxur, and the western world knew only as a figure of terror and myth. STR 60 CON 60 SIZ 80 DEX 55 INT 80 APP 60 POW 120 EDU 90 SAN 0 Hit Points 14 Damage Bonus 1d4 Build 1 Move 7 MP 24 Luck 70 Combat Fighting (Brawl) 50%, damage 1d3+DB Dagger 50%, damage 1d4+2+DB Dodge 30% Skills Animal handling 50%, Cthulhu Mythos 40%, Disguise 30%, Drive Horse/Oxen 30%, Insight (Psychology) 60%, Intimidate 90%, Library Use 70%, Natural World 40%, Occult 80%, Oratory/Rhetoric 50%, Own Kingdom (Stygia) 70%, Other Kingdoms (Kush, Shem, Vendhya, Koth) 40%, Read/Write Language 85%, Science (Augury, Religion of Set) 75%, Sleight of Hand 60%, Spot Hidden 75%, Stealth 50%, Status (Infamy) 90% Languages: Own (Stygian) 95%, Acheron 60%, Kushite 50%, Shemite 50%, Vendhyan 45%, Kothian 50%, Many Others 40% Pulp Talents Scary - Bonus Die to Intimidate rolls. Backstory Personal Description: He was a somber giant, whose dusky skin revealed his Stygian blood. Traits: Arrogant and consumed with power. Ideology: Servant of Set the Old Serpent. Significant People: King Ctesphon of Stygia who gave him great honor, and Kalanthes the priest of Ibis whom he hates. Meaningful Locations: Nighted tombs in Stygia, Luxor. Treasured Possessions: Serpent Ring of Set which he found in a nighted tomb a league beneath the earth. Equipment The Serpent Ring of Set. Child of Set, Lesser Servitor Race. “A black cable, thicker than a man's arm, and curiously splotched.” “...over a heavy gilded screen a face looked at the Cimmerian.” “Conan stared in wonder at the cold classic beauty of that countenance, whose like he had never seen among the sons of men. Neither weakness nor mercy nor cruelty nor kindness, nor any other human emotion was in those features. They might have been the marble mask of a god, carved by a master hand, except for the unmistakable life in them—life cold and strange, such as the Cimmerian had never known and could not understand.” “The thought of Set was like a nightmare, and the children of Set who once ruled the earth and who now sleep in their nighted caverns far below the black pyramids. Behind that gilded screen there had been no human body—only the shimmering, headless coils of a gigantic serpent.” -The God in the Bowl, Robert E Howard Alternate Names: God in the Bowl Children of Set are large serpents with beautiful-featured, emotionless human heads. Language: They can speak a pre-human language, of which the basic meaning can be derived by listeners due to some form of primal knowledge. Some can also speak a few human languages. Child of Set, large snakes with human heads Char. roll averages STR (2d6+15)x5 110 CON ( 2d6+6)x5 65 SIZ (2d6+10)x5 85 DEX (2d6+10)x5 85 INT (3D6+6)x5 80-85 POW (2D6+6)x5 65 Average Hit Points: 15 Average Damage Bonus (DB): +1D6 Average Build: 2 Average Magic Points: 13 Move: 8 Combat Attacks per Round: 1 (bite,constrict) Poison from bite is extremely deadly and fast acting. Damage is 4d10 in 1d10 rounds. An Extreme CON roll halves the damage. (Once poisoned, cannot be poisoned again until the initial poison has dealt its damage.) Constrict (mnvr): Wraps around its prey, crushing the life out of it. With a successful attack the Child of Set has wrapped it’s victim in a crushing hold and the victim suffers a penalty die to any action and automatically takes damage (1d6+DB) each round unless the child of Set is killed or dislodged by an opposed STR roll. Fighting 50%(25/10), damage 1D6 + DB Bite 50%(25/10), damage 1d4 + poison (see above) Grab (mnvr) 50%(25/10), held with penalty die to actions, damage 1d6+DB per round Dodge 45%(22/9) Skills: Climb 60%, Language (human, varies but often Stygian) 55%, Stealth 65% Armor: none Spells: Contact Set (exactly like Contact Yig in the Grand Grimoire), 1d6 spells of the Keeper’s choosing but usually including Dominate or Mental Suggestion from the Grand Grimoire. Sanity Loss: 0/1d6

I left his fighting skills lower because he is young here and still fighting more by instinct. Spot Hidden could probably be dropped slightly to raise Listen for sure. I left his STR high because it's kind of his thing, and he did break the neck of a bull in his youth (per Man-eaters of Zamboula)

That Doctor Who stuff is pretty much spot on with how I run things.

Not entirely sure what you mean, but basically I see it as the underlying code of the universe. magic symbols and words and actions just translate into "programming" the universe. Humans can't really understand it fully, so they see it as symbols, ingredients, and words. Some of it is definitely calling on concepts and extra-dimensional beings to warp "reality." In my games, it all just looks like magic, but with hints at energy transference and reality warping.

I mostly go with Mythos magic being extra-dimensional or alien science. I treat magic like what we see in Robert E Howard's Hyborian Age and Thurian Age.

Yeah, this is basically what I've been saying. The book gives you the option as part of the RAW to just use opposed rolls for everything. It's not like the Opposed Difficulty option is the only way the rules work. Don't like it, always use opposed rolls... just like the rules say.

Conan of Cimmeria Archetype: Beefcake Profession: Barbarian Characteristics STR 95 CON 90 SIZ 85 DEX 90 INT 80 APP 65 POW 85 EDU 60 Move 9 Damage Modifier 1d6 Build 2 Hit Points 35 Luck 70 SAN 85 MP 17 Talents Keen Vision, Tough Guy, Heavy Hitter, Fleet Footed (Could substitute Keen Vision for Power Lifter. Also, I would say most warriors in the Hyborian Age have “Hardened”) Skills Climb 80%, Intimidate 60%, Jump 60%, Listen 60%, Natural World 30%, Occult 10%, Other Kingdom (Aquilonia, Corinthia, Nemedia, Zamora) 15%, Other Language (Corinthian, Nemedian, Zamoran) 45%, Own Kingdom (Barbarian Lands) 35%, Own Language 60%, Ride Horse 25%, Spot Hidden 80%, Status (Infamy) 10%, Stealth 80%, Throw 60%, Track 65% Combat Fighting (Brawl) 65%, Fighting (Sword) 65%, Fighting (Shield) 55%, Dodge 70% Equipment Dagger* 65%, 1d4+2+DB Broadsword* 65%, 1d8+DB (Occasionally) Shield 55%, Armor 1d4, Damage 1d4+DB (Occasionally) Horned Helmet, Armor 1d2 (Occasionally) Chainmail, Armor 1d8 Backstory Personal Description: black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth. Traits: Hatred of Picts. Temper and little understanding or care for civilized ways. Ideology: Crom - at birth he breathes power to strive and slay into a man's soul. What else shall men ask of the gods? Significant People: Varies Meaningful Locations: Varies Treasured Possessions: Freedom Notes: This build represents Conan from around “God in the Bowl” (or “Frost Giant’s Daughter,” depending on your chronology preference) to about “The Hand of Nergal” story fragment.

That's basically the system Delta Green uses, iirc, for opposed rolls. (Highest roll that still succeeds wins)

I thank you for immortalizing me in a math problem. The main reason I may go with The Combined System D of Honorable Grimmshade is due to simplicity against weak opponents. (just roll and be done.) I am curious what you mean in the above quote about skills below 10. I'm just wondering if you are referencing a rule I'm forgetting.

I like the simplicity of the RAW. By that I don't mean the opposed difficulty system (which seems to be the "problem" here), because reading the section on game rules, that's not the entirety RAW. I mean the dice options given in the Keeper's rulebook of choosing to use the opposed difficulties (with push options), or an opposed roll (with bonus/penalty options), or simply not rolling because its not really dramatic. For an unimportant chess game, I'll just say the higher skill wins. For an important chess game I'll go with opposed rolls (especially since chess can stalemate). For seeing if you can end a chess game fast enough to get to your meeting with Ernst Stavro Blofeld, I might go with the opposed difficulty roll, because pushing in that situation would be really fun. Maybe a good general rule would be: If the opponents skill is less than 50, then just make a standard roll. If the opponents skill is 50 or higher, use opposed rolls.

I read that other discussion, and without bringing the heat again, I'd say it all balances out pretty well considering the rules are a toolkit and the options available. You can push a roll that's not specifically an opposed roll, so your chance of winning at Chess with 90% skill vs a 50% skill person increase a lot. Also, you only roll when it helps the drama. In a general non-dramatic situation, the 90% chess player should beat the 50% chess player because it doesn't matter. The rules also state to go ahead and use Opposed rolls for whatever you feel it makes sense for (once you're familiar with how they work.) Also, the interpretation of a failed roll is a bit up to the GM/players. Maybe the 90% vs 50% is a tie on a regular failed roll. Maybe the chess game just goes longer, or gets interrupted with no clear winner. Depends on the situation and what the player is trying to get out of it. Just my take on it. I like having options, with the basic option being very quick at the table.