FAQ for FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - Organized Play Campaign 2019

[MOB]

Our Flotsam and Jetsam Organised Play Campaign campaign officially kicks off on Sunday September 15th 2019. 

We'll be sending out the remaining three parts each following month (October 15th, November 15th, December 15th 2019).

If you'd like to take part as a Keeper, join the Cult of Chaos, Chaosium’s volunteer network of gamemasters. If you're in the Cult already, you don't need to do anything further at this stage. All registered members of the Cult of Chaos will be invited to sign up to run the OP Campaign before the commencement date.

FAQ

Q: What is the "Flotsam and Jetsam," Organized Play Campaign?

A: Flotsam and Jetsam is a Call of Cthulhu campaign presented as four separate and loosely linked scenarios. Each scenario offers one or more sessions of play and is essentially, stand-alone. They do not require the same players to take part, although returning players will, of course, enjoy a deeper level of fun by the fact they are engaging with a wider story.

Each episode will be released on a monthly basis to Keepers in the Cult of Chaos, Chaosium’s volunteer network of gamemasters.

Q: What edition of Call of Cthulhu is the campaign written for?

A: Call of Cthulhu 7th edition. Call of Cthulhu is available from direct from Chaosium.com. If you order the physical books, you will receive the PDFs immediately. Call of Cthulhu is also available from DriveThruRPG, and from Friendly Local Games Stores all over.

Q: What is the launch date?

A: The campaign officially kicks off on Sunday September 15^th 2019. You can start running the campaign any time after that, once you’ve had a chance to read it through. We'll be sending out the remaining three parts each following month (October 15th, November 15th, December 15th 2019).

Q: If I want to take part, what do I need to do before then?

A: Anyone who wishes to be a Keeper (Game Master) in the campaign needs to join the Cult of Chaos, Chaosium’s Organized Play and Game Master program. Joining up is simple and free, just go here. You also need an account at BRP Central, Chaosium's forums. Again this is free.

Q: If I’m already member of the Cult of Chaos, do I need to do anything to register?

A: If you're in the Cult already, you don't need to do anything further at this stage. All registered members of the Cult of Chaos will be invited to run the OP Campaign before the commencement date.

Q: If I’m going to be a Keeper, how will I receive updates and instructions?

A: Each month a new episode of the OP campaign is released, which we’ll send you by email. We’ll also host discussions about the campaign for Keepers and players in the Call of Cthulhu area of BRP Central – The Chaosium Forums. This will be the place to share experiences of running the campaign, pose questions, give feedback, and share fan-created resources.

Q: How does the Campaign unfold?

A: Flotsam and Jetsam uses the investigator organization called Strange But True! (as detailed in the Investigator Handbook) as the glue holding the campaign together. For those without access to the Investigator Handbook, particulars about the organization are included in Part One.

Each scenario in Flotsam and Jetsam is, essentially, standalone, and does not require the same players to take part, although returning players will, of course, enjoy a deeper level of fun by the fact they are engaging with a wider story.

As to frequency of play, that's up to you as the Keeper. Ideally, you will run one episode per month (either weekly, fortnightly, or monthly), but obviously some groups may take longer or shorter. Each episode contains what's needed for that month - preparing an episode is basically down to how long it takes you to read it through and make whatever notes you require. Month One provides episode one but also general campaign information of use throughout the campaign, thus you’ll have a lot of key info upfront.

Q: If I miss the start date, can I still play?

A: Sure, you are welcome to participate at any time: just download the files, and get going when you are ready (you'll need to join the Cult of Chaos first, if you haven't done so).

Q: What is the minimum age for participants?

A: Keepers/GMs in the Cult of Chaos must be eighteen years and over. For players, Flotsam and Jetsam should be fine for most teenagers - if necessary, the Keeper can of course tone things down according to their play group (equally, ramp things up for older and "hardened" gamers).

Q: Where can I play this? Is playing at home acceptable, or does it have to be in a game store or at a convention?

A: Playing at home is perfectly acceptable! Your friendly local game store is an ideal place to help spread Call of Cthulhu to new players, so also highly recommended! We will even be providing sign-up flyers and posters to help you recruit players. The stand-alone nature of the scenarios means you could even play an individual episode at a convention.

Q: Can I play in the campaign online?

A: Absolutely! Virtual Tabletops like Fantasy Grounds, Roll20, and Astral are great places to play Call of Cthulhu with people from all over the world. Some groups may even stream their play through TwitchTV.

Q: How many people does the campaign accommodate?

A: The campaign will work best for groups of 4 to 6 players, plus a Keeper.

Q: What does it cost to participate?

A: Participation is completely free, for both Keepers and players.

Q: Who has written the campaign?

A: The original concept for Flotsam and Jetsam was by Mike Mason and Scott Dorward. The writers involved are Brian Courtemanche, Matthew Dawkins, Anthony Lee-Dudley, Glyn White, and Scott Dorward. Editorial work for the project is by Mike Mason, Lynne Hardy, and Scott Dorward. Other people directly involved in the OP program at Chaosium are Todd Gardiner, Dustin Wright, and Michael ‘MOB’ O’Brien.

Q: Will there be a book release of Flotsam and Jetsam at some stage?

A: Yes, Chaosium will publish the whole campaign as a full color supplement down the line, after the OP campaign has concluded. We’d love to incorporate feedback from the Organised Play run in the book version. Our previous Organised Play campaign, A Time to Harvest (2016) is currently in the art commissioning stage. 

Q: Err… is organized play possible for a game where characters can easily die or go insane?

A: A set of pre-generated investigators is provided with the first scenario, and these may be reused in the follow-up scenarios (if they survive!); however, there is nothing to stop Keepers creating their own set of investigators, or for players to bring their own investigators to the game. Ultimately, the decision is yours as the Keeper of the campaign.

Edited September 19, 2019 by MOB

[MOB]

Q: Help! - I'm in the Cult of Chaos, but I haven't got the password for the special Cult of Chaos Forum.

A: If you're a Cult of Chaos member and have forgotten/lost/haven't received your password to access the special Cult of Chaos forum, message me here via BRP messaging (top right).

[Trifletraxor]

For all those with problems accessing the cult of chaos subforum, who are cult of chaos members and have received the password:

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