Need guidance planning a campaign in Arkham

dogmeethorse · Master Joined: Mar 23, 2006 Posts: 26

I just got the Arkham unvieled book. And was wonderng if people had used any of the scenarios in the back of the book. I read The one, The books of Uncle Silas. I thought it was one of the weakest scenarios I've ever read. I am still digesting the book. If anyone had any advice. Right now, I think I might run the condemned. This campaign is probably about a month away so I have plenty of time to prepare although I don't know what kind of Ivestigators I am going to have. There will be three of them though, maybe four.

Maybe if anyone could tell me waht their favorite parts of the book were. I have run some COC scenarios before from the main rule book, The Edge of Darkness and The Haunting. But I've never attempted anything of this size before. I would like to stay in Arkham for a while before I send the Investigators off globetrotting. AHHHH!

Danforth · Knight of the Outer Void Joined: Mar 16, 2005 Posts: 112

'Dead of Night' works well for me, and if you pick up 'Adventures in Arkham County' try 'Bless the Beasts and the Children' and 'A happy family'. Both 'Dead' and 'Bless' involve investigations in and around Arkham. 'Dead Reckonings' has a good adventure called 'Dust to Dust'.
That adventure scared the wits out of me. It might be an idea to familiarise yourself with the local characters to add some extra sauce to the game in Arkham. Some Ghoulish encounters in the old Cemetery and ghostly handshakes on Hangman's Hill may give the players the feeling they are living in 'Spook Central'.

"Tell him about the twinkie, Ray".

WinstonP · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:51 pm Post subject:

I'm a big fan of the Arkham book though I've only read the original and not the latest rerelease.

Having played most of the scenarios, I can say I enjoyed both "Dead of Night" and "the Condemned" greatly. "Dead" offers a number of unresolved questions you can built off of while "the Condemned" is stronger overall (though it can be murderous, especially considering the thing in the tunnels). II'm less of a fan of "the Hills Rise Wild", as it is really more of a Dunwich scenario. "Dead" is probably the best place to start.

Here's a list of all the scenarios (and books containing them) set in and around Arkham.

Obviously there is no need to get all these books (or any of them) but if you're looking to run a pre-fab Arkham game, you should know what is out there. Of the bunch set in Arkham, I am particularly fond of Richard Watts' "Behold the Mother" (from 'Dead Reckonings') and "A Little Knowledge" (originally in the Arkham book but moved to the new Miskatonic University book).

liveliest_awfulness · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject:

Dear Dog,
I haven't read the adventure you're not so hot on but depending on what needs your group have I'm sure that with the appropriate tweeking it'll both entertain and rock.
One word of warning depending on what your group desire, especially with regard to firefights, sometimes less is more.
Any other inspiration you need is readily available by searching these forums.
The very best of Luck.
Pedro

Roucheau · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:02 pm Post subject:

I've run "A Little Knowledge" and "The Hills Rise Wild' from the first edition Arkham Unveiled and both were excellent scenarios. Neither are Mythos heavy and are great investigational mysteries as well.

dogmeethorse · Master Joined: Mar 23, 2006 Posts: 26

Thanks everyone for responding. I think I am going to run In The Dead of Night first. I like the way it uses the Arkham; the investigators will be running all over the place. It's a good way to introduce them to NPC contacts.

I think I will also run The Condemned at some point. I want to change it alot though. It has got too much going on in it right now. Before I run it I want to read the story about Quachil Uttaus. What should I read for background?

GreveMagnus · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject:

banshee · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject:

dogmeethorse · Master Joined: Mar 23, 2006 Posts: 26

dogmeethorse · Master Joined: Mar 23, 2006 Posts: 26

PRETTY SERIOUS SPOILERS+++++

I am going to run the condemned this Wednesday. I am going to make some serious changes to the adventure. First of all, I am getting rid of the shoggoth. The shoggoth seems a little to dnd for me in this context. Maybe other keepers are better at integrating it into the adventure but I don't see as human controlling one if they were able to rebel against the control of the Elder Things, or Old ones or whatever they're called.

Instead I am going to add a pulpy/noir vibe. I think I am going to have the investigators not be the only ones trying to to track down Bishop. I think that the witches coven is going to be aware of Sermon Bishop and they are going to use the Eye of Amara to do some investigating for them. This will mostly be at the behest of Edwin White Perkins the third as the coven has not gotten a chance to meet yet. (see entries 1007 and 919). I think it will be interesting when the party realizes that there are other dilettantes running around. They will probably be frightened off easily, but Perkins will not be, if he chooses to reveal himself and the Jason Gaspard may see this as a chance to gain some real power. Also I am going to beef up Sermon Bishop's history a little more, for instance where did he and his partner get the money for underground tunnels.

I also have a hard time believing that a falling rock trap lasted for 176 years without any maintenance.

And instead of casting as many spells, I think I am going to have him reanimate the 'vital saltes' of creatures after forcing his victims to ingest them causing an excess of gore and creating freakish ghoulish things for the party to deal with. I'm taking that thing out of the secret laboratory and putting it in the middle of Benson Crane's guts. It will obviously, also get to devour the wife and baby. That should be pretty disturbing.