Really want to try, where to start though?

[Ebonrook]

I may have been into Lovecraft stories for quite some time, but surprisingly only recently found out that not only are other people, but there is so much out there associated with them! For example, the missus bought me a Cthulhu plushie!

Now I find out that there is a game out there to play, and my head nearly explodes from excitement. The problem is that there seems to be so much for it, with so many updates, that it is difficult for some one new like me to figure out where to start exactly.

I can't even figure out how the game is played in general, to work out if it really would be my thing, or if there are enough people to play it with.

If anyone could give me an idea, some info, advice, that would be awesome! Especially seeing as this is something I really do want to try getting into!

Thanks guys!

[MrHandy]

Welcome! A good place to start would be the free Quick Start rules found on this link on Chaosium's website. This will give you a good overview and even enough information to play a game. It includes the classic scenario "The Haunting." If you like it, the next step is to purchase the core rulebook (6th edition is the most current). This book has hundreds of pages and plenty of material that will give you lots of enjoyment and madness.

[Uuklay]

Welcome!

I agree that the Quick Start rules on Chaosium's website is far and away the best way to get started. It has everything you need for your first scenario. After that, you can pretty much buy any rulebook made in the last fifteen years and you'll be solid, very little changes from each edition to the next. Unlike most roleplaying games, CoC is incredibly (and beautifully) simple and largely driven by forces outside of the written rules. A core rulebook (I love my 5.6) is, arguably, the only book you will ever truly need to play this wonderful game.

Now go forth, have fun, and enjoy this fantastic world that you have just opened yourself up to.

[JonHook]

Welcome to the fold!

Yes, absolutely check out the free Quick Start Rules, and hopefully you'll be inspired enough to invest in the core rule book. After that, there are so many adventures that are currently available for free, (fan-made adventures), that this should give you loads to work with so you can make an informed decision on whether you want to invest in more scenarios or supplements.

Enjoy!

[Ebonrook]

Thanks for the support guys! I was reading through the Quick Start rules. I think I am following it well enough. I just worry that I won't have enough people to play with. How many do you recommend to be in a group, incl. Keeper? Is there any way to play with fewer people? Really want to play, but am worried that I won't be able to

[Ben_Stamper]

I've personally played CoC with a minimum (including keeper) of three and a maximum of seven, but quite recently a series of three solo (plus a keeper) scenarios were released for free entitled Monophobia: A Fear of Solitude. I've run the Haunting with just two players and they handled it fairly well. Just be ready to fudge the numbers a bit if the players are having too easy or too difficult of a time, as long as you can do it in a way that nobody else notices.

[Ebonrook]

I think that my problem is that I would want to make an Investigator, but out of my group I am the only person who has read any Lovecraft or Mythos stories. So I would wind up being Keeper, not that it is a real problem. If I am reading it right the Keeper essentially plays the part of all the other characters? Seems like it could wind up being either alot of fun, or quite stressful. I will have to try giving it a go either way ^^

[PoC]

Welcome!

We have an introductory article that may be of interest: Introduction to Roleplaying and Call of Cthulhu It has some useful links and also contains examples of audio recordings of games in play.

Hope it's of use!

[Tigger_MK4]

I think that my problem is that I would want to make an Investigator, but out of my group I am the only person who has read any Lovecraft or Mythos stories. So I would wind up being Keeper, not that it is a real problem. If I am reading it right the Keeper essentially plays the part of all the other characters? Seems like it could wind up being either alot of fun, or quite stressful. I will have to try giving it a go either way ^^

A hearty welcome to you !

You dont mention where you live ;
One good way to learn is to play a game - there may well be a club, group or convention near you.
Roleplaying is something that is difficult to explain in text but a few minutes in a game and you pretty much have got it !

As Paul says, videos and audios will help.

[cpt_machine]

This may sound like a shameless plug for the site but listen to the audio games on Yog-Sothoth.com or even buy the DVD and listen to others play the game, you will notice how little dice rolling there is and its all character.

Ask at your Friendly Local Gaming Store (FLGS) about groups in the area you can join or try to attension a convensation or two where the game is being played.

Finally there is a small number of people who play online with skype etc, they occasional advertise on this forum.

[Noble]

I found with my group that I was the GM for all the CoC stuff we did, so after playing CoC for 15 years I have never (sob), never played an investigator - ever!
Reading this may put you off, but I have enjoyed every moment of it, just start thinking about all the different ways you can get revenge on your pal's for leaving you with GM duties by killing them in a number of painful ways.

As for advice I think you'll have core rule book, get your player's hooked on the game with the free games in the book, I love the haunting, I think it is the best one off short game for CoC, as Cpt_machine says have a listen to one of the audio games this site has run and you'll see or hear the way the game is played. It runs a lot differently to games like D&D, and I've had some player's who didn't like CoC due to the game style, so just be aware of that when you first start and be kind on them, don't kill them all off (which is very easy) for the first few sessions, unless they are really stupid.

[Iohannes]

It may help to think of it, not as a "game" (with the implied competition between or among Players and Keeper), but as a "shared storytelling" system, which allows for cooperation among the people in the room -- no matter how desperate the battles their characters fight.

[GHill]

It may help to think of it, not as a "game" (with the implied competition between or among Players and Keeper), but as a "shared storytelling" system, which allows for cooperation among the people in the room -- no matter how desperate the battles their characters fight.

This is exactly how I describe RPG's to friends who ask what all my books and dice are for, its a lot easier to "sell" as a cooperative story than as a game of make believe.

[Ebonrook]

This may sound a bit ridiculous but for the purpose of learning the game, I was considering being the keeper and investigator, as there is only the missus as well to play at the mo. Though I am trying to convince other friends. Do you guys think this could work? Or would it be insanely pointless to try to play this way?

[Dr_Locrian]

It may be possible to do what you're proposing there, but from experience I'd really recommend running a solo adventure with your wife first. It's a very socially oriented game, after all. Someone above mentioned Monophobia, adventures specifically designed for a single Investigator, and those adventures do indeed look pretty cool.