[Reborn] "The Past Is Doomed" - Free PDF scenario by Geoff Gillan

[dce]

As many here on YSDC would know, for the past months I have been on a mission to take some (largely forgotten) CoC scenario gems from the ancient "Chaosium Digest" and bring them kicking and screaming into the modern age of high-quality, full-colour PDFs. And make the results available for free.



Today, I am extremely pleased to announce the release of the latest such endeavour, a highly-unusual scenario of Mythos conspiracy set in 1990s Arkham. It's called "The Past Is Doomed" and it was written by Geoff Gillan, whose work many people would know from "Horror on the Orient Express" (which was his brainchild). Personally I have always adored HotOE, rating it as easily one of the best campaigns ever written, not just for CoC but for any RPG ... so the chance to adapt a scenario by Geoff is a rare pleasure indeed.

You can grab the PDF version of "The Past Is Doomed" right now from the Cthulhu Reborn blog

If you're unsure about what you'll be getting ... the PDF is 48 pages, and weighs in at 40MB thanks to a huge amount of artwork. It's easily the most complex project I have undertaken so far. A few page layouts below will give you a basic idea of the care that has gone into the layout and production of this PDF ... the posting over on the blog will give you more information and graphical goodness.



Unlike most of the PDFs I have published to-date, this one adds quite a lot of text to the original, mainly to fill in some areas that are largely unexplored. Fortunately I was able to expand upon Geoff's text ... with the author's blessings (or at least tolerance ). I am deeply indebted to Geoff for making himself available for several email Q&As, not to mention a lot of guiding advice ... and a brand new author intro!

Now, go forth and get yourself some good ol' 1990s style conspiracy gaming ....


Dean (from Adelaide)

[dce]

Minor update: I have made lots more of the graphics (props and artwork) from this PDF available online on this blog page.

I'm guessing most YSDC folks who have an interest have probably already nabbed a copy of the scenario, but in case you want to see more of what is inside it (or want to see some of the graphics in isolation) ... click over and take a look.


Dean (from Adelaide)

[JonHook]

This looks awesome. I'm at work right now, but as soon as I get home I'm downloading this pdf. Thanks man.

[Graham]

I've just downloaded it. If I can remember my old password I might post a review to rpg.net.

[dce]

I've just downloaded it. If I can remember my old password I might post a review to rpg.net.

Reviews (positive, negative or indifferent) are always great to see ... if you feel like including a link back to the download page for the scenario, so much the better!


Dean (from Adelaide)

[mib_dg]

Reviews (positive, negative or indifferent) are always great to see ... if you feel like including a link back to the download page for the scenario, so much the better!

Hmm...

[dce]

Hmm...

LOL ... yes, but is it a *Lovecraftian* Stink?

Does it reek of:

• "a stench as of a thousand opened graves" (The Call of Cthulhu),
• "the most nauseous fishy odour imaginable" (Shadow Over Innsmouth),
• a "smell[] like a vault of a sepulchred Pharaoh in the Valley of Kings" (Cool Air),
• "an accursed smell [...], as of the piled-up corpses of dead generations" (The Outsider),
• "a faint, malign odour [...], as of the massed mould and decay of centuries" (The Dunwich Horror),
• "an overpowering foetor" (The Haunter of the Dark),
• "the mustiness and sickly odour of unkempt old age" (The Shunned House),
• "a faint stench of secrets more terrible than any of the sins denounced by citizens and bemoaned by priests and philanthropists" (The Horror at Red Hook),
• "the perfume-conquering stench of the world's dead" (What The Moon Brings),
• a "faint miasmal odour" (The Colour Out Of Space),
• "a stifling odour of nether gulfs" (The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath),
• a "pungent odour of decay" (The Festival),
• a "hideous and indescribable stench" (The Case of Charles Dexter Ward)

OR

Does it just stink


Dean (from Adelaide)

[mib_dg]

I give it my highest rating. 4 out of 10.

[LoneKharnivore]

I give it my highest rating. 4 out of 10.

Well, that's constructive... I personally thought it was another excellent piece of resurrection and reinvention with fantastic graphical work. I can't wait to work it into a Delta Green campaign, once I get one going.

[dce]

Well, that's constructive... I personally thought it was another excellent piece of resurrection and reinvention with fantastic graphical work. I can't wait to work it into a Delta Green campaign, once I get one going.

Thanks LK ... if you do run it in a Delta Green game, it'd be great to hear how it worked in that setting.

BTW: I am hoping that mib_dg was being ironic when he channelled The Critic for his review above ...


Dean (from Adelaide)

[mojoman]

Thanks for making this scenario available. I really dig the hauntings of the past and the journey through the past as a lead up to a climax. I also like the ability to inject any number of conspiracies into the story line. With some minor modifications it will fit right into my DG campaign; I am looking forward to running it!

[dce]

Thanks for making this scenario available. I really dig the hauntings of the past and the journey through the past as a lead up to a climax. I also like the ability to inject any number of conspiracies into the story line. With some minor modifications it will fit right into my DG campaign; I am looking forward to running it!

Thanks mojoman ... I hope the scenario works well for you when you slot it into your DG game.

In related news: to satisfy my own curiosity I recently arranged to get a few copies of "The Past Is Doomed" professional printed (using colour digital printing). There's some photos over on Cthulhu Reborn for those who are similarly curious about how this PDF would look as a finished book. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out (and will be gifting copies of the printed books to folks who have helped out on my projects over the past year).



Dean (from Adelaide)

[JonHook]

I downloaded the adventure, but I haven't read it yet. I am reading Geoff's "The Iron Ghost" that was published in Frightful Passages. I'm going to run it at a local con the weekend after the 4th of July.

[Mulciber]

Sadly, for some reason not understood by me, the pdf takes a while to download then just comes out as blank.

[dce]

Sadly, for some reason not understood by me, the pdf takes a while to download then just comes out as blank.

Huh ... that's weird (and annoying).

I've occasionally seen Wordpress bail on downloads part way though, so you may want to just try the download again. Alternatively, you can also get the same PDF from the following link which is on Google Docs instead: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5n...VJselhJMzhYWXc

Hopefully one of these will work for you. If not, PM me and I'll see if there are other things I can try ...


Dean (from Adelaide)