Great module, great writing, but no maps included.

Mysteries of the Manor

To accompany Halloween Horrors 2, Modiphius has released another short mission, this time under the title Mysteries of the Manor. The agents are sent out to investigate a manor in the English countryside, particularly as there are indications that the Black Sun is active in the area. The manor, called Rainthorpe Hall, is the home of Lord Dowling, an eccentric collector of antiques and other objects. The agents are tasked with infiltrating the estate, eliminating a possible threat from the Black Sun, and recovering any artifacts. If possible, they should also rescue Dowling, his family, and his servants.

The adventure revolves around the player characters working their way through the large manor room by room, eliminating the threats and stopping the Black Sun agents. The plot is not very original, but it offers a solid mission for an evening of gaming.

The link to the second Grimoire of Terror is very limited here, but the monsters from this accompanying volume can be incorporated into the mission. I found the layout of the house a little unusual, which only makes limited sense to me in some places, but even that is probably a rather insignificant detail in the context of a mission like this.

Anyone looking for a straightforward, short (inter)mission to spend an evening fighting Black Sun agents will get free game material here for a short mission between larger adventures.

(Björn Lippold)

Halloween Horrors 2 - Grimoire of Terror

Just in time for Halloween, Modiphius has released another small free supplement for Achtung! Cthulhu with several monsters with Halloween Horrors 2. Once again, the supplement features five creatures from the Achtung! Cthulhu universe, as well as a few plot ideas to use them.

The selection is varied this time. For example, the classic Djinn are thematized and incorporated into the setting. The Flying Polyp is a standard Mythos monster that was previously missing. With Grand Mere Cherie, the supplement features an unusual ghoul, while Kelpie and Redcap are two monsters from Celtic mythology that have been slightly adapted for the mythos.

The monsters are described in an interesting way and fit into the background of Achtung! Cthulhu and can therefore be used universally within the setting.

The Flying Polyp, the Djinn and Grand Mere Cherie in particular are very useful additions. In my opinion, Kelpie and Redcap as creatures of Celtic mythology do not quite fit into the Mythos setting, even if the Kelpie is interpreted here as a variant of the Deep Ones.

In addition to the double-page monster descriptions, the booklet offers ten briefly described adventure hooks for these monsters on one page, making Halloween Horrors 2 a nice addition offering interesting monsters that is also free of charge.

(Björn Lippold)

This was my first scenario I ran for our newly put together Achtung! Cthulhu group, cobbled together from a couple of seasoned Call of Cthulhu players and 5e players trying something different.

Call of Cthulhu players will find the first part familiar as there is some good investigative work to be done gathering clues for what is going on. My 5e players liked the rollicking combat. I created my own "battlemap" so I could keep the layout straight in my head and as we use Foundry it gives my visual players who are used to maps something to look at.

The only thing I wasn't so keen on was keeping straight so many NPCs in combat with the multiple sides - felt like the ratio of player to enemy action was a bit off. In the end I pared that back quite a bit.

Overall it was a fun romp and appealing enough I had no trouble enticing the players to have another go at a different scenario. Thanks for the fun!

We have a new group of experienced players who are trying Achtung! Cthulhu and this is the fourth scenario we've run through now. This took us about seven hours (we admittedly are not a very quick group and we have the odd stop while we get rules straight in our heads) and overall I thought everyone enjoyed it a great deal.

We played using the Achtung! Cthulhu module on Foundry and used the maps provided. I added a generic map for the encounter en-route and expanded the play out on the ship a bit by using a ship deckplan. I also added some interesting things to find on the ship to make it a bit more rewarding.

Sometimes I find a read of the scenario for Achtung! Cthulhu can make them seem a bit railroady but it was easy enough to have a light touch here and let the players/agents set the story outcome. Mine had a clever plan to prevent the release of the creature in the ice and save the day without me feeling it was necessary to "free the beast".

A good fun idea in an interesting place with a set up for creative problem-solving for players smart enough not to launch a full frontal assault. Thumbs up from us.

This is a great idea, but, as is standard for Modiphius, it's just not taken seriously.

A lot of work was put into it, but then the editing staff didn't bother looking at it to catch dozens of errors. Items described and missings. Items on lines but no descriptions. Tables omitted from the book. Sections discussed and not present.

This book needs about another year of editing and re-writing. Modiphius should refund everyone who purchased it. The book isn't complete.

Completely over priced for the contents.

Maps are ok if you like Iso format, but repetative and pretty small area. For a company with such emphasis on great graphics and art, its more than disappionting. Burning a limited page count with padding like a full reprint of Protectron stats from core rule book is not helping. Location notes might save an inexperienced GM a little prep time but that's about it.

Would suggest spending money on a rpg mapping platform (not recommending one) instead.

I bought most of the PDFs for Star Trek Adventures a long time ago, but didn't get to run it. I love the setting, but I didn't love the rules (at the time). But after some time running some other settings where there's a lot more crunch and funny dice with my regular group, I thought this might be worth a try. Having the PDFs makes sharing easier than having only physical books.

But the layout of the core rulebook is a little convoluted. Sometimes something is used before it is explained, and there's a lot of fluff mixed in, making it harder to find the specific section you need later on. Sort of by accident I bought the Tricorder Collector's box on Amazon, and it came with the digest rules. At first, I thought it was a bit of a waste since I had the Core rulebook, and figured I'd just use the book at the table to pass around. I really wanted the box itself for a project. Well, after looking it over, I bought the PDF of those rules here as I much prefer the layout. It works better as a RPG rules book than the original core rules by quite a bit.

Technically it is redundant, but it's that good. I'm only writing this review because there weren't any reviews mentioning this on this product (there are others stating this on the Core Rulebook, but you won't see those if you just look here).

The system is pretty easy to pick up. There are vague similarities to other system like Star Wars RPG, but it is much easier to play with normal dice than that game, which requires either specialty dice or the app on smartphones to be played functionally). You generally have 2 to 5 d20s you'll roll. You want low rolls. The specific number you need depends on your character's stat + department. If you have a focus that applies (each character has a few of these, like Xenobiology or Philosophy or Subspace Theory) then really low roles (equal to or below the department you are using in the roll) count as 2 successes. Extra successes beyond what you need build momentum, which is a group resource that anyone can use to buy extra dice on a critical roll.

If you don't have enough momentum, you can instead give the GM Threat to use on a 1-for-1 basis. This is very similar to the Light Side Dark side destiny system in the Star Wars RPG game, but isn't a zero sum system. I much prefer this method as momentum and threat can build and be spent separately so neither side and "freeze" the other out by refusing (or forgetting) to spend it. Some weapons will build threat automatically, which explains why Trek ships don't pull out photon torpedoes at every opportunity (much like knives and guns don't get pulled in every fight in the really world, either).

Finally, some rolls will also use 6 sided dice (for example, combat, but also extended tests) to determine the specific effects of a successful roll. They have specialty dice you can use (which also come in the tricorder box I mentioned) but they really aren't needed. The six possible effects are: 1: 1 stress 2: 2 stress 3: Blank 4: Blank 5: Effect 6: Effect

The roll that say, "Effect" cause 1 stress, and trigger one use of the special effects in play. Typically, that depends on the weapon being used. That might be extra stress inflicted, or ignoring some of the resistance of the target, but it could also be a loss of power, additional automatic hits caused, or damage over time). Finally, the total amount of stress you rolled is totaled and reduced by the opponent's resistance. If there's anything left over, they lose that much stress and if you do 5 or more, there's an additional effect. In personal combat, that's an injury (they are seriously wounded and out of the fight). In Extended Tasks that's a Breakthrough (you need a number of these to succeed, so a really good roll might let you succeed earlier than expected), and in Starship combat these are hull breaches and can take out a system completely. Finally, high results on the d20 can result in Complications. The simplest of these are additional Threat, but other results are possible, such as destroying a control, or hitting an ally. Normally these only result on a natural 20, but that can be lowered due to existing complications or certain character traits, perhaps in exchange for additional (free) dice.

This same system is used in extended actions, so once you understand how it works you know how all the systems work. It gives you the opportunity to have unexpected results. You knock out the guard, but you can hear another pair coming around the corner, etc.

A pretty straightforward romp through a small stately home to make a rescue while the evil nazis try and stop you. Pretty useful for learning the combat rules and not very taxing to set up at all.

Ran this one for my Achtung! Cthulhu group and we enjoyed it the best of the scenarios we've played so far. There's a nice change of pace for roleplaying, investigation and rollicking combat all in an interesting location. Well worth running.

Amazing. What I was looking for and done better if I tried to make my own from the world builders. This is my new goto system, I know my players. How would/any guidance on crafting a Dragon man and tiefling race along with a Paladin Arch type?

The story, lore, setting, and character creation options are amazing, and my party is already having so much fun with this. My only issue is with how the material is organized. There's the 500-page campaign book, the 70-page player's guide, and a 50-page GM's reference guide, and not a lot of info is duplicated between them.

The setting is beautifully complex, but the campaign guide spreads out a lot of the information, so you really need to read the whole thing to get the context you need to run it properly. For example, it took me forever to get all the information that led to the very first plot hooks in the prologue. There are callouts that will tell you that a detail will be important later, but they don't always tell you where, or how critical the information is (like when the party members are asked what their favorite fish is in Chapter 3 because of how one part of a dungeon crawl is flavored in Chapter 11).

Also, as cool as all of the new options are for background, species, and sub-class, there's not much guidance for DMs on running the game with those options in mind. For example, what relationship could an Ironwood Warlock have with the Ironwood trees? How will it impact the story if a PC is discovered to be a Tuss? What happens if a player picks the Vigilant One epic background, but their species is Wicker? Every option comes with a lot of story implications, but it's not always clear what those implications are.

The combat was also extremely difficult to get organized, partially because a large number of the encounters didn't have battle maps (despite the incredibly detailed descriptions of the combat scene and the emphasis on a tactical approach), and also because it wasn't always clear how many enemies were actually in each area on the map. It was like, "There's a wooden fort with 7 buildings and 100 feet of open area. The druid will retreat with any remaining raiders to the 40-foot shrine and cast Spike Growth so that it covers 10 feet outside the shrine with the rest of it inside the shrine." That's a bit high-level for theater of the mind, so I had some difficulty illustrating this for my players.

Despite my complaints, this book is worth the money and effort. The setting and lore are rich with fun Viking flavor, and the scope and scale of it just helps the players feel like even more epic heroes. It's gritty, it's adventurous, it's scary, it's heartfelt, it's fun, and it's everything you could hope for in a Viking-themed D&D adventure.

This product is surprizingly good for a free Rpg adventure : in a desert town, the players are confronted to mysterious disappearances and have to find out what happened to the missing people or even to save them. I think this adventure can be adapted to any medieval fantasy Rpg but be aware it requires an expert gamemasters and clever players. Congrats to the writers and let them continue !

Good product but awful price.

TLDR: The cliff-notes - WAIT FOR A SALE!

Content: Good maps in PDF and VTT / 14 pages of Adventures with very short encounters adjusted for different party levels that are very basic so meh something most dms could think of just simple with a handful of generic npc stats and some small loot tables. / The last 4 pages are cover art, contents, description of what is in it. and a page for credits to creators on it.

Full review: This book has the first 4 pages (counting the cover) has the credits to those that work on the book, the cover, the contents (really small but whole page with a vault logo, and the WHATS INCLUDED IN THIS MAP PACK. No idea why it needed a full page for this but its there. Then you get full pages of 8 maps through the pdf and you do get VTT images outside of it which is nice. This would be worth 10 or 15 tops with the little adventure that is very basic being 14 pages with some decent art. So for me this should be a 15 dollar max book cause of the maps. Modiphous really is penny pinching this series but at least the 2 current core books are decent price as a pdf. This book I feel should be 10 USD or 15 cause the adventure is lackluster while the other adventure books are perfectly priced for what you get around 7 dollars 50 or so for the current time.

Resist the Mythos - a Mephisto review

The resistance movements in World War 2 are the subject of the sourcebook Vive la Résistance!, which opens up new character options, opponents, allies, and game scenarios for Achtung! Cthulhu. The book begins with a brief introduction to the world of Achtung! Cthulhu, which is redundant to the basic rule book. It then introduces the thematic background of the resistance movements. In doing so, the book presents resistance fighters as potentially heroic characters who are heavily outmatched by their opponents, but also points out that this background includes sensitive issues of real war topics. Therefore, the usual security mechanisms at the gaming table, such as lines and veils, are also briefly introduced here. 

The first chapter provides a concise outline of the resistance movements during the World War 2. While the focus here is on France, Poland, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, but also Germany and Italy are referenced. In its condensed form, this chapter provides a quick overview of the respective resistance movements and their development, but mainly touches on names, a few dates, and some basic information. 

The following chapter on character creation is more detailed: With Assassin, Resistance Leader, Saboteur, and more, there are five new archetypes that can be combined with additional backgrounds and characteristics. In addition, there are further talents, so that the character options (including regular character creation) are generally expanded. Accordingly, the following chapter introduces new enemies and allies — both in the form of selected individual characters and archetype templates. 

Demons, which may only be manifestations of the mythos or possibly something else entirely, are given a special place here. These entities are also taken up in the magic chapter, which introduces the new magic school of Demonology with various spells. These can be used to summon demons or unleash demonic powers. 

There is also a chapter on equipment, which contains both everyday items and unusual, experimental equipment. To provide the game master with material, there are tables that can be used to roll dice and add details to missions. There are also five specific locations that can serve as a backdrop for missions, consisting of a hook, maps, and options for secondary objectives or complications. From a gala in a museum to an attack on a train station, these missions cover a broad spectrum. 

Vive la Résistance! primarily expands the character backgrounds with additional options and a slightly different style of play. In addition, Demonology adds an unusual branch of magic. Enemies, allies, and missions also provide the game master with a toolbox. Vive la Résistance! can also be a good addition to the game if you do not want to shift the focus to resistance movements but use the additional material for regular agents. In fact, the Resistance setting feels more removed from the Mythos and focuses more on the war theme, as the main focus here seems to be against the invaders and only secondarily against the Mythos. 

Opinions will also disagree on Demonology. On the one hand, this type of magic opens up more possibilities for the player characters, but on the other hand, classic demons do not fit in well with the cosmic horror of the Mythos. My impression here is that the intention was to give the resistance fighters a magical weapon without having to use the same corrupt Mythos powers as their opponents. I find this approach a bit black and white, also because the demons are portrayed purely as magical tools and not as corrupting evil. 

The characters are also portrayed in a somewhat clichéd way and, for example, like to make use of the image of the attractive young French woman (either heavily armed or as a femme fatale in an evening dress). 

Anyone who likes the new pulp approach of Achtung! Cthulhu will probably find these elements coherent, and also overlook the fact that the real oppression of the civilian population by fascist regimes during World War 2 is the subject of the game, which is certainly not for everyone's taste.

(Björn Lippold)