Call of Cthulhu: Amidst The Ancient Trees - Scenario Breakdown

[@creaturecarolyn]

I just played this scenario with my group and we had a lot of fun with it over two sessions.

[@KyleMaxwell]

Ran this last night in one session of 3 hours; I think a full 4-6 hours over two sessions would have let it breathe a bit more. I also relocated it in time and space to 1970s east Texas; this can really fit anywhere with lots of trees and lakes without missing a beat.

[@RPGNook]

Yeah that's pretty quick!

[@johncoffield2916]

Found this super helpful, especially as I Keeper for a group who can only commit 2 and a half hours at a time, so wanted to only split it into two. Chopped at changed around to allow for a good 'end of part 1' cliffhanger, built up horrible foreboding throughout, and they absolutely loved it. Thanks!

[@RPGNook]

Glad you got some use from it and you had a great time!

[@MrAndrewGil]

Funny how experiences can vary from group to group. I played this as my first CoC game ever. We had a small group and I took some time to let the investigators (funny enough) "investigate" prior to moving to the woods. Ofc, I also prepped the group for a horror/mystery section and tried to get the most out of music and ambience (using candles, for example). I made sure that they had some connection or ambition that could drive them to investigate, get the bounty but save the girl too (in our case, one of the characters was a close friend and the other was too ambitious to just get a bounty and move on). Our game lasted good 5 hours. They started by getting some info (the handouts) from the local newspaper archives (one of the investigators was a young journalist) and library (the other a librarian!). Then, they took some time to buy some equipment (including guns). I also used that time to set a NPC that would be accompanying them (tho, at first, I used him to poke the players into a 20s mindset, as he was a little "sexist" and they both were girls doing what many would say was a "man's job".) After getting them together as one of the rescue groups, we really had a blast. So many foreshadowing and suspicion. The dreams and encounters that eventually made most of their group disband. At the end, only the players and that NPC carried on. They came across all the horrors and the supposedly stronger NPC (who was a "hunter" looking to cash in) was saved by the librarian when they battle the crazy kidnapper. Finally, they decided to go all the way to save the girl and both the dad and kid that got captured. It was intense and we had fun. The NPC didn't make it, as a last action he blew the hole place up with himself. All the girls made back to town but really affected by the whole experience. I loved that when we began the sun was still up irl, and it was way into the evening when we finished, so that also contributed to the mood and setting. Both players loved the adventure and we are running Blackwater Creek. As for me, this adventure really got me into CoC. I'd just advice you to prep your players by both letting them know that it's a horror game (so they keep "outworldly" jokes out of it) and that it is a mystery game, thus they need to actively investigate the mystery. Otherwise, they are gonna just run away and it was going to awfully terrible! (that doesn't mean they just need to kill themselves, but that their character's need to "want" to take part to.) Great Review! Keep it up.

[@RPGNook]

That is a crazy journey for everyone. Glad it all worked out

[@oni0n853]

I ran this as mu first time being a keeper and we had a blast playing it, only it went south when they accidentally blew up half the party with dynamite and left the story without a real conclusion. Tho that is only my fault, i had to improvise alot of it.

[@RPGNook]

Explosion are often conclusions in Coc!

[@CheerfulPessimist686]

This is a fantastic breakdown. I'm prepping to run this as my first-ever scenario as Keeper and I wish I'd come here first thing. Your roadmap example is pure gold, thank you. Do you write CoC adventures, and where can I find them? Edit: Oh, you write for ASN! Hot damn, I've already been enjoying your work. You make great art! Thank you kindly!

[@RPGNook]

Thank you for the kind words! Yes I work with ASN! Glad you have enjoyed the show. I have a link to my scenairos in the description if you fancy checking them out. Cheers, Graeme.

[@CheerfulPessimist686]

@@RPGNook Cheers! Found, will scrutinize. :-)

[@bartlettbigx]

Very interesting and helpful. Thank you.

[@RPGNook]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@john-lenin]

MY phone isn't dead. I always carry an external battery pack.

[@CthulhununCagrs]

Perfect channel, good work!

[@RPGNook]

Thanks a lot!

[@CthulhununCagrs]

@@RPGNook we are playing Amidst the Ancient Trees too in our channel but in Turkish. 😊 A nice scenario to play.

[@trequor]

10/10/10 intro

[@CheerfulPessimist686]

I'm running this story as set in autumn, because 'deer hunting in summer' makes no sense to me. In a similar vein, I don't see hunters shooting at noises... Maybe the trigger happy pair are clueless urbanites? Wait, yes: Londoners visiting the U.S. Perfect.

[@RPGNook]

Good solution! US brits don't know much about hunts, pretty niche here. :)

[@CheerfulPessimist686]

@@RPGNook Often bemused how in the U.K. 'hunting' appears to be an activity reserved for the elite while here in the U.S. it's more identified with the lower classes. (At least actual hunting of wild game as distinct from blasting away at released farmed birds.) And that whole business of blundering around fields straggling after a mob of hounds? Surely it's the canines doing the hunting, not the horse-straddlers. What should it really be called? 'Dog-bothering'? 'Doggery'? Something like that...

[@RPGNook]

@@CheerfulPessimist686 Yeah dude, its all a bit mad! hahaha!

[@trequor]

You are wrong about horses. They are fantastic in the forest and are quite capable of climbing impressive slopes. Source: have done many days of mounted pack trips in the Rockies

[@CheerfulPessimist686]

The Keeper is always right. Attempting to notice / examine tracks on this terrain from atop a horse proves to be futile. Unlike in the breezy and dry Rockies, here in the boreal forest the clouds of mosquitoes and biting flies are driving the horses mad. The densely interwoven branches at ~10' height constantly slap riders in the face, threatening blindness. One of the horses slips on a muddy slope and is injured.

[@BergenholtzChannel]

This is helpful! (But you spelled Ancient wrong on your chart.)

[@RPGNook]

Its a feature with me! Welcome!