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Chaosium Digest Volume 13 Number 03
Chaosium Digest Volume 13, Number 3
Date: Sunday, March 3, 1996
Number: 1 of 3
Contents:
Announcement: Soleil Noir #1 (Ian Young) NEPHILIM
The Ooze Brother, Part One (Chris Hodgson) GHOSTBUSTERS
Editor's Note:
And now for something _completely_ different.
Following the good news on the publication of the first Nephilim
fanzine, you will find, in three parts, a terrific, funny adventure
involving Nazis, the Blues and Adolf Hitler's ghost. But, it's not for
Call of Cthulhu or Nephilim. Rather, it's an adventure for the
Ghostbusters RPG.
Ghostbusters in the Chaosium Digest? Wasn't that put out by West End
Games? Well, kind of. Although Ghostbusters was published by WEG, the
design was all Chaosium's. Pick up the original 1986 box, and you'll
see the Chaosium dragon. Opening the rulers reveals the Designers to
be Sandy Petersen and Lynn Willis, with Greg Stafford, and there's
that familiar dragon again.
Ghostbusters doesn't use BRP, but instead has a very unique system,
all its own. It's light on mechanics, but heavy on drama and fun.
Definitely worth a look, if you've never noticed this Chaosium
designed product before.
Shannon
(FRENCH) MAGAZINE SIGHTINGS
As always, thanks to Frederic Moll (fm10@calvanet.calvacom.fr) for
these French magazine sightings. If you know of any non-US
Chaosium-related releases or articles, please drop me a line!
* Call of Cthulhu - "Le jour des Lumieres", a four page scenerio,
Casus Belli #91; "L'affaire Dorgeroux", a 10 page scenerio for
Cthulhu by Gaslight in France, inspired by a novel of Maurice
Leblanc, Aspara #12
* Pendragon - "Les Cathares", a three page adaptation of the Cathars
for French Pendragon games, Aspara #12
RECENT BOOKS OF NOTE
* Pendragon - _The Skystone_ (Tor: Forge, $22.95), by Jack Whyte, is
another book in the Historical Arthurian vein. It's quite
interesting it that this, the first book in a six-part series,
starts two generations before Arthur, and tells the story of how the
old Roman empire fell in Britain, and what replaced it. The Skystone
was an easy and enjoyable read, and I look forward to the rest of
the series (although, given the normal publication rate of series, I
fear I won't see it all this millenium).
NEW ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
The Chaosium Digest FTP Site
ftp://ftp.csua.berkeley.edu/pub/chaosium
Not exactly new, but many of you have no doubt noticed that the
Chaosium Digest FTP site has been unavailable for the last few weeks.
It is finally back now, and has been updated with all the Digests up
to V13.2. You might also want to check out /pub/rpg-index on the same
machine, which has indexes for Different Worlds, lots of RQ fanzines,
Beaumains, and lots more.
--------------------
From: Brilliant Mistake <idyoung@az.com>
Subject: Announcement: Soleil Noir #1
System: Nephilim
SOLEIL NOIR, Ventures in the Occult
A magazine dedicated to the Nephilim role-playing game
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
We are pleased to announce that Soleil Noir #1 is now available for
sale. Soleil Noir is a magazine dedicated to publishing quality,
playable material for players of Chaosium's occult role-playing game,
Nephilim. In addition to publishing articles, new Metamorphoses, Past
Lives, Spells and an adventure in each issue, we include translations
from the orginal french Nephilim material from MultiSim. We at Soleil
Noir hope to encourage a rapport between the two versions of Nephilim
to benefit the players of both.
Soleil Noir #1 features the following articles:
Enigmas - A discussion of the first trump, The Magician
Les Mysteres - Translations from the MultiSim supplement
by the same name
The Sphinx - A new Metamorphosis
Past Lives - The Mediterranean, 10,000 BC; Granada, Spain
1492
The Emerald Tablet - The first two parts of an original
adventure set in North Africa
Origins - A comprehensive list and description of the Nephilim
products available from MultiSim
Subscriptions are available world-wide at the following rates:
- In Canada, Mexico and the US, $20.00 for four issues
- In Europe and the Western Hemisphere (excluding Canada,
Mexico and the US), $28.00 for four issues
- In Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim, $32.00 for four
issues
All figures are in US Dollars and include all postage. Payment must
be made in advance and in US funds only, please. In the US, payment
may be made by check or money order made payable to "Soleil Noir".
For orders outside the US, payment may be made by certified check or
money order, or by check drawn on a US account. Another option for
foreign subscribers is to send cash in US currency via certified mail.
While this may seem un-orthodox, it is effective and avoids the high
cost of foreign money orders, and the postal certification will also
serve as a receipt for the subscriber. Subscriptions should be sent
to:
Soleil Noir
P.O. Box 272
Bellingham WA 98227-0272
USA
Please include a complete address where you wish to receive your
subscription.
Paul McRandle and Ian Young
Soleil Noir, Ventures in the Occult
Email: idyoung@az.com
--------------------
From: Chris Hodgson <chris@castlelink.co.uk>
Subject: The Ooze Brothers, Part One
System: Ghostbusters
TEN YEARS LATER NOTES
The eighties arrival is here; and you saw it first on Chaosium Digest!
To me, Ghostbusters the Role Playing Game was the best send up of role
playing I had ever seen. So much so, that it did hamper the
playability of the game itself. The rules were a joke. Often
literally. At the same time, the general philosophy of "Keep the game
moving and ignore everything else" destroyed my belief in good game
design but improved my GMing skills 100%. Recomended for anyone taking
the whole thing too seriously.
This scenerio is very much in the mindset of the game, which actually
is more DUMB and DUMBER than either GHOSTBUSTERS or the THE BLUES
BROTHERS, and since it was written by a Brit, some pythonisms did find
their way in also. It should ideally be played at the end of a long
campaign, and the session should be liberally lubed with beer...
The amount of obvious connections between GB and BB are best left to
devotees of Saturday Night Live (we didn't get to see it over here),
but you may wish to know that Bill Murray's part in Ghostbusters was
originally to be played by John Belushi.
Still sadly missed.
******************************************************************************
"Its 150 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a packet
of cigarettes, it's daylight and we're wearing Ecto-goggles"
THE OOZE BROTHERS
A scenario based on A Famous Film Concerning Blues Musicians
For Ghostbusters International (and AD&D)
by Chris Hodgson
Playtested by
Guy Robinson Chris Messer Richard Price Dave Lermit Suzzana Raymond
NOTE
Because of the somewhat epic nature of the climax, this scenario is
best played at the end of a long campaign. All those vengeful NPCs
from previous encounters can add to the impact of the adventure.
Perhaps the persecuted victims of your players' previous exploits have
grouped together in a sort of self-help group and moved to the quiet
town of Landisburg to try and forget their collective trauma. Perhaps
the've been biding their time and listening intently to police
broadcasts for months. This could be the emotional, cathartic,
reconciliation rabid enemies need to become balanced members of
society again.
Or maybe not.
PART 1: THE PROMOTIONAL TOUR
For some reason, Mr. Tully has rewarded you with some PR work a long
way from New York. Away from the grime and business of the Big Apple!
Away from the grim weather! Away from the unpredictable natives! Yes!
Its a promotional visit of... Chicago.
So far, the Chicago media hasn't treated you with much respect. The
last news report on you came shortly after Nemo the Scuba Diving
Badger.
So, it has been hell all week. Living uncomfortably on GBI expenses at
the Chicago Hilton, the players have had to deal with non-existent
reporters and an inexhaustible room service. But, no worries. It's
Friday. They will just have to make a fresh start on the Monday.
HEDONISM NOTE: An entire week dodging responsibility in the Imperial
suite at the Hilton could be a scenario in itself. The Hilton also has
a very strict policy on pets for instance (Possibly not strict enough,
but more about Sparky the Wonder Dog later). If crazed guerilla
warfare with the furnishings does break out, don't forget the crabby
neighbour across the hall who needs his sleep (See the Superbowl
warm-up in the film "Where the Buffalo Roam").
FRIDAY. MAY 30th. 21:00
Assuming they haven't destroyed it, a man visits the player's room.
FATHER CHARLES
BRAINS 3 Remember blues numbers 6
COOL 6 Bargain 9
MOVES 3 Play Keyboard 7
MUSCLE 2 Bash Bible 5
Goal: Serve Humanity
Distinctive Mannerisms: Blind, but with a Jedi-like awareness.
Father Charles has been helped out before by Venkman's gang. Just
before the Zuul problem, Winston and Ray rid his hotel room of a Class
1 repeater. Since then, he has provided certain unnamed materials for
GBI. But, he needs help again, and this time on his own turf. The
Sesame St. Orphanage for Ugly Children which he helps run for the
church, has had a terrible week. On Monday, they received a court
order to pay $50000 in taxes by June 1st or have the place closed
down. But, this isn't even the real tragedy.
If the church would let them (which it won't) they could try and sell
THE BLACK POTTERY MADONNA OF ST. TESCOE, An Object of Great Occult
Significance, which is the orphanages' most prized possession. But
even this impossible option is not open to them, as the Madonna was
stolen Wednesday night! The police (who are on "the take"), not
believing anything that valuable would be kept in the orphanage, and
fearing some publicity stunt to stop the orphanage from closing, have
invoked the Hitchcock clause and will not interfere.
Father Charles believes the Madonna could be extremely dangerous in
the wrong hands and asks the players to find and return it for the
good of their souls.
Now, since the Ghostbusters are not being offered any money at all,
and this is not strictly kicking spectres, they might refuse. If they
do, a bright light will shine down through the gaping hole where the
windows were and the players will immediately get the feeling of a
divine presence. Before they get a chance to Vape the Holy Spirit,
they should realize that this assignment is no less than A MISSION
FROM GOD. By accepting this they will no doubt receive supernatural
assistance now and in the future. They should be suitably awestruck.
Stress to the players that this assignment should not be refused
unless they want to see the top of the Ghost Dice a lot more often. If
threats don't work, beg. If that doesn't work, halt the game, and
present them with a large case of beer (Player Aid #1). It will make
them more contemplative and they'll need it later.
Father Charles urges haste; if the Madonna can be recovered before the
orphanage closes, he can try and ask permission of the Pope to sell it
to a museum. He might also hint that this item could be very dangerous
in the wrong hands.
If they fail BRAINS rolls, Father Charles suggests they start looking
for clues at the Orphanage.
Luckily the players have an entire ectomobile full of new, untested
equipment with them. Among the devastatingly expensive pieces of
Spengler Science they have been asked to wave at the Chicago Media
are:
***********************
NEW EQUIPMENT FOR GHOSTBUSTERS
EGES (Ectomobile Ghost Engagement System)
This allows operators to engage and capture ghosts from within the
Ectomobile itself! Ray had only just finished installing it before
Venkman ordered the players to Chicago. It is completely untested,
possibly dangerous and looks flashy, BUT YOU ARE NOT TO USE IT. It
consists of:
The Ghost Trap Mortar
Turret mounted on the roof and operated from within the ectomobile by
an Ghostbuster using Moves; this can fire a ghosttrap out to a
distance of 40 feet! (Sadly it will not take the connecting wire with
it, making it useless as anything but a one shot launcher of broken
Ghost Traps.)
Sonic Transmission of Ectopresence Reduction, Ectomobile Operated
(STEREO)
This chaotic masterpiece is centred around a 21st century grammar
phone funnel mounted on the turret next to the mortar. More surround
sound artillery is spotted about the roof. It is intended to weaken
and paralyse any apparition short of a Metaspectre; this device is a
doomed experiment in anti-ghost sonics. It requires one operator using
Brains (!).
Once activated, there is one deafening whine of feedback and then a
doom laden pause before the Apocalyptic sound of Tom Jones's "It's Not
Unusual" is launched in a earsplitting barrage of sound from the car
in the vague direction of wherever the turret happens to be pointing.
A difficult Brains roll is required to prevent vaporizing any windows
in that vicinity and a Very Difficult roll is required to turn it off.
A Ghost Result will result in temporary deafness for the operator
(role play with hand signals for a game day) and terrifying electrical
feed back running through the ectomobile which could have any kind of
effect ("Congratulations... you have decided to clean the car...").
Egon effectively deduced that this particular sonic wave played at
very high volume resulted in deep, paralytic shock in most spirits.
The fact that it has a similar effect on anything sentient never
occurred. If, as a GM, you cannot obtain a copy of this sanity
crushing sound then anything in a similar vein will do. (Barry
Manilow, ABBA). Players might want to play their own music but this
requires a Very Difficult Brains Roll to rebuild it, assuming it still
works. Perhaps a secondary, morale boosting music selection exists
with a choice of "Ride of the Valkyrie" (topical) or the theme from
Mission Impossible (tragic).
Whatever it is, play it loud.
Other stuff:
The Machine That Goes Ping
A large red box with red flashing lights mounted behind the driver.
The ultimate in flashy hardware, all it actually seems to do is go
"PING!" at completely random intervals (though a large red "Manual"
button can give one ping on order). And, it cannot be turned off or
tampered with, as it seem to be almost indestructible. Sonar? No.
Psychological Infuriator? Possibly. Egon Spengler's only answer is
that it's very expensive and he's working on a man portable version.
All Terrain Spirit Pursuit Vehicle (A.T.S.P.V.)
Ray's contribution. A Space Hopper. Comes in a flashy flat, black box
with the name and "A.T.S.P.V.-IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY" on the top in
evil letters. As the box is opened, the contents inflate immediately.
*****************
An added technical problem in this scenario is the lack of a
containment grid. In our campaign, a ghost trap will only hold a weak
ghost for 24 hours, and if the nearest containment grid is in New
York, this can make for an interesting epilogue to the scenario. The
players also have at their disposal anything they can rip off from the
hotel (fending off a demon with towels and soap will get extra Brownie
points) and a wide range of interesting but tacky local souvenirs.
Lucky concrete overshoes for instance.
Arcane Research.
Whichever ghost tome the players have will tell them this about the
missing object after an easy brains roll:
"Made by Dario Tescoe, the patron Saint of Mass Produced Artifacts and
Strange But Lovable Children, in Genoa in 1791, the BLACK POTTERY
MADONNA is one of the great misused Christian artifacts. Charged with
spiritual power it was intended for use by missionaries to help the
case of good heathens in hell.
"Used in a ceremony over the heathen grave, it reputedly proved to
heathen relatives that god even cared for ignorant savages in the
netherworld, even if they went to hell anyway. Unfortunately, the
Madonna fell into the wrong hands and became linked with ceremonies
bringing spirits back from the spirit world. According to legend,
these attempts nearly always failed to produce the desired result,
possibly because of the contrived nature of the ritual, which can only
effectively be performed each year, at midnight on the 31st of May.
PLEASE REFER TO 2ND EDITION ERRATA SHEET."
Yes, this occult book has an errata sheet. Feel free to keep them in
suspense for a while by having them find it later or have them leave
it in New York. It is significant.
Honest.
"FURTHER NOTES ON THE BLACK POTTERY MADONNA
"A recent study of one of the rituals performed in Haiti in 1923 has
suggested that the whole ceremony and perhaps the item itself is
flawed in some way. (Later descriptions of the Madonnas weight do not
co-incide with earlier testimony, suggesting clever fakes may also
exist.)
"One account of a failed resurrection ceremony describes how the
Madonna succeeded only in returning the spirit to the sacrificial
component of the spell shortly before she was killed. At least 20
different resurrection spells are known to have been written for the
Madonna, using pacts with the Great Old Ones SHUG BUBBLEBATH and YEUCH
SAUSAGE."
Bad news huh ?
--------------------
The Chaosium Digest is an unofficial electronic 'zine about Chaosium's
Games. In no way should it be considered representative of the views
or beliefs of Chaosium Inc. To submit an article, subscribe or
unsubscribe, mail to: appel@erzo.org. The old digests are archived on
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