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Chaosium Digest Volume 27 Number 09
Chaosium Digest Volume 27, Number 9
Date: Sunday, March 14, 1999
Number: 1 of 3
Contents:
MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY: Life at the World's Scariest School, 1999
by R. J. Christen (CTHULHU NOW) pt 1 of 3
Editor's Note:
We've got some good stuff for you this week. A three part article on
good ole Miskatonic University in modern day. According to the author,
this was accepted and scheduled to run in GDW's Challenge magazine.
Unfortunately, it was scheduled for the one after the last published
issue. So now R. J. is willing to share with us. Enjoy the article and
keep those submissions coming!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
[************official 'advertisement' begins************]
When playing MYTHOS CCG (tm), Has THIS ever happened to you?:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
------
-----------
A darkened figure approaches the window, breathing menace (and GLOWING
too!)
"Ruh Roh, Raggy????? Rut's Rat????"
"Zoinks! Like RUN, Scoob!"
Meanwhile, a bespectacled Meddling Ally finds something of extreme
importance to the scene above....
"Jinkies! This looks like a clue!!!"
And in yet another portion of the Abandoned House, where two more
meddlers
are secluded away....
"Jeepers, Freddy..."
<ahem> "Looks like this Mystery is getting even MORE Mysterious by the
Minute!!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
------
What's the fuss all about, you ask?
Why not visit "Cthulhu, Where are You?:The Scooby Doo Expansion Set"
at
http://www.inzenity.com/sdmythos/
right now and find out for yourself?
That's right! Set 2 of the expansion is available for your enjoyment,
and
it's at a NEW HOME (so please, update your links and bookmarks!)
Over 90 cards to date, now including Adventures!
Please check it out....
and send any comments to
Corey Whitworth & Philip Robinson
scooby@inzenity.com
We'd Love to hear from you!!!
[disclaimer- this is NOT an official Chaosium product! Permission was
granted for use of card borders, however.]
[************official 'advertisement' ends************]
RECENT BOOKS OF NOTE:
>From Chaosium's R'lyeh Report.
For Call of Cthulhu Fiction:
Nightmare's Disciple - 6018, $14.95
Our first full-length Cthulhu Mythos novel contains a wealth of terror
and Lovecraftian flavor. By Joseph Pulver, Sr., this story tells the
tale of an insane cultist of the Mythos bent on freeing a monstrous
goddess from her imprisonment beyond the stars. Opposing him is a
detective searching for a twisted serial killer and a pair of
horror-store owners with a deep interest in music and the occult. The
story is set in the modern day, in a world where perhaps
H. P. Lovecraft is more prophetic than anyone dares believe. For
mature readers only. 416 pages. ISBN 1-56882-118-2.
For Pendragon:
Tales of Chivalry & Romance
GKP 2720, $13.95
The world of King Arthur Pendragon is filled with adventure, and here
are
some stunning examples to try yourself. Right wrongs, stand fast
against
terrifying ghosts and giants, unite lost lovers, or win the hand of a
beautiful maid yourself. The work of a knight is never done. A
Pendragon(TM) role-playing adventure supplement. ISBN 1-56882-143-3
For Pendragon:
Lordly Domains (reprint)
GKP 2719, $19.95
Lordly Domains details the privileges the nobility can expect and the
obligations demanded of them. Included are special rules for castle
construction, life of the noble class, and how they are supposed to
act.
Also included is an expanded economic table. A Pendragon(TM)
role-playing
adventure supplement. ISBN 1-56882-050-X
--------------------
MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY: Life at the World's Scariest School, 1999
A variant for "Cthulhu Now" PART 1 of 3
Along the banks of the mighty Miskatonic River in Arkham MA, a
prestigious university stands. But dark and mysterious forces pervade
this
school and the surrounding lands, and only brave investigators can
save
humanity from these minions of evil. The only question is; who's got
time to
be an Mythos Investigator these days?? The answer: Miskatonic
University
students, that's who!
THE STUDENTS OF MISKATONIC U.
It's a well known fact that most college students have loads of
free
time; otherwise there would be no pep rallies, rock bands, wild
parties, road
trips, alcoholic binges, soap operas, sleeping in late, or late-night
role-playing games. The modern college student, if curious and smart
enough and
allied with the right accomplices, can confront and (hopefully) defeat
the
sinister shadows of cosmic horror or silly, conniving con artists
("...and I
would have succeeded if not for you meddling kids!").
Miskatonic students have all the resources at hand to formulate
their
ideas into plans of action, particular those items found in the world
famous
Henry Armatage Library. The Miskatonic experience also provides
beginning Call
of Cthulhu player characters with more advanced skills and
personality. As in
Classic "Call of Cthulhu", there are two kinds of student
investigators; those
who do the snooping, and those who do the studying. Snoopers are
usually
Reporters from the MU newspaper, adventurous jocks, or Fantasy Gamers.
Study
types are the serious student scholars, avant' garde artsy types, or
Fantasy
Gamers (something about those darn gamers).
MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY STUDENT SKILLS
Admission to Miskatonic:
In order to even get into Miskatonic, a character needs: EDU=12+
for
admission; 13=Soph, 14=Jr, 15=Sr, 16+=Grad. Roll your Idea each year
for
success. OK, Athletes with EDU of 10+ can get in on scholarship, but
they have
to be pretty darn good on the playing field (Roll Luck instead).
Bonus Skill points for INT (INTx10) are devised as per "Call of
Cthulhu"
basic rules. These would represent pre-college skills and hobbies.
Classes & Academics:
All students each get 5 skill points in Library Use, 1d6pt in
Listen
(needed to understand what your aging prof is muttering), and 1d3 in
computer
(word processing) use per semester of study. A student- investigator
character's initial EDU skill points (EDUx20) are divided by choice in
the
following majors:
ANTHROPOLOGY/ARCHEOLOGY= Anthropology, Archeology, History, Library,
Persuasion, Navigate, Occult, Other Language.
ART: Anthropology, Art, History, Fast Talk, Photography, Persuasion,
Psychology, & Other Lang.
BUSINESS= Accounting, Bargain, Law, Library, Persuasion, Psychology,
Other
Language.
COMPUTER SCIENCE= Accounting, Computer, Electrical or Mechanical
Repair,
Electronics, & Spot Hidden. (Require yearly SAN Roll for dealing with
computers).
FOREIGN LANGUAGES= Persuasion, Psychology, Other Lang, & Art (Sing).
EDUCATION= Art, Computer, Library, Persuade, Psychology, 3 Academic
Skills.
(Require yearly SAN Roll for dealing with Brat kids)
ENGINEERING STUDIES= Computer, Electrical Repair, Electronics,
Geology, Mechanical Repair, Physics, & Spot Hidden.
HISTORY= Debate, History, Library, Law, Persuasion, Psychology, &
Other
Lang.
JOURNALISM/COMMUNICATION ARTS)= Bargain, Debate, Photography,
Psychology,
Sneak, Fast Talk OR Persuade, & any other Skill.
LIBERAL ARTS (English, Philosophy, Music, Minority Studies, etc) Art,
History, Persuasion, Psychology, Other Lang, & some academic Skill.
LIFE SCIENCES= Biology, Chemistry, Computer, Natural History, Latin,
Persuasion, Spot Hidden.
MEDIEVAL METAPHYSICS: Anthropology, Archeology, Dodge, Hide, Occult,
Psychology, Read/Write Latin, Sneak. 10pt Cthulhu Mythos per semester.
(Requires SAN Roll per semester as well)
NURSING: Anthropology, First Aid, Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, and
Any
Other Skill. (Requires yearly SAN roll for icky hospital stuff)
PHYSICAL SCIENCE= Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer, Geology, History,
Physics, German, & Spot Hidden.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Student Investigators who somehow manage to survive evil cultists,
slimy
monsters, and lord-knows-what year-to-year are eligible to advance in
skill
level as they advance towards graduation. Students must pass Two rolls
against
INTx6 (six) to pass each class. Add 1 pt to the initially rolled EDU
per
successful academic year (as dictated by the Keeper) and get 20
additional
points towards the skills in their major field. Player who wish to
change
their character's major also follow this procedure (if they survive as
well...). Those who continually change majors to avoid Gradation (and
thus the
"real World") can be classified in the two following Categories:
DILETTANTE STUDENT: Requires Credit Rating= 50+. Just take 5-7 skills
of
your choice per semester, 1 EDU pt per year, and have a beer.
PROFESSIONAL STUDENT. Requires EDU=20+. Take 1d6 of any 7-10 skills of
your
choice and subtract 10% from Credit Rating since this course of action
is
NOT what your parents wanted.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Every student at M.U. must take at least 1 and up to 4 Phys Ed
courses
per year in their four years of studies. Sure, for those studious
types this
is a drag; but when being chased by monstrous things, one may horribly
regret
forsaking PE classes for Music Appreciation. In any normal phys ed
class,
students can add 1d6 pts for Climb, Dodge, Jump, and Throw per course,
OR add
1pt to Dexterity or Constitution once per year. Taking the following
specialty
PE course adds the following skills per semester:
Weightlifting: 1pt of STR.
Boxing: 1d6 Fist.
Karate or Judo: 1d6 Martial Arts.
Archery: 1d6 Bow Use
Wrestling: 1d8 Grappling.
Fencing: 1d6 to the choice of Epee or Saber.
Trap Shooting: 1d6 Shotgun
"Physically challenged" students are exempt from the taking PE
classes, but
may take the shotgun, archery, or weightlifting classes. This
character
development can be done once per semester.
Students taking Army ROTC instead of regular PE can add the same
1d3
points in First Aid, Operate Hvy Machine, Make Maps, Sneak, & Track,
1d6 for
either Rifle or Pistol and 1Pt to Constitution. JR & SR ROTC cadets
are
legally obligated to four years of Regular or Reserve Army duty, but
then
again, who knows if an M1A1 tank might come in handy some day.
GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDIES
In order to enter Grad School, candidates must past an INT and
EDU Check
(i.e. your graduate Exam). Graduate students can add 1-2 points to EDU
per year
of grad school and take 20 points in their original field of study or
in
another. Miskatonic graduate programs also includes the following
advanced
degrees:
LAW (add 1-2 EDU/year & 25skill pts/semester): History, Law,
Persuade, &
Psychology. Requires minimum Latin Skill of 20.
MEDICAL (add 1-6 EDU/year & 30 Skill pts/semester): First Aid,
Medicine,
Pharmacy. Requires minimum Latin Skill of 30.
PSYCHIATRY (add 1-4 EDU/year & 25 Skill points/semester): Medical,
Pharmacy, Psychoanalysis, & Psychology. Requires minimum Latin Skill
of 20.
PHARMACY: (add 1-2 EDU & 30 Skill points/year): Medical, Pharmacy.
Requires minimum Latin Skill of 30.
Law Students have the opportunity to intern with the Essex county
Prosecutors office, often in the role of Defense Attorney. Medical
Students
must work at least 30 hours per week at the University Medical Center.
First
time Med Students must make an initial SAN check at 0/d6 SAN Loss for
all the
nasty sights one finds in a modern hospital, particularly
Miskatonic's. Future
Psychiatrists work in the Peaslee Psychological Clinic, where they
will meet
lots of crazed wack-os who have met with the forces of the mythos.
This will
provide ample opportunities to get started on new and bizarre
investigations.
As for the Pharmacy students, their studies provide ample opportunity
for
obtaining certain "supplies".
Graduate Assistants: The best way for graduate students to pay
for grad
school and get information & insights into the Mythos is by working
for
various academic departments and professors. A successful Luck Roll
will gain
the student investigator a paying job ($350 a month plus tuition),
access to
normally secured tomes and thesis, and either 1d6 Persuade (Teaching
Assistant) or 1d6 Library Use (Faculty Flunky) per semester. Each
academic
department hires 3-10 grad assistants and the Library hires between 10
and 20.
Senior assistants can also get a hold of the most valuable items on
campus;
keys for late night research and snooping around looking for clues,
restricted
materials, or what-ever.
End Part 1/2
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