Hello and Welcome to Roll4Sanity where we become mythos investigators in the world of ‘Call of Cthulhu.’ Over the next few blog entries we’re going to take a look at all the time periods that have given rise to a Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition game supplement. This month we’ll be looking at the era of the “Wild West” in the Down Darker Trails book set in 19th century America. Look out for a YouTube video here and a podcast episode!
Cowboys and (American) Indians?
Now not being American, my 19th century history lessons where more appropriate for the Cthulhu by Gaslight era so just like most of my knowledge of American culture comes from The Simpsons, my early knowledge of the old west comes from the various Cowboy movies, the Lone Ranger and of course Champion the wonder horse! I wouldn’t expect to find much mystery and adventure in the one horse town beset by outlaws and hoodlums harassing patrons of the local saloon. But when you listen to a good singer perform the song Ghost Riders in the Sky, you can listen to the words for the mystery that the frontier held in it’s vast landscapes under the blanket of the every watchful stars. Horror stories tend to isolate and take away the comfort the characters hold dear. This era is about pushing into the unknown with meagre resources, the promise of harsh conditions and lonely death for those who are careless.
Not just a Gold Rush
The choice of investigator occupations to become could be seen as similar to Cthulhu Dark ages with occupations being a function of the community. The farmers provide the produce to the merchants who sell it to the prospectors out to stake their claim whilst officers of the law protect good towns folk and the preachers from snake oil sales folk and robbers. Any one of these can turn to their neighbour for help or tell a story down the saloon that can peak the interest of someone willing to make a few dollars by going somewhere they probably shouldn’t. It is simpler times with rudimentary communication and law enforcement but there are larger organisations to keep people in check. Remember the large railway companies racing across the country towards each other along with telegraph companies and an early postal service.
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Character creation in Down Darker Trails is pretty much identical to ‘classic’ Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition character creation with the a few additional skills such as Drive Cart/Wagon for when you need to jump behind the reigns of a bunch of horses to steer them away from the inexplicable cliff in the middle of the high plain! Gambling make an appearance and the very fun Rope Use which I would recommend that if you have / take this skill then have some fun with it. Skill of 70% and you’re practically a lasso master able to use a rope like a whip, to entrap things as well as bonus dice for Climbing skills. Down Darker Trails has a very health equipment list which is good to browse through so you can get to know the variety of six shooters and gear you’ll need. Interestingly there is some optional rule that seem to be drawn from Pulp! Cthulhu so for hit points be wary if your Down Darker Trails Keeper tells you to add CON and SIZ together and dividing the total by five instead of ten – might mean the adventure is going to be tough!
Don’t punch the Cougar…
Down Darker Trails is a great era in which to play as the simple lives of the investigator can be turned upside down very easily by the mythos that they encounter. If you can stay sane enough, there is a very good chance that you’ll have a legitimate reason to not only to have dynamite but also hurl a whole bunch of it down a cave to escape what ever is chasing you! But even though you may be able to lift up a horse and scale a cliff face with ease… don’t try and punch out the cougar!