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 Georgian Era in the Regency Cthulhu book set in Georgian Britain between the years 1812 to 1830 when King George the Third went mad and his son the Prince Regent became the ruling monarch. Look out for a YouTube video here and a podcast episode!
It’s all about the haves and have nots
Unless you are an avid fan of Jane Austen novels or the various dramas based on the books, you may not know much about this niche period in British history. It might be easier then, to look twenty years earlier at the original French revolution for a comparison. Each had a monarch in power and the royal court lived in luxury as did you if you were connected to the palace. In very simplistic terms, the poor starved in France as food was diverted to the aristocracy but in Regency Britain farmers kept enough produce to feed themselves and supplied goods to the land owners which they exported for a greater profit. This business relationship kept the working class grateful to the upper class for the land and money they each enjoyed. Communities of towns and villages were places where the Lord and Lady of the manor as well as their families were respected thanks to the prosperity they brought to the area. Should two well to do families marry then that could be a great benefit to all so naturally the romantic engagements were watch by all. One wrong move though, one bad rumour or bad romance and all could be lost. Everyone was on their guard in a competitive game of reputation to try and outdo the others and get higher in society.
Behind the keyhole
The choice of investigator occupations for Regency Cthulhu split into these working class, middle class and upper class occupations. The Gentlefolk occupations have the money and the education to be excellent investigators however though they are very public figures their conduct will be noticed and their every move watched. The Middle Class or Noveu Riche occupations almost have the best of both worlds as they have money and education as well as having a practical side to them as they would be business owners and creatives. The working class occupations are probably more free to be able to work together for the good of the manor. An investigative party made up of the Maid, the Footman, Coach Driver and Game Keeper would be an excellent choice to investigate supernatural occurrences in the village.
Etiquette, Reputation all that’s in between
Character creation in Regency Cthulhu has two very important skills that should be the top of everyone’s list when making their investigator – Etiquette and Reputation. Etiquette starts with a base value based on a character’s intelligence so everyone has some knowledge of how they should conduct themselves in polite society. I would advise adding as much to this skill as possible as it applies to the lowliest servant or the highest gentry. Also next to this before be look at reputation, try to add as much to your credit rating as possible. Why? Because your Etiquette and Credit Rating are combined to create your Reputation score. I like Reputation as it adds a fun dynamic to the game as your reputation can be tested like a skill, but can also be lost just like a Sanity roll. The more you misbehave, the less Reputation you have, so it becomes harder for you to do investigations!
There are also a wealth of new Regency era skills to look at as well from Astronomy to Mesmerism. Two of particular note are Natural Philosophy and Reassure. The Regency era was before the emergence of sciences we commonly know today so in it’s place we have Natural Philosophy which look at how the world work from the wind blowing to why a finger bleeds when it is cut. So much was still unknown in the Regency period and Natural Philosophy was the first steps of understanding that would go onto become modern science. The Reassure skill is also there to represent the methods people of the era would use to calm those with a troubled mind AKA those who failed their San roll! A very useful skill for investigators of any age.
Try the punch, it’s rather nice…
Regency Cthulhu on the surface can seem to be an acquired taste but please don’t let that stop you enjoying a game as mysteries and the mythos pay no heed to social normities! If you want to play a Lord or Lady of the Manor then your character will benefit by knowing how regency society works but many characters in society didn’t mix in the gentry circles. I always like to think of a Game keeper investigator who “can’t be doing with the goings on with the folk at the manor” so just looks out for the wild life in the grounds and lives in a cottage by the lake until one night the lake starts to glow….