Unravel the Mystery of Blackwater Creek | Start to play Cthulhu!

Unravel the Mystery of Blackwater Creek | Start to play Cthulhu!

Something's happening at Blackwater Creek. Strange people are spotted in the woods. Folks are going missing. And you're the next to arrive.

TYPE

One-Shot

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$16.00

/ Session

Details

Once / Tuesday - 1:00 AM UTC

Nov 11

Session Duration / 3–4 hours

0 / 5 Seats Filled

Report Adventure

Money Back Guarantee

StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee

If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy

About the adventure

Blackwater Creek is the perfect place to start your Call of Cthluhu journey! It's a short but sweet horror mystery you won't easily forget. Become either a bootlegger or a scholar on the edge of society, and find out what's happening in this murky backwater Massachusetts town. Whether you've just started or want to refresh your skills after being away from the game, I've got you covered. There are plenty of opportunities to learn and make mistakes while diving right into all the great creepy situations Cthulhu offers.

Game style

Puzzle / Mystery Focused

Roleplay Heavy

Combat Lite

Meet the Game Master
DMs Guild Writer
Neurodivergent
Published Writer
Game Designer

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Sets the Mood, Creativity, Storytelling

About me

As a DM/GM of 8 years and a well-reviewed RPG writer, I'm excited to bring my skills to your (virtual) gaming table! You can take a look at some of my writing here: https://ryanswriter.carrd.co In terms of how I run a game, I try to be flexible to my players' needs. I've run dry, serious, and gory Curse of Strahd campaigns, and goofy, joke-filled, breezy Star Wars campaigns. I tend towards the "spirit of the rules" more than "the letter of the rules". I enjoy collaborating with players to build the world and keeping a spirit of lightness OOC. If you're on the fence about booking a session, I can get you in touch with a number of happy players who would be glad to vouch for me! Here are some other things to keep in mind! I lead groups of 2-6 players through each session. Each new campaign or game setting requires a mandatory session 0 before play can begin; to set expectations, familiarize ourselves with each other and the setting, and talk about safe playing practices. I strongly prefer to use the Foundry or Roll20 VTT. Tell me ASAP if you do not. I reserve the right to end a session without refund if I or any other player feels unsafe or abused at the hands of the group.

View Profile →
Character creation

Creating your character

Each player will need to make a starting-level character. You are free to decide your stats through your favorite official means. You may start with up to 5% Cthulhu Mythos. You may use any official book but no homebrews that mechanically affect the game, please.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

You will need to create your character ahead of time, and if we have chosen to use Roll20, you will need an active account on that site. You will need to have a working microphone of decent quality. You will need to have an understanding of the basics of Call of Cthluhu rules; although if you request it we can have a special learning session.

What Ryan Sargent brings to the table

Access to Foundry VTT, character voices, ambient music, and essential game rules are all included. I lean towards following the spirit of the rules more than the letter, and I like letting my players create cool moments even if they're not quite allowed in strict gameplay. In fact, collaboration in general is huge. I encourage and delight in players bringing their own touch to the story so long as they don't steamroll the other participants. OOC, I enjoy a spirit of lightness and crack jokes fairly often. I believe I am flexible with a wide range of perspectives and approaches to RPGs. I try to match your energy. That said, I am a fervent egalitarian so if you fear the so-called "woke mind virus" look elsewhere.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How Ryan Sargent creates a safe table

Blackwater Creek is an involving horror tale and doesn't need to be uber-graphic, but ultimately lots of terrible things have happened and will happen in this Lovecraftian world. It takes place in the real world, in the 1920s. I don't use major slurs, and I certainly don't sympathize with the oppressors. However, this is a grounded world, and some degree of real-world prejudice is irrevocably present in the story. I will briefly explain the use of Lines and Veils prior to any gameplay. The experience also includes one 8-10 minute break around the 2-hour mark.

Content warnings

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions