Shadows Over Arkham — A Call of Cthulhu PbP Campaign
A Play-by-Post Call of Cthulhu campaign where investigators unravel impossible mysteries one clue at a time—alone, together, or be lost to madness.
$12.00
/ Session
Details
Play by Post (Asynchronous)
Billed Weekly / Tuesday - 6:00 PM UTC
Feb 17 / Session 6
Session Duration / 1–2 hours
2 / 10 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
2/10
About the adventure
📜 Shadows Over Arkham is a persistent, narrative-focused Play-by-Post Call of Cthulhu 7e campaign that blends investigation, psychological horror, and slow-burn mystery across a living world that evolves with every clue you uncover. Play unfolds asynchronously in text form, allowing you to dive into atmospheric scenes, explore eerie locations, interrogate suspects, decipher forbidden tomes, and descend into the heart of cosmic dread—all at your own pace. Each investigator maintains their own threads and choices, with opportunities for group scenes when your paths intersect. Every clue, failure, success, and brush with the uncanny shapes the overarching mystery. This is a story where knowledge is dangerous, sanity is fragile, and the truth is worse than you imagine. Whether it’s a haunted estate, a vanishing town, a strange artifact, or a conspiracy that spans continents—your decisions will determine who survives…and who breaks. 🔮Tone & Themes Slow-burn cosmic horror Mystery & occult investigation Psychological tension Paranoia & unreliable reality Isolation and interconnected dread Secrets older than humanity “Knowledge is a curse”
Game style
Play By Post
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(13)
3 years on StartPlaying
229 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Knows the Rules
Average response time: 8 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hello. Welcome to my table... I am a game master with over 2 decades worth of experience running games of various systems, settings, and genres. Everyone is welcome at my table! I love that roleplaying games engage imagination and improvisation in both the players and the GM. I craft unforgettable tabletop experiences steeped in darkness, mystery, and high-stakes storytelling. Whether unraveling ancient conspiracies, surviving apocalyptic horrors, or battling cosmic forces, I lead players through worlds where danger lurks in every shadow. I thrive on making stories with the characters. I am known to improvise very well with whatever the characters want to do and give consequences when appropriate. I don’t seek to kill characters, but I also don’t like to hold punches in combat. I cater my style based on the game and setting we are playing. I have a physical condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC for short) that limits strength and mobility in my appendages, so my mind and imagination are my biggest assets. I love telling a story and being part of the creative process for others’ creativity!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
📘What You Need to Play No prior experience required A Discord account A Roll20 account Ability to post 1–2 times daily (or 5× weekly) Interest in atmospheric, story-driven horror 📚 Session Zero / Onboarding Description Every new investigator receives: A personal “origin hook” tied to the first mystery A list of 2–3 NPCs they already know A tailored psychological profile prompt A starting clue or omen unique to them A choice of three “Inciting Incidents” to kick off their story Players can join at any chapter break. 🧠What Players Will Experience Atmospheric mystery, occult investigation, and creeping dread Hand-crafted case files and clues delivered through PbP Parallel solo threads AND collaborative group arcs Skill-driven gameplay with spot rules for PbP speed Sanity-focused storytelling with meaningful consequences Opportunities for long-running campaigns or episodic “Cases” Ability to investigate at your own pace A reactive world that changes as you make discoveries
What to expect
Preparing for the session
📘What You Need to Play No prior experience required A Discord account A Roll20 account Ability to post 1–2 times daily (or 5× weekly) Interest in atmospheric, story-driven horror
What Colwyn brings to the table
🧵My GM Style I run Call of Cthulhu with a strong emphasis on atmosphere, investigation, character psychology, and the creeping dread that defines Lovecraftian horror. I use props, case files, handouts, newspaper clippings, photos, audio logs, and clues delivered directly in-game. PbP allows deeper writing and introspection than tabletop—this chronicle uses that to its full advantage. Expect: slow-building tension layered mysteries immersive scenes rich sensory detail meaningful consequences and a world that remembers what you’ve done You will never feel lost or sidelined—every investigator gets individualized attention. 💸Pricing $12 per week per player. For special events, or if characters request collaboration, an optional supplemental voice session is offered for $10/person. This is an ongoing subscription PbP campaign with weekly billing through StartPlaying. Cases and chapters range from 4–10 weeks each, with the option to continue your investigator or retire them after each arc.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer or Mobile Device
Platforms used
Safety
How Colwyn creates a safe table
We will go over any safety details during your session 0/character creation.
Content warnings
Safety tools used