A Haunting in Arkham | All Are Welcome!
Explore and confront the dark secrets within the old Corbitt House as you hear... The Call of Cthulhu!
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Sunday - 8:00 PM UTC
Apr 26
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
With premade investigators waiting for you, you'll learn the ins and outs of the classic horror RPG, Call of Cthulhu! Players take on the role of investigators in the booming 1920s as you uncover the dark secrets that veil the world. Encounter supernatural sorcery, alien forces from beyond the stars, and intelligences of a scope undreamed! The Haunting is an introductory scenario set in 1920s Boston that introduces players and characters to the hidden horrors slinking at the corner of your vision. Players will use their wits, character skill, and no small amount of luck to root out the corruption that has driven previous tenants to delusion and violence! Use a limited number of flashbacks to gain insight on how this malignancy began and how it has marked those that came before you... Join with a fellow investigator for $5 off the session!
Game style
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Combat Lite
Theater of the Mind
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
24 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Creativity, Teacher
Average response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
I offer: 🏳️🌈 A welcoming, inclusive play style 🔥 Player-focused flair and action 🧭 Open-ended storytelling following player cues 🎭 In-game action, horror, awe, and comedy ⚖️ Settings with themes of justice and transformation 📆 Over a decade of game mastering experience 🖋️ Know-how with dozens of systems Even in the midst of death-defying adventure or bone-chilling horror, I aim to be a warm and welcoming game master. LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC players can expect respect at my tables. I've run games for children, seniors, and all ages in between. Safety tools such as the X Card are always part of my table. I suffuse hope, respect, and warmth into every session I run. That's why I go by the Gentle GM. At thirteen, three of us huddled around the Dungeons & Dragons 3e starter set, laughing at a natural 20 to breakdown a door with the fighter's head. In high school, I found the Call of Cthulhu rulebook and made investigators, still clueless how to actually play. In 2014 with the launch of D&D 5e and Call of Cthulhu 7e, I committed to running these games and an old love sparked brilliantly to life! I've since taught dozens their first TTRPG! I'm an inveterate game dabbler. If you're curious if I run a particular game, just ask! I'm up to the challenge to try something new you're excited to play. I run games full-time. You can expect preparation and dedication at my table. Local cafes and bars also host my game sessions and workshops. My newsletter and itch page also share game design reflections and projects. Images are used with permission from James' RPG Art, https://jamesrpgart.com.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Premade characters will be available for selection. To ensure that a variety of important skills are available to the party, outside characters aren't an option.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will need 1) Discord profile and to join the Gentle GM server 2) A mic and headphones (webcam is encouraged, but not required) 3) A computer to access the Foundry VTT server. Players can use physical dice if they prefer.
What Caleb | The Gentle GM brings to the table
I have a decade of Call of Cthulhu game mastering experience (or Keeper, as Call of Cthulhu GMs are called). This investigation offers creeping dread and clever investigation, while the system's luck and pushed rolls keep player decision-making central. I'm very familiar with this classic investigation, having run it several times. Foundry VTT also provides resources for dice rolling, handouts, ambient music, and more, giving you an immersive and bone-chilling remote gaming experience. I aim to bring NPCs to life with a touch of voiceacting and physical body language, not to mention a hint of cosplay. Horror games let me describe crawling shadows, grasping bony hands, and mind-shattering monstrosities. By incorporating a few modern investigative tools, this session will stick to the one shot format as the horror begins to hunt you!
Homebrew rules
Players will have a limited supply of flashbacks, discovering research when they have the question in the Corbitt House. A ticking clock also means dangers will build in real-time to help us stick with the one shot format. Players can also spend luck to make near misses into successes as per the Luck Spend optional rules. Call of Cthulhu employs dated language drawing from mental health. Characters will instead suffer stress fallout rather than "madness." It is not my aim to trivialize mental health or lighten the experience of trauma.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Headphones
Platforms used
Safety
How Caleb | The Gentle GM creates a safe table
Safety Tools are always part of my table and briefing on them is part of every one shot session. Commands in Discord will be observed, including: - X: X Card pauses play and creates a break. As your GM, I'll rewind or otherwise determine how best to return to the action. - Rw or Rewind: Rewind a scene that included content that you do not feel is appropriate. - Ff or Fastforward: Jump ahead to the next scene to bypass sensitive content. You can expect B-movie style action and horror, including gore and inexplicable poltergeist like events. Characters (both player characters and secondary characters) may exhibit signs of mental distress, trauma, and coping mechanisms. There will NOT be sexual assault, sexual abuse, or child death.
Content warnings
Safety tools used