Impostor Syndrome! A Modern-Day Call of Cthulhu Adventure on the Set of a Sitcom!

About the adventure

You’re a struggling actor in the Hollywood/LA area and your agent has just informed you of a new opportunity in the form of a sitcom pilot. To your surprise and delight, you are offered the part of one of the main cast members and accept. The studio explains to you that the show they’re working on, “Impostor Syndrome,” was created after they did some polling research that indicated that viewers between 25 an 40 would be open to a sitcoms with a more retro 90’s feel to it as an element of camp. Therefore, Impostor Syndrome is a late 90s-early 2000s style sitcom targeting Millennials as its audience. You’ve stayed up all night rehearsing your lines and dreaming of where this career move could take you, and you arrive on set bright and early at 6AM. But something feels off about Lenore Abernathy, your co-star. She does a great job when she’s on camera, but as soon as the director yells “cut” she makes a beeline for her dressing room. None of you have been able to have a face-to-face conversation with her, and you don’t know of anyone who has. As you rehearse your scenes for the first day of filming, it becomes clearer and clearer that something is very wrong with this production… “Impostor Syndrome” is my own home brewed Call of Cthulhu one-shot adventure that heavily prioritizes role play and investigation and is set in the present day. Player characters are pre-generated (I KNOW but hear me out… I put a lot of work into them) and are actors who themselves are playing roles on the sitcom. As a proviso, the adventure will encompass two scenes in which you will be reading lines in character. If you like I can send these “scripts” to you beforehand, but if you have anxiety about acting or performance then this may not be the adventure for you. I’m hoping to find players that will really engage with their characters and with the story, so if this interests you please reach out!

Additional Details

How to prepare

Players will probably benefit from lightly researching Call of Cthulhu’s game mechanics if they’ve never played before and should expect to perform in character.

What I provide

I will be using my own dice, but I don’t mind if players use physical or virtual dice.

Gameplay details

I will be conducting this one-shot through Zoom using theater of the mind (I may use images here and there but for the most part will describe what is happening). Players are welcome to join with just audio or use video too if they’re comfortable doing so. I am more than happy to help out players who are new to Call of Cthulhu and guide them through the rules. Although this game will not tackle any “adult themes” too heavily, I am asking that players be over 18 for it.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

(none)

How will character creation work

Characters are pre-generated. I’ll give the player a selection if they are accepted into the game.

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.