The Lightless Beacon - Beginner Friendly

The Lightless Beacon - Beginner Friendly

Call of Cthulhu on Zoom, Theater of the Mind

Price per player-session

You will be charged when a session starts

$20.00

Information

  • Duration: 1.5 to 4 hours

  • Number of players: 2 to 6 players

  • Experience required: Beginner

Price per player-session

$20.00

About the adventure

In this scenario, investigators play the roles of unfortunate passengers on a ship heading for Rockport, Massachusetts, on Monday, April 12th, 1926, the night of the new moon. Due to a malfunction at the lighthouse on Beacon Island, their ship founders on nearby rocks, forcing the investigators to take to a small lifeboat and head to Beacon Island for refuge in the growing storm. Unfortunately, even greater dangers await them, as they stumble into a retrieval mission by deep one hybrids and their diabolical allies. Will the investigators survive to tell the tale of their findings or will they succumb to the watery threat that rises all around them? This scenario is designed for new players (though experienced players, who have not yet experienced this classic story are welcome to play, as well). As such, it can be run in as little as 1 hour, in a convention setting (though I have never managed to get it done in under two hours outside of a convention style rush). However, there is lots to enjoy in this setting, so a more leasurly exploration of the island, unraveling clues, and planning for survival can easily push this game to four hours.

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Additional Details

How to prepare

Players will need a camera and functional mic, to ensure clear communication. Please bring your own dice (physical or otherwise, but be aware that Call of Cthulhu uses the percentile dice, so plan accordingly). All necessary rules will be explained at the very beginning (usually less then twenty minutes), with any additional rules being touched on as the game progresses and they come up (chase scenes, temporary insanity, etc.).

What I provide

All games will be played over a digital format like zoom, and all digital assets (maps, pictures, etc.) will be shared over the group feed.

Gameplay details

Most roleplay will happen between the player characters only, as there is little in the way of intelligeable NPCs in this scenario. In addition, the highest probability for survival rests in cooperation. As such, expect there to be a little bit of bleed through in terms of out-of-character conversation and in-character conversation, necessitating sometimes in the need to preface whatever you don't want other characters to know or what you actively don't want your character to say out loud.

Content warnings

    (none)

Safety tools used

  • X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

Players will receive random character sheets designed to ensure that at least someone in the group will have the most vital skills for this game. Though character names, ages, and gender identity are up to the player.

Players can expect

  • Combat/Tactics: Medium

  • Roleplay: High

  • Puzzles: Low

  • Experience Level: Beginner

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