There are places Masks of Nyarlathotep’s latest edition could have gone further in reinventing itself for a modern audience. This expansion to the story, as happened once before with the addition of the Australia chapter in the 1996 edition, was a commendable decision and shows the writers’ commitment to creating something suitable for new and old fans alike. This excellent introduction to the campaign is a welcome addition that introduces key themes and characters to tackle some of the criticisms that were made of previous editions of the campaign. The latest edition of Masks of Nyarlathotep expands on previous editions, offering a new prologue chapter set in Peru. With Masks of Nyarlathotep, an epic conclusion and a new mystery are always right around the corner. This diversity of content means that players that might usually get burned out or tired of a particular campaign or setting always have something new to look forward to. From investigating a dangerous beast terrorising a quaint English village to uncovering an ancient subterranean city in the Australian outback or navigating the political pressure cooker of 1920s Shanghai, every new locale in the campaign presents unique experiences for the players. What really elevates the campaign to be so uniquely successful is just how different each of these chapters are in theme and atmosphere. By having two ‘levels’ of investigation ongoing at all times, Masks of Nyarlathotep ensures that players are always rewarded with a short term payoff, while also making progress on a larger goal that takes the entire campaign to realise. Masks of Nyarlathotep ensures that players are always rewarded with a short term payoff, while also making progress on a larger goal.Īs the chapters progress and the players deal with the events of each location, they piece together the wider mystery of the campaign. Each chapter follows a similar structure of investigation, action and climax, before allowing the characters the time to rest and reflect as they move onto a new location and do it all over again. Image: ChaosiumĮach time the players arrive in a new location, there is new cult activity to investigate, new leads to follow and a new cast of characters to meet. Masks of Nyarlathotep provides plenty of opportunity to introduce physical props, some of which are included in the latest edition's fancy slipcase set. Whilst there is an overarching narrative and plot that build tension and stakes as the players make their way toward the conclusion, each chapter in Masks of Nyarlathotep acts as a mini-campaign in its own right. This structure is key to how Masks retains player attention.
The 1920s story originally unfolded over five chapters, with two additional chapters being added in subsequent editions.Įach of these chapters takes place in a different part of the world, as the players uncover and fight a global network of cults in service of the nefarious god Nyarlathotep.
Masks of Nyarlathotep was originally published in 1984 and has seen a number of revisions over the years, with the most recent incarnation released for Call of Cthulhu 7E in 2018. What they might not expect, however, is just how well the campaign manages to keep players’ attention over this time, working so masterfully to keep everyone hooked.Įach chapter in Masks of Nyarlathotep acts as a mini-campaign in its own right. Any GM starting Masks of Nyarlathotep will know that the campaign is notoriously long, with some groups playing for as long as two or three years. One campaign that avoids this is Chaosium’s critically acclaimed Masks of Nyarlathotep for Call of Cthulhu.
Almost everyone that’s played RPGs is familiar with the experience of a campaign burning out as the GM or players slowly lose their interest in the story. For many tabletop RPG creators, writing a campaign that can keep players hooked over an extended period of time is an immense challenge.
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