I have played C0C off and on since it debuted in 1981, as a player and as a GM.  The last edition I used was 3rd, so it has been a while.  I have had the urge to run some again either face to face, or online, or both.

I just got back from Origins Game Fair where I picked up the newest edition of CoC and also picked up some Trail of Cthulhu materials.

While I love the concept of Call of Cthulhu, the rules themselves have never impressed all that much.  I have heard good things about the GUMSHOE system, which is at the heard of ToC and their material looked excellent whether I end up using COC or TOC.

I would welcome some input from people who have played ToC or both.
This message was last updated by a moderator, as it was the wrong forum, at 21:05, Mon 17 June 2019.

In reply to Boomcoach (msg # 1):

I've played and run both systems, though a lot more CoC than ToC. I find both enjoyable for doing investigative horror stories, bot from a GM and a player viewpoint.

My preference will always be CoC. I find the mechanics simpler and more accessible for new comers, though the most recent edition (7e) has added a lot more crunch and chrome. Also, I'm not a big fan of resource management systems.

The one problem that ToC purports to solve --stories being brought to a grinding halt by missed rolls-- is more a problem with the GM than with the CoC system. IMO

Especially for PbP, I find (pre-7ed) CoC to be much better mechanically.

Thanks for the input.  I see what you mean about resource management in ToC.

I have played in one 7th edition CoC adventure (2 sessions) and didn't really see much difference besides the one-half and one-fifth skill points, which isn't much difference than adjusting the difficulty of the roll in previous editions, which I often did as a GM.  I haven't read through 7th edition yet, so I will see.

CoC 7 offers a few additional mechanics that you might look into as you read through it. These are the main ones that come to mind:

• Players "push" a roll, for higher stakes if failure is repeated
• Players can spend their Luck (it can later be regenerated)
• Bonus/penalty dice can be applied, letting or forcing the player to roll an additional number of tens place dice (up to two). This is another on the fly difficulty adjustment measure, somewhat similar to advantage/disadvantage from D&D5e.

I had a ToC rulebook, but I sold it... I just couldn't wrap my head around these clue-finding and investigating rules. Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I found them complicating matters instead of solving them.

I really do like CoC 7E - it addresses some problem I've had with the previous editions (like lack of scalable difficulty for skill checks). The one thing I didn't like were the new insanity rules... somehow, I liked the old rules better.

As we're speaking of CoC and derivative games... do you guys know Realms of Cthulhu for Savage Worlds?

I've heard of Realms of Cthulhu but have never run it. Given that it is Savage Worlds, I would imagine that it would play more on the pulpy end of the spectrum, which is fine by me. I'd love to see how it works in practice.

Been off since Call of Cthulhu rulebook was the white soft booklet with the blue Cthulhu on it (a negative of a picture), I still agree that every 'anew reading' of Chaosium's rules convinced me they were so focused on business that they actually never developed themselves into experienced roleplayers.

On ToC, I really LOVED the artwork, the enthusiam, and some ideas. The overall system was still so artificial that I could easily envisions gaming sessions paused for 30 to 180 minutes due to a mere random encounter plus the players attempts to prevail and roleplay their own way.

I used the WoD Mortals system, though that was personal convenience, again no atmospheric efficiency.   ;-)

Bonus: The idea has potential, but it lacks what programmers would call a full patching. http://www.ffproject.com/bodies.htm

And to get into the mood: http://www.19nocturneboulevard...Dunwich/Dunwich1.htm

Have a nice weekend!

That sounds like 2nd edition.

In reply to Gaffer (msg # 8):

Yep, good chance. Thank you. Around 22 years ago our roleplaying groups faltered due to extremely important, scientific issues (colliding ego clashes).   ;)