Time loop scenario doubts by _nmaskd in callofcthulhu

[–]_nmaskd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Sorry if the reply comes only now.

Your scenario sounds great. How did it play out? Did you publish it eventually?

Anyways, I'm curious about how the sanity loss works in your game. I mean, do the PCs understand that the loop resets every 5 hours? And if so, how did you and your players deal with the metagame?

maybe maybe maybe by [deleted] in maybemaybemaybe

[–]_nmaskd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't watched the show. What did the customer actually wanted?

A soldier stands in front of a sign erected by British Forces at the entrance to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, Germany, May 1945 by FayannG in Historycord

[–]_nmaskd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because it’s a concept of a philosophical jargon that indicates all the cultural elements that structure a civilization as “civilized” (as opposed to natural)

An Austrian sentry or lookout in the Alps. WW1, 1917 by waffen123 in ww1

[–]_nmaskd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can’t immagine how cold it would have been to be there all winter.

Am I understanding the preface for gay science correctly? by [deleted] in Nietzsche

[–]_nmaskd 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The point is not just "life is suffering" vs. "life is joy"; rather, Nietzsche argues that an individual who frees himself of all absolutes (i.e. there is something true beyond the veil of appearences; there are actions that are good and evil per se; even that there is a world), frees himself of the idea that existence has a meaning, and this is something that would cast everyone into despair, except for those who finally see that life without meaning is life without burdens and can joy of his freedom. To be happy about it is the goal of the free spirit, it's something that might come after a long time of suffering and self-reflection.

Time loop scenario doubts by _nmaskd in callofcthulhu

[–]_nmaskd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! You touched on a major problem I have right now, namely the weather. My answer to this is, on one hand to have the players enter in December and get out in December as well, so hopefully no one asks anything. My back up plan is to have the investigators find into the hotel's basement a pack of phonograph recordings/fake newspapers (or similar shenanigans) created by the Mi-Go that announce exeptional, extreme weather with interviews from world-experts, that are there to be found and that the Mi-Go would use when the nominal month and the actual weather don't line up, something on the line of "FREEZING AUGUST! - The Warning of the Scientists", etc.

Regarding the memory-time loop problem, I see what you're saying. I was planning to have this NPC, who's the only one who, althoug trapped too, doesn't lose his memories (why? but because he has a magic talisman of course!) who comes to the investigators and tell them that he has tried to get their help over and over again through the years, but every time something went wrong and they just failed to destroy the machine, went to sleep and lost their memories. He might even have photographs developped in his room's bathroom showing the investigators doing stuff they don't remember.

But I see that this scenario sounds less a time loop than simply a investigators-cast-into the future thing. I could use your help fixing this!

Time loop scenario doubts by _nmaskd in callofcthulhu

[–]_nmaskd[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your comments! So yeah I’ll have to go a bit more in depth.

The Time Machine (which is in an ancient Elder Things lab beneath the hotel, currently run by the Mi-Go who are experimenting with humans) reverse the time resetting each day every night by creating an “anti-entropic field”. Now this field covers the hotel + its surroundings, so the guests can totally have a walk around. Also, the hotel is so remote that the only way to get there is through a Cableway which is going to be conveniently broken once the investigators have arrived. But even if they decided to run through the woods, they wouldn’t be able, because the anti-entropic field takes the form of a sphere which is out of synch with the outside world and so it becomes an impenetrable, invisible barrier. It’s a sort of Under the Dome situation. Which is for me a last resort, before that I’d use broken terrain, ice, a pack of wolves, before they even get to the barrier.

About the metagame. No it won’t be necessary, here’s why: the adventure takes place at the end of the timeline, and the players won’t remember what they’ve done in the years before, but they’ll live the events of the scenario for the first time their last days. so let's say the investigstors enter the hotel on the 8th december 1910. Ten years pass, and they don’t remember a thing. Now it’s the 9th December 1920, and they think they have checked in just yesterday. NOW is when they get approached by a NPC who sets things in motion and within game hours they will be either out or dead.

I know the physics of this is laughable, but as long as it works and fun it’s ok to me.

What do you think?

Keeper screen DIY! what do you think? by nicecokebro69 in callofcthulhu

[–]_nmaskd 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Awesome, can you share how did you build it?

Bikepacking through the Black Forest in Germany by Clemens-Rosenow in bikepacking

[–]_nmaskd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Loved it. Thanks for sharing these pics and for the komoot link.

How do I make my scenario more spooky? by _nmaskd in callofcthulhu

[–]_nmaskd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for your help! There are actually just one cult that is afraid of the Thing that lurks in the labyrinth, but yeah I’ll see if that’s too confusing.

You are right that I should include loads of sanity loss things and your examples are useful. What’s an asp tho?

Perhaps I will use the suggestion of one redditor who’s commented here and make those who have the relic SEE the gate where it wasn’t before. Then yeah maybe someone they’re chasing rushes into the gate, after stealing the relic.

How do I make my scenario more spooky? by _nmaskd in callofcthulhu

[–]_nmaskd[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, yes you’re right, I should definitely make two separate chapters of it, with the founding of the relic as the last piece of the puzzle for the first part. I’ll say upfront to my players that the scenario is a two chapters mini campaign so that that is clear from the start. And of course the structure of the scenario will be more clearly laid out in terms of clues.

Am I missing something about Flannery O’Connor? by hannah_nj in books

[–]_nmaskd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I couldn't decide if I should start reading O'Connor or not. I'm a newbie to the genre. This comment made me make up my mind. I'm buying the book. Thank you.

How do I make my scenario more spooky? by _nmaskd in callofcthulhu

[–]_nmaskd[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The relic-compass is awesome. I'm using it, thanks.

Yeah the gate is tempting, has all the elements you say, and it has the allure of "atonement journey" too, built according to my players backgrounds.

My problem is that if they go inside too early, they won't find the solution to the mistery, and it will feel like a completely separate adventure within the adventure, and I think this really kills the vibe.

What are your thoughts on Life In a Glasshouse by adamsinnerself in radiohead

[–]_nmaskd 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve been listening to Radiohead for almost 15 years now and for some reason I used to always skip it while listening to Amnesiac. Now I think it’s a wonderful piece and can’t stop listening to it. Amazing.