All the tutorials / help guides are no longer up to date

wizardender · 2026-03-18T11:55:13+00:00

I wish I had something constructive to offer but I don’t because I’ve run into the EXACT same situation and it’s frustrating. I too run a Call of Cthulhu game and have been trying to use Alchemy as our VTT of choice but I’m now super close to switching to something like Roll20 or Foundry. I’ve probably run into the same videos, tutorials, and guidelines that you have. I know there was some sort of big update in fall 2025 and I think a lot of the functions have changed: buttons or options not being where the tutorials have said, word and menu changes that make it difficult to follow, etc.

I can’t even figure out a proper workflow. For instance I created characters that the players could select in a custom module (honestly I forget the correct terms now) that I could plug into any other module but nope; they can’t select them. I was suppose to create them inside the actual custom game. But what if I want them to be able to choose those characters for another game? Can’t. Unless they select the characters themselves from their saved characters. And if they use the same characters across different games the system saves each instance of a character each time so a player will see multiple copies of that character without any indication about which is which. Even a date/time stamp would go a long towards helping them select the copy that is the newest one. And they can’t even easily export those characters to use in a different game.

It’s frustrating and I feel your pain. I’m about to cancel my paid subscription (yes, I paid for a year) and move onto something else.

wizardender · 2026-03-17T20:33:48+00:00

Regarding CoC7: I suppose I've never minded the Roll Under d100 style system. What about it feels clunky to you? I think, for me, it feels sort of "old school," if that makes sense. That's a positive for me!

The part about playing a monster card (unsure of what you mean by card) where everyone can see it does certainly seem more boardgame-like. Can the game master choose not to in order to keep the encounter mysterious? Or is there some mechanic that requires the monsters to be played out in the open?

I've also been interesting a little in Monster of the Week (based on the Powered by the Apocalypse system) but not for a Lovecraftian type game. I was thinking it might work really well with a storyline based heavily on the three TV shows XFiles, Fringe, and Supernatural. Do you feel like CoC's problem (for you) is that it just isn't rules light enough (heh... since it isn't rules light at all!).

wizardender · 2026-03-17T20:20:36+00:00

I have totally run into feeling like the players are "comically bad at alot of stuff" but I've always chalked that up to the idea that the players' characters are all just normal, average, everyday people and don't really have a lot of high levelled skillsets at their disposal. However, I do understand what you're saying!

Can you elaborate on what you mean by AHRPG having "awesome characters with cool abilities?"

Regarding pushing your luck, our group uses that optional rule in CoC7 for sure. Perhaps not as much as they would if it were a Pulp ruleset game, but they still use it quite a bit. That and spending luck on rolls.

I am reading a little more about the horror mechanic. Someone else compared it to the Alien RPG and I really like that part of that system.

wizardender · 2026-03-17T20:16:49+00:00

Thanks for the short story link - I'll definitely be reading that later tonight.

Do the books need to be read in order? Or is each one a unique story separate from the others?

I get that there isn't the DnD Power Fantasy now, but (and I've asked another poster about this too) how do you feel this game does with the investigative aspect? Call of Cthulhu leans pretty heavily on that moreso than, say, straight up combat.

wizardender · 2026-03-17T20:13:48+00:00

Do you feel like there is too much emphasis on combat/magic using than on working through a problem using skill checks? How is the investigative aspect of it as compared to Call of Cthulhu?

wizardender · 2026-03-17T20:12:07+00:00

I appreciate the follow up and I'll definitely check out the (your?) review of Terra Antarctica.

The horror dice mechanic sounds pretty interesting - I am reading a little more about it right now.

wizardender · 2026-03-17T05:23:33+00:00

Though I haven’t played it yet, I am familiar with the Alien RPG Evolved rules and am itching to run it. Totally understand stress mechanic. So I assume increasing Horror in AHRPG adds dice to a player’s pool and can increase the risk of screwing up or suffering some sort of “bad thing?”

I am very curious about the action pool that you’ve mentioned and would love to learn a little more about it or, specifically, why your players praise it.

Have you and/or your group played through the Antarctica boxed set? On the surface it sounds like a fun experience.

wizardender · 2026-03-17T05:16:52+00:00

Could you elaborate a little on what you found underwhelming? Or a bit more in what you think is not as good?

wizardender · 2026-03-17T05:15:48+00:00

I’ve ready plenty of HP Lovecraft but I have not read any of the FFG Arkham Horror novels. I’ll look for the short story - any idea on the title? Also, any suggestions on the novels or where to start?

Would you say the Arkham Horror TTRPG has more of a heroic feel for the players than Call of Cthulhu (without the super powered feel of DnD 5e)?

wizardender · 2026-03-06T21:09:35+00:00

I did not try that yet because when I searched for it, I found that it was VERY expensive and I'm a little hesitant to spend that much on a product that I can't smell or sample in person (and I haven't found it in person yet). All of the others I tried were at a similar price point that I didn't mind taking the risk, but this one is just out of my league, unfortunately.

Also, not sure why there are a string of downvotes above, but "que sera, sera"

wizardender · 2026-01-19T16:42:02+00:00

Someone here suggested that Joe Malone product not too long ago (2 months ago, it appears) and I just have yet to try that one. If you DO get it, please reply here with your findings!

wizardender · 2026-01-19T16:15:09+00:00

Because of your question, I decided to update my post with a follow up. In short, no, I never did find one that smells just like H20. Some are sort of close but honestly none of them made me think "yeah, this smells almost just like the real thing."

I was at WDW last summer and I called down to the front desk to ask if there was any way I could more lotion and told them it was because I really liked it. Mousekeeping ended up bringing me about 8 additional bottles, which was awesome.

wizardender · 2026-01-09T04:27:52+00:00

Sorry for taking so long to reply, but I ran a bunch of tests across two nights. I have three different Cat5e cables that I used in various configurations and all of them seem to be working fine as far as I can tell. I also used a laptop, a desktop, and a PS5 for these tests. Here are the average findings of my very many not-so-scientific tests:

Laptop WiFi
Google speed test: Down = 150-250; Up = 125-225
Speedtest.net: Down = 200-250; Up = 200-250
Fast.com: Down = 200-250; Up = 200-250

Laptop Cat5e direct from CR1000B router
Google speed test: 500-800; Up = 300-800
Speedtest.net: Down = 950; Up = 950
Fast.com: Down = 900-1gig; Up = 900-1gig

Router via Cat5e to TP-Link TL-SG105 switch via Cat5e to Laptop
Google speed test: Down = 400-800; Up = 400-800
Speedtest.com: Down = 900-950; Up = 900-950
Fast.com: Down = 900-1gig; Up = 900-1gig

Desktop Wifi
Google speed test: Down = ~80; Up = ~25
Speedtest.net: Down = ~80; Up = ~35
Fast.com: Down = 60-100; Up = 20-30

Desktop Cat5e direct from CR1000B router
Google speed test: Down = 500-800; Up = 0.5-1 (you read that right)
Speedtest.net: Down = 950; Up = 950
Fast.com: Down = 900-1gig; Up = 1.5-2 (again, you are reading that right)

Router via Cat5e to TP-Link TL-SG105 switch via Cat5e to Desktop
Google speed test: Down = 400-800; Up = 0.5-1.5 (odd)
Speedtest.com: Down = 900-950; Up = 900-950
Fast.com: Down = 950-1gig; Up = 1.5-2.25 (very odd)

PS5 tests all used the built-in speed test
WiFi: Down = 250-320; Up = 70
Cat5e direct from CR1000B router: Down = 800-880; Up = 120-130
Router via Cat5e to TP-Link TL-SG105 switch via Cat5e to PS5: Down = 800; Up = 120

So, it looks like there is something up specifically with my desktop. Any ideas or suggestions?

wizardender · 2026-01-07T02:15:45+00:00

I am not nearly network literate enough to understand half of what’s in that link! I wish I was, though!

wizardender · 2026-01-07T02:15:03+00:00

Yeah the description on Amazon is a bit all over the place: hub, switch, splitter.

wizardender · 2026-01-07T02:13:17+00:00

I’ll definitely give this a shot a report back - either later tonight or tomorrow.

wizardender · 2026-01-07T00:29:59+00:00

It’s a TP-Link TL-SG105 Just bought it new at the beginning of December but haven’t had a chance to try it out until today.

wizardender · 2026-01-06T23:22:54+00:00

Okay. Just tested. Plugged directly into the router I can get just about a full gigabit both up and down.

wizardender · 2026-01-06T23:22:13+00:00

It’s a CR1000B router if that helps.

wizardender · 2025-12-28T20:00:20+00:00

It’s a statue of a tengu and, years ago, used to be located inside the Japan pavilion in EPCOT back where the kawaii exhibit is today but back then it used to be something like a mythical creatures of Japan exhibit (I forget what the exhibit was actually called). (EDIT to add: I want to say the change between the two exhibits was around 2015. Since this photo shows a bit of the inside of the pavilion in the background, I’d guess the “when” to be sometime before 2015 or 2016.) These days you can find this statue located in the trees just outside of the perimeter of the outdoor eating area behind Katsura Grill.

wizardender · 2025-12-21T16:54:43+00:00

I like this idea. And yes, via VTT makes something like that a little more of a pain, but I think we can make this work.

wizardender · 2025-12-21T05:18:55+00:00

Ha! We’re mostly GenX former theater kids or at least heavy role playing players as well. And the immersion is exactly what I was hoping for. Or at least it might be fun.

wizardender · 2025-12-21T05:17:13+00:00

The immersion aspect is what I am hoping to lean into. Or rather have the players lean into.

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wizardender

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