Cthonic Horrors

[CthulhuFnord]

I've been thinking about how to introduce Cthonic and Cthuloid Horrors into Runequest and other MRQ settings. I'd rather not introduce the Sanity mechanics from CoC, I like them but it adds another layer of complexity to the MRQ system. Instead I'm considering giving powerfull Mythos critters a Fear rating based on the Divine Spell Fear. More powerfull or Horrible creatures would have a corespondingly higher magnitude. The Fear effect would always be on and can not be dispelled, although it would only effect you once per encounter.

 

[Mage]

Depending on the magnitude you could have to do a percentgage test of some sort for otehr effects. It would not be hard to convert stuff over, and I like the sound of it.

 

[tarkhan bey]

I am fairly certain that I read on this board that Loz was including some sort of sanity mechanic's in the Elric Compendium. I fondly remember introducing the old Stormbringer sanity mechanics from the Demon Magic supplement of aeons ago.( Early-Mid eighties,if I remember correctly)
Did I imagine this Loz or will we see something in the Compendium?

 

[TRose]

I really dont think Cuthullu type sanity rules should be in most fantasy games because of culture differences. In the modern world we are taught that such monster dont exist and are fairly protected from the real nasty things in life, at least in develope countries.
Not so in most fantasy worlds. Take your average Stormbull. He would not already knows that such things as Cthonic horrors exist, he has dedicated his life to fighting them . If he runs into a Shoggoth, he not going to need to make a sanity rolls as he expects to mett such monsters and will just get his ax ready and have a good day killing chaos

 

[CthulhuFnord]

That had better be a realy weak Shoggoth then.

I think your average Stormbull, let alone a rune level one would have some serious problems tackling a Shoggoth.

 

[Loz]

I am fairly certain that I read on this board that Loz was including some sort of sanity mechanic's in the Elric Compendium. I fondly remember introducing the old Stormbringer sanity mechanics from the Demon Magic supplement of aeons ago.( Early-Mid eighties,if I remember correctly)
Did I imagine this Loz or will we see something in the Compendium?

Insanity mechanics? You must be mad...

I jest. They're going into the Companion.

Although, for general RQ, I rather like the Fear spell idea. It's quite elegant and would work well for a Cthulhu-ish game.

 

[soltakss]

Things from Cthulhu would be Just Another Demon to most Gloranthans. Nothing particularly scary or mind-warping.

It took the Crimson Bat and his minions to create the Mad Sulatanate in Glorantha, so what's a few monsters?

In non-Gloranthan games, however, it's another matter. Sanity might be useful there.

Having said that, I personally don't like the Sanity rules in CoC, so I wouldn't use them.