Lovecraft RPG is a role-playing game system that I am building around the works of H P Lovecraft. As it develops, Ill post more information here and will have a public beta available.At PaizoCon 2010, 2011 and 2012, I ran a scenario called The Failed Sanity Check, which is a direct sequel to one of HP Lovecraft’s major stories. I used an excellent rules light system which, although fine for one-shots does not lend itself to developing your character over time. Lovecraft RPG should do just that.
Everyone knows Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu, 6th Edition. If you don’t have a recent edition, the 6th Edition is excellent and at a great price on Amazon. I got into Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu when it came out in the 1st edition box. Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu is based on the Basic Role Playing System, which is the heart of games like Runequest. Call of Cthulhu has been so influential that it has spawned its own generation of Lovecraft writers. Another interesting system is Pelgrane Press’ Trail of Cthulhu, which is based on their own GUMSHOE system. GUMSHOE has an interesting information investigation system worth checking out.
While both of these games have variant rules for other time periods, they are very focused on 1920s role playing, and very specific themes of HP Lovecraft’s writing – namely, the fight to thwart the spreading influence of mythos cultists, monsters and gods. Both games have a strong pulp influence, Trail of Cthulhu more so than Call of Cthulhu.
The themes I am exploring in Lovecraft RPG are not tightly locked to Fight the Cthulhu Mythos, or the 1920s. Many of H P Lovecraft’s themes are timeless. Many of his stories were intended to be contemporary for the times in which Lovecraft lived. Those other themes are as important within Lovecraft RPG as Fight the Cthulhu Mythos.