Masks of Nyarlathotep (part 1)

We’re back and we’re excavating ancient horrors, dragging them up into the light and revealing them to a trembling world. This is our spoiler-free discussion of the new edition of Masks of Nyarlathotep, with all four of the authors of the revision offering their inside views. Next episode, we shall remove the mask completely and take a good look at what lurks underneath. Get ready for that 1D10/1D100 SAN roll! Main Topic The bulk of the episode is an extended chat with Mike Mason and Lynne Hardy of Chaosium. Paul and Scott worked with Mike and Lynne on the revised edition, which allows us to offer all manner of personal insights into the process and result. We talk in general terms about what to expect from the new edition, teasing some of the additions and alterations we made. This new Masks of Nyarlathotep is still the same campaign that everyone has loved for the past 33 years. We have, however, restructured it and fleshed it out, trying to make it as easy as possible for Keepers to absorb. We spend some time explaining what this means, from the additional background for each location to the options for Pulp Cthulhu. Oh, and the new opening chapter, of course. Mike and Lynne were only available during office hours, which unfortunately meant that Matt was unable to join the discussion. We balance this out by having a long chat with Matt about his own Masks experiences at the end of the episode. As with the main discussion, we keep this spoiler-free. Never fear — there will be plenty of spoilers next episode! News Obviously, the big news is that the new edition of Masks of Nyarlathotep will be available from the 1st of July. If you buy the 666-page PDF from Chaosium, you get a discount voucher equal to the full purchase price if you buy the print version. The two-volume slipcase edition is due out later this year. We also mention the HP Lovecraft Historical Society‘s new Dark Adventure Radio Theater production of Masks of Nyarlathotep. If you have ever heard any of the HPLHS’s other productions, you will know how exciting this news is. The three of us saw a live performance of their adaptation of Day of the Beast at Necronomicon. It captured the essence of the campaign in two short hours and turned it into an exciting theatrical event. What makes the Masks release even more exciting, however, is that the HPLHS are producing a special edition that contains a full set of their excellent handouts and props for the campaign and an even more special edition that includes a horrifying array of physical artefacts. Other Stuff Our investigations have also led us to an extensive discussion about our episode on survival horror. If you wish to join us,