My favorite thing about the 20's and why it's my favorite cthulhu setting is that it allows for many of the tools we have in the modern era. Things that make us feel powerful as humans. Things like guns, cars, and telephones. Yet in the 1920's these things were new, often not very reliable, and not nearly as potent, therefore much better for horror. It's a bit harder to capture horror vibes in the age of smart phones and cameras everywhere.
Well, one of them behind James is 'The Stars Are Right', imho one of the best collections of scenarios ever done by Chaosium. Every Keeper should have that one and 'The Cthulhu Casebook'.
@@Mogthrasir1989 Happy to say one of my scenarios is in The Stars Are Right ('Love's Lonely Children') probably one of the darkest things I've written.
I mean if you want a decade that's different at the start and the end...just compare 2011 to 2015 to 2016 to 2020. Those four years feel like they were in different centuries.
Bryson's 1927 is incredible, one of the best books I've ever read. The coincidences alone are mindblowing, and the scale of Lindburghs fame makes modern stars look like recluses.
The 20's make a rich background for a few good reasons. The original works were set around that time, and are easily accessible as a source of inspiration. That time period saw tremendous political and societal upheaval, bookended by the two wars. The limitations of science and technology of that time period can promote a kind of vulnerability for modern players who are used such things as the internet and mobile phones. Weaponry is more limited. Taking out the Shoggoth with a Bowie Knife and a .32 revolver is going to be much more daunting than with an AR15 and a Javelin Missile system.
Love this video, it was super informative!!! I actually had problems with setting my scenarios correctly in the 1920s : I decided to start in the February of 1920, without knowing that this was a time of depression and sorrow. After all my players created their characters with that year as an indication by me, I realized that at the start of the decade most houses did not have electric appliances and cars were rare... What I had in mind was the 20s in their full bloom.
I’d like to see this for the Georgian period with Lynne Hardy. Also side note my grandfather was born in the 1920’s. He turned 101 this year. It’s crazy and fascinating to me that the end of this period would be in his living memory.
Having the Scenario hinging on you can trace the location of the bad guy from the Postmarks of the mail was a killer of Investigators..... we forget there were several mail delivery’s each day then and the Franking mark gives location..... but nowadays we have forgotten things like this....., this still pips me thirty years later.... our Keeper had his weaknesses I guess. You want to know about the “Green Door”?...... ask Shaking Stevens..... he can tell you all about that . (I now have a dreadful ear worm.)
During Prohibition my great grandmother made moonshine and then held ticketed dances where she served it. Totally legal. The only problem was that her husband was a cop and his boss told him to shut it down because it was a bad look. They had a big fight about it that ended with my great grandfather breaking the still so my great grandmother couldn't make any more moonshine.
It would be interesting to have a setting in the 1970s or 1980s where technology is far more simple than it is today before the Internet people only have land lines. You have to use pay phones most people read newspapers and books.
Don't over-estimate our advances or under-estimate what was then available. It wasn't that different (and yes, small numbers of people already had some early versions of much of what we have today.)
@@Pneumanon - Did an interesting game set in the 90's back in the actual 90's. My first character tried to game the increase in technology, bought two M-16 rifles and a couple of gas cans of napalm and piled them into his sports car. Got pulled over by cops on the motorway, searched, and went to prison. My rerolled character was more sensible!
I think the most important thing to remember the 20’s is it’s an age of extremes and contradictions; an age of hedonism and religious revival. Innovations in many scientific fields while spiritualism flourished. The number of rabbit holes one go down from simply researching a mundane thing like light bulb.
Proof reading in the 7th ed book. It flip flops several times throughut the book for rules. Shotgun rules change throughout rather than being consistent.
Strang entertainment they had. Radio: sound without pictures. Movies: pictures without sound. The 1920s had good music and bad liquor. The 2020s have good liquor and bad music.
I disagree with some bits of Mike Mason's opinions on the era. I speak from someone who had parents who lived during the period. For instance, I think Mr. Mason misunderstands what Prohibition was all about. However, I'll go into more of this later.
My favorite thing about the 20's and why it's my favorite cthulhu setting is that it allows for many of the tools we have in the modern era. Things that make us feel powerful as humans. Things like guns, cars, and telephones. Yet in the 1920's these things were new, often not very reliable, and not nearly as potent, therefore much better for horror. It's a bit harder to capture horror vibes in the age of smart phones and cameras everywhere.
Does anyone else want a video of Mike and James telling us what’s on the bookshelves behind them, or is that just me?
Definitely!
If this game hasn't stifled your curiosity about books then I don't think there's any helping you!
Shelfie video!
Well, one of them behind James is 'The Stars Are Right', imho one of the best collections of scenarios ever done by Chaosium. Every Keeper should have that one and 'The Cthulhu Casebook'.
@@Mogthrasir1989 Happy to say one of my scenarios is in The Stars Are Right ('Love's Lonely Children') probably one of the darkest things I've written.
I love the 20s as a setting. Whenever we play modern settings it’s always a fudge to get around smart phones, security cameras etc
I mean if you want a decade that's different at the start and the end...just compare 2011 to 2015 to 2016 to 2020. Those four years feel like they were in different centuries.
Bryson's 1927 is incredible, one of the best books I've ever read. The coincidences alone are mindblowing, and the scale of Lindburghs fame makes modern stars look like recluses.
The 20's make a rich background for a few good reasons.
The original works were set around that time, and are easily accessible as a source of inspiration.
That time period saw tremendous political and societal upheaval, bookended by the two wars.
The limitations of science and technology of that time period can promote a kind of vulnerability for modern players who are used such things as the internet and mobile phones.
Weaponry is more limited. Taking out the Shoggoth with a Bowie Knife and a .32 revolver is going to be much more daunting than with an AR15 and a Javelin Missile system.
Love this video, it was super informative!!! I actually had problems with setting my scenarios correctly in the 1920s : I decided to start in the February of 1920, without knowing that this was a time of depression and sorrow. After all my players created their characters with that year as an indication by me, I realized that at the start of the decade most houses did not have electric appliances and cars were rare... What I had in mind was the 20s in their full bloom.
This chat about the historical aspectd of the 1920s has been extremely helpful! Thank you all very much for making this video.
I’d like to see this for the Georgian period with Lynne Hardy.
Also side note my grandfather was born in the 1920’s. He turned 101 this year. It’s crazy and fascinating to me that the end of this period would be in his living memory.
Having the Scenario hinging on you can trace the location of the bad guy from the Postmarks of the mail was a killer of Investigators..... we forget there were several mail delivery’s each day then and the Franking mark gives location..... but nowadays we have forgotten things like this....., this still pips me thirty years later.... our Keeper had his weaknesses I guess.
You want to know about the “Green Door”?...... ask Shaking Stevens..... he can tell you all about that .
(I now have a dreadful ear worm.)
During Prohibition my great grandmother made moonshine and then held ticketed dances where she served it. Totally legal. The only problem was that her husband was a cop and his boss told him to shut it down because it was a bad look. They had a big fight about it that ended with my great grandfather breaking the still so my great grandmother couldn't make any more moonshine.
Insane story, I’m so happy you shared.
Charles Lindbergh
It would be interesting to have a setting in the 1970s or 1980s where technology is far more simple than it is today before the Internet people only have land lines. You have to use pay phones most people read newspapers and books.
Don't over-estimate our advances or under-estimate what was then available. It wasn't that different (and yes, small numbers of people already had some early versions of much of what we have today.)
I think CoC would work great set in the 90s. The internet is still in it's infancy and still quite mysterious to a lot of people.
@@Pneumanon - Did an interesting game set in the 90's back in the actual 90's. My first character tried to game the increase in technology, bought two M-16 rifles and a couple of gas cans of napalm and piled them into his sports car. Got pulled over by cops on the motorway, searched, and went to prison.
My rerolled character was more sensible!
Lindbergh😊
I think the most important thing to remember the 20’s is it’s an age of extremes and contradictions; an age of hedonism and religious revival. Innovations in many scientific fields while spiritualism flourished.
The number of rabbit holes one go down from simply researching a mundane thing like light bulb.
Great idea for a show
Proof reading in the 7th ed book. It flip flops several times throughut the book for rules. Shotgun rules change throughout rather than being consistent.
Our 20s Wikl Vary. Makes Sense
Goingt onrunnthe ”Lightless beacon” and I think I’ll make the passanges boat a booze party ship… :-)
As long as you are consistently charging your players roughly 1000% the actual 1920's pricing for a Thompson SMG, don't worry about it :P
Strang entertainment they had. Radio: sound without pictures. Movies: pictures without sound.
The 1920s had good music and bad liquor.
The 2020s have good liquor and bad music.
I disagree with some bits of Mike Mason's opinions on the era. I speak from someone who had parents who lived during the period. For instance, I think Mr. Mason misunderstands what Prohibition was all about. However, I'll go into more of this later.
Well?
We're here for him. Not you.