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Call of Cthulhu RPG
Alone Against the Flames
This is a solo adventure for the Call of Cthulhu game. It is a horror story set in the 1920s where you are the main character, and your choices determine the outcome. It is also designed to lead you through the basic rules of the game in a gradual and entertaining fashion. Although most such adventures are played with your friends, this one is just for you.
Before you begin to play, make sure you have a copy of the Call of Cthulhu Seventh Edition Quick-Start Rules, and a blank investigator sheet. You can download a printable investigator sheet, or an interactive PDF version of the sheet, as well as the Quick-Start Rules from www.chaosium.com. You’ll also need a pencil, an eraser, and some roleplaying dice.
You don’t need to read the rules before you start playing. Just settle in a comfortable chair before a roaring fire. Then read on and follow the instructions.
…On second thought, don’t sit too close to the fire.
Before you begin to play, make sure you have a copy of the Call of Cthulhu Seventh Edition Quick-Start Rules, and a blank investigator sheet. You can download a printable investigator sheet, or an interactive PDF version of the sheet, as well as the Quick-Start Rules from www.chaosium.com. You’ll also need a pencil, an eraser, and some roleplaying dice.
You don’t need to read the rules before you start playing. Just settle in a comfortable chair before a roaring fire. Then read on and follow the instructions.
…On second thought, don’t sit too close to the fire.
63 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 30, 2024
A two hour choose your own adventure style book that teaches the new Call of Cthulhu RPG rules.
Well written to suit the era and Lovecraft Country. Easy to read through more than once as the plotting changes.
OVERALL GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Well written to suit the era and Lovecraft Country. Easy to read through more than once as the plotting changes.
OVERALL GRADE: B plus to A minus.
August 13, 2015
An introductory solo adventure for the new 7th Edition of Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game, "Alone Against the Flames" is a fun little adventure that takes an hour or so to run through. As of this writing, it's available as a free download from Chaosium's web site.
A reader doesn't have to be familiar with Call of Cthulhu or even roleplaying games in general to enjoy this adventure, they just have to be willing to learn. Playing this adventure requires that readers have a copy of Call of Cthulhu: 7th Edition Quick-Start Rules and a 7th Edition character sheet, both also currently available as free downloads from Chaosium's web site. It also requires roleplaying dice, probably the trickiest requirement for complete newcomers to meet.
This adventure serves two purposes: introduction to Call of Cthulhu's 7th Edition rules and solo adventure, and it does both well.
As a solo adventure, this story is told using a "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style format. Written in second person, the entire story is presented in numbered sections, with the text directing the reader to specific sections depending on their decisions. For example:
The PDF is set up so that clicking on a section number in the text (such as '150') takes the reader to that section. Very handy!
The introduction to the 7th Edition rules is interwoven through the rest of the text. The adventure starts, you get on a bus. As you watch the scenery go by, you are instructed how to determine your character's characteristics (strength, intelligence, etc.) When the bus driver strikes up a conversation, asking what you do for a living, you are instructed how to choose a profession from a list and the benefits you get from that profession. Explanations as you need them are continued throughout the adventure.
This adventure is not without flaws. The first couple sections, where the adventure starts, need editing. A bus stop is called a 'bus halt', some of the sentences are awkwardly worded, and a passage explaining your route needs to generalize, not just provide a list of cities. Fortunately, these issues are the exception, and most of the text is well-written.
As a side note, I love that the title harkens back to the titles of the two previous Chaosium Call of Cthulhu solo adventures, Alone Against the Dark and Alone Against the Wendigo: Solitaire Adventure in Canada's Wilds, published thirty years ago in 1985!
I played through this adventure twice, and since I made different decisions, they were significantly different in the two sessions. The adventure itself is quite entertaining, with surprisingly good suspense and pacing. It left me wanting more.
A reader doesn't have to be familiar with Call of Cthulhu or even roleplaying games in general to enjoy this adventure, they just have to be willing to learn. Playing this adventure requires that readers have a copy of Call of Cthulhu: 7th Edition Quick-Start Rules and a 7th Edition character sheet, both also currently available as free downloads from Chaosium's web site. It also requires roleplaying dice, probably the trickiest requirement for complete newcomers to meet.
This adventure serves two purposes: introduction to Call of Cthulhu's 7th Edition rules and solo adventure, and it does both well.
As a solo adventure, this story is told using a "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style format. Written in second person, the entire story is presented in numbered sections, with the text directing the reader to specific sections depending on their decisions. For example:
The strange man breaks into a run, fleeing from you along the ridge. His gait is lopsided, but his movements have a maniacal intensity.
If you give chase, turn to 150. If you have better
things to do, turn to 160.
The PDF is set up so that clicking on a section number in the text (such as '150') takes the reader to that section. Very handy!
The introduction to the 7th Edition rules is interwoven through the rest of the text. The adventure starts, you get on a bus. As you watch the scenery go by, you are instructed how to determine your character's characteristics (strength, intelligence, etc.) When the bus driver strikes up a conversation, asking what you do for a living, you are instructed how to choose a profession from a list and the benefits you get from that profession. Explanations as you need them are continued throughout the adventure.
This adventure is not without flaws. The first couple sections, where the adventure starts, need editing. A bus stop is called a 'bus halt', some of the sentences are awkwardly worded, and a passage explaining your route needs to generalize, not just provide a list of cities. Fortunately, these issues are the exception, and most of the text is well-written.
As a side note, I love that the title harkens back to the titles of the two previous Chaosium Call of Cthulhu solo adventures, Alone Against the Dark and Alone Against the Wendigo: Solitaire Adventure in Canada's Wilds, published thirty years ago in 1985!
I played through this adventure twice, and since I made different decisions, they were significantly different in the two sessions. The adventure itself is quite entertaining, with surprisingly good suspense and pacing. It left me wanting more.
September 14, 2018
A fun 'choose your own adventure' solo style introduction to the Call of Cthulhu role playing game. It's creepily atmospheric and intriguing, but short - however, it is also free to download from their site.
June 10, 2015
This is a brilliant way to introduce the curious to the world of Call of Cthulhu RPG game. This free download contains an interesting storyline that can be played through several times and still maintain it's original wow factor.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 11, 2020
The format of the adventure is phenomenal, extremely charismatic and suspenseful. For both Lovecraftian fans and RPG fan, I fall for it. Love the old noir style and the environmental describe is so smooth >,<
April 20, 2020
Great fun and a good way to learn the rules.
May 7, 2023
This is NOT a normal gamabook.
This is a way to make you learn the rules of the game in like a tutorial mode.
It says that in the back so I can not blame the book that it fooled me.
The story is very simple for Cthulhu. You get stranded in a small remote village and everyone is strange and you have a feeling you should not stay there.
The book is 50 pages long so it will take you about 1 hour? to finish the story.
As a gamebook it's a poor 1 out of 5. As a tutorial I think it teaches you the basics in a nice way. I can see for example the Keeper giving this story to his players to avoid them to read the rules. Nice touch.
In the time of this writing this one is given free if you want to try it out.
This is a way to make you learn the rules of the game in like a tutorial mode.
It says that in the back so I can not blame the book that it fooled me.
The story is very simple for Cthulhu. You get stranded in a small remote village and everyone is strange and you have a feeling you should not stay there.
The book is 50 pages long so it will take you about 1 hour? to finish the story.
As a gamebook it's a poor 1 out of 5. As a tutorial I think it teaches you the basics in a nice way. I can see for example the Keeper giving this story to his players to avoid them to read the rules. Nice touch.
In the time of this writing this one is given free if you want to try it out.
January 17, 2024
Çok eğlenceliydi. İçerdiği sonların çeşitliliği, verdirttiği kararlarda terletmesi, barındırdığı tekinsiz betimlemeler... Gecenin bir yarısında bunu yazdığım için düşüncelerimi toparlayamıyorum, ama kitaptan keyif aldım.
Alone Against serisinin hemen her bir cildinde farklı bir teknik barındırıyorlar. Burada da "şu sırrı öğrendin. Eğer şöyle şöyle bir şey sorulursa bulunduğun değere +X ekle ve o girdiye git" mekaniğini getirmişler. Böylece hikayeyi tekrar tekrar oynayıp "şu mevzuyu öğrenseydim ne olurdu" sorusuna cevap arama güdüsü doğuyor.
Kendi adıma, okumak istediğim bir sürü gamebook olduğu için ikinci turu geçmeyeceğim. PDF'de sayfa içinde aramayla olası diğer yolları kabaca inceledim zaten.
Alone Against serisinin hemen her bir cildinde farklı bir teknik barındırıyorlar. Burada da "şu sırrı öğrendin. Eğer şöyle şöyle bir şey sorulursa bulunduğun değere +X ekle ve o girdiye git" mekaniğini getirmişler. Böylece hikayeyi tekrar tekrar oynayıp "şu mevzuyu öğrenseydim ne olurdu" sorusuna cevap arama güdüsü doğuyor.
Kendi adıma, okumak istediğim bir sürü gamebook olduğu için ikinci turu geçmeyeceğim. PDF'de sayfa içinde aramayla olası diğer yolları kabaca inceledim zaten.
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August 29, 2021Really enjoyed reading/playing Alone Against the Flames with Olga & Camilla while on holiday.
Even though the story hits familiar beats, and the threat/danger will not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever heard of the word horror, the format worked well and the pacing was excellent.
We'll definitely play more in the series.
Why you should read this: if you like choose your own adventures, or enjoy ttrpg's but have no current group to play with, this will entertain you for about 3 hours. And the pdf is free to download on the Chaosium website.
Why you should not: if you're looking for innovative horror, or an expansive story, this is probably not for you.
Even though the story hits familiar beats, and the threat/danger will not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever heard of the word horror, the format worked well and the pacing was excellent.
We'll definitely play more in the series.
Why you should read this: if you like choose your own adventures, or enjoy ttrpg's but have no current group to play with, this will entertain you for about 3 hours. And the pdf is free to download on the Chaosium website.
Why you should not: if you're looking for innovative horror, or an expansive story, this is probably not for you.
November 27, 2024
Genial y estupendisima manera de aprender las reglas basicas y la creación de personaje a modo de librojuego de "crea tu propia aventura". Mi final ademas, muy satisfacitorio.
De lo mejor que probablemente se haya hecho como un starter set para hacerte entender las reglas jugando directamente antes de ponerte a leer ningun manual.
De lo mejor que probablemente se haya hecho como un starter set para hacerte entender las reglas jugando directamente antes de ponerte a leer ningun manual.
November 3, 2025
A super fun choose-your-own-adventure book that also serves as in introduction to the TTRPG mechanics of Call of Cthulhu. Played a journalist, but will most certainly play again to experience the other branching paths. Which is a great signifier for the book’s success!
August 29, 2023
Le daré otra leída a ver si esta vez sobrevivo y las tiradas me acompañan un poco más
March 7, 2024
😔Ik ben dood.
October 18, 2024
It is good for beginner. But not for veterans.
January 24, 2024
A very fun, very effective way to introduce someone to the basic mechanics of Call of Cthulhu. Could do with a little more in-depth look of the rules (i.e. how you can spend Luck points) but otherwise it does a brilliant job with its Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style of narrative to create a single player game.
And just like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure game, the book encourages you to save certain page numbers to retry for a better ending. It also encourages the fact that, even though there's nothing stopping you from cheating and treating every skill roll as a success, the joy of the game is to let the dice and character stats decide how the story goes. And I agree: there's no obligation in how you play the game and whatever you decide upon is perfectly fine, but you should at the very least give the game SOME level of risk and danger.
And just like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure game, the book encourages you to save certain page numbers to retry for a better ending. It also encourages the fact that, even though there's nothing stopping you from cheating and treating every skill roll as a success, the joy of the game is to let the dice and character stats decide how the story goes. And I agree: there's no obligation in how you play the game and whatever you decide upon is perfectly fine, but you should at the very least give the game SOME level of risk and danger.
October 14, 2020
Pretty fun read that teaches you how to play Call of Cthulhu in a choose-your-own-adventure style. I wish it didn't mimic a certain popular cult movie so hard, but it was certainly interesting. Pretty good as a tutorial, but the story itself needed more.
March 30, 2023
Points lost for lack of originality. The plot is that of a famous movie, with a little mythos overlay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews