The Cthulhu Campaigns: Ancient Rome

Osprey Adventures

by Mark A. Latham, Ru-Mor (Illustrator)

Rome, the greatest empire the world has ever known, limitless in breadth and power, magnificent in its glory! But something evil, ancient, and unknowable gnaws at the heart of the empire. Dark gods, trapped for centuries in thrice-warded tombs, have been disturbed by Roman plunderers. A secret war is fought daily between those who would harness this strange power for themselves, and those who fear it signals the very end of the empire.

Across the sea, roused from eternal slumber by a world awash with war, by omens and pagan slaughter, a Great Old One waits for the way to be opened. A cosmic terror that man was not meant to know. Those who know its name tremble, and only the very brave--or very foolish--incant it for their own ends.

They whisper it in darkness; they cry it from atop blasted hills; they scream it to the raging oceans.

“Cthulhu . . .”

Genres: Horror, Role Playing Games, Fiction, Lovecraftian, Gaming

76 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2016

About the author

Mark A. Latham is a writer, editor, history nerd, proud dogfather, frustrated grunge singer and amateur baker from Staffordshire, UK. An immigrant to rural Nottinghamshire, he lives in a very old house (sadly not haunted), and is still regarded in the village as a foreigner.

Formerly the editor of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf magazine, Mark designs tabletop games, and is an author of strange, fantastical and macabre tales.

Reviews

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this as a stand alone 'history' book. I found excellent material inside for an RPG set in Ancient Rome or as 'history' in a more modern setting.

I look forward to fitting this into a game at some point, perhaps even folding in elements of Osprey's Atlantis work in the same series.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected an anthology series, but instead got a fun account of Ancient Rome's ties to the Cult of Cthulhu and their struggles with all the other Great Old Ones and Elder Gods of the mythos. Good for inspiration.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightfully illustrated book is basically a history of Rome... if Rome had secretly worshipped Cthulhu.

Loved it.

[Derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent and provides a good fictional explanation of some of the weirder aspects to Roman religion.

[Charles Corbitt jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read could not put it down loved the mix of history and lore.

[Joe Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pseudo history of the Roman Empire and the Cthulhu Mythos. While not as enjoyable as the book, Cthulhu Wars, also part of the Osprey Dark series, this is still a a fun read. The author also wrote a miniature war games rules called, Broken Legions, with is also available available through Osprey Publishing. This war game rules covers the material in this book if one would wish to play some of the events written in this book.

[Wild Man Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just completely and utterly treble, the writing was not bad but the premise was flawed. Rome represents the civilized world so having them worship Cthulhu makes no sense, as Cthulhu in bodies the human savages nature so it would make no sense for them to worship him as a god.

[Eric Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun recasting of history to fit with the Mythos. Quick read, but like the War ofctge Worlds Osprey Adventures book, beautifully illustrated.

[Esha Nas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting tidbits, for sure, though I still like Cthulhu Wars a bit more. Worth a read none the less!

[Iván Giménez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lectura muy entretenida para freaks de la mitología lovecraftiana. Es un ensayo que se lee rápido que parte d ela entretenida premisa de que la expansión de Roma se hizo en buena parte siguiendo los intereses del secreto culto a Cthulhu. Es decir, el habitante de R'lyeh inspiró buena parte de sus conquistas en una guerra secreta con cultos a otros dioses antiguos. Para los roleros es una buena fuente de inspiración para campañas.