The Compact Trail of Tsathoggua

Call of Cthulhu RPG

by Keith Herber

Chaosium Stock #2362

When ancient writings are discovered on a floating iceberg, an expedition is formed at Miskatonic University to investigate. What secret lurks on the sterile Greenland icecap? A grim finding in Canada leads investigators to delve into the folklore of that land. What living horror grows behind the sasquatch legend? The Compact Trail of Tsathoggua contains a mini-campaign in two scenarios, seeking for truth in the northern wastes. Tsathoggua's curse awaits the unwelcomed investigators of the occult and the unknown.

This Fright Night scenario pack is suitable for beginning keepers and investigators. It serves well as an introduction to the game and exposes new players to both the Cthulhu Mythos and the occult. The scenarios in this supplement are short, providing two nights of fright!

Genres: Role Playing Games, Horror, Games, Cthulhu Mythos, Gaming

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Matthew J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

These two connected scenarios by Keith Herber have a lot of potential, but as is, they're sort of representative of what's sometimes wrong with Chaosium's published scenarios and campaigns. The stories are sound. First, the investigators go to Greenland with an expedition to check out a giant stone object that's been kicked up by a glacier. Strangeness ensues. The second story involves following one of the NPCs from the first scenario out to Western Canada where more weirdness ensues. OK. Great. Throughout, I found bits and pieces that I think would be really cool to work into an ongoing game. However, it frequently seems like there's too much, too many different and disparate ideas running around. And seriously. Again with the Sasquatch?! At least this time, there's an effort to tie the Sasquatch into the Mythos (not the case in Spawn of Azathoth). And with some work, I actually think they could make for a cool, ongoing element in a campaign. Heck, if you were to run Spawn of Azathoth after this, players might not be so confused by why there are Sasquatch in a Call of Cthulhu game.
So, I think with a great deal of work, you could pull enough out of this book to be useful in making a couple of adventures for an ongoing campaign (put a few other scenarios in between part one and part two of this book). However, as is, it's a bit of a mess. And like so many other scenarios of its time, feels weirdly deadly in ways that don't seem fun. Lots of chances to just die because ice falls on you, or you slop off a ledge, or whatever. It's one thing if you've gotten into combat, but for the most part, being one failed roll away from the scenery killing you doesn't make for a game I'd want to run, much less play.

[Arthur B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can be a bit of a mixed bag, but some good material to mine. Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordp...

[Al Capwned · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the two scenarios are pretty cool, it feels like there is not enough risk, considering the fact that there are so many parties involved.

[Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

in my opinion one of the best adventures for this game