I'm getting ready to release my first Miskatonic Repository adventure - most is written, but I'm still editing, formatting, and making maps.   I've read through the guidelines & additional guidelines.  I've been running/playing CoC since 1989.

The adventure has been play tested four times at Cons.

What advice could you give that's not in the Community Content guidelines that would help me put my best foot forward?

To date I've published two adventures for OSE last year (Wicked Cool Games), so I've got some sense of how this works - both reached Copper Tier.  Thanks.

I've never released an adventure, so don't have any advice.

That said, GOOD LUCK on it !

Let us know when it is released. I run a mash up of Call of Cathluh & Delta Green for my daughters periodically, and am always on the look out for a good adventure to use.

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 06:15:08 PMLet us know when it is released. I run a mash up of Call of Cathluh & Delta Green for my daughters periodically, and am always on the look out for a good adventure to use.

Thanks!  Since you use Delta Green, it's set in the 1980s.  Characters are thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

Quote from: Vic99 on May 19, 2024, 09:31:16 PM

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 06:15:08 PMLet us know when it is released. I run a mash up of Call of Cathluh & Delta Green for my daughters periodically, and am always on the look out for a good adventure to use.

Thanks!  Since you use Delta Green, it's set in the 1980s.  Characters are thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

NICE

Their "H Cell" is operating out of Kansas City with their area of operations covering from the Appalachians to the Rockies so that is perfect. They are running in the late 1990s so the time frame isn't that far off either.

Oh yeah, one of the character's real life is a Federal Bureau of Land Managment Ranger, so the through hiker scenario fits his job too

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 10:43:52 PMNICE

Their "H Cell" is operating out of Kansas City with their area of operations covering from the Appalachians to the Rockies so that is perfect. They are running in the late 1990s so the time frame isn't that far off either.

Holy damn that is a lot of territory to cover.

Also - awesome. Sometimes the mindless chaos of the Outer Gods is fun. And sometimes "no, fuck you, space monster from beyond comprehension" is fun.

One thing I have noticed about modern CoC scenarios is that a lot of them seem to be built entirely around one-shot play.  They are written assuming that players will be playing the provided pregens or characters built specifically for this scenario.  There is very little allowance for using existing characters without significant rewriting by the GM and, usually, a credulity straining contrivance or two.  This is fine for one-shot play at a convention but it limits their usefulness in ongoing campaigns.

On that note, include multiple hooks that can be used to pull in characters. 

Include a player map.  Lots of scenarios will give you one map with everything clearly labeled.  These can't be shown to players without a lot of extra work editing them or just asking players to ignore that arrow pointing to the secret door.

   

Quote from: Vic99 on May 19, 2024, 09:31:16 PM

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 06:15:08 PMLet us know when it is released. I run a mash up of Call of Cathluh & Delta Green for my daughters periodically, and am always on the look out for a good adventure to use.

Thanks!  Since you use Delta Green, it's set in the 1980s.  Characters are thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

Any suggestions for making a forest ranger profession in Delta Green?

I have not published under MR yet (very slow progress when working alone), so I do not have anything to recommend.  However, I will be watching this thread for advice as well.

Good luck!

Quote from: yosemitemike on May 20, 2024, 04:25:58 AMOne thing I have noticed about modern CoC scenarios is that a lot of them seem to be built entirely around one-shot play.  They are written assuming that players will be playing the provided pregens or characters built specifically for this scenario.  There is very little allowance for using existing characters without significant rewriting by the GM and, usually, a credulity straining contrivance or two.  This is fine for one-shot play at a convention but it limits their usefulness in ongoing campaigns.

On that note, include multiple hooks that can be used to pull in characters. 

Include a player map.  Lots of scenarios will give you one map with everything clearly labeled.  These can't be shown to players without a lot of extra work editing them or just asking players to ignore that arrow pointing to the secret door.

 

Rgr on them feeling like one shots. I tried to run my girls game like a campaign and we went through an intro adventure and 3 or 4 other adventures. However, the more I went with it back to back the more if started losing the feel of horror and started getting the feel of a pulp hero game. The sessions went great and they loved each adventure and most of them ended with 'yeah wow that was intense!' but less on the 'and scarry too.

With that, I switched to Traveller being the main game and started doing the CoC DG game after 3 Traveller adventures. That seems to be the right balance. They don't loose the feel of their character, and they have a campaign going, but each adventure is fresh enough to keep the horror/fear  feeling.

Rgr on the player map along with the Keeper map. I'm good with paint and able to erase some of the 'players can't see this' but it would be better if there were just 2 maps to start out.

Something else I'd suggest having is a time line of key events (including the history behind it). Especially if you are doing any of the investigation element of CoC/DG. I hate having key things that have/are/will happen at a specific time, and have to keep flipping through the book looking at the wall of text trying to see exactly when it happen(s/ed)

Quote from: Thornhammer on May 19, 2024, 11:16:37 PM

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 10:43:52 PMNICE

Their "H Cell" is operating out of Kansas City with their area of operations covering from the Appalachians to the Rockies so that is perfect. They are running in the late 1990s so the time frame isn't that far off either.

Holy damn that is a lot of territory to cover.

Also - awesome. Sometimes the mindless chaos of the Outer Gods is fun. And sometimes "no, fuck you, space monster from beyond comprehension" is fun.

Yeah, it is set in the 'cowboy' time of DG but I have cells covering specific regions. To make it feel more real, I have had them meet the cell covering Texas Oklahoma New Mexico etc, but that team has just all died (a suicide, a bad mission, then the last survivor being taken out by MAJESTIC). At the start of the next adventure, they are going to find that out and realize that there is another player on the board that is not aligned with DG. They have hints that at there is a team in Chicago, and at least 2 other teams out there.

Quote from: Rhymer88 on May 20, 2024, 04:50:45 AM

Quote from: Vic99 on May 19, 2024, 09:31:16 PM

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 06:15:08 PMLet us know when it is released. I run a mash up of Call of Cathluh & Delta Green for my daughters periodically, and am always on the look out for a good adventure to use.

Thanks!  Since you use Delta Green, it's set in the 1980s.  Characters are thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

Any suggestions for making a forest ranger profession in Delta Green?

It has been over 2 years since we made the characters so I'd have to look at my old notes. With me using a mesh up of CoC & DG however I did it back then was not 'by the book' of either system.

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 10:43:52 PM

Quote from: Vic99 on May 19, 2024, 09:31:16 PM

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 06:15:08 PMLet us know when it is released. I run a mash up of Call of Cathluh & Delta Green for my daughters periodically, and am always on the look out for a good adventure to use.

Thanks!  Since you use Delta Green, it's set in the 1980s.  Characters are thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

NICE

Their "H Cell" is operating out of Kansas City with their area of operations covering from the Appalachians to the Rockies so that is perfect. They are running in the late 1990s so the time frame isn't that far off either.

Oh yeah, one of the character's real life is a Federal Bureau of Land Managment Ranger, so the through hiker scenario fits his job too

Quote from: Lurker on May 19, 2024, 10:43:52 PMNICE

Their "H Cell" is operating out of Kansas City with their area of operations covering from the Appalachians to the Rockies so that is perfect. They are running in the late 1990s so the time frame isn't that far off either.

Oh yeah, one of the character's real life is a Federal Bureau of Land Managment Ranger, so the through hiker scenario fits his job too

Great!  Thanks.

Quote from: yosemitemike on May 20, 2024, 04:25:58 AMOne thing I have noticed about modern CoC scenarios is that a lot of them seem to be built entirely around one-shot play.  They are written assuming that players will be playing the provided pregens or characters built specifically for this scenario.  There is very little allowance for using existing characters without significant rewriting by the GM and, usually, a credulity straining contrivance or two.  This is fine for one-shot play at a convention but it limits their usefulness in ongoing campaigns.

On that note, include multiple hooks that can be used to pull in characters. 

Include a player map.  Lots of scenarios will give you one map with everything clearly labeled.  These can't be shown to players without a lot of extra work editing them or just asking players to ignore that arrow pointing to the secret door.

   

Good observation.  I'm trying to include a "continuing the adventure section" so that the Keeper might consider developing a mini campaign or even larger scale follow ups after.

I'm writing it as a one shot with pregens, but I have thought about adding an alternative hooks section as well.  I would love it if some used it or a variant of it in a pre-existing campaign.

I'm also mindful that the module could get too long and I want to avoid that as well.

Quote from: Lurker on May 20, 2024, 07:12:33 PMRgr on the player map along with the Keeper map. I'm good with paint and able to erase some of the 'players can't see this' but it would be better if there were just 2 maps to start out.

Something else I'd suggest having is a time line of key events (including the history behind it). Especially if you are doing any of the investigation element of CoC/DG. I hate having key things that have/are/will happen at a specific time, and have to keep flipping through the book looking at the wall of text trying to see exactly when it happen(s/ed)

Two versions of a map is good advice.  I did this with a OSE side quests DriveThru publication.  I slightly modified Dyson Maps.
Here it is: Evocative Fantasy Side Quests

Regarding a time line - I have a few events that will happen in order at the beginning.  Then it's mostly several suggested events - some of which are essential - others are optional.  I think it works well and gives flexibility.