Character Creation: Mythos World

And back we go into the spooky world of Lovecraftian Mythos.

The Game: Mythos World

The Publisher: Diceless Hero Games

Degree of Familiarity: None with this game, some with other Cthulhu-related games, quite a bit with PbtA games

Books Required: Just the one

 

I just finished a playthrough of Sinking City, which was fun, though I could have done without the combat sections. Anyway, got me in the mood to run Trail of Cthulhu, which probably isn't going to happen anytime soon, and I already did a character for both that and tremulus, so here we are at Mythos World.

Mythos World looks more like Dungeon World than tremulus, and as I was reading the basic moves, I thought, boy, these are kinda boring. But after reading the whole book, I dunno. I don't think I'd rather run or play this than Trail or, if we're in the mood of PbtA, tremulus, but it doesn't look bad, just a little bland.

Anyway, on we go.

As with most PbtA games, we start by choosing a playbook, here broken out by profession. I actually know what I want to do this time; I want to play the Author and say that my character is a prolific writer of pulps. His stuff isn't necessarily very good, but he writes like crazy and it's not bad, so he sells pretty well (I actually picture the character as being much like Patton Oswalt's conception of what the writer of Death Bed: The Bed That Eats was: "Reach down, God, gimme a high-five!").

Anyway, my author's name is J. Ulster Burr (folks just call him "Burr" most of the time). Choosing his look, I'll go with horn-rimmed glasses (which he's predisposed toward taking off dramatically), a top hat, and a petite mustache.

For my attributes, I've got -1, 0, 1, 1, 2 to distribute. I'll put the 2 in Empathy (this is not a reserved, quiet writer, this is a loud, boisterous writer), 1 in Intelligence, 1 in Might, 0 in Willpower, and -1 in Speed. That sets my Wealth at 2, which is fine.

For my passion, I pick "I want to write the most frightening novel ever written." Perhaps some sort of death-bed...?

For equipment, I pick...hmm. A library membership, and a jacket and bowtie (I also get a typewriter, a notebook, and writing instruments).

My starting moves are just like my hero (I can substitute my Empathy for Might or Speed if I'm emulating Ludlow Cross, the hero of many of my pulp novels) and keen observer (I can ask questions without using the associated "get info" move, which I don't actually like because it breaks the "when [trigger] then [move]" arrangement, but whatever).

Then I get one Professional Move. Decisions, decisions. I'll take salon (I get together with other writers and gab about shit, which can give me info). I also like weird tales, but I think it'd make more sense to have Burr get that move after he's been on some adventures and seen some weirdness.

Last thing would be connections, but y'know, just me. That'll actually do it, I think. I picture Burr as very enthusiastic, very energetic and gung-ho, utterly convinced that his stories are awesome and that he's a Serious Author. The trick would be playing him as keen, rather than overbearing, because I don't see him as a Tommy Wiseau so much as an Ed Wood, if that makes sense. In the movie he could be played by Jack Black, if we want to see him just starting out, by Harvey Guillen.