Cthulhu: Dark Providence

I had not played either of the Study in Emerald games, but the revised edition of Cthulhu: Dark Providence caught my curiosity. Yes, the squid has tired everyone and everything by now; still, as we are nearing the end of a gloriously deranged Call of Cthulhu RPG campaign this year, Masks of Nyarlathotep, it seemed ideal to serve to the RPG crowd. It eventually made the BLTG board meeting agenda, and we laid it out on the table with my fellow cultists—exactly where a theme like this gets the chance to work properly.

After only one play, I cannot claim to have picked apart every corner of the game. What I did feel, though, is that it flows smoothly: it gets you moving through the session without leaving you stuck over the table in endless thought.

Its interaction and choices have not yet revealed all their depth to me, but that first play clearly left the impression that there is plenty of meat underneath. It is one of those games that does not run out on the first encounter and makes you want to bring it back to the group to see what else it is hiding.

Overall, I liked it a lot. The smooth gameplay, the obvious depth that promises more plays, and the stamp of the original Great Old One make for a rather successful recipe in my book. It is not merely another Cthulhu on the shelf: it is a game I want to put back on the table.