Miskatonic University Podcast

This episode Keepers Bridgett & Evan visit Innsmouth via of Chaosium’s newest Call of Cthulhu book: Innsmouth.

Patreon Plug & Update

Hey guys! It’s us. Bridgett and Evan. We uh, we went to Innsmouth to do some field research for you guys, and um… now our car won’t start. It’s too far to walk. Uber and Lyft says that this location doesn’t exist. The only way out is by bus, and we don’t have any money… 

We’ve risked everything to bring you guys good content. We’ve traveled to places that Papa Johns doesn’t even deliver. And now we’re struck. We need your help. We can barely afford these website fees, hosting fees, spam filter fees, storage fees, and editor payment fees, let alone a bus ticket to get back home….

But for only $2/month, you, dear listener, could save us from Innsmouth. And economic disaster. By backing us on patreon at patreon.com/MUP. We just want to get home. To you. 

The Discord Plug

MUP has a Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D 

And thank you to our editor GENE for editing this episode. 

Main Topic 

Let’s take a tour of the Innsmouth book! Join hosts as we riff, play, and discuss potential story options!

Homework

What’s your favorite part of the Innsmouth setting? Tell us over on the MUP Discord, channel Ep 361!

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan discuss Target Audiences with Zach from Pretending to be People!

Patreon Plug & Update

Hey, guys! We have a patreon. That’s right. That’s how we pay our editors, web hosting, storage, spam filters, website fees, and more!

And our backers make it possible. See, our backers are our target audience. They also enjoy weird or horrific roleplaying games. And they also choose to hang out with Evan and I every other week. You hear that Evan? People pay to be here. They pay to keep us going? ….What’s wrong with them?

I don’t know, but we’re not in a position to look a gift horse in the mouth. Fees are going up. We need the money. And we need subscribers. So, do just like our newest backer:

Matthew Dawkins

just did, head over patreon.com/MUP and subscribe. For as little as two bucks a month, you too can support Bridgett as she rudely interrupts and laughs over me. Or, you can force us to continue to pander to our corporate overlords, such as this episode’s sponsor:

Ad for MythosMarket Cosmic Prediction Market

For Zach

You’ve probably heard from your bros about their little prediction markets. “Oooh I can place a bet on the election! Ooh I can do a little insider trading on a celebrity death!” WHO CARES? Your bros are thinking small. 

You know how to play the big markets. When will Great Cthulhu rise? When will the stars be right again? How long until laws and morals are thrown aside and all people shout and kill and revel in joy?

You’ve studied the books bound in human skin. You’ve correlated the contents of your mind. You have the inside track on the apocalypse, and you use that knowledge on Mythos Market, the cosmic prediction market.

The Discord Plug

MUP has a Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D 

And thank you to our editor Ben for editing this episode. 

Main Topic 

Hello, everyone, and welcome everyone to the Main Topic! Tonight, we are here discussing: target audiences. We’re going to define what that is, discuss why it matters, and give you some tools, tricks, and support to recognize how these strategies directly impact you!

Homework

Dear listener, tell us – what’s YOUR target audience? Let us know on the Discord, channel ep-360.

This episode, Keepers Bridgett & Evan discuss horror gaming ideas based on the culture, folklore, and history of Mexico with Carlos Salazar!

Patreon Plug & Update

Are you excited to be getting out into the world with us? Learning new things? Encountering previously-unimagined terror? Well. Honey. Doing that is not free. 

That’s correct! We didn’t all get good enough grades for a study abroad scholarship… I think I’ve taken the college metaphor as far as it can go. OK. The point is, YOU can be our spiritual, temporal, and financial benefactors, by heading over to patreon.com/MUP to subscribe. For as little as two bucks a month, you can help us pay our editors, pay for web hosting, and pay for storage. 

And hey, we get it. If monetary support isn’t possible, a like, a share, a nomination to your favorite podcast awards, or a review goes such a long way! Because if you don’t engage, or support, then we’re forced to include ads from our backers, like this unholy nonsense from backer James (Ibis):

[In obnoxious 90s commercial screech]: Nahum Gardner’s Ba-LAaaasted Heath Sunbathing, in the West Arkham Hills mini-mall! Get a tan that is out of this world! (Editors: Gnarly 90’s guitar riff here?) Funky fake tan colors? NO WAY! Nahum Gardner uses the power of the cosmos to help you achieve color that is OUT OF THIS WORLD! 

…OK. That’s as long as I can do that voice. James, thank you! And curse you.

The Discord Plug

MUP has a Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D 

And thank you to our editor EQUINOX for editing this episode. 

Bridgett’s Pet Pic Shout Out 

Tonight’s Pet Pic Shout Out is of Jackson Elias, the puppers of Targard and Bev in Stitches! He’s got his eyes on you… he’s seen beyond sight… he knows beyond knowing… and hims still the bestest boy! Love you Targard! 

Main Topic 

Welcome everyone to the Main Topic! Tonight we are discussing horror gaming ideas based on the culture, folklore, and history of Mexico! Previously we’ve touched on the idea of looking into specific cultures for inspiration for your horror gaming, like when we dove deep into the Depression-era Mississippi Delta in our two Sinners episodes with our guest Quinn Murphy. And we’ve talked about the ways that the idea of “madness” evolves and shifts across cultures and across time. 

And just to revisit a couple of general ground rules here when we start to play with the Mythos and horror and real-life cultures: 

The Mythos is not responsible for factual, historical evils that humans commit.

We don’t mess around with tropes of backwards tribes who worship the mythos because they haven’t been enlightened by white man.

The stories and mythologies of real-world cultures are not “secretly, actually” referring to Mythos entities.

We don’t do misery tourism.

Define and deny racial fetishizing

OK! So! Carlos, let’s dive in!

Cosmic perspective in a Mexican and Mexican American tradition

Curanderismo: Mexican-American Folk Psychiatry by Ari Kiev

Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing, 2nd Ed. by Robert T Trotter II, Juan Antonio Chavira, Luís D León

Daily Life of the Aztecs

Bless Me Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya

Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Gracia

Fever Dreams of a Parasite, Pedro Iniquez

Folklore from different populations and how to use them as a jump off point for Mythos horror 

Mesoamerican systems of writing and the almost near destruction of Mesoamerican texts 

Also – yesterday was Mexican Independence Day! And we are just now entering Hispanic Heritage Month. Happy coincidences!

Homework

Dear listener, tell us – have you dabbled in horror gaming inspired by Mexico? Where would you like our Study Abroad program to go in the future? Let us know on the Discord, channel ep-359. 

This episode, Keepers Bridgett and Evan discuss Survival Horror with Matthew Dawkins!

Patreon Plug & Update

Do you enjoy this content? Would you like to help us create more of it? Would you love to go to sleep at night knowing that you did your part to directly support this show and our surrounding community? Well. Do we have news for you! 

You can be the hero that MUP deserves, and needs, by heading over to patreon.com/MUP to subscribe. For as little as two bucks a month you can help us pay our editors, pay for web hosting, and pay for storage. Do you know how much storage we go through each month? We need monetary support! 

And listen, if monetary support isn’t possible, a like, a share, a nomination to your favorite podcast awards, or a review goes such a long way! Because if you don’t engage, or support, then we’re forced to include ads from our backers, such as this gem from Antonio Marchen: 

This episode is brought to you by Grandma Sally’s Soap Shop, your online source for handcrafted soaps, beauty products, and other personal care items. We make our products in small batches using traditional methods, natural ingredients, and Grandma Sally’s own proprietary premium tallow blend.  

Unlike mass-produced corporate soaps, Grandma Sally’s products are rendered slowly over an open fire in an authentic iron cauldron. Quality is assured by the watchful gaze of powers older than mankind. Customers describe our cleansers as “surprisingly fresh,” “deeply satisfying,” and “uncomfortably personal.” At Grandma Sally’s, we put a little bit of ourselves into every product. And sometimes… a little bit of somebody else.

The Discord Plug

MUP has a Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D 

And thank you to our editor NATE for editing this episode. 

Main Topic 

Welcome everyone to the Main Topic! Tonight we are discussing Survival Horror. What it is, what it isn’t, what makes it unique, and how to use this subgenre of horror as a vehicle to enhance and diversify your storytelling. 

And to help, we’ve brought on prolific writer, award winning content creator, and honestly one my favorite GMs of all time, Matthew Dawkins! Matthew, please introduce yourself to the people!

So, we’re jumping into Survival Horror. Before we proceed, let’s first define it- Matthew, what is survival horror?

What is it NOT? Let’s clarify by contrast, what is survival horror compared to cosmic horror, investigative horror, apocalyptic, or psychological horror?

What type of core elements can you expect from survival horror? According to the internets: 

scarce resources,

Isolation  

unreliable combat, 

unexpected attacks, 

puzzle solving, 

evade versus confront enemies, 

vulnerable characters, 

maze-like environments, 

perception limitation 

What types of gamers or playstyles would be most attracted to survival horror?

What do you personally enjoy most about survival horror? What are your favorite games/system that rely on this texture of storytelling?

Ten Candles

Mutant Year Zero

Twilight 2000

Alien: the RPG

Locus

https://cobblepath-games.itch.io/locusrpg

This War of Mine

https://awakenrealms.com/games/awaken-realms/this-war-of-mine

The World Below

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/500655/the-world-below-core-rulebook

What should you remember when creating survival horror content?

Accounting for PC deaths early in the session?

Connect with Matthew Dawkins

https://www.patreon.com/matthewdawkins

https://www.matthewdawkins.com

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/onyx-path/jadestorm

Homework

Dear listener, tell us – what is your take on survival horror? Where has it be done well in your gaming experience? Got links? Drop em! 

This episode, Keepers Bridgett & Evan welcome back Heinrich Moore to discuss collaborative RPG projects, such as scenarios and anthologies.

Patreon Plug & Update

Did you know that crowdfunding is a collaborative way to support your favorite podcast? We have a Patreon, through which you can support us! You can directly support the show, and our surrounding community, by becoming a Patron! 

That’s right! You can head over to patreon.com/MUP to subscribe. For as little as two bucks a month you can help us pay our editors, pay for web hosting, and pay for my therapy when I have to deal with technical issues on the web hosting. 

And listen, if monetary support isn’t possible, might I remind you that the black market rates for a gently used kidney are very attractive right now? 

Evan, no. No, we are not having our listeners sell a kidney to support the show, because you know they would.

I didn’t say it had to be *their* kidney! But… fine. If we can’t get some of that sweet, sweet black market organ money, I guess we’ll have to sell space to advertisers, like this one!

[Heinrich:

Obed’s Seafood thinks you shouldn’t have to settle for soggy, bland fish sticks, fish filets and crab cakes. Your family deserves only the best, so why not give them the seafood that’s harvested from our own hidden fishery in New England, reef-caught and fresh-frozen. How do we attract such fantastic fish? That’s Obed’s secret! 

From our boats to your table, Obed’s Seafood stays crispy and tasty. Ask for Obed’s in your grocer’s seafood aisle. – A division of Marsh Family Industries.]

And if you would like to create a mythos or horror-related ad for us to read, please visit the Patreon Chat on our Discord. 

The Discord Plug

Yes, MUP has a Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D 

And thank you to our editor GENE for editing this episode. 

Main Topic 

Welcome everyone to the Main Topic! Tonight we are discussing collaborative RPG projects, such as scenarios and anthologies. And we have with us, fresh off masterminding the phenomenally successful Year of the Goat anthology… HEINRICH MOORE! Heinrich, you’ve been with us on MUP before, for a special episode where we played through your Guide to Character Creation. But for those few folks who don’t know you yet, tell us who you are!

[Heinrich does so]

Year of the Goat was an anthology of 12 scenarios, by 12 different authors, and in bringing it to life, Heinrich and I learned a LOT. We want to pass those lessons on to the listeners, both to encourage you to try putting together your own collaborative projects, and to help you get over some of the barriers.

Level-set: What is a Collaborative Project? Why do it?

A written project where two or more people are contributing text, editing, art, or other skills and content.

It can have one or two people leading the project, or be a collaboration of equals

Some critical tools and tips for doing this well:

Clear Concept

Concept paper

Topics – what’s in scope and not

Any content restrictions

Clear format and requirements

Templates

Style guide

Word Count

Clear roles and responsibilities

Writing

Editing (different kinds) – who has final say over text?

Art (including providing inspiration or public domain art)

Marketing (including promos, submitting for nominations, making videos, sending to reviewers)

Deadlines and contingencies

Payment split – ideally, decide on this BEFORE ANYONE DOES WORK 

Homework

Dear listener, tell us – have you led a collaborative writing project for Call of Cthulhu or another system? Have you been part of one? How did it go, and how could it have gone better? Come to the Discord, channel ep-357, and share what you’ve learned!