I Love the Arkham Horror Universe
Arkham Horror is it's own universe, inspired by, but distinct from the Lovecraft Universe.
The main characters in this Universe are the investigators, not the monsters. We create their adventures as we move from game to game in which they repeatedly appear. I like these characters, and I like the Arkham Horror Universe. I probably like it the same way other people like the Star Wars Universe, or the Warhammer 40k Universe.
I know this world. The layout of the town. The people in it. I know it so well, that I can imagine it surrounding the house in Mansions of Madness. I know where the cards laid out in Arkham Horror: The Card Game would be on a greater map of the town. When my investigator in Eldritch Horror visits Arkham, I know she will be staying at Ma's boarding house, and maybe getting a drink over at Hibb's.
So while others may moan, "Not another Cthulhu game," or complain that some game in the Arkham Horror Universe isn't "Lovecraftian" enough, I say bring it on. Like a new book in a favorite series, I can't wait to see what new adventures are in store for my favorite investigators.
I think the reason people react is because it's attached to the very specific lovecraft name. Part of me feels like it would have been way better off being attached to some generic pulp horror vibe (would also jettison the ick racism Lovecraft association), but obviously the lovecraft stuff is what brought people on board initially...
I feel that is especially true of Eldritch Horror. It's also why Eldritch Horror hasn't replaced Arkham Horror for me. AH is more mystical and creepy than EH. In AH I feel like the investigators are delving into arcane lore and the monsters and the influence of the GOOs feel more present. In EH the investigators are jetting around the world and may just as well be trying to find clues to bust up the opium trade as searching for clues to prevent ancient ones from destroying the world.
I would much rather play The French Connection: The Board Game, really.
The setting is fairly well fleshed out, as one might expect from decades long work by Chaosium.
I played a couple Arkham related titles, and really obsessed over Call of Cthulhu LCG for a few years. I think even the card game was evocative and did a lot of justice to pulp horror.
I'll echo Shellhead's sentiments regarding the glamorization of that era. It's was the tail end of the age of discovery where there was still room to not be cynical.
KingPut wrote: Nice post Uba. At the same time I kind of wish they set Arkham 3rd in the CoC 1880s / Sherlock London environment for a change of pace and to get a whole new set of characters. In CoC you have a choice of 1920s US or 1880s England.
Call of Cthulhu already had Cthulhu by Gaslight (1880s England), modern times, and the Dreamlands back when Arkham Horror 1st edition came out. Call of Cthulhu is now on its 7th edition, and includes settings where you can play during the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages, the Third Reich, or an apocalyptic future. I was really hoping for a big box Dreamlands expansion for Arkham Horror. Instead there was a very disappointing Dreamlands expansion for Eldritch Horror.
KingPut wrote: Nice post Uba. At the same time I kind of wish they set Arkham 3rd in the CoC 1880s / Sherlock London environment for a change of pace and to get a whole new set of characters. In CoC you have a choice of 1920s US or 1880s England.
The Horror Adventure Game set in the 1800's that I would like to see is a Penney Dreadful board game. That could be awesome.
ubarose wrote:
KingPut wrote: Nice post Uba. At the same time I kind of wish they set Arkham 3rd in the CoC 1880s / Sherlock London environment for a change of pace and to get a whole new set of characters. In CoC you have a choice of 1920s US or 1880s England.
The Horror Adventure Game set in the 1800's that I would like to see is a Penney Dreadful board game. That could be awesome.
IDW will probably do a Penney Dreadful game... in 2035.
I pissed away hours of my life reading seven (!) FFG Arkham Horror novels. As a glutton for punishment, I'm half tempted to finish the remaining two (?). Regardless, the books are total rubbish. Any connectivity a gamer may generate from a handful of text on playing cards, and an illustration is jeopardized by reading this tripe. Proceed with caution and prepare for a D20 san loss.