Author Archives: Cuchulain

About Cuchulain

Cuchulain (otherwise known as Paul) has been playing roleplaying games since he was 10 years old. Although he'll play any game under the sun, he prefers characterisation and plot over tactics and mechanics. He is never happier than when playing in or mastering a horror campaign - preferably with heavy Cthulhu Mythos overtones or theme.

Horror Roleplaying Part 4: Zombies!

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Cuchulain
Pretty zombie...
This entry is part 4 of 8 in the series Horror Roleplaying

Zombies are one of the all-time great horror sub-genres, and they fit extremely well into almost any setting. There are many different flavours of Zombie, however, and you shouldn’t just automatically choose the most obvious. Continue reading →

Posted in Bestiary, Cthulhu, Gaming, History, Horror, Role Playing Games, Zombie Apocalypse | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Making the Most of Magic

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Cuchulain
Presto the Wizard

How to make the most of magic in your fantasy role-playing game. Advice for spellcasters, dungeon masters and writers. Continue reading →

Posted in Bestiary, Dungeons & Dragons, Game Design, Game Resources, Gaming, History, Role Playing Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Horror Roleplaying Part 3: The Vampire

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Cuchulain
Scary vampire!
This entry is part 3 of 8 in the series Horror Roleplaying

The genre of horror is, indeed, a broad one: from vampires to atomic horror, Cthulhu Mythos to slashers and serial killers. In fact, it would be fair to point out that these each constitute sub-genres in their own right, and each needs their own special consideration. I shall endeavour to point out some of the particulars of the most common types – claiming to have an exhaustive list would lead to inevitable ridicule. Continue reading →

Posted in Bestiary, Game Design, Game Resources, Gaming, Horror, Role Playing Games | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Horror Roleplaying Part 2: The Setup

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Cuchulain
Freaky skeletal hand
This entry is part 2 of 8 in the series Horror Roleplaying

The success of your horror roleplaying campaign can sometimes be determined before you even pick up the dice to make your characters. More than any other genre, a horror game requires some careful thought and preparation. Continue reading →

Posted in Cthulhu, Game Design, Game Resources, Gaming, Horror, Role Playing Games | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Dwarf Fortress v.0.31.10 – Strike the Earth!

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Cuchulain

A major update has recently been released to Dwarf Fortress which has altered the game significantly. So what changes have been brought to the table? Here’s a list… Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Games, Gaming | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Horror Roleplaying Part 1. Setting the Mood.

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Cuchulain
Hapless fools encounter the Horror.
This entry is part 1 of 8 in the series Horror Roleplaying

Horror roleplaying is some of the most visceral, engaging gaming you can indulge in, yet it can be very hard to run well. In this post we look at a couple of ways to make a horror styled roleplaying game run more effectively. Continue reading →

Posted in Cthulhu, Game Design, Gaming, Horror, Role Playing Games | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Australian Government puts R18+ Rating for computer games on the table

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Cuchulain
R18+ Logo

As many of you know, most of the writers for this blog live in Australia. And for that fact we have been subjected to one of the most backward and condescending ratings systems for computer games in the developed world. … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Games, Rants | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Philosophy of Horror

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Cuchulain
Collapse

For those of you who love horror fiction and roleplaying, yet also don’t mind a bit of academic/philosophical speculation, let me introduce a wonderful resourse: Collapse volume IV. This is a special edition of an academic journal on philosophy, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Cthulhu, Horror, Nerdom, Role Playing Games | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Memoriam: Keith ‘Doc’ Herber

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Cuchulain

For those of you who don’t know, Keith ‘Doc’ Herber was one of the shining lights of the gaming industry. Many people had their first taste of the Cthulhu Mythos through Herber’s work; he was the principal author on such … Continue reading →

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Body Language Rugby

Posted on March 12, 2009 by Cuchulain
The Playing Field. Note the goal posts at the far end.

There are some stereotypical characteristics of the “nerd” which are commonly believed. (Perhaps because there’s a grain of truth in there…) Now, there’s a range of these, but today we’re only interested in 2. 1. Nerds are antisocial, don’t do … Continue reading →

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