Groups in Cthulhu Invictus

[S Ferguson]

just for my campaign building's sake, how do users of CoC justify turning the "investigators" into a group? I mean, why would a bunch of disparate characters want to team up with each other to tackle the Horrors Beyond? Aside from Delta Green, I don't think it's ever discussed to a satisfactory degree. I'm in particular trying to get a Cthulhu Invictus campaign off the ground but cant picture a noble, a centurion, and a Freedman teaming up together. Any suggestions from people who have run Cthulhu Invictus? Secret societies would be a first gut reaction, save that those too would be subject to the Roman class system (i.e. only the plutocracy, landowners, etc.). Need help on this one, Otherwise it's a fantastic setting.

[scionofnyarlathotep]

just for my campaign building's sake, how do users of CoC justify turning the "investigators" into a group? I mean, why would a bunch of disparate characters want to team up with each other to tackle the Horrors Beyond? Aside from Delta Green, I don't think it's ever discussed to a satisfactory degree. I'm in particular trying to get a Cthulhu Invictus campaign off the ground but cant picture a noble, a centurion, and a Freedman teaming up together. Any suggestions from people who have run Cthulhu Invictus? Secret societies would be a first gut reaction, save that those too would be subject to the Roman class system (i.e. only the plutocracy, landowners, etc.). Need help on this one, Otherwise it's a fantastic setting.

The approach I took was to have everyone attached to a legion in some shape or form. So, there were two legionaries, a physician and a finder.

Another connection I set up was for a convention scenario (which was obviously easier to cater for than a campaign) in Roman Britain involving the surviving members of a raided villa being escorted to safety by legionaries and auxillaries.

I can the justification of your secret society approach and it could be a good way of drawing disparate characters from across the Empire together.

Another possibility for consideration could be the involvement of a wealthy patron looking to either rid the Empire of the Mythos or embroil it further in its' tentacles (this would also allow for some potential PvP action involving the usual chicanery of Roman society).

[S Ferguson]

My first reaction was to do the centurion thing - soldiers in the face of unremitting horror but with the wealth of information in both it and Rome: Life and Death of the Republic (a nice companion if a more dry read ) it just begs for these disparate classes, I suppose a dignitary could attend a local brothel (as was common at the time) and introduce "Lowest class" investigators into otherwise "Upper Class" strata that way. Mind you, slavery, and indentured servitude were common also so I might try that. It will definitely be a test of my ability to reason when the character sheets come in. The secret societies angle I'll have to take another look-see at. Could be interesting but usually it's more-so if the investigators have conflicting goals.

Thoughts anyone?

[Doswelk]

just for my campaign building's sake, how do users of CoC justify turning the "investigators" into a group? I mean, why would a bunch of disparate characters want to team up with each other to tackle the Horrors Beyond? Aside from Delta Green, I don't think it's ever discussed to a satisfactory degree. I'm in particular trying to get a Cthulhu Invictus campaign off the ground but cant picture a noble, a centurion, and a Freedman teaming up together. Any suggestions from people who have run Cthulhu Invictus? Secret societies would be a first gut reaction, save that those too would be subject to the Roman class system (i.e. only the plutocracy, landowners, etc.). Need help on this one, Otherwise it's a fantastic setting.

With the exact mix you described there I would something like maybe the father's of the noble and centurion served together in the legion, maybe officer and (whatever the roman version of a sergeant is) therefore although the noble and the centurion might not normally mix the fact that their fathers served together provides a reason for the two of them to know each other (even if barely at the start)

As for the freed man maybe he was a trusted slave of the noble who won his freedom saving the nobles's life?

[S Ferguson]

With the exact mix you described there I would something like maybe the father's of the noble and centurion served together in the legion, maybe officer and (whatever the roman version of a sergeant is) therefore although the noble and the centurion might not normally mix the fact that their fathers served together provides a reason for the two of them to know each other (even if barely at the start)

As for the freed man maybe he was a trusted slave of the noble who won his freedom saving the nobles's life?

I'm not sure I feel comfortable with this style of "background information" here. Doesn't it take away from the player's best thought out backgrounds, detailing their character's lives back to childhood? I hate messing with other peoples characters (with my own I'm rather fluid) best laid plans. I think I'm stuck with using the old mainstay of religion (or what the romans passed off as it - worshiping Nyarlathotep in one of his Thousand Masks) to get them all together just long enough in order to drive them insane. The perks of the investigator are small indeed.

Thoughts?
SF

[scionofnyarlathotep]

I'm not sure I feel comfortable with this style of "background information" here. Doesn't it take away from the player's best thought out backgrounds, detailing their character's lives back to childhood? I hate messing with other peoples characters (with my own I'm rather fluid) best laid plans. I think I'm stuck with using the old mainstay of religion (or what the romans passed off as it - worshiping Nyarlathotep in one of his Thousand Masks) to get them all together just long enough in order to drive them insane. The perks of the investigator are small indeed.

Thoughts?
SF

In which part of the Empire are you looking to set the campaign? Mother Rome itself or one of the provinces?

[S Ferguson]

Roma Invictus around the Mare Nostrum. Basically it will strt out in Rome and tour the major cities, and wilds about the Mediterranean, staying in the "civilized" part of the empire (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one).

[S Ferguson]

Mind you I don't mind expanding.... Blithering madmen can be found anywhere in the Empire.

[scionofnyarlathotep]

Roma Invictus around the Mare Nostrum. Basically it will strt out in Rome and tour the major cities, and wilds about the Mediterranean, staying in the "civilized" part of the empire (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one).

Just a thought but you could have the Roman equivalent of the 18th/19th century Grand Tour. Licentious younger son of a noble frittering away his father's hard earned fortune whilst allegedly gaining knowledge of the Empire - accompanied by bodyguard, tutor, persoanl slave?

[S Ferguson]

Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. Iy's a little Ben Hur-ish but as long as Charleton Heston doesn't make a cameo. Actually Ben Hur might not be a bad idea, either. Individuals pressed into slavery, winning their freedom, and becoming revered in chariot races,,, Hmmmm....

O.K. Obviously, I'm going to have to tinker with the character backgrounds a bit in order to fit everyone in (doing this with partially or pre-generated characters would almost seem easier). Now how do the Secret Societies, and Mythos fit in. On the grand tour do they just wander into gibbering madness? Or do the mythos actually follow them? I'd assume the more mythos knowledge gained, the more the Secret Societies would seek them out (don't ask me how though) Since so many of the mythos creatures can actively manifest in this era, it requires a different line of thinking than in the standard 1920's, or modern campaigns I'd think.

Thoughts?
SF