The Good Friends of Jackson Elias

Video Guide to Combat in The Call of Cthulhu Quick-Start Rules:http://blasphemoustomes.com/2015/06/01/video-guide-to-call-of-cthulhu-quick-start-rules-part-4-combat/

Episode 53 – The Good Friends mess with the Mythos

This episode we’re speaking about the unspeakable, mentioning the unmentionable and naming the nameless. More particularly, we’re talking about a recently published book that we co-wrote, Nameless Horrors, using this as a starting point for a discussion about the merits and techniques of creating your own unique take on the Mythos.

Episode 52 - The Good Friends make their Library Use rolls

We’re back, and we’re doing our homework. In particular we’re looking at what kinds of research can help GMs and players give their games depth, possible sources of information and how not to lose your mind during the process. OK, we may not be the best people to help with that last item.

Episode 51 – The Good Friends are repulsed

First up we have Roman Polanski’s 1965 film Repulsion. This is one of Scott’s favourite films, but he is beginning to realise that he may be alone in this. The youth of today (such as Paul) seem to have no patience for films that take time to build atmosphere. And have you noticed how young people can’t leave their mobile phones alone for more than a few minutes? And don’t get me started o...

Episode 50 – The Good Friends investigate how Cthulhu took over the world

We’re back, and we’re celebrating our fiftieth episode! We’re as surprised as you are that we’ve made it this far; we really should have been eaten by a shoggoth or returned to our essential salts long ago. With this in mind, we decided to commemorate the occasion in the way we know best: by talking too much. This is a long episode — over two hours in length — but it’s also a big sub...

Episode 49 - The Hospice

The story we’re discussing is The Hospice, by Robert Aickman. In case you are unfamiliar with him, Aickman was a twentieth-century English writer of what he referred to as “strange stories”. His work is characterised by maddeningly dreamlike events, the meanings of which slip through your brain like greased eels, all communicated through precise prose. It’s debatable whether Aickman’s wo...

Episode 48 – The Good Friends get ready for prime time

We’re back and we’re looking at Primetime Adventures, a roleplaying game that uses the techniques of serial television in imaginative ways. This may seem like an unusual topic for us to cover, given our focus on horror gaming, but that’s only because it is. In our defence, we talk about some horror-themed and Lovecraftian games we’ve played, so it’s not entirely off-topic.

Episode 47 – The Good Friends take a peek behind the mask

Masks of Nyarlathotep is rightly revered as not only a classic Call of Cthulhu supplement but one of the best campaigns for any system. Despite having been published over 30 years ago, it remains fresh and popular today, with many groups who weren’t even born when it first came out coming afresh to the aid of Jackson Elias (Huh. That name sounds familiar). If you have never played Masks and plan...

Episode 46 – The Good Friends get playful

We’re back, and we’re nicking stuff again. Following on from episode 42’s discussion of neat GM techniques we’ve stolen, this time we’re thieving from players. There are plenty of discussions about how to be a good GM out there in the Internet, but much fewer about player techniques. Also, there are far more players out there, so that makes for richer pickings!

Episode 45 – The Good Friends indulge in some mockery

It’s been far too long since we’ve talked about horror films, so this episode we’re looking at three horror mockumentaries. The three films we’re looking at are Man Bites Dog (AKA C’est arrivé près de chez vous), a Belgian film from 1992, and Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon and S&man, both American films from 2006.

Episode 44

In the latest episode we discuss Cubicle 7's World War Cthulhu. We are holding a competition to promote both the podcast and the World War Cthulhu line. Check out the link for details. Merry Christmas all!

Episode 43 – The Good Friends play the long con

We’re back and we’re bursting with song, but more on that later. We’re also talking about conventions, and definitely not singing about them. That would be silly. Specifically, we’re talking about the UK roleplaying conventions we attend, with a focus on encouraging those of you who don’t already attend them to do so. Conventions are great social occasions, a good way to try new games an...