Call of Cthulhu RPG: Gateways to Terror

Includes 3 scenarios. I’ve only ran the first one so far, but it was a good game and was able to introduce some new players to the CoC system. They are great if you don’t have a lot of time to prep and I was able to run the scenario from the book without having to make any notes! First scenario is more “pulp” action/adventure and the other two are more classic horror CoC scenarios.

Character provided for the players were great and gave good inspiration for role play. But the sheets provided aren’t that easy to use. I ended up printing out my own sheets - Seth Skorkowsky on YouTube has some reviews of the scenarios with some tips and modified character sheets to use so I’d recommend checking them out!

My only criticism is that the scenarios lack a little bit of depth as they are only set in one location. But this is a compromise to allow for a shorter session.

One of the brilliant things about Call of Cthulhu, is the fact that it is incredibly easy to learn as far as TTRPGs go; character creation can be a bit difficult at first, much like poaching an egg, or learning to love yourself. Gateways to Terror contains 3 easily digestible scenarios that you can easily run through with 2-5 players, as well as the keeper (GM).

The main draw for this book isn't so much how the scenarios are written in terms of content, but instead, in accessibility. This book is perfect to introduce new players to the game and it also serves as a wonderful example of teaching potential new keepers to the game. With each scenario rarely reaching 2 hours each, it's a Table top amuse bouche; perfectly digestible and good enough that people utter "More please" after it's been processed, in which case you can smack them into a game where they can make their own character and become an old gods chew toy.

I would recommend this purchase, but it does come with a qualifier in that I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is well versed in how the game works and, has no desire to help someone else learn how to run the game. The scenarios are short and only one of them has any reasonable potential for a hook to write other sessions for, but the big thing is that these scenarios were purpose built to introduce new players, veterans (keeper and player alike) just won't get the same draw to the game as a fledgling dice slinger.

To conclude, the quality is there, but it probably isn't necessary if you have a lot of experience in the game and, you aren't in need of introducing a large number of players in one go. Perhaps if you ran games online for a living, this may actually be perfect for you, as new players will come in, you throw one game out and then draw them back in for longer games, but to those already fighting off mythos horrors, this is sadly, one to miss, despite its quality.