The lance and the sabre provide a low-technology counterpoint to this, still in use in colonial conflicts. Machineguns are noted, as is the fact that they are available only to the military. This gives a good summary of the period, with the sword-cane getting a prominent mention, perhaps usefully, as it is also reported that 1890s handguns are too bulky to conceal. The chapter is rounded off by a section on 1890s weaponry.
In direct contrast to this was the optimism of a Britain at its height: new technology and the confidence which comes with being a global hyperpower. This gives a good idea tensions of the Late Victorian period, with Britain confronted not only by other Great Powers in the form of the United States, France and Germany, but also unrest in its vast empire. The new occupations are almost all for the Middle and Upper Classes, which is something of a missed opportunity: a campaign combining the horrors of Lovecraft with the horrors of being poor in Victorian Britain would be an unforgettable experience.įollowing the new occupations comes a run-down of the world in the 1890s. Several new Occupations are added in this chapter, the most interesting being Adventuress (vital for allowing female characters a little freedom), Inventor, and Rogue (the given examples being the fictional A.J. Of course, you may find that the grimness of Late Victorian lower class life adds to the horror of your game. It is recommended that investigators are from the Upper or Middle classes, to allow the freedom of action that Call of Cthulhu adventures often require. The article divides investigators up by Occupation into three classes: Upper, Middle, and Lower. Perhaps most important here is a page-and-a-half article on social class in Victorian Britain. These seem to be well chosen, and should provide an interested Keeper with a variety of scenario ideas and background “flavour”.Ĭhapter Two – Character Generation & New Rules: A chapter which is exactly what it sounds like. Maps are in abundance, with there being a map of the London boroughs, one of the counties surrounding London, and one of the rail routes of Great Britain, in addition to the aforementioned streetmap of London itself.Ĭhapter One – Introduction: This is a brief one-page introduction to the book, consisting mostly of a list of sources, both period and modern. I don’t buy RPG books for their art, so to me this is really only a minor concern.
Perhaps the one exception to this is the front cover, a colour painting of a Victorian gentleman being stalked by Something Nasty on the streets of London.
Compared to more recent products, however, the illustration leaves something to be desired: art is fairly sparse, and generally only average. In terms of presentation, the product is well laid out, and it is easy enough to find required information. When reading this review, bear in mind that any faults I identify may have been corrected in later editions. A second edition of “Cthulhu by Gaslight” was released in book form in 1987, and a third edition is apparently being considered as I write. pdf file from DriveThruRPG, which is how I acquired my copy. Recently, this product has been made available for download as a. The box consisted of two booklets (“A Sourcebook for the 1890s” and “The Yorkshire Horrors”) and a large map of Victorian London. “Cthulhu By Gaslight” was originally published as a boxed set in 1986.