This is the unedited version for backers only.
Cthulhu’s tentacles have wriggled their way into every aspect of popular culture, and board games are no exception. Lovecraftian horror has been part of board games for as long as Call of Cthulhu has been around, and it’s only grown in popularity. But what are some of the main Cthulhu-tainted board games people should look out for? And what are our own experiences of playing them?
Cthulhu’s tentacles have wriggled their way into every aspect of popular culture, and board games are no exception. Lovecraftian horror has been part of board games for as long as Call of Cthulhu has been around, and it’s only grown in popularity. But what are some of the main Cthulhu-tainted board games people should look out for? And what are our own experiences of playing them?
We are delighted to welcome Paula Deming to The G...
2025-12-30 00:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostWelcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.
This time, we’re discussing the two episodes we recorded with Ross Bryant — “Narration in Call of Cthulhu” and 2025-12-26 00:01:06 +0000 UTC View Post
The Birds is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best-loved films, and one of his few forays into outright horror. It was also one of three features that he directed based on stories by Daphne du Maurier. But just how much does the film resemble du Maurier’s story? And which version provides better inspiration for Call of Cthulhu?
We are delighted to welcome 2025-12-16 00:01:04 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the unedited version for backers only.
The Birds is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best-loved films, and one of his few forays into outright horror. It was also one of three features that he directed based on stories by Daphne du Maurier. But just how much does the film resemble du Maurier’s story? And which version provides better inspiration for Call of Cthulhu?
We are delighted to welcome 2025-12-16 00:01:03 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the unedited version for backers only.
Narration lies at the heart of tabletop roleplaying. The worlds we play in are all shared spaces we create in our heads. In traditional RPGs, such as Call of Cthulhu, most of this worldbuilding and description is in the hands of the GM. So how can we, as Keepers, bring the world to life at the gaming table? What are some techniques we’ve picked up over the years? And what approaches have we learned to avoid?
Narration lies at the heart of tabletop roleplaying. The worlds we play in are all shared spaces we create in our heads. In traditional RPGs, such as Call of Cthulhu, most of this worldbuilding and description is in the hands of the GM. So how can we, as Keepers, bring the world to life at the gaming table? What are some techniques we’ve picked up over the years? And what approaches have we learned to avoid?
We are delighted to welcome&...
2025-12-02 00:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostWelcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.
This time, we’re discussing the two episodes we recorded with Ericka Skirpan — “Using LARP Techniques at the Table” and 2025-11-25 00:01:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Most tabletop horror games revolve around the struggle between the player characters and one or more external antagonists. The concept of a “Big Bad Evil Guy” is at the heart of most of our gaming experiences. But what happens when we take all that away? How might games work when the horror comes from the interactions between the PCs? And what are some of the possible pitfalls of this approach?
We are delighted to welcome Ericka Skirpan back a...
2025-11-18 00:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostThis is the unedited version for backers only.
Most tabletop horror games revolve around the struggle between the player characters and one or more external antagonists. The concept of a “Big Bad Evil Guy” is at the heart of most of our gaming experiences. But what happens when we take all that away? How might games work when the horror comes from the interactions between the PCs? And what are some of the possible pitfalls of this approach?
This is the unedited version for backers only.
Live action and tabletop roleplaying share common roots and many similarities, but they have become quite separate hobbies. Each has evolved a unique set of forms and tools. So what can the world of tabletop roleplaying, particularly Call of Cthulhu, learn from LARP? Which LARP techniques lend themselves best to tabletop play? And which games blur the line between tabletop and LARP?
Live action and tabletop roleplaying share common roots and many similarities, but they have become quite separate hobbies. Each has evolved a unique set of forms and tools. So what can the world of tabletop roleplaying, particularly Call of Cthulhu, learn from LARP? Which LARP techniques lend themselves best to tabletop play? And which games blur the line between tabletop and LARP?
We are delighted to welcome Ericka Skirpan as our guest ...
2025-11-04 00:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostWelcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.
This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Jared Logan — “The Joy of Gore” and 2025-10-28 00:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post
This episode is an in-depth look at Arthur Machen's weird tale "The White People". While it's not a Cthulhu Mythos story, both Machen and this tale were big influences on Lovecraft. You will find elements of it, such as the Aklo language and the Voorish sign, dotted throughout Lovecraft's work.
But just what is it that makes "The White People" such an enduring favourite? It's a much more complex tale...
2025-10-20 23:01:05 +0000 UTC View PostThis is the unedited version for backers only.
This episode is an in-depth look at Arthur Machen's weird tale "The White People". While it's not a Cthulhu Mythos story, both Machen and this tale were big influences on Lovecraft. You will find elements of it, such as the Aklo language and the Voorish sign, dotted throughout Lovecraft's work.
But just what is it that makes "The White Peo...
2025-10-20 23:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostThis is the unedited version for backers only.
While not all horror involves gore, it is an essential part of the genre. Whether it's a genteel smear of blood at the corner of the Count's mouth or bodies being torn apart like wet piñatas, most horror media involves at least a drop or two of the red stuff. But what is the appeal of something that should, by rights, repel us? Why does it make us laugh even as we gasp in horror? And how can we make use of it in our games without ...
2025-10-06 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostWhile not all horror involves gore, it is an essential part of the genre. Whether it's a genteel smear of blood at the corner of the Count's mouth or bodies being torn apart like wet piñatas, most horror media involves at least a drop or two of the red stuff. But what is the appeal of something that should, by rights, repel us? Why does it make us laugh even as we gasp in horror? And how can we make use of it in our games without it becoming desensitising?
Welcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.
This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Maverick Haenze — “Zombies” and 2025-09-29 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Following last episode's look at zombies, we're delving into a classic of the genre. Sure, the folks behind 28 Days Later have said that it's not a zombie film, but we're ignoring that. This has all the hallmarks of a zombie apocalypse, and the various films that have borrowed from it over the years since release haven't been shy about using the 'z' word.
But what is it...
2025-09-22 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostThis is the unedited version for backers only.
Following last episode's look at zombies, we're delving into a classic of the genre. Sure, the folks behind 28 Days Later have said that it's not a zombie film, but we're ignoring that. This has all the hallmarks of a zombie apocalypse, and the various films that have borrowed from it over the years since release h...
2025-09-22 23:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostThis is the unedited version for backers only.
Given how prevalent zombies are in horror media and how strongly the undead feature in Lovecraft's earlier fiction, it's surprising that it's taken us 321 episodes to get around to discussing them. But, like the walking dead, we shamble slowly.
Our discussion takes in the origins of zombies in Voudon, the various ways they've been redefined in horror media, and some ways we might use them in games. And then we feast on the fl...
2025-09-08 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostGiven how prevalent zombies are in horror media and how strongly the undead feature in Lovecraft's earlier fiction, it's surprising that it's taken us 321 episodes to get around to discussing them. But, like the walking dead, we shamble slowly.
Our discussion takes in the origins of zombies in Voudon, the various ways they've been redefined in horror media, and some ways we might use them in games. And then we feast on the flesh of the living.
Once again, with such a big topic, we...
2025-09-08 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostWelcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.
This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Andy Goodman — “Roll Your Own Mythos” and 2025-09-02 19:46:39 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the unedited version for backers only.
We're following our discussion about how to roll your own Mythos with an exploration of Laird Barron's Old Leech cycle and how it relates to Lovecraft. In particular, we're focusing on Barron's story "The Broadsword", using it as a springboard to discuss the broader themes of his work. We bring in elements from so...
2025-08-25 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostWe're following our discussion about how to roll your own Mythos with an exploration of Laird Barron's Old Leech cycle and how it relates to Lovecraft. In particular, we're focusing on Barron's story "The Broadsword", using it as a springboard to discuss the broader themes of his work. We bring in elements from some connected stories too, including "The Jaws of Saturn", "Han...
2025-08-25 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostThis is the unedited version for backers only.
The Cthulhu Mythos didn't really start out as a cohesive entity. It has become increasingly codified by generations of fans, starting with August Derleth, but this can be an impediment to creativity. This episode is a loose discussion about how you might bring in ideas from elsewhere, removing some of the canon from the general themes of cosmic horror, and roll your own Mythos.
We discuss the difference between Lovecraftian h...
2025-08-11 23:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostThe Cthulhu Mythos didn't really start out as a cohesive entity. It has become increasingly codified by generations of fans, starting with August Derleth, but this can be an impediment to creativity. This episode is a loose discussion about how you might bring in ideas from elsewhere, removing some of the canon from the general themes of cosmic horror, and roll your own Mythos.
We discuss the difference between Lovecraftian horror and cosmic horror, which authors might have interesting ...
2025-08-11 23:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostWelcome back to Just One More Thing! Once again, Matt and Scott are returning to a couple of recent episodes of the Good Friends, filling in gaps and offering some second thoughts.
This time, we’re revisiting the two episodes we recorded with Eleanor Hingley — “Small Town Horror” and 2025-08-04 23:01:02 +0000 UTC View Post
This is the unedited version for backers only.
Metafiction turns up in every genre from literary fiction to superheroes, breaking fourth walls, embedding fictional narratives within fictional narratives, and generally dismantling storytelling conventions. Our focus here, however, is on the connection between metafiction and horror, whether this is self-aware slasher films or horror novelists who write horror novels about horror novelists. Done right, it can make things even cre...
2025-07-28 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostMetafiction turns up in every genre from literary fiction to superheroes, breaking fourth walls, embedding fictional narratives within fictional narratives, and generally dismantling storytelling conventions. Our focus here, however, is on the connection between metafiction and horror, whether this is self-aware slasher films or horror novelists who write horror novels about horror novelists. Done right, it can make things even creepier, making you doubt your own reality. Yes, you.
We l...
2025-07-28 23:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post