Dark Schemes Herald the End of the World
Reanimation of the classic Call of Cthulhu campaign.
The new edition of Masks of Nyarlathotep is a complete revision and updating of this epic multi-part campaign set in 1925, in which steadfast investigators must unravel secrets and battle the minions of darkness in an attempt to stop world-shattering events from destroying humanity.
Get the Stunning Slipcase Set!
Masks of Nyarlathotep has been comprehensively revised and updated for use with Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition, but may also be run with the Pulp Cthulhu supplement.
- Global campaign covering seven countries in five continents!
- Packed with encounters, side-track adventures, detailed adversaries, geographical information, and more!
- Presented in full color, with new artwork, maps and floor plans, and ready to use player handouts.
- Appendices collect spells, tomes, artifacts, and travel advice.
- Ultimate edition, packed full of advice and tips.
Requires the Call of Cthulhu Keeper’s Rulebook (7th edition) to play, and is optionally usable with Pulp Cthulhu.
The original six-chapter campaign featuring adventures in America, England, Egypt, Kenya, Australia, and China have been developed and updated by Mike Mason, Lynne Hardy, Paul Fricker, and Scott Dorward, and feature enhanced and new encounters, sub-plots, and on-point guidance for the Keeper.
Now written to be playable with either standard Call of Cthulhu or Pulp Cthulhu, the text guides the Keeper and allows for both gritty or action-packed pulp styles of play.
The Introduction chapter features a new foreword by Mask’s creator, Larry DiTillio, and goes on to provide an overview of the campaign, it’s key players and their goals and differing agendas, and the important locations the investigators will travel to while they seek to understand the mystery unfolding before them. Additional material looks at the dark god Nyarlathotep, his cults, and his role in the campaign. Guidance is also provided on running the campaign, including considerations of historical depictions, pulp or standard play styles, and lethality level (just how much danger should the investigators’ face). Rounding things out is plenty of advice on creating investigators for the campaign, replacement characters, and ten ready-to-play investigators for those wishing to dive straight into the adventure.
Complete with a Brand New Chapter...
Set in Peru, this new scenario takes place in 1921 and provides an exciting introductory prologue to the campaign, where the investigators meet Jackson Elias, the industrious and charming author, whose researches lead into the globe-spanning mystery. Embarking on an expedition to find a lost South American pyramid, the investigators come face to face with ancient horrors that foreshadow the task ahead.
... and Even More!
And for an added bonus, a Grand Conclusion chapter helps the Keeper to determine just how successful the players have been in tackling the dark schemes of Nyarlathotep’s cults, as well as discussing ways to extend the campaign in a variety of ways.
Each chapter has been tirelessly crossed-referenced to help those running the campaign to keep track of the many locations, characters, player handouts, and items thrown up by the players’ investigation. With new appendices collecting spells, tomes, and artifacts, running the campaign is easiest it has ever been.
We have added Detailed New Appendices!
Running Masks of Nyarlathotep has never been easier thanks to these extensive appendices:
- Travel – detailing travel times across the world, means of transport, rest and recuperation for traveling investigators, travel events, and also guidance for investigators wishing to learn new skills and improve existing ones.
- Spells – collects campaign-important spells together for handy reference, with over 30 spells detailed. Including Call the Black Sphinx, the Seal of Nephren-Ka, and the Ward of Anubis, to name but a few.
- Tomes – during their investigations the investigators may come across a wide range of Mythos tomes, each bulging with forgotten and dark wisdom. This appendix gathers all of the tomes encountered in the campaign, with over 20 detailed listings, each providing background the tome, the lore within, and relevance to the campaign’s plot, be it the dreaded Necronomicon or the abhorred Black Tome.
- Artifacts – just as there are numerous tomes to be discovered, there are also plenty of strange artifacts to be found (some useful, some deadly). Here, fifteen artifacts are gathered, from the Mask of Hayama to the Headdress of Eyes, from the Adornments of Nitocris to the very strange Device of Rods, Wheels, and Mirrors.
This Slipcase Set Includes:
- The Masks of Nyarlathotep Campaign in two volumes. 666 pages of Adventure!
- A three part Keeper Screen designed for the campaign
- A tuckbox set with every player handout
- 11"x17" world map
- Individual Maps for every campaign location
- 10 Pre-Generated Characters with Character and Background Sheets
What are you waiting for? Go Save the World!
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What The Critics Say
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"When Masks first came out [in 1984], it was the best. In the years since, rivals to the throne appeared. The new edition vanquishes them. Masks of the Nyarlathotep is the best. Full stop."
— Vintage RPG, Masks of the Nyarlathotep - Vol 2 Review.
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"For something which had already established itself early on as an rpg classic, Chaosium have gone and ratcheted-up this one to 11."
— Whispers from the Ghooric Zone, The Lovecraftian Thing a Day (2018) No.182: The Masks of Nyarlathotep.
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"...this new edition of Masks will set the bar for roleplaying campaigns for some time to come... the new Masks of Nyarlathotep is everything that fans of Call of Cthulhu would want from an update of one of the most compelling RPG campaigns ever written. For players it will be a defining experience of what an RPG can be, offering an immersive, multi-faceted adventure into the heart of both cosmic and human darkness. For Keepers, the book is meticulously researched and provides all the resources and tips for running this holy grail of campaigns."
— Games vs Play, First look review – Masks of Nyarlathotep 5th Edition.
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"The Greatest Roleplaying Campaign Ever? If Masks of Nyarlathotep is the campaign by which all other Call of Cthulhu campaigns are measured, then Masks of Nyarlathotep: Dark Schemes Herald the End of the World just raised the bar."
— Reviews from R'lyeh, The Greatest Roleplaying Campaign Ever?.
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"Should you get Masks?... This will be an adventure you and your RPG friends will be talking about 20-30 years after the event. If you played Masks years ago and want to play it again, yes. The best commercially available RPG scenario has got better."
— The British Fantasy Society, Masks of Nyarlathotep: Call of Cthulhu. RPG review.
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"The fifth edition design team of Mike Mason, Lynne Hardy, Paul Fricker, and Scott Dorward has managed to the unexpected; they have released an edition of Masks of Nyarlathotep that actually improves upon the original. This is the same thrilling--and often terrifying--Masks that you know and love, but in every measurable way it surpasses any iteration before it. It looks better, reads better, and with massive amounts of support for the Keeper, runs better. If you play Call of Cthulhu, you need to own it. If you don't play Call of Cthulhu, now is the time to start. Masks of Nyarlathotep once again sets the standard for what a complex, lengthy RPG campaign should look like, and with products like these Chaosium reminds us exactly why it is as storied an institution as it is. Masks is a classic car rebuilt from the ground up with modern parts and the original's soul."
— Andrew Logan Montgomery, Exploring the Otherworlds of Fiction, Magic, and Gaming, Masks of Nyarlathotep Review.
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"HOLY COW! You took the time and made this thing amazing… The 7th edition Masks of Nyarlathotep is an phenomenal product."
— Throat Punch Games, Ring Side Report- RPG Review of Masks of Nyarlathotep.
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"…a grand campaign that spans the globe as players go searching for the lost Carlyle Expedition by chasing down clues in newspaper clippings, photographs, and other resources. The campaign lets the players determine their direction and while it has a deadly reputation, it’s one that most fans of Call of Cthulhu remember fondly as they talk about how they died or went insane."
— Geek & Sundry, 6 Monster-hunting RPGS that kick undead butt.
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"...blends the globetrotting pulp momentum of an Indiana Jones movie with the dark cults and uncaring gods of the Cthulhu Mythos… It’s good to see a fan favorite campaign back after all these years."
— Geek & Sundry, The Best of 2018's Tabletop Roleplaying Games.
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"Everyone should play Masks of Nyarlathotep. It's one of the best roleplaying campaigns ever written - and now it's easier than ever to play."
— The Vintage Podcast, Masks of Nyarlathotep (Again).
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"A touchstone campaign for Call of Cthulhu, much as the original Ravenloft adventure is for Dungeons & Dragons."
— Refereeing & Reflection, The Greater Festival of Masks.
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"No - This Is A Rite Of Passage... Those who make it to the end of the campaign will look back with a mixture of trepidation, disbelief, and pride. In-game, the world will never learn of the investigator’s sacrifices. Round the table, the rose-tinted esprit de corps will linger for an age. 5 Stars"
— Zatu Games, Masks of Nyarlathotep Slipcase Review.
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“Masks of Nyarlathotep remains one of the greatest RPG supplements of all time.”
— Grimdark Magazine, Review: Dark Adventure Radio Theatre: Masks of Nyarlathotep.
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"...a milestone for Call of Cthulhu and for RPG campaigns. It expanded our ideas of what roleplaying game adventures could be and raised the standards for the industry and the RPG art form."
— The New York Review of Science Fiction, Lisa Padol., Masks of Nyarlathotep Review.
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"...the holy grail of horror, and in my opinion the best, most frightening, atmospheric, awesomely realized campaign for any game."
— Dennis Detwiller, Tips on running Masks of Nyarlathtep.
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"Considered by many the War and Peace of roleplaying, Masks of Nyarlathotep changed the way in which roleplaying campaign were designed. It coupled a complex, non-linear plot with such an incredible amount of historical detail and invention that made the experience of playing it an absolute delight and, in many ways, a life-changing experience."
— AuthorsDB.com, Featured Author: Larry DiTillio.
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"...widely considered one of the best RPG adventures ever made"
— Gizmodo, Call Of Cthulhu Was The First Role-Playing Game To Drive People Insane.
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"So shockingly revolutionary in its design and ahead of its time in 1984, that forty years later most of the industry is still incapable of replicating its success... to exaggerate only slightly: Before Masks of Nyarlathotep, you could either design a dungeon or you could design a plot. After Masks, RPGs had taken their first step into a wider world."
— Justin Alexander, Scroll for Initiative, From the experts: the greatest RPG adventures of all time.
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“What really sets Masks… aside is its sheer scale. The Investigators are up against the machinations of the Dark God in a globe-spanning campaign where the future of the world itself is at stake. If being involved in that doesn’t give you a feeling of importance there’s something wrong with you. Chaosium made a real statement of intent about its future releases here showing that they are prepared to push the envelope of production quality, regardless of price, to give their customers something of the best possibly quality and value. Masks of Nyarlathotep is the exemplar.”
— chaosiana, MASKS OF NYARLATHOTEP review.
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“Some of the best tabletop fun I've ever had. A lot of work, to be sure, but also a better education about storytelling than any creative writing class I'd taken.”
— J.M. Cooper, What Cthulhu Taught me about Plotting.
Product Configuration
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United States: [Y]
United Kingdom: [Y]
Europe: [N]
Australia: [N]
Canada: [Y]
Is PDF Available: [Y]
PDF Product Name: [Masks of Nyarlathotep - PDF]
PDF Product Link: [/masks-of-nyarlathotep-pdf-1/]
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Product Footer
Footer Name:
- Version:
- 7th Edition Call of Cthulhu
- Year Released:
- 2018
- Page Count:
- 666 plus many handouts
- Format:
- Full-color PDF
- Authors:
- Larry DiTillio, Lynn Willis, Mike Mason, Lynne Hardy, Paul Fricker, Scott Dorward
- Cover Artists:
- Sam Lamont, Rhys Pugh
- Artist(s):
- Caleb Cleveland, M Wayne Miller, Jonathan Wyke, Victor Leza, Eric Lofgren, Petr Stovik, Löic Muzy
- Cartography:
- Andrew Law, Olivier Sanfilippo
- Handouts:
- Andrew Law, Nick Nacario
- Layout:
- Nick Nacario
- ISBN:
- 978-1-56882-411-6
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Masks of Nyarlathotep
I was pleasantly gobsmacked when I received my slipcase set in the post. Very well boxed, I was mildly shocked by the sheer size and weight of this set. A lot more than I expected! Beautifully presented, the artwork is outstanding and the quality of the binding, Keepers Screen, and full colour handouts makes this set a joy to own. This would be the jewel in the crown amongst Chaosium’s products to date. Simply outstanding and very well worth the price. Kim W, Australia
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A great Product and Campaign!
Hello! So, it's my first time going throught Masks. And I love it. Let's just say it : it's really well done. Beside the scenario in itself, the art is gorgeous, the layout is fantastic (and for the first time, I can read a pdf without a headache) and the overall writing is quite understandable (even for me who's french!). While the story is certainly not the most lovecraftian one you can find out there (it tends to be more on the pulp side, even if you still feel the classic CoC experience!), it is by far one of the most complexe (and, more importantly, coherent) and engaging story I've ever read (I'm finishing up Volume I as I write this). This slipcase set is worth every cent I put into it. It can also serve as a cool sourcebook and there are some great scenario inspiration to be found inside. Thank you for reading me.
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I got this by mistake
and I love it I was sent this instead of a different slipcase set I ordered and while I haven't got the chance to actually run my group through it yet, I have read through it and looked at the screen pack, all in all, it has me super giddy to run Masks of Nyarlathotep. I'll update my review once we play it, but the presentation alone and materials included easily earns 5 stars from me. On a side note, I was sent the correct Slipcase Set after contacting customer support. The guys working at Chaosium are awesome and responded immediately, super friendly too, they even let me keep the Slipcase Set
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Primary book bound incorrectly update
I want to update my review for the slipcase set. My purchase (new) of the shrinkwrapped slipcase set included Volume 1 bound unpside down per my review below. However, after contacting Chaosium they immediately sent out a new set! We've been playing since December just using the PDF, and I was very excited to actually have it in print as we start playing in-person again. Thank you so much, Chaosium--not only for remedying the issue, but wow, so fast!
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Primary book bound incorrectly
This is an expensive set, particularly to purchase in Canada. Imagine my disappointment when I open the shrinkwrap to discover the first book (beige cover) is bound upside down. I don't know who is doing Chaosium's printing, but quality control is not there for such a top-end purchase. I was so excited to get this finally, and the copy is flawed--it makes me sad.
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Jaw Dropping
I have never seen, opened, or read another rpg product that came close to this quality of content and plot. This is the standard vs all other rpg products are weighed against and many come up wanting.
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The Greatest Campaign for any TTRPG Ever.
Masks is one of the greatest ttrpg campaigns for any game of all-time. That’s not hyperbole; it’s been loved for decades now, and the 7e edition is worth every single red cent. It’s so detailed that it is not unheard of for groups to take one to two YEARS playing through it. And if you get this you really need to pick up the Mask Prop Set from the HP Lovecraft Historical Society that, while not cheap to most people, is worth the price and will make an already amazing campaign absolutely legendary- your players will love touching those props, trust me on that. Masks is not recommended for new Keepers! I can honestly say that I’ve never played through a campaign that is as taxing as Masks is or that requires so much prep-work by the Keeper, but once you’re experienced with CoC it will be some of the most fun you will ever have as a Player or as a Keeper/Dungeon Master. I love AD&D and D&D, but every campaign pales in comparison to Masks. Go ahead and click the Buy button. Save up for a few months or so if you need to; stick all of your change from everyday transactions into a jar for Masks if need be, and you will not ever regret spending the money. That’s a solemn promise.
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A Classic Reborn
The first question for any new edition is whether it is worth getting when you already have the old one. The answer in this case is a resounding yes. Not just in terms of the physical production values, but the contents too. First, there is an entire new chapter, a prologue set in South America, which can serve as the Investigators' first encounter with Jackson Elias (and whose presence now means the campaign takes in every inhabited continent in Earth). The chapters, and the campaign as a whole, have been given more expansive introductions, putting everything at the Keeper's fingertips. And small changes have been made throughout the text, smoothing out some of the racial blind spots that were inevitable in a campaign originally from the 1980's. For those whose purchase of the campaign would be their first, the answer is even simpler: this campaign is a classic and you will not regret it.
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The Awesome Masks of Nyarlathotep Slip Case Set
I had the original Masks back in the day and thought it was good, this one blows it away. The books are beautiful and well-designed. The Keeper's Screen is great and useful and the handouts that come with it are so cool. What little I've read of the campaign is impressive and I am going to do everything in my power to run this thing as soon as possible!
