Cthulhu Reborn
@cthulhureborn.bsky.social
Cthulhu Reborn is a small independent publisher of horror roleplaying books based around the horrors, gods, and bad vibes created by H.P. Lovecraft and friends.
HPL's BoYS is just one of 30+ books available in PDF as part of the current Bundle of Holding deal (and in fact is included in even the lower-tier offer).
The bundle is available until November 17 -- full details here: bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
The bundle is available until November 17 -- full details here: bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
Cthulhu Reborn Bundle
Investigator! This Cthulhu Reborn Bundle presents nearly two dozen Mythos investigations in many eras from the open-license Cthulhu Eternal tabletop roleplaying game line produced by Cthulhu Reborn. C...
bundleofholding.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
HPL's BoYS is just one of 30+ books available in PDF as part of the current Bundle of Holding deal (and in fact is included in even the lower-tier offer).
The bundle is available until November 17 -- full details here: bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
The bundle is available until November 17 -- full details here: bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
We went all out with illustrating this book and also wrote a small additional section on Unnatural Places invented by Lovecraft. We think it's the most "purist" depiction of HPL's mythos, since it eschews all details not explicitly mentioned in one of his tales. It's less "gamey" than many versions.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
We went all out with illustrating this book and also wrote a small additional section on Unnatural Places invented by Lovecraft. We think it's the most "purist" depiction of HPL's mythos, since it eschews all details not explicitly mentioned in one of his tales. It's less "gamey" than many versions.
The SRD is extensive (40 Mythos Entities, 20+ rituals, and a bunch of cults, artifacts, and tomes) ... but is just text. People kept asking for an illustrated version to serve as a kind of "Monster Manual" and Grimoire book to go with their Cthulhu Eternal core books. And thus was born HPL's BoYS.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
The SRD is extensive (40 Mythos Entities, 20+ rituals, and a bunch of cults, artifacts, and tomes) ... but is just text. People kept asking for an illustrated version to serve as a kind of "Monster Manual" and Grimoire book to go with their Cthulhu Eternal core books. And thus was born HPL's BoYS.
When we released our own open game some years later, we had this resource translated into English ... becoming our Open Cthulhu Mythos SRD. It's an invaluable free resource for anyone who wants to build Cthulhu game material free from IP that may be contested.
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
The Open Cthulhu Mythos SRD - Cthulhu Reborn | DriveThruRPG
“What primal, inconceivable source of age-old myth-cycles and haunting nightmares might I be on the brink of uncovering?”
IMPORTANT NOTE: This PDF contains the text of a full set of game statistics ...
www.drivethrurpg.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
When we released our own open game some years later, we had this resource translated into English ... becoming our Open Cthulhu Mythos SRD. It's an invaluable free resource for anyone who wants to build Cthulhu game material free from IP that may be contested.
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
I wasn't the only person fascinated by this discussion: the German Lovecraft Association (who produce a German-language game called FHTAGN, amongst other stuff) took it upon themselves to exhaustively map out exactly what elements are 100% Lovecraft (and thus Public Domain) in name and depiction.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
I wasn't the only person fascinated by this discussion: the German Lovecraft Association (who produce a German-language game called FHTAGN, amongst other stuff) took it upon themselves to exhaustively map out exactly what elements are 100% Lovecraft (and thus Public Domain) in name and depiction.
The essence of the debate seemed to revolve around the divide between which elements of the gaming version of the Cthulhu Mythos were pure Lovecraft inventions, which were wholesale inventions of game publishers, & which were embellishments by gamer companies of vague hints made in Lovecraft tales.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
The essence of the debate seemed to revolve around the divide between which elements of the gaming version of the Cthulhu Mythos were pure Lovecraft inventions, which were wholesale inventions of game publishers, & which were embellishments by gamer companies of vague hints made in Lovecraft tales.
Although I had no relationship with the individual who released the open rules, I was fascinated by the reasons that were given about why such a thing would be illegal. I blogged about it, including here: cthulhureborn.wordpress.com/2019/06/29/t...
The Safewords of Cthulhu
There has been many interesting things to come out of recent debate over on YSDC about the intersection between Intellectual Property law, the Cthulhu Mythos, Chaosium, BRP, and the Open Gaming Lic…
cthulhureborn.wordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Although I had no relationship with the individual who released the open rules, I was fascinated by the reasons that were given about why such a thing would be illegal. I blogged about it, including here: cthulhureborn.wordpress.com/2019/06/29/t...
Things kicked off when a previous (crude) attempt was made by someone to build an open Cthulhu-themed RPG; something that triggered a degree of public angst and legal threats from one of the bigger game publishers. It was heated enough that the company PR guy was permabanned from one of the forums.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Things kicked off when a previous (crude) attempt was made by someone to build an open Cthulhu-themed RPG; something that triggered a degree of public angst and legal threats from one of the bigger game publishers. It was heated enough that the company PR guy was permabanned from one of the forums.
The origins of this book (we lovingly abbreviate it as "HPL's BoYS") goes way back to an online debate -- or brouhaha really -- in mid-2019 about the copyright status of the various Cthulhu Mythos creatures, tomes, artifacts, and spells which appear in various games.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
The origins of this book (we lovingly abbreviate it as "HPL's BoYS") goes way back to an online debate -- or brouhaha really -- in mid-2019 about the copyright status of the various Cthulhu Mythos creatures, tomes, artifacts, and spells which appear in various games.
We rarely use stock art 'out of the box' to illustrate stuff, instead chopping it up and remixing it to make our covers etc. But even so the task of guaranteeing 0% AI content (which everyone wants, including us) is becoming harder as time goes on. We want human horrors (like this), not GenAI slop.
November 7, 2025 at 10:09 PM
We rarely use stock art 'out of the box' to illustrate stuff, instead chopping it up and remixing it to make our covers etc. But even so the task of guaranteeing 0% AI content (which everyone wants, including us) is becoming harder as time goes on. We want human horrors (like this), not GenAI slop.
.. not least because, as big users of commercial stock art we've seen how many libraries have been 'polluted', usually with spotty and unreliable labelling of AI-content. Prior to 2022, stock art used to be an easy way to illustrate, now we are forced to 'police' every montage we make using stock.
November 7, 2025 at 10:09 PM
.. not least because, as big users of commercial stock art we've seen how many libraries have been 'polluted', usually with spotty and unreliable labelling of AI-content. Prior to 2022, stock art used to be an easy way to illustrate, now we are forced to 'police' every montage we make using stock.
These two adventures are just a taste of the 20+ Lovecraftian adventures (+12 period rulesets & open-source mythos sourcebooks) in the current Bundle offer. Hours and hours of horrific fun.
You have until November 17 to nab them for a super-reduced price. bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
You have until November 17 to nab them for a super-reduced price. bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
Cthulhu Reborn Bundle
Investigator! This Cthulhu Reborn Bundle presents nearly two dozen Mythos investigations in many eras from the open-license Cthulhu Eternal tabletop roleplaying game line produced by Cthulhu Reborn. C...
bundleofholding.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
These two adventures are just a taste of the 20+ Lovecraftian adventures (+12 period rulesets & open-source mythos sourcebooks) in the current Bundle offer. Hours and hours of horrific fun.
You have until November 17 to nab them for a super-reduced price. bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
You have until November 17 to nab them for a super-reduced price. bundleofholding.com/presents/Cth...
BTW: We even went a bit crazy and used the Bolton soft drink labels into various Redbubble products ... which explains why I can sometimes be seen wandering the halls of my sunken R'lyehan vaults dressed in a Bolton Brewing sweatshirt or T-Shirt:
www.redbubble.com/people/crebo...
www.redbubble.com/people/crebo...
Cthulhu Reborn Shop | Redbubble
Cthulhu Reborn is an independent artist creating amazing designs for great products such as t-shirts, stickers, posters, and phone cases.
www.redbubble.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
BTW: We even went a bit crazy and used the Bolton soft drink labels into various Redbubble products ... which explains why I can sometimes be seen wandering the halls of my sunken R'lyehan vaults dressed in a Bolton Brewing sweatshirt or T-Shirt:
www.redbubble.com/people/crebo...
www.redbubble.com/people/crebo...
Lots of folks have had a great time with both Smoke Green and Bottoms Up! and have told us tales of epic gaming moments.
One of the great things about both is that they each have 3 possible Mythos themes and endings. The GM picks one to play each time ... which means you can run it over again.
One of the great things about both is that they each have 3 possible Mythos themes and endings. The GM picks one to play each time ... which means you can run it over again.
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Lots of folks have had a great time with both Smoke Green and Bottoms Up! and have told us tales of epic gaming moments.
One of the great things about both is that they each have 3 possible Mythos themes and endings. The GM picks one to play each time ... which means you can run it over again.
One of the great things about both is that they each have 3 possible Mythos themes and endings. The GM picks one to play each time ... which means you can run it over again.
But the very best thing about a 1920s scenario based around the cut-throat world of soft drinks was ... inventing some labels for odd vintage sodas (or tonics, historically). These offer amazing prop potential for in-person games ... stick some labels on actual bottles of your player's beverages.
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
But the very best thing about a 1920s scenario based around the cut-throat world of soft drinks was ... inventing some labels for odd vintage sodas (or tonics, historically). These offer amazing prop potential for in-person games ... stick some labels on actual bottles of your player's beverages.
This was an inspired choice for a number of reasons. The grungy town of Bolton (mentioned by HPL in passing in a few tales, most notably Herbert West: Reanimator) is an interesting counterpoint to the lofty academic vibe of Miskatonic U. We were able to invent a whole new town map for Bolton, too!
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
This was an inspired choice for a number of reasons. The grungy town of Bolton (mentioned by HPL in passing in a few tales, most notably Herbert West: Reanimator) is an interesting counterpoint to the lofty academic vibe of Miskatonic U. We were able to invent a whole new town map for Bolton, too!
When asked to contribute a Lovecraft Country scenario for Cthulhu Eternal, Rachael decided on an unusual locale and theme. Her scenario "Bottoms Up!" is primarily about weirdness in the new soft drinks by a brewery in Arkham's industrial neighbor, Bolton.
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
When asked to contribute a Lovecraft Country scenario for Cthulhu Eternal, Rachael decided on an unusual locale and theme. Her scenario "Bottoms Up!" is primarily about weirdness in the new soft drinks by a brewery in Arkham's industrial neighbor, Bolton.
Before that I was very fortunate to play in a game that she ran at Necro19. Set in an unusual time (WW2) in an unusual place (a Scottish loch), Rachael's convention game was really memorable. It was eventually published by Stygian Fox: it's called Station S.
legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/3343...
legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/3343...
Station S - Stygian Fox | Call of Cthulhu: Classic Era | DriveThruRPG.com
Station S is a one night scenario for the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game published by Chaosium, Inc. Written by
legacy.drivethrurpg.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Before that I was very fortunate to play in a game that she ran at Necro19. Set in an unusual time (WW2) in an unusual place (a Scottish loch), Rachael's convention game was really memorable. It was eventually published by Stygian Fox: it's called Station S.
legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/3343...
legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/3343...
At the same convention, I was very VERY fortunate to meet in person several great writers who I had known for some time online. One of these was Rachael Randolph, who went on to eventually write another Miskatonic Mysteries scenario.
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
At the same convention, I was very VERY fortunate to meet in person several great writers who I had known for some time online. One of these was Rachael Randolph, who went on to eventually write another Miskatonic Mysteries scenario.
"Smoke Green" is a nifty little scenario that blends weirdness (the arrival of a new manufacturer of weird green-smoking cigarettes) with the political intrigue of Arkham's mayoral election. It also presents a challenge to players whose first solution to everything is "burn it down".
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
"Smoke Green" is a nifty little scenario that blends weirdness (the arrival of a new manufacturer of weird green-smoking cigarettes) with the political intrigue of Arkham's mayoral election. It also presents a challenge to players whose first solution to everything is "burn it down".
As part of the vibrant programme of Lovecraftian RPG sessions at the con, I ran two sessions -- one was the scenario that became "Smoke Green", the 3rd in our Lovecraft Country scenario series. Written by the talented Noah Lloyd it was a big hit when run on the top floor of the jazzy Biltmore Hotel.
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
As part of the vibrant programme of Lovecraftian RPG sessions at the con, I ran two sessions -- one was the scenario that became "Smoke Green", the 3rd in our Lovecraft Country scenario series. Written by the talented Noah Lloyd it was a big hit when run on the top floor of the jazzy Biltmore Hotel.