The Good Friends of Jackson Elias

Narration in Call of Cthulhu, with Ross Bryant

4 snips
Dec 2, 2025
In this discussion, Ross Bryant, an actor and writer-performer renowned for his improvisational skills in tabletop RPGs, dives deep into the art of narration in Call of Cthulhu. He highlights the significance of using props and sensory details to enhance immersion. The conversation spans the merits of AI images, the potency of economical descriptions, and the balance between scripted and improvised narration. They also explore techniques for building suspense and adapting to player dynamics, encouraging collaboration for richer storytelling.
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INSIGHT

Narration Is The Game's Core

  • Call of Cthulhu relies heavily on narration to create the shared imaginative world for players.
  • Keepers shape most of the descriptive space, so strong verbal storytelling matters more than props.
ADVICE

Use Handouts And Familiar Places

  • Use visual handouts and photos to anchor locations and NPCs for players.
  • Leverage players' prior knowledge of places to signal subtle oddities and build mystery.
ADVICE

Open With A Short Theme

  • Use short, evocative music at the session start to signal the shift into the game's mood.
  • Fade the music out after the opening narration to keep focus on the scene.
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