[Open] Arkham University - Classic Call of Cthulhu 7e

The Pitch:
Arkham, Massachusetts.
Classes are in session at Miskatonic University, and life is full of promise. Late nights, academic ambition, cheap drinks, and the sense that the world is wide open ... then, strange things begin to happen.

My goal is a slow-burn descent from youthful optimism into creeping cosmic horror. You are not hardened investigators. You are students with bright futures - at least until life collides with the Mythos.

There is a published campaign providing the mystery framework, but the path through it is not rigid. Your choices, conversations, and personal arcs matter. If you add to the story, I’ll roll with it.

Tone: investigative horror, creeping dread, character-focused tragedy
Playstyle: roleplay-heavy, collaborative, non-linear

Character Restrictions:
- All investigators must be university students at Miskatonic University
- Undergraduate or graduate students are both welcome
- Majors, clubs, social circles, rivalries, and ambitions are strongly encouraged

I want characters who feel alive. They should be stressed about exams, excited about the future, reckless on weekends, and confident they’re untouchable (at least at first).

This may take on the feel of a slasher-style horror, but sexual content will not be a focus. Think tension, fear, friendships under strain - not exploitation.

Game Duration & Post Frequency:
- Expected posting rate: 1 post per day
- I understand real life happens, but I’m looking for players who will consistently help keep the story moving

Play-style & Player Expectations:
I’m looking for active, engaged players who:
- Explore their characters’ thoughts, fears, and relationships
- Talk to each other (side conversations are encouraged)
- Add texture to scenes rather than waiting for prompts

Everyone is welcome:
I am open to a diverse group of Call of Cthulhu players - new or experienced, and from diverse backgrounds. Everyone is welcome.

Adult Content & Controversial Themes:
This campaign explores dark and mature subject matter, including:
- Death, murder, and suicide
- Body horror and unsettling imagery
- Violence
- Psychological horror and (possibly) loss of agency

When applying, please include:
- A brief description of the student you want to play
- Their field of study
- A hint at their personality, ambition, or flaw

This sounds interesting! I am a big fan of classic CoC, particularly when set in Lovecraft Country / Arkham. I am familiar with the game, both as a GM and as a player, and quite experienced in PbP here on Gamersplane (the BEST platform for it, amiright? 😂). 1 post per day sounds great.

I am thinking that it would be fun to play a young man that hates his field of study. Maybe he comes from a family of Boston Physicians, and the expectation for him has always been to follow in their footsteps. He really never had a say in the choice, and went along with what the family gave for granted. So he finds himself enrolled against his wishes to the MU School of Medicine, although in reality he is squeamish and dislikes the in-depth study of human anatomy - in the books, let alone in practice: he is dreading the prospect of live demonstrations and dissections!
He holds a big grudge towards his younger sister, always the family favourite, who is seemingly allowed to lead the carefree life of a flapper in Boston. Maybe it is a male bloodline thing - as far as his family is concerned, he must continue to ensure that their surname is forever associated with medicine, no matter what...

To get his mind off this heavy burden, he tries to enjoy student life away from his overbearing parents and to indulge in "tea parties" and in the exploration of various speakeasies and exotic substances. But his academic record will soon start to suffer...

Yes! That's a great investigator for the game. Lots to play around with there. I look forward to meeting them.

Hello. Here is student investigator id like to propose:

Ellie Ward is an ambitious English literature student in her junior year who believes stories can explain anything if you read closely enough. She thrives on late-night debates, annotated margins, and the quiet pride of being told she has "a real voice." Ellie is convinced her future lies somewhere between academia and authorship, and she treats Miskatonic as the first chapter of a long, meaningful life.

Her flaw is certainty. Ellie believes patterns mean something and that she is smart enough to understand them. When strange things begin happening, she doesn’t dismiss them, she studies them.

It says the game is closed. Are you still accepting players, by any chance?

Potential character:
Alan Rickman, Undergrad student studying medicine at Miskatonic university and is the president of the horse polo club with an active social life and seen as highly prim and proper - "he is going places."

With future decisive finals coming up soon, as well as struggles with the co-captain of the horse polo club (who also is Alan's girlfriend), this year at Miskatonic has been one of the hardest of his life, but he will endure...right?

The game is closed to allow me to invite the players directly. I don’t know how many people are interested and I might have to turn some players away. It just gives me a bit more control.

Sounds awesome! I like that she will most likely be heading towards the mystery, while others are running away. I’m sure that’s true to a point, of course. :)

Great! I was wondering if we were going to get an athlete to add some muscle to the party.

Hey there. Here's someone I was thinking of. I'm new to this site, though I've done lots of PbP in the past. I'm used to Chaosium games, played since the 80's, though not too much CoC, more Runequest etc.

Jocelyn (or Jo) is a graduate student in the archaeology department. Her thesis is supposed to be on mesoamerican cultures once she has finished her courses, but she is starting to take an intense dislike to the Professor, who doesn't seem to think women should be in university as far as she can tell. She's serious and a hard worker, having worked a side job to get her through her first degree. Now she thankfully has a scholarship, but she had to work hard to get that.

Her flaws are being too dedicated to her work, perhaps obsessively so, and having little time for those she considered fools.

I can vouch for Sam, McB, he’s doing an awesome job in my Pendragon one shot

Thank you! In that case, here's my submission:

Ellis Hardy is an undergraduate senior majoring in Astronomy. He's been an active stargazer since he was young, and this is pretty much his dream come true. Ellis has a good, loving relationship with his family and even though they don't follow his love for the stars, they've encouraged his intellectual pursuits. He writes home regularly, runs track for exercise and enjoyment, and attends college parties as his schedule permits.

Ellis's main flaw is that he is incapable of letting go of a problem once he's started in on solving one. It's been useful for him in making observations and working on measuring galactic distances (a new methodology at this time period), but it also sometimes rubs people the wrong way when they think he's trying to show them up or he becomes a nuisance. He can also come off as aloof or standoffish to some people, but really he enjoys the solitude of going out in the evening and looking at the stars.

Why, you are too kind!