Miscellany: Running a "Call of Cthulhu" Campaign, Part 2

"Call of Cthulhu," though ostensibly a horror game, is really about mysteries and clues. Often, those clues are distributed in the form of actual physical documents that are given to the players to examine. The players invariably find that poring through musty journals and deciphering some madman's handwriting is all well and good, but the successful Keeper still has to figure out a way of simulating these documents in the first place.

I've chosen a multi-tiered approach. For the documents originating in the present (which, for the campaign, is the late 1920s), there's a neat font called "Batik" that I found in Microsoft Word. It looks a lot like how 21st century players expect a stereotypical typewriter from the 1920s to look like, without being so realistic that it becomes hard to read. Check it out:

Additionally, for those inevitable handwritten letters and occult books, it pays to have a fountain pen. I went out and bought a Waterman Phileas for $40 - not only is it pleasant to write with in everyday life, the wide nib adds a touch of authenticity to the whole affair. I can't wait to sit down with my players and scribble down notes with this thing.

Incidentally, fountain pens are hard to find nowadays. I have to admit, ballpoint and rollerball pens are more practical, but you can't even buy a regular fountain pen in OfficeMax, Wal-Mart, Target, or even Michaels (an arts and crafts store). I had to buy a Waterman gift set in Office Depot.