#cats of cthulhu

[sprintingowl]

Magical Kitties And Other Cat RPGs

Magical Kitties Save The Day is a deluxe, all-ages ttrpg about cat adventures.

It comes in a big box, which is half empty space and half dice, character sheets, core rules, and multiple supplements. The art is absolutely gorgeous, and that quality you see on the cover is consistent throughout the core book and supplements.

Design-wise, Magical Kitties is pretty simple. You have a few skills, a talent, and a magical power, and together they give you a d6 pool. Outcomes on checks tend towards success-with-a-complication, and I'd broadly describe the game as being oriented towards mischief and hijinks.

Of note to me, the system is *really* similar to Joel Sparks' Cats Of Cthulhu, but absent some of the interesting lore about dreaming, without the more defined character classes, and a lot softer in tone.

Kitties in Magical Kitties can, at worst, get knocked out for a scene. And that's if you let your Owies build up enough that you start getting into actual dice pool penalties. Damage goes away fast, so if you get absolutely scrapped it's more of a signal from the game to cool it for a bit than a serious consequence for your character.

The overall design in Magical Kitties is trying to split the difference between being a game for kids and a game for adults, and I think mostly it works. There's enough meaningful choice during character creation that a typical DnD group could have a great time playing a mini-campaign of Magical Kitties. And the tone is soft enough and the consequences low enough that a younger kid isn't going to get too dispirited if the dice don't go their way.

My guess would be this system works best for ages 7+. For much younger audiences, you might want to check out something like Starport.

Overall, I'd describe this is a really, *really* big budget indie game that'll appeal the most to folks who:

-love cats -are at least a little interested in rpgs

It's impossible to overstate how lovely, fun, and creative the art is, and I kind of think the game is worth it for that alone.

That said, it's far from the only cat-based ttrpg! There's lots of good ones.

I've had the most fun with Cats Of Cthulhu, and strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in rpg design, and I've also really enjoyed GMing Secrets Of Cats.

If you have a favorite cat-centric ttrpg, or if you've played Magical Kitties and have your own feelings on it, please feel free to continue the discussion.

[corvid-khaos]

fionna and cake but simon drops increasingly wild anecdotes about his life

[bobzillashiftwoods]

[thingsthatcannotsaveyou]

[steamtasticvagabond-blog]

Okay, so I just blew bubbles at my two cats and for a moment related to the outer gods.

They cats freaked out at it, and I felt like an elder god chucking a can of blasphemous rites and dark magics at a lesser being because it’s funny.

It was the feeling of saying “hold my beer” to your homies in the outer cosmos before slam dunking a colour out of space into some primate’s well for the lols

[ask-terraria-bosses]

EoC, how was your time spent in Don’t Starve >.>

EoC: The funky artstyle was a real EYE-opener though!!

[inkdemonapologist]

a while back someone shared a couple of song snippets from the in-progress musical Epic with me, including "Monster," which I IMMEDIATELY sent to Maf as having EXTREME HENRY VIBES, specifically the monochrome "pointy henry" from the Bad Loop. The other day Maf let me know a little more of the song has been released and I just had to drop everything to draw a murderous henry about it...

[you-are-more-than-a-friend]

We carved some pumpkins today hihi (mine is the one in the middle)

[natansiik]

Cat-Cthulhu 20usd [OPEN]

[kosenart]

It's spooky month! That means it's once again time for more lovecraftian redesigns.

First deity? Stolen from egypt: Bast, the Chewer of Corpses.

[knithacker]

Crochet a Cthulhu Kitty-Cat Amigurumi … It's a 'Cathulhu' 👉 https://buff.ly/3Pgrcru

[tenebris-metallum]

@cardinalcatastrophe ulthar cat! Based off of an oriental shorthair because those cats look like aliens already

[pinkyshy10]

So, I've been deeply thinking about the Au that I thought of a while ago, in which Kwazii is the Son of Cthulhu. And I want to attempt to make a piece of fan art of Kwazii with Cthulhu's tentacles in the background. But I'm worried the internet would see tentacles and immediately think it's sexual, there's nothing wrong with people who like tentacles in that way I just really hope that you don't interpret this piece of fan art that way because it's not it's not

Frankly, I'm just worried that the internet views tentacles the same way they view the word daddy inherently sexual, even in situations where it's not sexual

[painsleep]

Randolph Carter

[rpgsandbox]

CATS OF CATTHULHU is the beloved rules-light roleplaying game in which the players take the part of ordinary cats, secretly defending human civilization from the Chaos Cults of the other animals. All the players have to do is act like cats, while the Cat Herder arranges exciting challenges for them—anything from snacky time to daringly interrupting dire rituals.

Ten years after the original publication, we are thrilled and chilled to reveal a new Anniversary Edition, with all material refreshed and compiled into a full-color hardback book with plenty of goodies to boot.

How is Catthulhu “Rules Light”?

In Cats of Catthulhu, the way the story will go is always a mystery. You and your friends play to find out what happens. One person, the Cat Herder, arranges the secrets and situations, and sets the scene, but even they don’t know where the night will end. The players take the role of individual, ordinary cats. All you really need to do is act like a cat.

Here’s how to play.

Listen to the Cat Herder’s descriptions.

Respond like a cat.

When the Cat Herder calls for it, roll two Cat Dice and count the Happy Cats.

That’s about it! There are plenty of details and suggestions in the book, especially to help the Cat Herder. But not a lot more rules.

And there’s no math. Cats don’t do math.

Making Your Cat

Take a look at this free, complete Cat Character Sheet. It shows all the suggested ways to define your own cat — from eye color to lifestyle — without using any numbers.

You pick one from the five Roles in Cats of Catthulhu. Every cat you’ve ever known falls into one of these Roles, often shifting between them over the years.

Catcrobat: The fastest around!

Pussyfoot: Everybody loves this kitty

Scrapper: Rough and tough

Tiger Dreamer: Sleepy mystic that sees visions

Twofootologist: Clever studier of human ways!

The rulebook combines all these details into 30 back stories for different sorts of cats. Pick one, or make your own!

CHALLENGES & CAT DICE

Many things a cat wants to do just happen, because cats can do a lot. But when a cat encounters a real Challenge, whether sniffing out hidden tuna or tackling a big mean dog, the Cat Herder might call for a roll of the two Cat Dice. 

Each die showing an alert, intent Happy Cat counts as a success.

A Sad Cat means a failure of skill or luck.

Almost every risky situation is either a Normal Challenge or a Hard Challenge. For a Normal Challenge, you only need one success on the two dice:

For a Hard Challenge, you need two successes:

You get six Cat Dice in the Boxed Set with a cat-shaped dice tray. You can order the dice separately with a dice pouch as well. Regular six-sided dice can work too, if you count a 1 or 2 as a failure and a 3 to 6 as a success.

The Right Cat for the Job (RCFTJ)

Most Challenges are best met by a cat with the right background. Usually this is a matter of the cat’s Role: a Catcrobat being the RCFTJ to leap up a scrambly slope, a Scrapper best at facing down enemies, and so on. As a player you could also make your case to the Cat Herder that you are the Right Cat based on your background, your previous experiences, or anything you can make up. It’s up to the Cat Herder to approve.

The RCFTJ gets one free success on every Normal or Hard Challenge. This makes Normal Challenges automatically successful — but we roll anyway! That’s because of the two mystical combinations we call Snake Eyes and Midnight.

Snake Eyes

If the two Cat Dice come up double 1s, that's Snake Eyes. The attempt results in an Embarrassment. You describe what happens to your cat, and how you try to play it off. Note that the RCFTJ still passes a Normal Challenge — just in an embarrassing way. Be creative in describing this accidental success!

Midnight

If you roll double 6s — Midnight — it means a Triumph! Describe how your cat sails through the Challenge with ease and style. The Cat Herder might even reward you with a little extra information or victory.

Treats

Finally, every cat starts every session with one Treat. The Boxed Set comes with delicious-looking fish shaped treats, but you can use anything except candy. (Candy is against the rules because it tends to disappear before needed!)

If you don’t like the results of a Cat Dice roll, you snack on a treat real quick (returning it to the Cat Herder) and roll again! Alas, this method doesn’t work on Snake Eyes.

The Cat Herder might hand out more Treats based on clever or hilarious actions. Keep those kitty wits quick.

Dire Challenges

In rare cases, a cat feels compelled to try something incredibly important and incredibly dangerous. When tackling such a Dire Challenge, special rules allow you to roll three Cat Dice — but your cat might get hurt in the process. No Treats allowed. No automatic successes. Use with care.

Scrapping

Fights happen. Much of the time, a little pacing, a little snarling, a puffed-out tail, some quick swats, and it’s over. Other times it gets more serious. In Cats of Catthulhu, just how dangerous a fight becomes relies entirely on the player’s decisions. Five levels of intended mayhem determine what you try to inflict on your foe. Even if you lose the roll-off, the worst the baddie can do to you is one level worse than what you went for.

For example, if you face a Scrap and just want to avoid getting hurt, you choose Dodge. No matter how big and menacing the foe, the worst they can do is Stun you — because you didn’t go wildly wading in all teeth and claws.

It’s a unique approach to combat that preserves more options than just murder.

Rules Summary

The Cat Character Sheet sums up ALL this information, right next to the place reserved for your sketch of your heroic feline!

Catventures

It falls to the Cat Herder, aka the game master or referee, to arrange exciting situations for the Player Cats, and take the part of every other beast, human, god, or object in the worlds.

Fortunately, between the main rulebook and De Felis Mysteriis, you get 13 ready-to-go scenarios! Of course, as an ambitious Cat Herder, you will want to make your own cat adventures, or “catventures,” as well. The book walks you through the simple process of arranging Challenges, risks, and rewards to satisfy any group of curious four-foots.

CATS OF CATTHULHU 10th Anniversary Edition Hardback Rulebook

Compiling, revising, and expanding upon all three of the original Catthulhu Deluxe rulebooks, the 10th Anniversary Edition is a gorgeous, full-color collectible hardback with new art and information for players of all experience levels. The book will run to about 300 letter-sized pages with estimated delivery by August 2024.

ART NOT FINAL, ASSETS MAY CHANGE SLIGHTLY

DE FELIS MYSTERIIS 10 New Catventures

Created by a whole litter of brilliant modern RPG writers, De Felis Mysteriis offers ten complete adventures for the Cat Herder to run: enough for a whole campaign of Cats of Catthulhu and more. Estimated 128 pages, delivery August 2024.

ART NOT FINAL, ASSETS MAY CHANGE SLIGHTLY

BOXED SET OF ALL THE THINGS

A durable and beautiful game box contains the hardback 10th Anniversary Edition, a copy of De Felis Mysteriis, six new cat dice, a custom dice tray, five adorable cat meeples, wooden cat treats, a pad of cat character sheets, and extra goodies to boot! August 2024 estimated delivery.

Apart from the beautiful books, art, and goodies, what’s different? Well, we’ve learned a lot after ten years of running Catthulhu and we’re boiling those lessons down for you. Of course, the complete edit is not done yet. We need your support for that! However, here are some changes you can expect to see in the 10th Anniversary Edition.

SIMPLIFIED CHALLENGES: From now on, every Challenge is either Normal, Hard, or Dire. Anything that would be an easy Challenge, your cat just does with no roll.

SNAKE EYES AND MIDNIGHT: Special results from double 1s and double 6s always apply, instead of being an “advanced” option.

SCRAPPING: Fights are just as quick as before, but with a new level of control. Your cat decides how hard to commit to the scrap, and that limits the consequences they can suffer—or inflict.

TREAT USE: A cat starts each session with only one Treat. The Cat Herder is encouraged to award more whenever players do something clever or funny. Also, you can now pass a Treat to another cat!

SCENT USE: Putting your smell on something to make it familiar will be simplified.

WORLDS OF CATTHULHU: The nine extra campaign settings are getting a fresh read-through, especially the extensive fantasy setting of Fuiry and its Status and Trend rules.

And everything else is getting the gimlet eye as well! The resulting whole should prove coherent, easy to understand, and full of fun. Help us make it real!

Kickstarter campaign ends: Thu, April 4 2024 4:59 AM BST

Website: [facebook]