Cohors Cthulhu tabletop RPG brings cosmic horror to the Roman Empire

Modiphius Entertainment in Britain is expanding the market for its tabletop role playing game Achtung! CthulhuThe publisher plans to launch the Lovecraftian Mythos at the peak of the Roman Empire, bringing it from the battlegrounds of World War II. Publisher plans to launch Cohors Cthulhu in early 2023, providing rules for Roman legions and Germanic tribes to clash with each other — and with horrors from beyond the stars.

“I’ve loved movies about Roman times since I was a kid, from the classic SpartacusThe most recent Gladiator, BarbariansNetflix: Centurion,” said Modiphius founder and CEO Chris Birch. “I think Rome is in our blood if you grew up in Europe. You look around and really so much of our everyday life is based on ancient Rome, and there’s something that appeals about the final days of the empire.”

First Cohors CthulhuThe publication will take place in Laurium, the Roman frontier city in Northern Europe. It is a fortified walled town in northern Europe that lies near dense forests. The smoky pubs are home to Vagabonds who gather there to exchange stories about strange ruins, frightening creatures and haunted forests. This game can be broken into RPGs using the 2d20 system. Achtung! CthulhuA narrative wargame, which can be played either solo or with a group of players. Players will face off against the terrifying Lovecraftian forces.

“The wargame itself is set during a huge conflagration, as mythos-backed forces wreak havoc along the Roman border in a plot to destroy the empire,” Birch said. “The RPG is set several months before this, as dark clouds gather over the empire, and so you’ll be seeing a mix of action, adventure, subterfuge, and social encounters. We envisage some groups playing out the stories of brave Roman legions fighting on the frontiers, others pursuing devious cults in the backstreets of town, balancing political ideals and the needs of your people with nobles or simple dungeon crawls in ancient ruins.”

Modiphius supports the release by providing a 3D printed miniature line and a range of complete miniatures. Cohors CthulhuNovel, as well as an anthology featuring short stories with characters that are familiar to the audience. Publisher is looking at television and videogame licensing options.

Cohors Games’ primary story revolves around the myths and Hyperborea. It follows a priestess, who for many millions of years has travelled the world and influenced the evolution of human civilizations on her mission to kill the Outer Gods. This arc will connect Cohors CthulhuTo Achtung! CthulhuThis set a precedent that heroes could jump through time and with them. Shadows of Atlantis campaign.

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“It’s quite possible your [Achtung! Cthulhu]Heroes might be confronted by the Roman Empire. Cohors Cthulhu heroes could be dropped into the chaos of World War II,” Birch said. “We always envisioned Achtung! CthulhuThis story is part of an ongoing series in which heroes of all ages battle the old gods. Cohors Cthulhu is the next step in bringing that universe to life and opening up more possibilities for players to create and play in amazing stories that span human history.”

Like in Achtung! Cthulhu, Cohors CthulhuThe archetypes of mystic, scoundrel or warrior will be used to build characters. Backgrounds that include merchant, politician and nomads are also available. Players can build characters who are part of an ancient Atlantean bloodline or have closer ties to the Cthulhu mythos, but you won’t actually be able to play on the side of the Outer Gods.

“I like insignificant heroes rising above the storm and taking on larger-than-life entities,” Birch said. “It’s something you see time and again in the real world, from wars to legal battles against big business. We’ve taken the best bits of the Cthulhu mythos to fit our universe. It’s not just a world where all hope is pointless and you’re destined to die, but where tiny actions can have consequences across the cosmos. A group of heroic heroes could endanger the existence of generations-old creatures. They must still fight and sacrifice, but hope is inextricably mixed in with our story, and your sacrifice is on your terms.”

Birch claimed that he created the first Cohors Cthulhu game in Germania to evoke the feel of a classic fantasy story — characters are based in a small town in the middle of nowhere and must go out and explore. He plans to extend the game, which was set in A.D. 160 to 180 during the time of Marcus Aurelius, to include Egypt, Britannia and the Eternal City of Rome. All areas will experience the Outer Gods’ influence, so heroes will need powerful magic, old lost technology and other eldritch skills to combat them.

Modiphius is looking to hire a diverse group of writers to help bring the Roman world’s numerous cultures to life, so it’s making an open call for writers. Anyone with knowledge of the Roman era and a specific culture are invited to send their role-playing writing resume to support@modiphius.com to apply to join the creative team.

“Rome can be seen through rose-tinted glasses,” Birch said. “They treated many people terribly, so it was important to ensure players could play as different cultures. Sworn enemies today will have to unite once faced with the cosmic horror being unleashed on the peoples of the ancient world.”