Arkham (2023) is the fourth edition of the Call of Cthulhu sourcebook for Lovecraft’s iconic, witch-haunted Massachusetts town (previously known as Arkham Unveiled, The Compact Arkham Unveiled and H.P. Lovecraft’s Arkham). The book constitutes a major enough overhaul of the original material that Mike Mason and Brett Kramer have author credits alongside Keith Herber, the original designer.
Herber’s original was the cornerstone of the Lovecraft Country series of sourcebooks and was, for my money, a watershed example of city design. That said, it was a pretty new approach, going neighborhood by neighborhood, house by house, detailing NPCs and establishments and baking in threads for dozens of emergent plot lines. While also making the city and Miskatonic University believable and cramming in a bunch of Lovecraft references. It was a heavy lift and, while I like it, I think the other books in the series are more exciting, particularly Herber’s Return to Dunwich.
This new edition, though, benefits from building on a good, existing foundation, and finds the excitement and atmosphere that was perhaps a little scant in the original. This Arkham oozes vibes, while still somewhat recognizable as Herber’s creation (the street plans are different, sure, but Keziah Mason’s cult is still active and you also get an issue of the local newspaper included, just like in the original). It also benefits from integrating lore and locations connected to scenarios written after Herber’s book. It’s also compatible with the HPL Historical Society wallet, which, lemme tell you, is a big deal.
Mason makes Arkham extremely usable, highlighting intriguing people and places. Like the previous editions, this is broken up by neighborhood and pretty much goes block by block. The book introduces a reputation system which gives weight to player action in town, and then brings in a fun gossip system to tempt players into less than sterling behavior.
It looks great too. Loic Muzy did the cover, which echoes the original, and a bunch of talented artists contributed interiors. Instant classic. I couldn’t buy it fast enough.
