But, we can’t let that realization stifle our creativity, or, imprison our artistic impulses. Art has to be free to break the bonds of our self-imposed limits, to blaze new trails, for others to follow. And to open doors, upon disturbing places.
When I first discovered the OSR, Geoffrey McKinney’s Carcosa, had been out for almost a year. I think I first saw it referenced on James Maliszewski’s, Grognardia. My interest piqued, I followed up on the several reviews, as well as various forum threads.
Of course, with so much hoopla being made, I had to get a copy of the First Edition and see it for myself.
The work is incredibly evocative. The sections of Carcosa, unfold like the symbolism within a particularly disparate dream, informing a rich, unique milieu. It is, Far Fucking Out!
As a work of art, of fiction, I can appreciate Carcosa for what it is, disturbing elements and all. I’m glad I own a copy. As an RPG supplement, it’s not something I would ever use, in its entirety.
When it comes to evil PC’s, there’s evil and then, there’s EVIL. I’ve never had things go so far, that I felt the need to step in and stop it. I had a session come real close, once. I’ll tell you guys about that, sometime.
Geoffrey McKinney, made a post on Dragonsfoot, showing what was said, as his group utilized one of Carcosa’s rituals. From what I can tell, they kind of glossed it. You know, like many of us sometimes gloss over PC shopping trips, or long overland travels?
Not that I blame them. I mean, I’ve role-played some rather intense, Mature Audiences Only, scenes in my time. But really, some of the places, presented in the Rituals section of Carcosa, aren’t ones I would choose to visit.
But, the “shopping trip” approach, is a cop-out. If I’m not willing to role-play a situation, then, why the hell would I want to bring elements into my game, which are likely to foster the creation of such a scene?
Yeah, I’m being a little disingenuous. I know the answer to that question. It’s so I can create that kind of dark, horrifying story and touch on that kind of role-playing experience, without wading in, too deeply. Frankly, though, if the swimming pool is just too nasty to dive into, then, I’m not going to fuck around in the shallow end, either.
Interestingly enough, while I’ve never had a player, sacrifice a victim to the Dark Ones, I’ve played NPC’s, doing so. I don’t have a problem with role-playing a happy little human sacrifice, scene. Wherever my personal Line in the Sand is, it’s somewhere on the other side, of the picture to the right and this side, of the more heinous Rituals, in Geoffrey Mckinney’s, weird little masterpiece.
This isn’t a shot, at gamers who use Carcosa’s sorcery. I wish all you guys well, whatever it is you’re playing. Have fun and be sure to give us a play report, along with anything else, you feel like sharing.
Many people, seeking to defend the ritual section of the work, have brought up the fact that it’s written in a very sober, minimalist, matter of fact style. The idea being, that no salaciousness, or joy in the repugnant details, was involved or intended.
The emotionless, neutral tone of the writing, is delivered in such a way, that it manages to be both formulaic and evocative. In places, the tone and delivery, reminded me of some of the passages, from the 18th century era European Grimoires. Kind of an amoral cookbook, vibe. The presentation, may have exacerbated, the already disturbing elements involved, for some readers. There were some really, really hysterical reactions, out there.
There’s much, much more to Carcosa, than intense, fucked up sorcery. There are aliens, advanced technology, Cthulhu, Power Armor, Psionics, a hell of a cool hexmap, strange dice mechanics, thirteen races of humans and so many delightful ideas, that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Some folks, predicted that Carcosa would fall flat and go nowhere. That, the more disturbing aspects of the work, would insure that it would never find an audience. I suspect, most of those gamers, hadn’t even examined the contents. Regardless, they were wrong. Very, very wrong.
Mr. McKinney wrote a module for the setting, Fungoid Gardens of the Bone Sorcerer, which, was published in Fight On! #4, then re-issued, in a revised edition, now available from the author. Lastly, as far as specifically Carcosan materials go, Cameron DuBeers wrote a module, published by Brave Halfling Publishing, called Obregon’s Dishonor. That Carcosa has spawned its own supplements and modules is noteworthy.
Evidently, Mr. McKinney hit a chord, here.
But, Carcosa’s influence, extends even further. Blair’s Planet Algol, is one of the most well known blog’s in the OSR and rightly so. With a heavy dollop of Carcosa’s Seasoning, mixed with a psychedelic soundtrack and more high weirdness than a Robert Anton Wilson story (fiction or non-fiction, take your pick,) Planet Algol is one of those campaigns, which is destined to become the stuff of legend. It’s already spawned a progeny of its own, as Sean Wills, has started his own Planet Algol game. He’s giving us the details on his blog, Bite the Bulette. Blair is getting ready to publish a supplement, Planet Algol 1 : The Iridium Plateau. Personally, I love Planet Algol and can’t wait for the supplement.
Mr. McKinney has helped inspire at least one other campaign and blog, as well. Check out the introductory post, at G. Benedicto’s Quantique.
Weird Science, Lovecraft, Horror and more. The broader spectrum of the Fantastic, is finding expression in the OSR and Geoffrey McKinney’s work has helped shape and give impetus to this phenomenon. These elements were always there, going all the way back, to the beginning of RPG history. Most certainly, many other designers have a hand in current trends, from both before Carcosa and afterwards. With all that, being said, Geoffrey McKinney’s influence is palpable. Whatever one may think of Carcosa, there’s no denying that it has proven itself to be a seminal work of the burgeoning, Old School Renaissance.
