Harlem UnboundCall of Cthulhu. Harlem Renaissance. Gumshoe support as well.
Get in.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1881168175/harlem-unbound-a-cthulhu-roleplaying-game-sourcebo/descriptionHarlem Unbound is a unique RPG sourcebook that takes players into the exciting world of the Harlem Renaissance at its height, to face terrifying horrors from the Lovecraftian Mythos. This groundbreaking tome gives Keepers and players everything they need to bring this unique place and time to life, and engage with the people who gave it its soul.
Harlem Unbound is compatible with multiple systems, with options for investigating the Mythos on New York’s jazz-soaked streets using either Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu RPG or any of the several GUMSHOE-powered investigative RPGs by Pelgrane Press.
This sourcebook flips the standard Lovecraftian view of minorities on its head, putting them in the role of heroes who must struggle against cosmic horrors while also fighting for a chance at equality. By default, the protagonists of Harlem Unbound are African American, not white (which is the standard assumption found in Lovecraftian fiction). Our heroes and heroines come from all walks of life with regard to class, ethnicity, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation.
The heart of the Renaissance was a revolution aimed at changing the world through art, ideas, and the written word. It was a uniquely powerful movement against the unjust status quo, a time in history that still inspires today. The history, people and stories in this book shine the spotlight on the people of Harlem, their successes and their struggles.
Some highlights
Test your moxie by stepping into the ring with the Galveston Giant, Jack Johnson. Bob and weave to stay one step ahead of the horrors humanity isn't meant to know.
Enjoy a night in the Dark Tower listening to jazz, sipping on bootleg whiskey, and verbally sparring with author Richard Wright. Find yourself, lose yourself, among the giants of the Renaissance.
Duck into the Cotton Club, avoiding the Nightgaunt's elevating deadly embrace. Find another way to get high and leave the turmoil behind.
SCENARIOS
Harlem Hellfighters Never Die: An ancient enemy from the battlefields of World War I has returned to exact vengeance on the Hellfighters. Can you rally them to save the day, or will you join the legion of the dead?
The Contender: When former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson asks the players to investigate the death of a young fighter, the case takes them to Harlem’s lowest and highest areas in search of answers—none of which are easy, and only open the door for much harder questions.
My only caveat is that some of their stretch goals are non-written products (lighter and a hoodie) which always cause problems.
It's a shame stretch goals don't include a King in Yellow adventure. Or some Dreamlands crossover like Dreamhounds of Paris.
