Starport Helios by Geoff Bridges is a role playing game supplement published by Chaosium Inc. through the Miskatonic Repository Community Content Programme for use with Call of Cthulhu, the horror role playing game based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. This is a futuristic scenario.
The supplement is available as a 10 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. Two pages are the front and rear covers, one the front matter and one the Table of Contents.
The Introduction explains that it’s 2370, humanity has conquered the galaxy and is expanding further. The Daedalus Project is a conglomeration of governments and corporations working towards the furtherance of humanity. One way is with explorer ships; another is through a network of starports, such as the titular one, where ships can stop to refuel and technicians can be assigned to keep the place running.
Keeper Information explains that the station is intended to kill the character, repeatedly, then create a clone. It’s a death trap intended to create a human who can withstand the rigors of space.
Investigator Creation explains that the adventure uses the quick start creation rules from the 7th Edition Keeper Rulebook, and outlines the process.
Beginning has the investigator wake up and given a standard spiel.
The Station describes the various locations, events that can happen. making repairs and what happens when the investigator is killed.
The Daedalus Project is what happens when the investigator finally works out what’s going on.
Conclusion explains the investigator has two choices once they discover what’s going on; destroying the station and dying themselves or allow the project to continue.
NPCs explains the only NPC is the station computer.
Starport Helios in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, these would have been appreciated. The Table of Contents covers the various sections and is hyperlinked. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are some stock colour illustrations. Presentation is okay.
The first thing to note is that this is not a Cthulhu Mythos adventure; this is a horror adventure that happens to use Call of Cthulhu’s rules. It is also designed for one-on-one play, though it might be possible to adapt it for one or two more characters; the difficulty will be ensuring that all the investigators die in order to start the next day. Finally, this is a no-win scenario. Either the investigator permanently dies or they keep going, cloned and dying over and over again. The adventure is definitely a one-shot, and no possible win, even by Call of Cthulhu’s lax standards, will make it unpalatable to some. Starport Helios can be found by clicking here.
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