by Nate French

“...burning into my brain a momentary conception of nightmare which was all the more maddening because analysis could not shew a single nightmarish quality in it.”
—H.P. Lovecraft

The Antediluvian Dreams , the third Asylum Pack in the Summons of the Deep expansion cycle for the Call of Cthulhu Living Card Game, hits stores this month. In this pack, the tale of Julia Brown continues as she confronts her strange nightmare situation head-on... or at least attempts to. As it turns out, the nightmare fights back, and this release brings the combat struggle to the forefront of the Call of Cthulhu metagame.

The Cornered Man, “Like an Animal”
Sometimes, the only option a man has is to fight. He may realize he’s eventually going down, but he’s going to take as many of his enemies with him as he can. The Cornered Man is such a fighter, and he’s more than willing to fight to the bitter end, even if it costs him his life. When he’s committed to a story, your opponents will almost certainly be wondering just how bloody the combat struggle(s?) will become.

Click on the image to the left for a larger version.

Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters is an example of indirect combat struggle support that has the added benefit of working with Cthulhu’s destruction theme. Whether you use it offensively or as a counter-attack when one of your own characters leaves play, there will be plenty of opportunity for most Cthulhu decks to muddy the waters with this card.

Click on the image to the left for a larger version

Howard Ludvinski, Visiting Artist
This mysterious persona (who bears a startling resemblance to artist Henning Ludvigsen) is another example of an ability where the threat may often turn out to be stronger than the execution. But in the occasional situation where the execution might actually turn out to be worth the cost (recycling one of your won story cards is quite an investment!), what an effect he has to offer. Howard is all about options, and whenever he’s in play your opponent is going to have to play with the ongoing knowledge and complication that you can trigger any of your won story cards, at any time.

These cards and others like Eat the Dead, the Repo Man, and The Sleepwalker are available this month in the The Antediluvian Dreams Asylum Pack.