Investigator Journals - LunarNeil/Call-of-Cthulhu-Campaign GitHub Wiki
Real and fictional individuals alike have used their journals as a weapon against some terror that exists in their life, to live on after them. Horror Literature often used letters, diaries or newspaper accounts in the place of a narrator to give a story a greater feeling of realism and immediacy.
The Investigators of Realms of Mythos and Madness keep Journals just as those characters do, assembled by the player from the clues, secrets and personal notes they collect during an investigation. When an Investigator dies or goes mad, the player can choose to have parts or all of their Journal discovered. This allows the Investigator to pass their knowledge on to the group, including final cryptic messages that can lead them towards the player's new character.
In-Character Journal Usage
Players are not required to write diary entries for their Investigator or take notes as if it were their Investigator writing them. Though there are some specific occasions when the Journal is used to enhance roleplaying and has an in-game impact. These situations are:
Gaining a New Attribute
Players who want to add a new Skill, Possession, or Story to their Investigator may create in-character Journal entries, such as an Investigator Diary, as part of their roleplaying requirement.
Casting Ritual Magic
Players who attempt to use Ritual Magic may be required to perform a simplified ritual challenge at the game table using only the information in their Journal as a reference.
Leaving a Plot Hook
Players whose Investigator is dead or insane can leave a plot hook, leading to an important storyline thread or to the character they wish to play next, as an in-character final testament in their Journal.
The Moderator may also ask to see a player's Journal whenever the Investigator is basing a decision upon knowledge they might not have a reason to know, and the extent and quality of a player's in-character notes can help to verify a legitimate in-character justification for that knowledge. This is an extension of the Focus Bonus.