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Barring last year's huge 'Beyond The Mountains Of Madness', Chaosium appear to be concentrating on smaller collections of scenarios that can be played in fewer sessions. Last Rites fits this mould, containing four 1990s adventures, themed around acts of revenge leading to mysterious deaths of those known or unknown to the investigators. All are deemed suitable for beginning players and the more seasoned may find one or two of these a little pedestrian.

LR is a 64-page book laid out in Chaosium's house style, nicely illustrated by Paul Carrick. His full-page pieces are darkly disturbing, but his thumbnails of the various NPCs are too muddy. The maps make up in clarity what they lack in charm. The handouts are good and the book is rounded out with a solid index.

The first scenario, also called Last Rites is the weakest of the four and involves the investigation of events following the death of an academic acquaintance. It contains little of Mythos significance and thankfully does not set the tone for the other three adventures. The second, Lethal Legacy, begins with a stolen mummy behind which lies the story of a revenge attempt gone awry. The House on McKinley Boulevard, the third scenario, has the weakest of methods of introduction (always a problem in CoC), but leads into an interesting situation and potentially dangerous foe. The fourth scenario, The Priestess, is the most inventive and amusing. It has plenty of back-story and is the strongest of the four in the book.

As written, Last Rites is a collection of minor Mythos manifestations, that being for the 1990s, could be with some effort, adapted for Delta Green. Adapting to the 1920s or 1890s would be more problematic. In the long term Keepers may find the rules for psychic abilities (yet more rules?) and selection of new spells (particularly relating to Dimensional Shamblers) of use. Overall, Last Rites is a reasonable collection of modern Cthulhu adventures, that represents excellent value of money.

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Last Rites - Sinister Visitations in the Present Day
Author: Ian Winterton Category: game Company/Publisher: Chaosium Line: Call of Cthulhu Cost: $14.95/£9.95 Capsule Review by Pookie on 08/06/00. Genre tags: Modern day Horror	Barring last year's huge 'Beyond The Mountains Of Madness', Chaosium appear to be concentrating on smaller collections of scenarios that can be played in fewer sessions. Last Rites fits this mould, containing four 1990s adventures, themed around acts of revenge leading to mysterious deaths of those known or unknown to the investigators. All are deemed suitable for beginning players and the more seasoned may find one or two of these a little pedestrian. LR is a 64-page book laid out in Chaosium's house style, nicely illustrated by Paul Carrick. His full-page pieces are darkly disturbing, but his thumbnails of the various NPCs are too muddy. The maps make up in clarity what they lack in charm. The handouts are good and the book is rounded out with a solid index. The first scenario, also called Last Rites is the weakest of the four and involves the investigation of events following the death of an academic acquaintance. It contains little of Mythos significance and thankfully does not set the tone for the other three adventures. The second, Lethal Legacy, begins with a stolen mummy behind which lies the story of a revenge attempt gone awry. The House on McKinley Boulevard, the third scenario, has the weakest of methods of introduction (always a problem in CoC), but leads into an interesting situation and potentially dangerous foe. The fourth scenario, The Priestess, is the most inventive and amusing. It has plenty of back-story and is the strongest of the four in the book. As written, Last Rites is a collection of minor Mythos manifestations, that being for the 1990s, could be with some effort, adapted for Delta Green. Adapting to the 1920s or 1890s would be more problematic. In the long term Keepers may find the rules for psychic abilities (yet more rules?) and selection of new spells (particularly relating to Dimensional Shamblers) of use. Overall, Last Rites is a reasonable collection of modern Cthulhu adventures, that represents excellent value of money. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 3 (Average)

Last Rites - Sinister Visitations in the Present Day