The Howling Fog is the second in the line of scenarios for Pelgrane's Cthulhu Confidential line for 1 GM and 1 player. It features the exploits of Vivian Sinclair, a New York based investigative reporter and involves the city's nightclub scene in the 1930s. The format is identical to that of the first adventure (The House up in the Hills), beginning with a summary of the scenario's details, a relationship map of the NPCs (which is very handy), and a scene flow diagram so you can see which scene leads to others - most have multiple options, which means that players can choose whatever means they like to get to the end.
The design of the scenario is also identical to the first and to the core book, with an elegant deco feel with few illustrations, and sadly with more than a few typos, including, embarrassingly, one in the name of the character on the character sheet. The preponderance of typos was a problem with the first scenario too, and hopefully as the line progresses, this will be dealt with. As a result of the sparseness of the design (which isn't a problem if you print the pdf out - in fact it becomes a feature, since less ink is required) and more pertinently the number of typos, the style score for this pdf has to be lowered.
The actual scenario itself, however, is top notch. Where the first had a very Lovecraftian feel as regards to the story being told, this one has a much more Lovecraftian feel in terms of Cthulhoid games, with the signature beastie being a fairly common one in various Cthulhoid scenarios over the years. That other games have often used these creatures as a minor enemy to deal with on the way to meeting (and hopefully overcoming) larger monstrosities does not mean this one is a pushover - indeed, this scenario puts the creature back in its rightful place as particularly nasty and difficult to deal with, which evokes a proper sense of Lovecraftian dread when coming to terms with it. It is not the only detail to worry about too - the person controlling it, the gangs of New York who are intimately involve with every aspect of the scenario, and the colourful NPCs with their own ambitions will all at times thwart the character's investigation.
Incidentally, one of the best things in this scenario is the side bar entitled "Dial H for Harassment" which suggests dealing with the ugly facet of how the heroine of the story is dealt with, going undercover in the horribly sexist atmosphere of the 1930's New York mob-run club scene. For those who crave realism above all else, Viv will find herself in several situations where her cover story lends itself to her being sexually exploited or harassed, whereas for those who, fed up with modern sexism in their day to day lives, wish to escape such attitudes and behavior in their gaming, the GM can dial back the harassment to whatever level (including nonexistent) that the pair are comfortable with. The scenario itself takes a middle ground approach so that it becomes easier to turn the dial up or down, with suggestions for how to do so at appropriate points in the scenario. As such, I would very much recommend that the GM and player discuss this matter before playing. As the core book mentions at length, having one player and one GM makes for a much more intimate game than normal, and the comfort level of both should be discussed with regards to various aspects of the game prior to starting play to make sure both are on the same wavelength. One suggestion is to have a NOPE card on the table - if anyone involved is getting uncomfortable with the story's progression, pointing to the card should stop play until renegotiated comfort levels have been re-established.
It's hard to say which of the two current scenarios available I prefer. There's a little less action in this one, with the signature critter mostly taking out NPCs, but that does not mean Vivian is free from danger or even death. Trying to take the creature out head-on is not going to work, however. While the creature is too powerful for Viv to take on physically, it can be dealt with (as can the person controlling it) satisfactorily. As with the House up in the Hills, there are quite a few individual and relevant problem and edge cards at the end of the pdf, and some are really quite hazardous to mental or physical health. This is a pretty tough scenario, but one that can be ultimately rewarding for a successful character.
