Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Chapter 76: Meeting (2)

After finishing his beer, Liu Xing spoke up, "Alright, let's be serious. As an experienced player, do you have any suggestions for my novel, especially regarding the protagonist's character development and how to keep them alive longer? I can't just kill off the protagonist within a hundred thousand words and end the book, can I?"

Wu Lei smiled and nodded, addressing Liu Xing seriously, "Based on what you want, writing a good novel is quite straightforward. The Cthulhu RPG Game emphasizes immersion. Haven't you seen many mental simulation groups online? So, for your novel, Liu Xing, you could start with a module, either finding one or writing it yourself. First, complete the module yourself, then revise the playthrough records, adding some informative content to help newcomers and pad the word count. It's better if the novel's early part is more joyful to attract more readers. As the story progresses, introduce events that lead to the protagonist's dark transformation, fitting the Cthulhu theme."

"As for character development, isn't that simple? Just model the protagonist after yourself. It will be more immersive for you as the writer. Remember to include me too. As per your idea, during a gaming session, I'll meet you, then plot against you to save myself, leading to your discovery and retaliation. This naturally leads to the protagonist's dark transformation. After all, if their close friend betrays them for survival, who else can they trust?"

Wu Lei spoke confidently, leaving Liu Xing stunned and almost tempted to actually write such a novel.

"As for the protagonist being a player character, to realistically extend their survival, the protagonist must learn not to trust the game master too easily. Nowadays, few game masters are genuinely benevolent; nine out of ten are looking for opportunities to kill off player characters. You should design a plot where the protagonist realizes the game master's sinister and evil true nature," Wu Lei said, taking a bite of his food and continuing.

Liu Xing nodded in agreement, having already realized this point, "Hmm, are there any other things to be mindful of?"

"Of course," Wu Lei chuckled. "You haven't forgotten the three great artifacts of the Cthulhu RPG Game, have you?"

"Of course not. The three great artifacts in the Cthulhu RPG Game are the Elder Sign, friends, and a crowbar," Liu Xing replied with a laugh.

Wu Lei nodded and continued, "Exactly. As long as your protagonist possesses these three artifacts, their survival rate in the Cthulhu RPG Game could increase from one in a thousand to one in a hundred. So, you should find a way for your protagonist to acquire these three artifacts as soon as possible. They can use them to escape danger when necessary."

Liu Xing sipped his beer, nodding in agreement. He already had the Elder Sign and friends; he just hadn't found the crowbar yet.

"Then, the key is not to let your protagonist overly trust his teammates, or other players. As you know, Liu Xing, the modules in the Cthulhu RPG Game are mainly of two types: cooperative and competitive. The former is somewhat safer, with all players sharing a common mission objective, so betrayal is unlikely unless in dire circumstances. However, in competitive modules, if the players are clearly divided into two opposing factions, it's manageable. The real fear is having a traitor among your teammates. Therefore, I suggest your protagonist learns from experience to be cautious of his teammates. After all, in the Cthulhu RPG Game, the naive and innocent have probably all perished. The survivors are the cunning ones, adept at betrayal. I've been betrayed by teammates several times myself, as you've seen," Wu Lei said with a sigh, taking a sip of beer.

Liu Xing nodded. Although the teammates in his past Cthulhu RPG Games had been decent, he understood that such harmonious and amicable teammates would be rare in future games, as inevitable conflicts of interest would arise.

"However, while you need to be wary of teammates, you can't just avoid seeking help and go solo. That's a major taboo in the Cthulhu RPG Game. The game master can easily eliminate you from the story. So, your protagonist shouldn't recklessly act alone. Try to stick with the team," Wu Lei advised, eating and speaking simultaneously. "After all, the Cthulhu RPG Game is a team game at its core. Even in competitive modules, all players' missions ultimately converge to confront the same boss. At times, it's wise not to completely annihilate an opposing force, as that's not always the best choice."

Liu Xing nodded seriously, raising his glass, "Wu Lei, you truly are a veteran driver, so knowledgeable. Do you have any other advice?"

Wu Lei smiled, nodding as they clinked glasses. "Of course, I've been through hundreds of Cthulhu RPG Games as a veteran driver. I've seen it all, be it European, American, or Island Nation modules. I've observed a pattern; want to know it? Understanding this will significantly increase your survival rate in the Cthulhu RPG Game."

Liu Xing eagerly nodded and smiled, "Of course, I'd love to hear your insights, Brother Wu."

Wu Lei laughed heartily, then spoke earnestly, "It's quite simple, actually. Just stick to the main storyline. Your survival rate will be much higher than others. As long as the game isn't designed with an inescapable death ending, the main storyline won't have too many pitfalls. Just navigate through those few, and you'll successfully complete the game. While side quests might offer tempting rewards, they also mean more pitfalls. And you know, in the Cthulhu RPG Game, any small mistake can be fatal. So, more pitfalls mean a higher risk of death. You get what I'm saying, right, Liu Xing?"

Liu Xing nodded thoughtfully. Wu Lei's advice was straightforward—follow your heart!