Special rules, background info, etc

[Priest]

A Note on Skills

The fifth edition of the Call of Chthulhu rules does not call for differentiated Skill Checks, so all uncontested tasks are equally difficult and it is only the character’s skill that comes into question. A Dream of Japan alters this notion by listing skill challenges in which the task attempted might be more difficult than another. This can be used to differentiate, for example, Tilda Smith-Chadwick’s chances of successfully driving her Aston Martin at 90 mph while handcuffed versus her chances of cruising Central Park on a Sunday.

When Skill Checks are listed in the text, they will occasionally be followed by a percentile figure, for example, Fast Talk (-50%). In this case the investigator would reduce his chance of success by 50% … and may have to resort to telling the truth! In some circumstances the skill is followed by a bonus – for example, Natural History (+15%). In this instance the character would increase his effective skill by 15%, increasing his odds of success.

In some circumstances, a skill may be elevated above 100% or reduced below 0%. If the Skill Check is important to the game, the investigator should still make the attempt, given that rolls of 0% or 100% are always a success or failure, retrospectively.

[Priest]

Japan 1926

The year 1926 sees Japan in continued transition since her ports were opened to the West in 1853 with the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and the United States Navy. The establishment of this trading partnership with the USA and then other Western powers ushered in an age of modernization that saw the compulsory education for both sexes, a growth in industrial output and construction, and a three-year mandatory military service for all males all being instituted during this time period. Culturally, Japan is in a decidedly anti-western mindset at this time in 1926.

Its attempt at imperialism, which began with the acquisition of the Ryukyu Islands and continued with Korea in 1910, was effectively ended by the diplomatic interdiction of the United States, forcing Japan to instead rely upon diplomatic and economic means to expand her territory. This measure was extremely unpopular in the increasingly militant post- WWI Japan, and anti-western sentiment ran high. This is the beginning of the impulse that eventually leads to the election of a largely militaristic government and the entrance of Japan into WWII.

There are many ultra-nationalistic organizations, prominently the Sat-Cho paramilitary alliance, acting both publicly and in secret to return Japan to what it sees as its historical and true cultural values. Most of these groups are peopled by the remnants of samurai culture that controlled Japan for most of its history.

The currency of Japan is the yen (¥). At this point in the history of Japan, the value of the Yen is fixed at 50 cents. Anti-western sentiment at the time is such that many merchants will refuse to trade with foreigners at all, inventing excuses or flatly refusing to even acknowledge the investigators; however, those that engage in commerce with the non-Japanese generally raise their prices. Such price hikes include, but are not limited to extras such as a “plate charge” or a “linen charge” that they claim to apply universally, but
is actually only charged to foreigners. The following are common, simplified prices for goods and services that the investigators will likely find themselves paying while in Japan.

Meal, fancy: 10¥
Meal, Poor: 1¥
Meal, standard: 4¥
Saki, or other alcoholic beverage: 5¥
Taxi ride, brief: 10¥
Taxi ride, extended: 20¥ and up
Train fare: 2¥ (Fixed)