Achtung! Cthulhu: Operation Oberon by Modiphius

Game Review

Seth Stauffer

Agents must go through Axis-occupied China, collect intel, and get out. It would be easy if it weren’t for the murderous criminals, Black Sun’s presence, and, of course, eldritch horrors. This is Operation Oberon, a module for Acthung! Cthulhu 2d20 from Modiphius. Agents will test their guile rather than their brawn to unearth enemy secrets and bring them back in one piece. It is no easy task, but any soldier looking for easy never should have joined the war effort.

The mission is reconnaissance—no more, no less. While combat is an existential threat throughout this mission, it isn’t the point. Players should strive to connive their way to enemy secrets while keeping a profile as low as possible. What makes this interesting is that there is a presence that might count as random encounters by criminal thugs who appear to have a vested interest in the allied operatives. One section also feels like a one-room dungeon requiring fun, challenging social interactions.

There’s a real risk that players may get too easily sidetracked by the ruthless criminal underworld. Operation Oberron calls for the PCs to navigate a bustling urban environment but subtly asks that they remain on task at all times. This is one of the main challenges in this module, but it feels like it clashes somewhat with the real objective.

This module could set up an interesting and extensive campaign in China. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be what this module is intended for. There’s a lingering sense that there’s more to come. Still, nothing materializes, not even a “to be continued” ending, which is not what I expected when I read through it. It is a decent one-shot that would serve a gaming group well and is a fun espionage mission. Operation Oberon is probably best suited for a group looking for something in between larger campaigns.