The CHiLL 3.0 Interview with Hyrum Savage @ The Weirding

We recently spoke to Otherworld Creations' Hyrum Savage - creator, designer, and writer of the new CHiLL 3.0. Though yet to be released, the game has been making waves online, thanks to the many changes, which includes a new (and highly controversial) system.

We spoke to Hyrum about this, and many other things... when we could get him to stop talking about porn.

The Weirding: What was your first experience with CHiLL?

Hyrum Savage: My first experience with CHiLL was back in the late '80s during High School. We'd moved on from D&D and were trying a lot of different games. One Friday night our GM asked if we'd be interested in playing CHiLL and our campaign took off. We must have played for 2-3 years straight. We played in one long campaign - one long one in high school - and then on again, off again games after that. The two surviving characters, Kazu Matsubayashi (my character) and Siobhan O'Mahoney (my friend, Ralph's), will now be part of the canon as the Head Field Agent (Kazu) and Director of the LA Chapter (Siobhan) [of SAVE].

TW: What were your first impressions and what sticks out most in your mind of those times?

HS: I loved how creepy the game was. It wasn't until later that I saw the genius of the design, and how CM's were given a toolbox to creep players out.

TW: What first drew you to CHiLL?

HS: Originally it was because of nostalgia and a desire to bring it back. As we looked at it more and more, I was especially drawn to how much of an open book it is. You can run anything with CHiLL... well, anything with a horror theme.

The Weirding: Were you really into horror?

Hyrum Savage: I've loved horror since Jr. High or so.

TW: Who were your favorite authors and what were your favorite games?

HS: My favorite authors change from time to time. Right now I'd say that I'm a huge fan of John Scalzi, Steven Brust, and Glen Cook.

TW: Were/are you a big Lovecraft fan?

HS: Yep. Although he's not a "favorite" on the list right now.

TW: Were you really into role-playing?

HS: Yeah, I've been roleplaying since I was 9. Started with D&D and then moved on to various other games. I'm currently playing in a D&D game and a Mutants and Masterminds game, on top of playtesting. I'm a big RPG goober.

The Weirding: Yes, you are a fellow Nerd. Hail to thee, Nerd! What do you think of the new Call of Cthulhu incarnations, including the d20 version(s)?

Hyrum Savage: I'm a huge fan of CoC d20. I think it gets a bad rap from hardcore BRP players. The sections on running Lovecraftian games are the best I've read from any incarnation.