Call of Cthulhu
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Mechanics
How to Play Call of Cthulhu
In play, the core mechanic uses a d100, or percentile dice. When using a skill or making a check, players roll a d100 against their rating in the relevant skill. If the result is equal to the skill rating or below, the action succeeds. In significantly difficult situations, the game master (or Keeper) may require the character to roll half their skill rating or below, or in even more extreme cases, one-fifth their rating or below. Players can also "push" a failed roll, giving them a chance to re-roll, but with worse consequences if they fail.
Combat is quite lethal in Call of Cthulhu, as a horror game about normal human beings, and failing to evade attacks or fight back in a fight can lead to debilitating injuries or a swift end. Additionally, horrific experiences like extreme violence and brushes with the horrors of the Cthulhu mythos threaten investigators' sanity. When this happens, character make a sanity roll. Failure causes them to lose points of sanity and take involuntary action in a panic. Even success might still stick with them, depending on the threat. After all, mere humans uncovering cosmic mysteries in Lovecraftian horror are nearly always doomed to be victims of their own insatiable curiosity.
Occupations
Archaeologist
The skills associated with Archaeologist are a good mix of investigative and field work, making it a solid beginner class. They know their history and get an additional language, always good base skills for a globe-trotting case. When it comes to getting their hands dirty, they can repair mechanical devices and spot hidden things.
Author
Picking the CoC Author occupation isn’t going to keep you alive when the bullets fly, but it will give you an edge in knowing more about the larger mysteries at play. Authors come with knowledge in all manner of culture, history, and the occult. They even dabble in psychology to help reveal the secrets shady characters are hiding from the party.
Cat Burglar
The cultists of Cthulhu gotta be hiding somewhere, and that place has to have a door. This occupation gives you the tools to break in, eavesdrop on important bad guy conversations, and get away with their all-important cursed plot item.
Dilettante
The Dilettante occupation makes you the person of action. While others are looking for answers in dirty old tomes, you’re infiltrating secret gatherings with your high society charm. If things get dicey, and you somehow fail to talk your way out, you have the ability to shoot your way out with firearm proficiency.
Explorer
When the time comes to find the location of a lost temple, your group will be glad to have an Explorer along. Become Indiana Jones or Nathan Drake as you climb, swim, jump, and otherwise navigate your way through harsh lands.
Investigative Journalist
This occupation makes use of a variety of knowledge and investigation skills to get answers. You’ll get the skills needed to research and recall history, but also the interpersonal skills to question leads and talk your way into places you’re not supposed to be in. You’re not much help in a fight, but you should be crafty enough to avoid one.
Nurse
CoC’s version of a nurse is one who has a bedside manner to match their medical skill. They have boosts to their science, medicine, and first aid rolls. They also excel in listening and one interpersonal skill such as persuading or fast talking.
Private Investigator
Get right in the mix with this iconic pulp class. When you play a CoC Private Investigator, you’ll have skills for knowledge, discovery, and persuasion. You can also choose to do things the less legal way by relying on disguise, photography, and firearms. This occupation mixes well with any group by allowing you to adjust your playstyle on the fly.
Professor
Before players get to the occult powers behind a CoC mystery, they often have to contend with the more apparent obstacles of lost history and human conspiracy. The Professor Occupation goes all in on giving you several knowledge proficiencies to research these things. You can pick your academic specialty to better suit the theme of whatever game you’re playing.
Soldier
While eldritch horrors tend to be beyond the scope of human weaponry, the cultists that serve them are very much not. And someone has to protect all the researchers on the team. Enter the Soldier. You’ve got physical skills for traversing all manner of terrain as well as the ability to throw down with either fisticuffs or firearms.
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