So whats this game about?
Call of Cthulhu is a classic horror game from Chaosium. Its about people investigating unspeakable horrors based on the works of HP Lovecraft, namely the Cthulhu mythos. It offers a good change for some actual roleplaying, but does give a change for some good old combat.
We will be using the 4th edition rules, as pictured above.
4th edition? Why not use 5th or newest edition?
Because this is the book that I have. Dont worry though. From what I've read, there's not much of change in the rules, so we wont be missing a lot.
So what are these "unspeakable horrors"?
To quote Lovecraft himself:
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown".
A lot of monsters and horrors created by Lovecraft are old, sometimes even older than mankind itself. Also very evil and quite horribly looking. Just Google "Lovecraft illustrations" and you'll get the idea.
What kind of game will we be playing?
Most likely were gonna start with some basic scenario's that are in the rulebook and later on I might introduce a longer campaign, either a ready one or self-made one.
Do I get to kick Cthulhu's butt?
Well, yes. There is a change of fighting against any creature from Cthulhu's mythos (old rule of roleplaying: If it has stats, you can kill it). However, the basic game is more of an investigations, gathering information and preparations for fighting against the horrors.
Whats the setting? Is this happening on current day or some old-time era?
We will be following the basic setting, so its gonna be set in the 20's-30's. That is the time where Lovecrafts stories usually took place.
I've heard that a lot of player characters tend to die in this game...
Yes, Call of Cthulhu has that reputation. Investigating unspeakable horrors is a dangerous business, and its not uncommon that characters can get killed even on their first adventure. If they dont end up dying, they go mad. The human mind cant comprehend these things, and then when you get overdose of it....
Even in the long run, if your character has escaped the death, he will eventually end up too mad. There is no happy ending in the world of Cthulhu mythos.
I see magic points. Is there magic in this game?
Yes there is, but the spells arent usually the types you tend to see on likes of Dungeons and Dragons. For example, instead of a fireball, you can learn how to summon Hastur the unspeakable.
Do I have to know anything about Lovecrafts works to play the game? Do I have to read an actual book?
Not necessarily. If you want to get into mood, just watch a horror film. However, If you're interested, I really recommend checking out Lovecrafts stories because they're great, and at a times really scary too.
The rulebook lists several stories that are highly recommended
Lurking Fear
Horror at Red Hook
Colour Out of Space
Dunwich Horror
Shadow Over Innsmouth
Dreams in the Witch-House
Haunter of the Dark
Shunned House
Call of Cthulhu (The iconic story. If you decide to read at least one, read this one!)
Case of Charles Dexter Ward
Whisperer in Darkness
At the Mountains of Madness
Shadow Out of Time
Herbert West - Reanimator (Personal recommendation!)
Lovecrafts works have also been adapted to other mediums, including films and video games.
If you're graving for more information, go read the Necronomicon. Or ask in this thread. Now, lets create some investigators! For this, you need at least a one six-sided dice. 3 dices is the recommendation.
Here is the character sheet for this game:
http://www.rpgsheets.com/sheets/022007.pdf It is not identical to one in my rulebook, but close enough. Only thing its missing is physics skill.
First, roll up following stats for your character with the following amount of dice
Strength - 3d6
Constitution - 3d6
Size - 2d6 + 6 (This combines both height and weight)
Intelligence - 2d6 + 6
Power - 3d6 (kind of like "willpower")
Dexterity - 3d6
Appearance - 3d6 (Personality and sex appeal, but not necessarily charisma)
Education - 3d6 + 6 (Note: People with education 13-14 are considered to have a Bachelor degree while those with education over 16 are considered to be college graduates.)
And since I wont be there to watch you rolling the dice, please, no cheating. After you've rolled your stats, you are allowed to move stat points to another stat.
After rolling is done, fill the next parts:
Idea - Intelligence x 5
Luck - Power x 5
Magic points - Equal to your power
Knowledge - Education x 5
Sanity - Put 99 in SAN, between EDU and SIZ.
Sanity points - Power x 5 (circle the appropriate number)
Hit points - Size + Constitution divided by 2.
Also, fill in the following for these 3 skills:
Cthulhu Mythos - 0
Dodge - Dexterity x 2
Read/Write English - Education x 5
Damage bonus/penalty
There is a whole table for this. We will check it out before we start the game, because Im too lazy to type the whole table in here. You get bonuses in hand-to-hand combat if you have high strength and/or size, and penalties if you dont.
For next part, read all the rules carefully first before making any decisions
Next you choose your occupation. The book lists several occupations, but you are allowed to make one yourself. It has to fit in the 20/30's theme, where the game (and most of Lovecrafts stories) take place.
Here's list of available occupations, as well as skills that are tied to that occupation:
Anarchist
Camouflage
Fast Talk
Hide
Library Use
Oratory
Psychology
Read/Write Other Language
Sneak
Author
History
Library Use
Oratory
Psychology
Read/Write English
Read/Write other language
Speak other language
Any one other skills as a personal speciality
Doctor
Credit Rating
Diagnose Disease
First Aid
Pharmacy
Psychoanalysis
Psychology
Read/Write Latin
Treat Disease
Treat Poison
Farmer
Bargain
Botany
First Aid
Listen
Mechanical Repair
Operate Heavy Machinery
Spot Hidden
Zoology
Gangster
Bargain
Climb
Credit Rating
Drive Automobile
Fast Talk
Jump
Law
Listen
Spot Hidden
Historian/Antiquarian
Bargaining
History
Law
Library Use
Make Maps
Read/Write other language
Speak other language
Any one other skill as a personal speciality
Hobo
Bargain
Climb
Fast Talk
First Aid
Hide
Listen
Spot Hidden
Sneak
Journalist
Debate
Fast Talk
Oratory
Psychology
Read/Write English
Read/Write Other Language
Speak Other Language
Any one other skill as a personal speciality
Lawyer
Accounting
Credit Rating
Debate
Fast Talk
Law
Library Use
Oratory
Psychology
Read/Write Latin
Missionary
Accounting
Bargain
Credit Rating
Diagnose Disease
First Aid
Oratory
Read/Write Latin
Sing
Speak Other Language
Treat Disease
Parapsychologist
Anthropology
Archeology
History
Library Use
Occult
Psychoanalysis
Psychology
Read/Write Other Language
Speak Other Language
Policeman
Drive Automobile
Fast Talk
First Aid
Hide
Law
Listen
Spot Hidden
Sneak
Politician
Accounting
Bargain
Credit Rating
Debate
Fast Talk
History
Law
Oratory
Psychology
Professional Athlete
Climb
Credit Rating
Dodge
Jump
Psychology
Ride
Swim
Throw
Professor
Anthropology
Archeology
Astronomy
Botany
Chemistry
Debate
Geology
History
Library Use
Linguist
Occult
Physics
Read/Write Other Language
Speak Other Language
Zoology
Private Eye
Accounting
Camouflage
Credit Rating
Fast Talk
First Aid
Hide
Law
Listen
Psychology
Sneak
Spot Hidden
Soldier
Camouflage
Climb
Drive Automobile
Electrical Repair
First Aid
Hide
Listen
Operate Heavy Machinery
Spot Hidden
Sneak
The book also lists some occupations having combat related skills, but I will make an exception to those rules and provide combat skill as I see fit.
For those who wanted to make an occupation, choose the skills that would fit for that occupation. Dont go overboard and try to be realistic. Remember the theme were having.
Here's a list of all skills in game and the base stats for those that have them, regardless of your occupation
Accounting - 10
Anthropology
Archeology
Astronomy
Bargain - 5
Botany
Camouflage - 25
Chemistry
Climb - 40
Credit Rating - 15
Debate - 10
Diagnose Disease - 5
Drive Automobile - 20
Drive (A vehicle of your choice)
Electrical Repair - 10
Fast Talk - 5
First Aid - 30
Geology
Hide - 10
History - 20
Jump - 25
Law - 5
Library Use - 25
Linguist
Listen - 25
Make Maps - 10
Mechanical Repair - 20
Occult - 5
Operate Heavy Machine
Oratory - 5
Pharmacy
Photography - 10
Physics (again, not listen in the sheet you have)
Pick Pocket - 5
Pilot Aircraft
Pilot (a vehicle of your choosing)
Psychoanalysis
Psychology - 5
Read/Write (A language of your choosing)
Ride - 5
Sing - 5
Sneak - 10
Speak (A language of your choosing)
Spot Hidden - 25
Swim - 25
Throw - 25
Track - 10
Treat Disease - 5
Treat Poison - 5
Zoology
Now that you've chosen or created your occupation, its time to add skill points. You get two stacks of points.
Career based skills - Education x 15. Distribute these points to your career based skills. You dont have to put points on all these skills.
Other skills - Intelligence x 5. Distribute these points to any skills you want, career or otherwise.
Notes!
You cant put any points or choose the following skills as your career skills: Dodge, Read/Write English and Cthulhu Mythos (I can make an exception to the latter, If you have a good reason)
Remember to count in the base stats. If I didnt mention a base stat for skill, its 0.
Maximum stat for skill is 99.
If you're planning to have your character drive an automobile, the minimum stat requirement is 25.
Now that were done with career, its time to look into your character itself:
Name - Self explanatory.
Sex - Again, pretty self explanatory.
Occupation - The one you chose
Age - How old is your character. Please be realistic: Its most unlikely that you can become a professor at age of 18 or so.
Nationality - As most of the investigations take place in America, I'd recommend that or Great Britain as your nationality. Still though, I wont stop you If you want to be a German or Finnish. Again, be realistic.
Residence - Again, as most of the investigations take place in America, I recommend choosing an American city. Most of Lovecrafts stories take place in Massachusetts area, so Boston would be best choice. Another good choice is Arkham, which is a central city and mentioned in a lot of Lovecrafts works (it also has a good university).
Schools - Which school did your character went to. If he has a high degree, write a name of university here. Otherwise, high school is sufficient enough.
Degrees - If your character is a professor or in other occupation that requires some studies, put one in here. Note that this isnt necessary If your character isnt a high educated person.
Portrait - Feel free to draw your character in this small box. Its fun!
And that about covers it. I'l personally decide your characters savings, salary and possible combat skills. If you have any questions or wonder what some skills do, ask.