Call of Cthulhu RPG
Call of Cthulhu is many things.
Originally, it was a horror story by H.P. Lovecraft. Then it was a tabletop roleplaying game by Chaosium. Then a series of computer games.
For me, it'll always be the tabletop roleplaying game, and that's what this lens is about. If you've never heard of Call of Cthulhu before, read on.
The Basic Concept
The world was once ruled by vastly powerful and totally alien beings. These beings still lurk outside the edges of the world, and contact those humans who are desperate enough to deal with them.
The majority of people in the world live normal lives, unaware of their total insignificance in the universal scheme of things.
A few gain awareness of how the universe really works, and those few are the heroes of the story.
Cthulhu on Amazon
Call of Cthulhu: Horror Roleplaying in the Worlds of H. P. Lovecraft, 6th Edition
The original version of the game, and still the best!
The Art Of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos
A guide to visualizing all the beasties you might encounter in the game.
Call of Cthulhu Dark Corners Of The Earth
The latest video game based on Call of Cthulhu.
Going Insane
If you've ever read any Lovecraft, you'll know that his heroes typically go insane as a result of discovering Things Man Was Not Meant To Know.
The roleplaying game models this pretty well. All characters have a sanity score, and any time a character encounters something outside their realm of experience, they make a sanity roll.
Failing that roll loses sanity. Sometimes even making the roll loses sanity, just less than if they'd failed. Losing sanity means you have a harder time succeeding at the next sanity roll.
It's a downward spiral that ends in the character going insane. Hopefully, they've managed to avert whatever catastrophe was looming before going insane.
But sometimes the world does end in these games.
Cthulhu Goodies on Cafe Press
The Sanity Score
A low sanity does not mean your character is insane to start with, it just means that your character is able to accept events that conflict with their view of reality.
A person with a high sanity score is able to reject events that conflict with their world view, and thus avoid losing sanity.
As every character loses sanity, that reflects their gradual acceptance of Things Man Was Not Meant To Know.
Eventually they become totally unable to interact in a meaningful way with the ignorant people who call them insane.
Attitude is Everything
Yes, your character will do stupid things, go insane, and quite possibly die. That's beside the point.
Did you have fun doing it? That's the real question.
Too many people play Call of Cthulhu as if the object is to stay sane and solve the problem. Sure, if you can solve the problem that's great, but the important thing is to have fun.
And go insane, most likely.
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Want to Play?
These people are called Keepers, and their job is to figure out what the plot of the adventure is, and what all the beasties do.
To find an experienced Keeper, locate your local game stores and ask there. Post a notice on their bulletin board.
Or, if you're lucky enough to have a gaming convention in your town, go to it. Somebody will be running Call of Cthluhu. You're not guaranteed they'll be any good, but at least it's a chance to play.
Tome of Forbidden Lore
What wisdom do you have for the tome?
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- He Who Shall Not Do Dishes He Who Shall Not Do Dishes May 13, 2009 @ 7:39 pm | in reply to William mcLaughlin
- You don't happen to play this over any VOIP or virtual Tabletop software do you? I have been trying forever it seems to get into a game. Apparently Tabletop RPG's have gone completely underground or extinct in my town.
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- William mcLaughlin William mcLaughlin Dec 30, 2008 @ 10:36 am
- Salutations Jay,
I have been a Fan of the Mythos and the system for many years. I used to run CoC at gaming conventions in the 90's, but got away from it. I will be starting fresh in 2009, at Dreamation 2009, In Morristown NJ. I will check back on this page from time to time. Happy New Year!
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- me me Sep 14, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
- If you have a group playing for the first time, which of the books would you recommend?
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- Eddie Eddie Jun 16, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
- Cool page! Ive been playing the RPF for a year, and the moderator is very good. I recommend the game highly as a rainy day kinda thin, or those like me who are too poor to do anything else......
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- oniyagi oniyagi Dec 17, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
- I love this game!!! Great lens, 5* for sure... though my SAN just went through the floor from reading it :)






