Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu is a horror TTRPG that has 3-5 investigators go from normal, everyday people to firsthand combatants of the horrors of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. Fans of Locke and Key, Lovecraft Country, and Stranger Things, will love Call of Cthulhu. Everything from the space-traveling Byakhee, to the towering monstrosities known as the Great Race of Yith can be encountered in the tales the Keeper spins. Whether it is reality-bending gods or violent cultists enacting dark rituals; no matter the case: it’s up to the Investigators to stop these horrors and come out of it alive... If they are lucky.
Originally created by Sandy Petersen
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Call of Cthulhu (CoC) is the original horror genre TTRPG. Based on Chaosium's Basic Roleplaying Engine (though it wasn't called that until later), it allows players to descend into madness as they save the world from the cosmic abyss. It's also the original investigation oriented game. Prior RPGs focused mostly on getting stuff. CoC focuses on solving mysteries. Characters either die or go insane rather quickly, but depending on the GM, a long campaign is possible. Frankly, the system doesn't support the investigation aspect as well as it could. It's too easy for the adventure to stall because a character failed a roll, and an inventive GM has to find a way to get the information to the players without using the system as written. (Derivatives such as Trail of Cthulhu and Night's Black Agents, both Gumshoe system games, work better for investigations.) Besides the rules, CoC has some of the best adventures ever written. Masks of Nyarlathotep and Horror on the Orient Express are set piece adventures that show what the genre is truly capable of.
I started playing RPGs when I was 8 and introduced to basic dungeons and dragons. At that point, I was hooked for life. When I discovered Call of Cthulhu several years later, I found a whole new love. The dark, eldritch themes and environments, the role of every day people trying to save the world that knows boring about them or the terrible things coming for us. These aren't superheroes, they aren't exceptional characters (I still love d&D as much as I ever did, if not more so), they are professors, librarians, cops and cons both, society people, private eyes picking up the mantle of hero to save the world. I absolutely love the percentile mechanic and the writing. If you love the Lovecraftian mythos you owe it to yourself to try Call of Cthulhu. (I run scenarios all the time!)
When it comes to the historical significance of a TTRPG, Call of Cthulhu has to be discussed in the same vein as games like Cyberpunk, Traveller, and Champions. It is the horror classic that I believe is largely responsible for the significance of H.P. Lovecraft in today's pop culture. Also, did you know that it's the most popular TTRPG in Japan? No joke.
Call of Cthulhu is a masterclass in suspense and atmosphere, a game that understands true horror lies not in spectacle, but in the slow unraveling of sanity. Unlike the power-fantasy RPGs where heroes stand invincible, this experience embraces fragility—both of body and mind—as its investigators spiral ever deeper into cosmic nightmares beyond human comprehension. The mechanics are elegantly simple, using percentile dice to keep the focus on narrative rather than rules, ensuring every choice carries weight. But what truly sets this game apart is its craftsmanship in cultivating dread, a creeping unease that turns every uncovered clue into a harbinger of something far worse. Whether weaving a slow-burning psychological descent, a pulpy 1920s mystery, or a grim modern horror, Call of Cthulhu offers a vast, rich canvas for storytellers to paint their most haunting tales. If you crave immersive storytelling and the thrill of the unknown, this is an experience that lingers long after the final scene.
How to play Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu uses a percentile-based skill system, where players roll two ten-sided dice to produce a number 1–100, trying to roll under their skill level, which is rated as a percentage chance to succeed on an average task in that skill. Famously, it also has a Sanity stat which wears down as investigators delve deeper into forbidden knowledge and encounter mind-bending evidence of the Cthulhu Mythos in their world. Player characters’ fates frequently include descent into madness or death.
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Call of Cthulhu map makers
Cthulhu Architect
Cthulhu Architect designs modern maps suitable for various RPGs, including Call of Cthulhu. Their maps are versatile and can be used in multiple settings, providing detailed environments for investigators to explore.
Explore MapsLovemaps
Lovemaps creates unique, detailed maps specifically for Call of Cthulhu RPGs. Their maps are designed to immerse players in a Lovecraftian atmosphere, enhancing the horror experience.
Explore MapsJason Thompson (Mockman)
Jason Thompson, known as Mockman, is a comic artist and illustrator who has created walkthrough maps for classic Call of Cthulhu scenarios, such as 'The Haunting.' His detailed maps help players navigate complex environments.
Explore MapsMiska's Maps
Miska's Maps offers high-quality sci-fi and fantasy battlemaps and props for tabletop RPGs, including Call of Cthulhu. Their work is designed for both print and virtual tabletops, providing a range of maps suitable for various settings.
Explore MapsCall of Cthulhu community artists
Jason Thompson (Mockman)
Jason Thompson, known as Mockman, is a comic artist and illustrator renowned for his detailed walkthrough maps of classic Call of Cthulhu scenarios. His work, such as the 'The Haunting' walkthrough map, provides players with intricate visual guides to navigate complex environments.
Explore ArtMarion Anderson
Marion Anderson is a designer and illustrator who has worked on various Call of Cthulhu publications. She contributed to the 'Cairo Guidebook,' providing over thirty maps and building plans of temples and other popular tourist sites, enhancing the game's immersive experience.
Explore ArtMatt Ryan
Matt Ryan is a cartographer who has contributed to Call of Cthulhu publications, including the 'Terror Australis' supplement. His work includes detailed maps that enrich the game's settings and adventures.
Explore ArtJohn T. Snyder
John T. Snyder is an American artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games, including Call of Cthulhu. He is known for his fantasy art, contributing to the game's atmosphere with his illustrations.
Explore ArtFrequently asked questions about Call of Cthulhu
Explore Call of Cthulhu Classes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.